The new year honours list included gongs for three Co-op Group colleagues, and for the joint CEO of East of England Co-op.
From the Group, Co-op Food CEO Jo Whitfield was made CBE, while head of hire to retire Nick Speight was made MBE and Romford team manger Joanne Gates was given a BEM.
Helen Webb, the Groups’s chief people and services officer, praised the contributions of her three colleagues. She said Ms Whitfield had led the Food division “through some of the most uncertain times in our history.
“Through Jo’s leadership we continued to feed the nation, no matter what coronavirus threw at us. We kept the supply chain moving and shops open for business, all whilst keeping colleagues and communities safe with PPE, screens and new ways of working.
“She didn’t stop there though and has gone above and beyond to make sure everyone has a meal. Her work in partnership with Fareshare and co-operation with Marcus Rashford on his free school meals campaign has helped some of the most vulnerable in our society.”
Ms Whitfield said: “I was genuinely surprised when I was contacted by the Prime Minister’s office. It is a great honour, and in reality is a valuable recognition for all my colleagues at the Co-op who have gone above and beyond to help feed the nation and support communities during the coronavirus pandemic. They have worked tirelessly to keep shops open and stocked and also help food banks at a time of need.”
Of Mr Speight’s MBE, Ms Webb said he “continues to support us all” looking after colleague safety and wellbeing through the crisis.
“From recruiting extra colleagues when we need them, to being on hand for line managers and colleagues navigating new things like ‘furlough’ or ‘shielding’, Nick’s advice and support has been invaluable in keeping us and all our business units going this year,” she added.
Mr Speight said: “I am completely delighted to receive this honour in recognition of the work myself and our team have undertaken to keep our Co-op colleagues safe and supported while continuing to serve the community this year.
“The team rose to the unprecedented challenges Covid-19 presented, going above and beyond to make people decisions in a truly Co-op way, to keep our food stores feeding the nation and our funeral care homes supporting those in their time of need. I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved.”
Joanne Gates, team manager for the Group’s Romford stores, was awarded a British Empire Medal. Ms Webb she had played an “incredible role … in putting shop worker safety on the agenda of our government” through her work promoting the Group’s Safer Colleagues, Safer Communities campaign on retail crime.
“She also kept two stores running throughout the coronavirus crisis, meaning the communities she serves were kept fed and watered no matter what,” added Ms Webb. “Joanne’s a true advocate of co-operation with a real community spirit.”
Ms Gates said: “Working at the Co-op is about so much more than selling groceries. Our stores are real community hubs and I do take my role as a member of the local community very seriously. It’s been a particularly challenging year for us all but nothing gives me a greater sense of fulfilment than knowing I’ve helped to make a positive difference to the lives of people living in the area.”
Elsewhere in the movement, Doug Field, joint CEO of East of England Co-op, was awarded an OBE for his work supporting businesses across Suffolk and Norfolk. Mr Field joined the East of England team as financial controller in 2008 before rising to his current role.
Having spent three years as chair of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, Mr Field helped to drive economic growth for Norfolk and Suffolk, as the UK’s designated ‘clean growth region’, raising its profile both nationally and globally.
He said he was delighted to be able to use the skills and expertise from his extensive carreer on the board of the LEP, having joined in December 2014 and becoming chair in September 2017.
He aid: “This is incredible and an absolute privilege. But without the team, we wouldn’t have achieved anything.
“I want to use the OBE as a stepping stone; a launch pad to do even more to help others.”
