Worker Co-operative Council Election Results 2012

Thank you to all those members who voted in the worker co-operative council elections for 2012. We can now publish the results:

Bob Cannell 267 First

Alison Banton 189 Second

Sion Whellens 180 Third

Lyn Hope 176

Chris Tomlinson 161

Steve Dixon 1

Turnout for the elections was 25% of the eligible members.  

Congratulation to Bob, Alison and Sion; 

For those that don't know, the worker co-operative council is an official committee of Co-operatives UK. It acts as a sounding board for issues affecting worker co-operatives and in turn nominates two places to the main Co-operatives UK Board of Directors. The Council isn't just a talking shop and either influences or directly take action on behalf of worker co-operatives.  Here is a link to their most recent strategy plan.

Currently the Council is made up of  7 representatives elected from the worker co-op membership and 2 co-optee's. A co-operative development adviser and a young person who is also a trustee of the Woodcraft Folk.

Worker Co-operative Council Elections 2012

Voting is now open for the Worker Co-operative Council Elections! All worker co-operative members of Co-operatives UK have been sent Ballot Papers and should now have received them. Below is copy of the biographical details of the members standing for election.

These people will represent your views and help guide Co-operatives UK's strategy from the point of view of worker co-operatives. The three successful candidates will be invited to our AGM on the 25th April and will be appointed to the Worker Co-operative Council, why not come and join them.

The nominees are:

Sion Whellens – Calverts North Star Press Ltd.
Sion Whellens is a member of the communications co-operative, Calverts. He has been a member of worker, housing and consumer co-operatives since 1982. He founded the Principle Six co-operative business referral network, and has served on both the WCC and the board of Co-operatives UK (2006-2011), where he chaired the Appointments and Remuneration committee. He is vice chair of Co-operatives London.

Sion believes that the priorities for the WCC over the coming years should be:

• To continue to develop profitable political and business networks between worker co-ops, the wider movement and with radical new social and economic currents
• To help develop new types of co-operative business, with innovative stakeholding models which enfranchise more working class people
• To contribute to a Co-operatives UK led campaign to raise the profile and confidence of the movement, and greatly increase public awareness of and approval for co-operation as a distinct ‘social business brand’

Steve Dixon – Anglia Home Furnishings Holdings Ltd.
I have 15 years experience in Risk Management, Internal Audit and Corporate Compliance, six of which have been spend in the co-operative and social enterprise sector.

I am currently one of three partners at the Big Fish Partnership where I advise Boards in the corporate governance aspects of company formation, having written company constitutions and corporate governance codes.

One of my clients includes a large employee co-operative where I focused on increasing employee engagement and promoting the benefits of the co-operative model with the membership.

Away from work, I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the gym, reading and socialising with friends. I am also a school governor at a local primary school.

If elected to this position, I would like to use my skills and experience to support member organisations and promote the employee co-operative sector and the benefits that organisations can achieve through this structure.

Lyn Hope – Midshires Clothing
My involvement with Co-operatives started 15 years ago with Queen Eleanor, a Co-op Workwear manufacturer in Kettering. Hit by competitor’s cheap imports, the factory closed, leaving a highly skilled workforce, with no jobs left in the industry.

Not to be beaten, we set up our own Worker Co-operative to provide employment for clothing workers. As well as being Age Positive we aim to pass our unique skills on to future generations via apprenticeship schemes.

I believe that Co-operatives like ours are the way forward to rebuilding the British economy, but it is about so much more than that; It’s about preserving skills and valuing the people who have them.

I would relish the chance to work with other Co-operators and find a way to encourage the set up of more Co-operatives as a way to get people working again.

Bob Cannell – Suma (Traingle Wholefoods)
Bob is an experienced activist with 30 years membership of Suma, several in the Worker Coop Council and on the board of CoopsUK. Bob is a European (CECOP) and World (CICOPA) delegate to worker co-op federations.

He promotes worker ownership in business schools and is a well known source of  advice  for worker co-ops. Bob helped write the Cooperatives UK Worker Cooperative Code of Governance

“I continue to fight for recognition and support for worker co-ops wherever. I recently helped CoopsUK amend the cooperative development training standards to recognise the importance of cooperative working skills in worker co-ops.”

“If re-elected I will continue to ensure CoopsUK and our European and World federations serve us well. I’m optimistic for worker ownership but we need to push the idea and improve our game so we are good examples of democratic enterprise.”

Alison Banton – Dulas Ltd.
It’s taken some time to get to grips with the workings of Co-ops UK and the worker co-op council (on top of the day job) and I would relish another two years in order to follow through on the key strategies we recently identified, especially in our focus on young people. Liaising with the Woodcraft Folk and other worker co ops is truly inspiring stuff.

I’m the Senior Management Accountant/ Company Secretary at Dulas Ltd and we’ve grown into one of the country’s leading renewable energy specialists. The past two years we have undertaken significant changes to our organisation in terms of Corporate Governance, Pay & Reward, Management Structure and even geography- we now have a Scottish Office but have retained 100% (equal) employee ownership and that’s by no means a small achievement. There’s a lot we would love to share and as ever show folk that co-ops rock!

Christopher Robert Tomlinson – Birmingham Bike Foundry
Five years ago I moved to Birmingham and founded a fully mutual housing co-operative with friends called Gung Ho, where I now live. Two years ago I set up Birmingham Bike Foundry –a workers' co-op with four directors. I have been a full time bike mechanic, bike maintenance and cycling trainer since then. Both co-ops are members of Radical Routes.

Within RR I am a core member of publicity group and the Trading Co-ops working group which encourages and supports the establishment of new worker co-ops.

Since I left education I have been working towards developing the co-operative commonweal. I believe that democratic, non-hierarchical employment and ownership of assets has many advantages for co-operative employees and tenants.

I believe in a post-capitalist society run along fairer and saner lines and this is something that I am actively working towards. I believe that this society could be effectively organised by councils of co-operatives.

If your co-operative has not received ballot papers and you wish to vote please contact us. All ballot papers must be received by 15th May 2012

Worker co-operative election results 2011

Thank you for all those members voting, we can now publish the results of the worker co-operative council elections 2011. The results are:

Candidate	Organisation	No of votes
Britta Werner	Unicorn Grocery	237
Richard Crook	Essential Trading Co-operative	203
Edward Russell	Co-operative Web	175
Athene Ellana Richford	GreenCity Wholefoods	121
Steven Glynn	Sustainable Change Cooperative	114
M J Ray	Turo Technology LLP	64

Voter turn-out was 21% and I would like to congratulate Britta and Ed for being re-elected and Richard and Athene who will be new members of the Council.  They will join members not up for election this year:

Alison Banton, Dulas

Bob Cannell, Suma Wholefoods

Sion Whellens, Calverts

The next council meeting will take place on Friday 25th June at Congress in Birmingham. So if you would like to talk to your new and existing representatives please come along to Congress and Co-operatives UK's AGM.

Worker Co-operative Council Elections 2011

Voting is now open for the Worker Co-operative Council Elections! All worker co-operative members of Co-operatives UK were sent Ballot Papers on the 20 April 2011 and should receive this in the next week. This should include a list of nominees, biographical details and a Ballot paper.  These people will represent your views and help guide Co-operatives UK's strategy from the point of view of worker co-operatives.

The closing date for receipt of ballot papers is 27th May 2011 and the Elections result declared 3rd June 2011. The four successfull candidates will be invited to the next Worker Co-operative Council meeting taking place at Congress 2011 why not come and join them.

The nominees are:

Britta Werner - Unicorn GroceryI have been working at Unicorn Grocery, a retail workers co-operative in Manchester, for over 6 years. I am the company’s secretary and also part of the Personnel Team and currently studying for an MSc in Human Resource Management.

I became involved in the Worker Co-op Council 4 years ago and through this I am on the board of Co-operative and Community Finance.

I feel that my knowledge of HR can be helpful to the council as well as my enthusiasm for co-operatives. Unicorn Grocery is a successful co-operative and because of this, I have constant contact with different co-operatives who are getting in touch with us. Therefore I feel I have got good skills and abilities to contribute to the council.  Having served on the council for the last four years has given me a good insight into the co-operative movement from many different aspects.

Edward Russell – Co-operative Web
Hi, I'm Ed and am a geek who is part of the technology focused worker co-op "Co-operative Web" based in Birmingham.  I've been a member of the council for the past two years over which time we've grown Co-op Web quite substantially to now be 21 workers and have experienced a lot of the trials and tests that brings!  I'm also a director of Co-operative Futures and a member of Co-operatives WM. 

I've worked hard to try and bring the message of co-operation to more people through many talks and seminars including the recent series of Co-ops UK events for creative co-operatives.  I'm very passionate about spreading the message and how technology can play a part in this.

I would like to have another term on the council as I feel that I've only just started to understand how to make a difference and feel that I've a lot to contribute about small and growing worker co-ops.

Richard Crook – Essential Trading Co-operative
I have been a member of Essential Trading Co-operative for 10 years, covering a range of responsibilities on my way to my current role in our accounts team and as co-operative treasurer.  My experience of being a member of a worker co-op has convinced me that this is a truly alternative and democratic way to organise a business away from conventional hierarchical structures.  I feel that it is important for worker cooperatives to have representation within Co-operatives UK, to continue to promote the positive aspects they bring to the co-operative movement.

Essential Trading Co-operative is a Natural and Organic Food Wholesaler and Retailer - one of the largest worker co-operatives in the UK with over 80 members.  It was formed through the merger of two co-operatives; Harvest and Nova in 1991. The origins of those co-operatives can be traced back to 1971.

Steven Glynn – Sustainable Change CooperativeI am a partner at Sustainable Change Cooperative which works with organisations to develop a clearer understanding of what sustainability means for them, and take practical action based on this understanding.  See our website, www.sustainable-change.co.uk, for more details on what we do. As a newcomer to the cooperative movement – we have been a cooperative for a year – I have a lot to learn, but also believe I have a lot to offer. I see developing the cooperative movement as critical part of moving towards an economy and society that allows people and the environment to flourish. At the same time it is essential that cooperatives themselves embrace the sustainability agenda and exploring cooperatively how best to do this would be a central aim of mine if elected to the Council.

M J Ray – Turo Technology LLP
MJ is both passionate about and experienced in co-operation. 2012, the UN's year of co-ops, is a great opportunity to spread the co-operative message wider and to build support both between co-ops and with their national body.  MJ is working to equip members with the resources they want, under permissive terms of use, to facilitate their business, campaigning and outreach.  'Dog helps Dog' and 'Co-operation in the Age of Google' are helpful starting points to build upon.

MJ has worked for software.coop since it was formed 9 years ago and served on the Co-operatives SW steering group 2006-2010.  Having also experienced work in public and private sectors, MJ fully appreciates the social, democratic and ethical co-operative difference.  Your support will help MJ achieve his aims of bringing UK members together and taking the worker cooperative message to a wider audience.  Thank you.

Athene Ellana Richford – GreenCity Wholefoods
I came to GreenCity as a recent graduate having always admired and been cognisant of the co-operative movement.  I am passionate about the role that cooperatives, and especially worker coops, can play in demonstrating to our wider societies that it is possible to have truly accountable businesses which, whilst profitable do not compromise their ethics regarding workers and customers.  I strongly believe that cooperatives are representative of humanity at its best; giving workers autonomy over their means of production; providing community and a responsible way of working.  In short, I regard cooperatives as the humanisation of capitalism.  I would relish the opportunity to work with other worker coop members and broaden my knowledge of worker cooperatives and the wider movement.  I hope that such an engagement from me would foster my growth as a worker, an individual and also that of GreenCity.

Worker Co-operative Council Election Results

Just to show life goes on regardless of Co-operatives Fortnight, we can now declare the Worker Co-operative Election Results!  I would like to Congratulate Bob Cannell and Sion Whellen's for being re-elected to the Council and Alison Banton for joining the Council for the first time.As usual the election was contested and the voting quite close.

WHELLENS, Sion         293         ELECTED
CANNELL, Bob            262         ELECTED
BANTON, Alison Joan   219         ELECTED
BRATCHER, Linda        203                   

I would also like to thank Kate Ormrod (Ecogenie) who stood down this year to concentrate on her worker co-operative; for her time on the Council and also the main Board of Co-operatives UK.  You have given a lot (particularly for braving the Co-operative Performance Committee on behalf of Worker Co-operatives) and will be missed.

The last meeting of the present Council will with at Co-operatives 2010.  If you want to know more about the worker co-operative council or get move involved in Co-operatives UK please contact me.

If you want to no more information on the successful candidates click here.