Co-op calls on the public for advice

THE Co-operative Group has decided to “ask the nation” what direction it should take.

The group, which has been rocked by a £1.5bn hole in its banking arm and allegations of illegal drug use by former bank chairman Paul Flowers, said it wants to give staff, members and the public a chance to have their say on future strategy.

It said these views will feed directly into the group’s wider strategic review which will be unveiled in May.

The Co-op has developed a survey in conjunction with YouGov which poses a detailed set of questions asking what the Co-op means to people and what it should represent in the future. It also asks whether the Co-op should make political donations and how it can improve its services. The research will also look at wider issues such as national values and expectations of big business.

Group chief executive Euan Sutherland said: “We will be asking people up and down the country what they believe The Co-operative should really stand for. This is an unprecedented move for an organisation of the size and the scale of The Co-operative and the results will feed directly into our wider review of strategy and purpose.

“In recent years The Co-operative has lost touch with its customers and members and with the communities in which it operates – we haven’t been listening. As a new management team we are focused on renewing The Co-operative and the UK public will be vital to that process.

“If we are to successfully serve the communities in which we operate, to become as relevant today as we were in the past, we need to hear directly from the communities and the people we serve. We have seen incredible loyalty from our customers, colleagues and members in recent months – now we want to reward that loyalty.”