Central Midlands - The Co-operative

Jenny
de Villiers
East Leake
Helen
Clark
Borrowash
“
I have been your representative on the
Central Midlands Area Committee since
1999. We are in an increasingly competitive
world and we should be proud that we are
supporting a British business backed up with
values and principles that seek to make a
difference, not only to ourselves but to the
wider world. However, it is not enough to
be loyal to our values and it is our challenge
to ensure that we are an efficient, customer
focussed and price favourable co-operative
business. We support local communities
and have defined social goals into which our
profits are re-invested but is our message
clear to our shoppers and members? Do we
make enough effort to communicate that we
are not a shareholder driven business but we
have a unique difference? Our democratic
structure proves that we can implement a
checks and balance approach to ensure
that our products are ethical and can be
trusted. How can we move forward to the
next generation without making a contribution
to this one? We have to meet competition
and be sure that as a co-operative business
we are raising the bar. I continue to work
in your interests to ensure that you receive
the benefits and services required to take us
forward into the future.
“
“
I have a BA and MA from Bristol University.
I am an Assessor in English Literature;
formerly Senior English Teacher; Consultant
with the Association of British Insurers; Head
of Campaigns with the Multiple Sclerosis
Society and 8 years (1997-2005) as MP for
Peterborough.
My family in Derbyshire and Gloucestershire
were co-operators for the duration of the
20th century and co-operative values are
dear to me.
I am Secretary of the Long Eaton Cooperative
Party Branch and served on the
Kent Area Committee; representing it at
Congress, Annual and Half Yearly Meetings. I
attended the Co-op College, studying the milk
operation and worker Co-ops and served on
the CWS Political Committee.
I was a Co-op Parliamentary Panellist.
I have an excellent relationship with
our Borrowash Co-op and as the Co
co- ordinator of ‘Unexamined Lives’ a
retrospective of 20th century Borrowash,
have written about the Co-op as a local
educator and employer, in articles published
by The Derby Telegraph.
“
I offer excellent communication skills;
effective work with committees; commercial
and voluntary experience and above all,
enthusiasm and initiative. Election to the
Committee would be an honour.