Welcoming 'Say what you pay' from Government

06 November 2026

Our Co-op is a member-owned organisation - the relationship we have with those we trade with can go way beyond a simple transaction, whether that’s a quick tuna sandwich or insurance for a weekend away.

The members we serve are also our owners. They have a say in what we do, who we do it for and where we do it.

And I’m very proud of everything our People team does, to ensure the composition of our 53,000-strong workforce reflects the rich diversity of all those we serve and support. It stands to reason that those colleagues who best understand our communities usually already live there, or share their backgrounds and experiences.

Our amazing colleagues keep our Co-op attuned to what it can offer in terms of products or services, but also as a resource for 7.5 million active member-owners across the country.

For that reason, it has long been obvious to our Co-op that creating a representative business, made resilient by a keen understanding of consumers, only happens if routes to work are as accessible as possible, but also clear and easy to understand from the outset.

The job market has been opaque for too long. Exceptional candidates are left alienated by role descriptions that fail to cover the rudiments. That includes whether a new job can meaningfully support them and their family.

Nobody should ever have to apply for a job without knowing what it pays. 

Today’s announcement is a huge win, as the Government calls on employers to ‘say what you pay’ and makes salary transparency in job adverts a requirement for UK businesses. 

Co-op already publishes salary information on all advertised roles, because we think giving people clear, honest information from the start is simply the right thing to do. 

And it continues to create a fairer recruitment process by widening access to opportunity. It gives the people we meet greater confidence to proceed, safe in the knowledge that they can support themselves and those who depend upon them.

For young people, it can help them channel their effort, progress and further realise their potential. It could play a factor in their first job or the first rung on a new career ladder.  

We’ve been proud to support the We Show the Salary campaign and its work to make the case for change, and we’ve shared our own experiences and evidence with Government as it considered these proposals. 

I look forward to following the changes as they unfold, making for an equitable labour market where change is long overdue.