To mark International Women’s Day, we’re sharing the stories of colleagues whose careers have been shaped by encouragement, support and the people around them.
Claire's story
Estimated reading time: 3-4 minutes
After 32 years with the East of England Co-op, Claire says the friendships, encouragement and sense of community she’s found along the way are what have made her career so rewarding.
"I joined the Co-op 32 years ago, working at Peachey’s in Manningtree. At the time it was a greengrocery concession within the store. When the Co-op later introduced its own greengrocery department, my manager Bev, myself and our colleagues were taken on as part of the Co-op team.
Most of my experience back then was in grocery, so when the opportunity came up to step into a supervisor role across the wider store it felt like a big step.
Richard, who was a Team Manager at Manningtree before moving on to manage his own store, was one of the first people to encourage me to think about progressing. Looking back, I think he saw something in me that I hadn’t fully recognised in myself yet. I’d had some experience supervising in grocery, but taking on responsibility across the whole store felt like a real chance to grow. It was a big step at the time, but it helped me realise what I was capable of.
Bev was also a huge influence on my journey. She became a real mentor over the years and someone I could always turn to for advice. When you look back over a long career, you realise just how much those steady sources of support shape your confidence.
A defining moment came when I was interviewed for a Team Manager role by Paul. He offered me the position and agreed that I could work 32 hours a week. That flexibility meant a great deal. It wasn’t especially common at the time, and it allowed me to grow into the role while still balancing family life when my children were younger.
Like many working parents, I relied on a bit of a village around me. Having support from family made a real difference during those years.
Now life has come full circle in some ways. My children are grown up and I have a young grandson, and I find myself being part of that same village for my son as he navigates parenthood.
Retail is one of those roles where no two days are ever the same. That variety is something I’ve always enjoyed. It keeps you thinking and adapting.
For me, a good day at work is when everything runs smoothly, the team is working well together and customers leave with what they came in for. But it’s the team that really makes the difference. I feel really lucky, over time we’ve built such strong relationships and a real sense of trust. When you spend so much time together, the people you work with naturally begin to feel like an extended family.
Working in a local store also means you become part of the community. You see the same customers regularly, build those connections and get to know people over time. That sense of belonging is one of the things I value most about the job.
Outside of work I enjoy travelling and holidays somewhere sunny. As work can be busy and fast paced, I really value the chance to properly switch off. One of my favourite places I’ve visited is Budapest. And of course, spending time with my grandson keeps me on my toes.
If someone was starting out in retail, my advice would be simple. There will be good days and there will be challenging ones. But if you enjoy working with people and being part of a team, it can be an incredibly rewarding career.
For me, it’s the people, the friendships and the sense of community that have made these 32 years so worthwhile."
Jackie's story
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
After years supporting colleagues across more than 25 stores, Jackie has learned that confidence often begins with someone noticing your potential.
"I’ve worked for the East of England Co-op for about 15 years in total.
When I first started in stores, I wasn’t thinking about progression. I just wanted to do my job well. I enjoyed the work, took pride in it and got on with it. That felt enough.
Becoming a manager wasn’t part of some big plan.
What changed wasn’t one big moment. It was small conversations, a few gentle nudges.
As a Team Manager, I was happy doing what I was doing. Then one day I was chatting with my Line Manager when Andy walked in and said, 'Why aren’t you in your own store?'
I hadn’t even really asked myself that question.
Later, when the store I was in closed down, Andy checked in with me and offered to meet for a coffee. That meant more than he probably realised. It wasn’t about performance. It was about being seen as a person.
Chris and Kent also encouraged me to take on an apprenticeship. Again, I wouldn’t have pushed myself without that support.
Mark has also been amazing support when I was offered my first store as Branch Manager although at the time was nervous and tempted to stay in my comfort zone but again the little nudges of support helped me grow as a person and Leader.
Looking back, the biggest gift people gave me was seeing something in me that I hadn’t fully seen in myself yet.
From completing that apprenticeship to stepping into a Development Branch Manager role, my journey has been shaped by people who believed in me, sometimes before I believed in myself.
It’s taught me that progression doesn’t always start with ambition. Sometimes it starts with someone noticing.
Over the years I’ve worked in more than 25 stores. Some just for quick cover, some for longer. Each time, I’ve tried to do the same thing: support the team and look for the spark in people. If I see it, I want to help it grow.
There have been tough times in my life too. Times where I had to dig deep and lean on my family to keep going. Those experiences changed me and I don’t take days for granted now. I try to bring positivity into my store and create a space where people feel steady and supported.
Retail can be intense. Targets, deliveries, complaints. Good support often looks simple.
Noticing when someone’s energy has dropped.
Seeing when someone is quieter than usual.
Saying, 'Take five minutes.'
It’s about being approachable and consistent. Investing time in 1:1 check-ins. If you want trust, you have to put the time in. I trust my team and they trust me. That makes everything else possible.
When someone says, 'I can’t do it,' I say, 'Let’s break it down.' We put the puzzle pieces together. There’s never one way that works for everyone.
Equality at work becomes real in the small, everyday things. Making fair decisions. Being clear and honest. Holding everyone to the same standards. And noticing who gets the chances to grow or be recognised, because that’s often where things can quietly drift out of balance.
The best feeling is walking away knowing you’ve had a positive impact. And even better, coming back later and seeing someone you once encouraged thriving in their own way.
Those are the little seeds.
Someone once planted them for me. Now I try to do the same for others."
Lisa's story
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
After more than three decades helping customers plan adventures, Lisa believes the greatest journeys often start with someone believing in you.
"My mum used to say I wouldn’t say boo to a goose. If you’d told that shy teenager that one day I’d be travelling on my own and experiencing so much of the world, I would never have believed you.
When I left school, after a brief stint at Eastern National Buses, I wrote to a few local companies because I knew one thing clearly – I wanted a career rather than just a job. The Co-op wrote back, and that was the start of something I could never have imagined.
I’m now in my 36th year with the East of England Co-op and it’s been quite a journey!
About eight years in, a supervisor role came up and I put myself forward. My manager told me he thought I was ready for the next step. I believed I had the skills, but hearing that encouragement gave me the confidence to really back myself.
What helped most was the support. It wasn’t just getting a new role and being left to get on with it. It was encouragement and guidance along the way that helped build my confidence.
That experience has shaped how I work with my own team today. I try to be approachable and supportive because sometimes people just need someone to believe in them. I’ve always said that if someone asks for help and I can do something, I won’t say no. I’ll always try my absolute best. In travel we look out for each other and provide a safety net as a team, and we take real pride in that. Watching colleagues grow in confidence and seeing a team really blossom is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
Travel is such a special industry to work in because you’re part of people’s happiest moments. When customers come in to plan a holiday, they’re putting their trust in you to help bring their ideas to life.
I’ve always loved anything that lets you step into another world. I’m a big reader, last year I read 105 books. I especially love a good mafia story, which always makes people laugh because it doesn’t quite match how I come across. What I love about reading is getting lost in a story and building a whole world in your mind.
When you sit down with a customer, you’re painting a picture with words and helping them imagine their adventure. It starts with asking the right questions and really getting to know what matters to them.
Some of the relationships you build last for years. You help someone plan a holiday and then see them come back again and again as their lives change. We’ve recently had a new colleague join, Hannah, and I remember helping her mum and dad plan their family holidays to Florida when she was younger. It’s moments like that when you realise you’ve been part of those memories.
For me, the best part of the job has always been the people. The travel team has always felt like a second family, and that loyalty and support means a great deal.
Looking back, I’m really proud of the skills and knowledge I’ve been able to pass on over the years. Sometimes I hear little phrases or ways of working come back through colleagues I’ve trained, and it makes me smile. Seeing others grow in their confidence and careers feels like a legacy in its own way.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned along the way, it’s that confidence often starts with someone believing in you."
Coral's story
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Coral’s journey into her profession began long before she joined the Co-op and reflects the encouragement, curiosity and determination that shapes many women’s career.
I’ve been in my current role as a Funeral Arranger for about three and a half years now, but the truth is I’ve wanted to work in this industry for as long as I can remember, much to the curiosity of my family who never quite understood where that interest came from.
I grew up in London with my mum, who raised my sister and I on her own. The closest connection we had to the funeral profession when I was younger was that she used to do ironing for a local Funeral Director.
But I remember a moment when I was about fourteen. A family friend who was a firefighter once said that if he had to choose another career, he’d probably become a forensic scientist. Something about that conversation really stuck with me.
After talking about my interest with my family, I was able to visit a morgue for the first time alongside that same funeral director and our family friend. It might sound unusual to some people, but for me it confirmed something I already felt. I was fascinated by the science, but also by the responsibility and care involved in looking after people.
My biology teacher saw that curiosity in me and encouraged it. That support made a real difference at a time when I was still figuring out what was possible.
My mum always said that my sister and I couldn’t leave education until we had a job to go to. So I found my first role as a mortuary technician at the Royal London Hospital.
From the beginning I’ve always found a balance between the emotion of the work and the importance of following a clear process. Caring for someone’s loved one carries a deep sense of respect and responsibility.
Working as a Funeral Arranger today, I see myself as a steady guide for families during one of the most difficult times in their lives. Some families come to us wanting to celebrate the life of someone they’ve loved, while others arrive feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.
You never quite know where someone will be emotionally, and that can change from one moment to the next. My role is to provide a calm, safe space where people feel supported while we gently break down the practical steps together.
What often surprises people is that there can still be moments of warmth and even humour. Families share stories about the person they’ve lost, and sometimes those memories bring smiles as well as tears.
I’m someone who likes plans and organisation, so a good day for me is when everything comes together and we’re able to meet the needs of our families in the way they deserve. My guiding focus is always the same – I think of them as my families and want to make sure they feel cared for throughout the whole process.
When I first joined the East of England Co-op, my manager Di was an incredible support. She always made it clear that she had my back, and that meant a lot. She shared so much of her experience with me and gave me great advice about managing the emotions that can arise when working closely with families. After all, we are human too, and empathy is a big part of this work.
The relationships you build in this role can last for years. Families will sometimes pop back in just to say hello or keep that connection. That means a great deal, because it shows that they felt safe and supported during a difficult time.
Being part of the community in this way is something I’m very proud of. Our role doesn’t always end with the funeral service itself – we’re often a steady thread of support for people as they continue navigating life afterwards.
If I could go back and speak to that fourteen-year-old girl who first discovered this path, I would tell her the same thing I feel today. I would do it all again. Because I truly believe I’ve found my calling, and I wouldn’t want to do anything else.
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