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A Magazine for Sheffield

James Lock

Managing Director at Opus.

James Lock

Co-Founder and Managing Director of Opus Independents Ltd, James has over ten years of experience working in a range of sectors including the VCS and third sectors on a variety of project management and delivery roles and sits on the boards of Voluntary Action Sheffield, Healthwatch and Cohesion Sheffield.

He is convinced that the world we live in can be improved through dedicated project work which identifies and contributes towards upstream solutions that address our collective social, environmental, political and economic challenges at their root.

James has extensive experience in value-led approaches to partnership work and a particular knowledge of independent trade, marketing, arts, activism, event management, sales, active citizenship and culture sectors within the city.

In his spare time James enjoys spending time with his family, listening to new (to him) music, writing poetry, playing racket sports and reading science fiction.

Agency in the Workplace: Regather

Co-founder Gareth Roberts tells us how, and why, agency and control in the workplace should be available to everyone – not just those in the cooperative movement.

How we've all changed: 2020 in review for Opus

This defining moment in our history is daunting, but it’s also an opportunity to use our privileges differently and re-vision the kind of society we want to live in, says Opus director James Lock.

Contributing to Black History Month as a White Man

White people engaging with Black History Month is always going to be uncomfortable. But sitting with this discomfort, and using our privilege for good, is how we start to dismantle racism at a systemic level, all year round.

Make Yourself at Home, Sheffield

Stories of recovery, resilience and renewal can give us a new sense of shared purpose and agency, says Opus and Now Then co-founder James Lock.

Opus during Covid-19: Thoughts and reflections

Opus - whose social projects include Now Then Magazine and Festival of Debate - share their experiences of adapting to a completely new landscape in Sheffield - and what is still left to be done to make our city better for everyone.

Yanis Varoufakis: Democratising Europe

In recent years we have seen far more of the workings behind the curtain of neoliberalism than we ever have before. This is in part, I…

Just Fine: The Economics of Justice

When casually reading a Magistrates' Association (MA) newsletter recently, I was struck by the idea of an 'economics of justice'. So…

Festival of Debate: Join the discussion

Solutions for change rarely appear out of thin air, in vacuum, and it’s almost certain that they don’t achieve consensus unless widely…

Real Ale: Get supping

Walking into the pub, enjoying the anticipation with a wistful and instinctive licking of the lips, I contemplate the selection of…