Helen has been a part of The Co-operative Group for 18 years. As Director of Co-op Brand, Helen led on bringing back the iconic Co-op cloverleaf logo from 1968, before more recently becoming Director of Community Strategy and Activation. Helen is now responsible for developing the One Co-op community strategy across all the business divisions in the Co-op from Food to Funerals and ensuring that the extensive community work that Co-op undertakes is having a positive impact on both the business and the communities that it serves.
Helen’s current focus is on mobilising the Co-op businesses, colleagues, members and customers behind the community plan, Co-operate 2022. Born out of the insight from the Co-op’s Community Wellbeing Index, the plan focuses on the 3 key areas that can have a positive impact on communities across the UK - access to skills and education, improved physical and mental wellbeing and saving and protecting community spaces.
Helen is passionate about the role co-operation can play in helping communities help themselves on these important issues so that we can stop feeling individually overwhelmed and more collectively empowered to make good things happen.
Helen also has the opportunity through Co-op to sit on the governing body of one of the 24 Co-op Academy schools. Through this role Helen is able to get involved in bringing a co-operation to the next generation and encouraging them to play an active and pivotal role in their community.