What does the Board do?
The role of the Board is to ensure the long-term success of our co-op in accordance with the International Co-operative Alliance Statement on co-operative Identity. The Board is appointed by and accountable to the members who own our co-op.
In short, the Board represents the membership – it makes business decisions in members’ interests and safeguards the co-op’s assets for the future. The Board provides credible leadership by setting the strategic direction and making sure the business is run responsibly, with proper controls in place and always in line with co-operative values and principles.
These requirements are set out in our rules here.
About our Board of Directors
Our Directors work together to oversee governance, policy and long-term strategy. They are all members who care about how their local co-op is run and who help shape its future.
Directors are not responsible for the day-to-day operation of the co-op. Their role is to provide oversight, assurance and constructive challenge.
What is expected from a Director?
- To attend meetings that take place every six weeks (on average) usually on a Saturday in-person at Wherstead Park, Ipswich. There are occasional off-site strategy sessions that may involve overnight stays. Support and reasonable adjustments are available.
- Join one Board committee, involving a further 4–5 meetings per year. (Membership & Community Engagement, Remuneration & Search and Audit & Risk).
- Prepare for meetings and take part in training and development throughout the normal four-year term.
- There may be the occasional commitment for directors to attend conferences where overnight stays are required (at least one per year).
What information will I be asked to provide?
As part of the nomination process, candidates are asked to provide a short written statement outlining what they would bring to the Board.
This includes:
- skills, experiences or perspectives that would support the Board’s work
- interest in, or connection to, the co-operative movement or retail environment
- personal qualities such as judgement, listening and willingness to contribute to open discussion
How nominations are reviewed
All nominations are checked against eligibility criteria. After that, each candidate’s personal statement is reviewed using a clear, role-based process designed to support fairness, consistency and transparency. This is not an assessment or interview, but a light-touch discussion to help ensure the information provided aligns with the responsibilities of the Director role.
We will consider;
- How well you understand or embrace the role of a non-executive Director
- Your judgement, values and willingness to contribute to collective decisions
- What unique perspectives or skills you could add to the Board team
All eligible nominations are put forward to the member vote, and this process helps ensure that the information made available to voters supports informed decision-making.
What do I get in return?
- The opportunity to help shape the future of your local co-op and support your community
- A Director fee, currently around £10,000 per year, plus reimbursement of reasonable expenses
- Induction, training and the chance to develop new skills and experience
- The rewarding experience of working with people from all backgrounds while contributing to a values-led organisation – many Directors describe the role as both challenging and deeply rewarding
Director Nominations
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Director Role Profile
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Frequently Asked Questions
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