We’re one of the biggest employers in the east of England. As we head into 2026, hundreds of our colleagues—from our CEO and senior leaders to branch managers and central office line managers—are embarking on two industry-leading leadership development programmes.
Shared values, strong culture
So why are we focusing on leadership development?
We believe that strong culture drives stronger results, enabling us to invest more of our resources back into the communities we serve. But culture doesn’t happen by accident—it’s intentional, and it starts with leadership.
Strong leaders create environments where colleagues feel they belong, where they can grow, and where they’re empowered to make decisions that benefit our members and communities. When our managers lead with coaching mindsets, everyone benefits.
The ripple effect of good leadership
Strong leadership has a ripple effect throughout our co-op. When a branch manager learns new coaching skills, their team feels more supported and able to thrive. When senior leaders are fearless and empower others, strategic decisions better reflect the real experiences of colleagues across our business. This matters because our colleagues are the ones serving our members and communities every day.
Investing in our people
Our colleagues are our greatest asset. By choosing to develop our talent, we’re creating a place for people to grow.
The first cohort of 50 managers across our co-op has already begun the award-winning STAR Manager programme. We’ll be rolling this out to all managers over the next couple of years, with the next cohort starting in around six months.
Meanwhile, our Leadership Group and Senior Leadership team are participating in a separate programme run by behavioural experts Rambutan and designed specifically around colleague feedback—including insights from surveys and focus groups that many of our colleagues contributed to.
Why this matters
We’re doing this because it’s the right thing to do—both for our people and for our members and communities. As one of the region’s largest employers, we have a responsibility not just to provide jobs, but to create workplaces where people can build meaningful, long-term careers.
Stronger leaders mean stronger outcomes and a co-op that’s more resilient and better equipped to make a positive local impact for years to come.
Other news
Blog
Community Connections – creating spaces where everyone belongs
In our Community Support Lead's latest blog you can read about Ipswich Town Football Club’s Frame Football sessions, The National Centre for Writing in Norwich and Unscene Suffolk, a singing group for people with visual impairments.
Blog
Community Connections - showcasing community cohesion in action
In our Community Support Lead Angela's new blog series she shines a spotlight on some of the amazing organisations making a difference in our region.
Blog
Creating a culture of fearless leadership
This week, our leadership team stepped away from the day-to-day and invested two full days together. Time like this is rare and precious, but essential. Because building a culture where leadership thrives doesn't happen by accident. It takes intention, reflection and the courage to challenge ourselves and each other.