WHEN THE UK's largest independent co-operative society hit a £1bn turnover last year, everyone was a winner. Chief executive Ben Reid sent all 9,335 employees a thank-you letter and a scratch card for a £20,000 draw, and even if they didn't win £1,000 in holiday vouchers, an iPad mini or a day off, everyone at least got a bar of fair trade chocolate. The Midcounties Co-operative has an acronym for its principles: DOES. Democracy, openness, equality and social responsibility, it says, are its “values in action”. Employees agree with this and say the group of businesses is run on strong principles (a 79% positive score) and makes a positive difference to the world (72%). The group began in 1844 when the Rochdale Pioneers opened a shop to sell unadulterated goods at reasonable prices. Now there are more than 540 sites, including food stores, travel agencies, pharmacies, nurseries and an energy business — all owned by the members (who include many employees). Midcounties scores highest in our survey for Giving Something Back (73%, a top-three result), and it wins our 2014 special award in this category, too. Last year, more than half of the Midcounties workforce was encouraged to take part in charitable activities during office hours (85%). Everyone is entitled to three days a year for volunteering, and there is a staff-nominated charity (currently the Teenage Cancer Trust). In 2011, the group chose to support the domestic violence charity, Women's Aid, and raised £345,000, donating almost 23,000 hours of volunteering time and creating an educational pack for the charity to use in schools. Employees say the co-operative gives a lot back to its local community (65%) and cares for the environment with its use of solar panels, LED lighting and — naturally — a policy to reduce the use of carrier bags (79%). People feel good themselves and give a top-six score for questions on Wellbeing (64%). An employee assistance helpline offers confidential advice, the pharmacy group runs programmes on quitting smoking, and staff recently worked together to create a booklet on “respect in the workplace”. Team members typically work 21 hours a week, so work and home life feel in healthy balance, too (67%). www.midcounties.coop
