Central Co-op chief calls for fair deal for workers and the North

A retail leader called for higher pay for entry-level workers as she addressed an audience in Yorkshire.
Lizzie Murphy
By Lizzie Murphy
Published 8th Jun 2023, 16:45 BST

Speaking at Humber Business Week in Hull, Debbie Robinson, the Central Co-op chief executive and European vice president of Euro Co-ops, also rejected talk of “levelling up” and said what the North needs is to get its fair share back.

She said: “When I hear that the Bank of England are worried that an increase in the minimum wage is going to impact inflation it’s just ridiculous so the pay thing is crucial. It’s got to be significantly higher than where it is today.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ms Robinson was speaking at the latest in the series of Elevenses interviews, launched by Paul Sewell, chairman of Sewell Group.

Paul Sewell, chairman of Sewell Group, and Debbie Robinson, the Central Co-op chief executive and European vice president of Euro Co-ops.Paul Sewell, chairman of Sewell Group, and Debbie Robinson, the Central Co-op chief executive and European vice president of Euro Co-ops.
Paul Sewell, chairman of Sewell Group, and Debbie Robinson, the Central Co-op chief executive and European vice president of Euro Co-ops.

During the interview, she also underlined the values of fairness which she said are still at the heart of the Co-op. “Something I really believe in is pay and entry-level workers, and we just need to pay people a bit more money to help them through,” she said.

She added: “Social mobility is really important. The ability to move, to see different places, access different things whether that’s work, whether it’s education, are really important. Rather than levelling up I call it our fair share. That’s actually what I’d like, for the north to have its fair share back.”

Related topics:NorthYorkshireHull