Rose Marley has been appointed chief executive of Co-operatives 海角视频, the sector trade body for cooperatives.
Ms Marley, chief executive of Sharp Futures, a social enterprise that aims to get young people into creative and digital careers at the Sharp Project in Newton Heath, will join the organisation in January 2021.
Co-operatives 海角视频 is a network for Britain’s thousands of cooperatives - from high street retailers to community owned pubs, fan owned football clubs to farmer controlled businesses - which the organisation says is together worth over £38 billion to the British economy.
The organisation said the appointment comes at a time where there is “a real appetite for different ways to do business”.
Ms Marley said: “There has never been a more important moment to harness the enthusiasm of a new generation for a fairer way of doing business.
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“The co-op movement has always been about disrupting the status quo, encouraging people to take responsibility for themselves and others.
“In the past it was ensuring there was “no chalk in our flour”, now it is about digital platforms, or plastic in our environment or a gig economy that denies young people the stability and training they need to establish themselves in life.”
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She added: “We have an historic opportunity now to merge co-operative principles with digital technology to create the kind of sustainable, equitable platforms that society needs.”
Chair of Co-operatives 海角视频 Don Morris added: “We are delighted to have Rose on board. She brings a fresh approach to the challenges facing entrepreneurs, co-operatives, community business and social enterprise today.
“In the same way that co-ops are often set up to disrupt mainstream business models - giving ownership and decision making powers to workers, customers and communities – we expect Rose to help us shake up the way that co-ops are perceived.
“Yes, they are best known as high street convenience stores. But they are also tech companies, arts venues, freelancers working collectively, innovators, activists and much more. We think Rose will fit right in!”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, called the appointment “extremely astute”.
I know from working closely with Rose that there is no-one better for this role. She is a true innovator and outstanding entrepreneur but also someone who cares deeply about re-investing in our people and our communities. She is the right person to show how cooperatives can deliver real answers to many of our 21st century problems.
“In Greater Manchester, we are indebted to Rose for her incredible leadership of the Our Pass pilot, delivering free travel and opportunities for our young people, and the Together In One Voice event which united and lifted us during lockdown.
“I have no doubt that she will bring her usual energy and passion to this new role and she has the full backing of this city-region, the birthplace of the cooperative movement, in taking in on.”