Charles Sim

Occupation: Retired

Co-operative Businesses traded with in last 12 months Food, Insurance, Bank and Electrical

Skills and experience

Member Pioneer. As a Co-operator committed to the democracy of our business I seek your vote to be on our Members’ Council. I believe I have the skills and attributes to participate in a competent manner bringing extensive experience as a volunteer officer in the Credit Union movement plus Area Committee membership. I am Chair of the Co-op Credit Union Supervisory Committee and have recently been appointed as a Member Pioneer.

Additional information

My involvement with the Co-op began as a Store Message boy where I had grounding in how we do business in the heart of our communities The Message boy/girl service was as important then as our Home Delivery service is now. I was reintroduced to co-operation at the coalface when I started volunteering with a large credit union (financial co-operative). During my numerous years’ service mostly as a director I was able to obtain an HNC in Financial Services (Credit Union) plus a knowledge base that is directly transferable to this post. Whilst serving on an area committee I also gained the Certificate in Co-operative studies and continued with personal development training as new courses came on stream. Thanks to my involvement in Fairtrade both locally and nationally I have maintained links with local groups that has allowed me to regularly listen and engage with co-op food shoppers, this avenue is still open to me and one of the deciding factors in standing for election knowing I still have a finger on the pulse which will be further enhanced as a Member Pioneer

I can confirm I am fully aware of our great Co-op British Heritage and as Director of Fenwick Weavers am more than aware of Scotland’s major role in that heritage.

I am a team player though will voice my opinions if I believe it necessary to defend our values and principals. I have given a great deal of time and effort into preparing to make this Membership Council application not this statement but in testing my beliefs in our products. I targeted two food stores one city centre, one rural. No longer can the Co-op Group be labelled as dearer on basics than our rivals often we are best value and it would appear or customers are happy with these offers and prices in general, recent price drops are also proving popular. It is a particular pleasure to witness a busy co-op city centre food store doing good business despite the opening of a second high street trader of previously out of town operation focus in its immediate vicinity.

It also gave great delight to deal with our online Electrical store where quality products are available at quality prices including a versatile delivery service. We have excellent deals well marketed to give us good expanding business opportunities. Media marketing of new products from the Co-op family of businesses. These observations along with my attendance at Co-op Annual General Meetings gave me the reassurance to stand for election in an organisation that is moving forward in an ever improving co-operative manner.

Charles Sim