Richard McCready

I am a committed co-operator and have spent much of my career promoting co-operatives in our society. I have worked for Co-operation and Mutuality Scotland and in that role, I was the founding secretary of the Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-operatives. Since 2013, I have worked for the Co-operative Party in Scotland.

I have been a director of Scotmid Co-operative since 2018 and serve as Vice-Chair of Scotmid’s North Committee.

I am a member of a number of other co-operatives including the Co-operative Group and my local credit union. I am a trustee of CETS (Co-operative Education Trust Scotland). I am a founding director and now the Chair of Dundee Renewable Energy Society, developing a community-owned solar co-operative on the outskirts of Dundee. I am a strong supporter of Fairtrade and was a Director of Bala Sport Co-op as we tried to encourage Fairtrade in sporting goods. I have been the Convener of the Dundee Fairtrade Forum for over ten years.

I have a degree in Modern History and Political Science and a PhD in history and I have published on the history of nineteenth and twentieth century Britain and Ireland. I have worked in further and higher education and in the House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament. I have led a small human rights charity and served as a local councillor. I have served as director or trustee of a number of organisations in my local community including Dundee Leisure, Leisure and Culture Dundee and Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre.

I welcome the opportunity to work with fellow-co-operators on the National Members’ Council, putting the interests of members first and promoting the co-operative ideal.