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
Colleagues share their stories this International Women's Day
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.
Blog
Turning listening into action: what International Women’s Day means for the East of England Co-op
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lead at the East of England Co-op, Jasmine Moss-Rahman shares her thoughts on the meaning of International Women’s Day and what it requires of organisations today.
Blog
Powering change through technology
As Technology Officer at our co-op, Rob Smith always has one eye on the future within the retail sector. Read Rob's thoughts on the sector following his fireside chat with our Head of Sustainability Steve Fendley at the CRN Sustainability in Tech Summit.