Mary McGuigan

Occupation: Communications Manager

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

Skills and experience

I’m a huge advocate of our Co-op because I’m incredibly proud of the way that we do business and the difference that we make to our communities and the world. I’ve been honoured to serve on the Members’ Council for the last three years and am particularly passionate about finding ways of bringing our members voices into the Co-op and exploring opportunities for you to participate and have a say.

Additional information

I've been a committed co-operator for over 20 years and spent 16 years working in communications for the Co-op across various businesses and departments. Some of the inspirational people that I worked with during this time and some of the projects that I was lucky enough to be a part of only served to deepen my belief in the co-operative values and my love of the co-operative movement.

I am now a freelance marketing and communications consultant working with co-ops, credit unions and charities to help them improve the way they tell their stories to make the world a better place. Over this time I have had the great pleasure of working with some fabulous co-operative organisations including the Co-operative College, the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Co-operative News, Rochdale Borough Housing Co-op, Manchester Credit Union and The Co-operative Credit Union.

I’m a huge advocate of our Co-op because I’m so incredibly proud of the way that we do business and the difference that we make to our communities and the world. I’d love us to shout our co-op difference from the rooftops so that more people understand just what a special organisation this is and join us to amplify it. I feel that we are starting to do this and the progress that we’ve made in the last two years has been incredible, we need to continue this positive momentum. Our new brand and purpose has been instrumental in this as well as our pioneering campaign work with modern slavery and loneliness. Our Co-op is starting to stand out from the crowd in a truly authentic way.

I’ve been honoured to serve on the Members’ Council for the last three years and am particularly passionate about finding ways of bringing our members voices into the Co-op and exploring opportunities for you to participate and have a say. I’m an active member of the Community and Member Participation Joint Working Group, the Member Voice Committee and the Digital Working Group. Through these sub-committees of the National Members’ Council I am able to represent members views and help to open up the opportunities for members to share their opinions and get more closely involved with shaping our Co-op. I believe that we should enable members to communicate with Council Members and our Co-op in the way that suits them best. Whether members want to get involved in our campaigns, community work, democracy or product and service development face to face, through our website or via social media then should have that option.

I also have the privilege to represent the Member Council on Co-operatives UK Board.

I share my experiences on the Members’ Council via my Twitter account - @MaryCoopCouncil