Democratic Member Control

Democratic member control is achieved both in our governance structure and in other, less formal, ways. Our Board is made up of 11 directors, of which four are Member-Nominated Directors (MNDs).All of our Board directors are members themselves and they must meet both membership and eligibility requirements.

Our MNDs are elected through a direct ballot of our members. Our Independent Non-Executive Directors are appointed by the Board and subsequently put forward for election by members at our AGM.

We have 100 members elected to our National Members’ Council by individual and Independent Society members. Our Council has an important role in holding our Board to account for our performance, championing our Values and Principles, and representing members’ interests, as well as influencing our policies and strategies.

Members are encouraged to have their say in our AGM and elections. This is done through our system of ‘one member, one vote’.

National Members' Council

Our National Members’ Council is made up of 100 Co-op members from around the UK, including colleagues, and it meets six times a year. In 2022, the Council fed into plans and discussed important issues for our Co-op, like financial performance and our new Food strategy, helping the business to meet the needs of our members and the diverse communities we serve and support.

A key role for our Council is holding the Co-op Board to account on the strategic and operational decisions it makes. To do this effectively and in a way that takes our co-operative Values and Principles and the views of our members into consideration, the Council uses a framework called the Co-op Compass. Within the compass, there are four lenses: Member Value, Member Voice, Ethical & Sustainable Leadership, and Co-operative Leadership. To monitor these areas, each lens has key performance indicators and a committee, which meets with colleagues throughout the year to hear the latest updates.

To keep in touch with our members, the Council holds Join In Live events every autumn, bringing together co-operators, directors and colleagues to talk about what’s happening around our businesses and shape plans around our campaigns, membership and community activity. This year, we introduced attendees to our new partnership with Your Local Pantry and asked them to help shape how we support communities with access to food during the cost-ofliving crisis. For more information on the work of our National Members’ Council in 2022, please read the Council Annual Statement in our 2022 Annual Report and Accounts.

How our governance works

Members: As a co-operative, we're owned by individual members and other co-operatives, not by shareholder investors. This means that as well as being rewarded for trading with us, our members have an opportunity to have their say on key issues including who represents them on our Council and Board.
Council: Responsible for holding the Board to account. Acts as a guardian of our Values and Principles, our Purpose and our constitution.
Board: Responsible and accountable for determining strategy and holding the Executive to account.
Executive: Key members of management running the business on a day-to-day basis in accordance with the strategy determined by the Board.