Meet the team | Delores Cooper

Tell us about your role at VM Finance

As a Director of VM Finance Limited, my main responsibilities are ensuring the welfare of the management team, protecting the interests of our clients, and presenting the best possible image of VM Finance Limited and the wider VM Group.

That responsibility spans both internal and external relationships. Internally, it’s about supporting the team and making sure they’re operating in the right environment. Externally, it’s about maintaining trust with clients and ensuring that everything we do reflects the standards and values of the business.

A key part of my role is also representing VM within diaspora communities across the UK. I regularly attend events and speak with community groups, making sure we remain visible, accessible and engaged with the people we’re here to support.

What qualities do you think are most important in your role?

Confidentiality is essential. Clients need to know that their information and interests are being handled properly at all times.

Alongside that, being a good listener is critical. You need to understand what both clients and the management team are trying to achieve, and then be able to communicate clearly what opportunities are available to them.

At the same time, it’s important to ensure that everything aligns with the policies and regulations that govern the financial sector. We need to balanceing opportunity with responsibility and makeing sure the right safeguards are always in place.

What’s your background and what brought you into this role?

My background is rooted in community engagement and public service.

I spent 11 years working as a Community Relations Officer at the Jamaican High Commission in the UK. During that time, I travelled extensively across the country, engaging with Jamaican communities, understanding their needs, and communicating those back to the government of Jamaica and other relevant institutions.

That role was very much about acting as a bridge. It involved listening to communities, gathering insight, and making sure their voices were represented. It also meant working closely with organisations based in the UK that supported those communities.

VM was one of those organisations, and through that relationship I became very familiar with the work they were doing. I attended meetings, shared information and helped connect the needs of the diaspora with the opportunities available through VM.

When I retired from public service, I was invited to join VM as a Director. It felt like a natural continuation of that work and something I took very seriously.

How does your experience with the diaspora shape your work at VM Finance?

One of the biggest needs has always been access to clear information and reliable support.

VM has always ensured that when there is a need, there is someone available to respond. Whether it’s addressing a problem, providing guidance or explaining opportunities, that support is there and delivered in a way that people can understand.

There is also a strong focus on property ownership within the diaspora. For many, owning property is a key priority, and VM has consistently created opportunities that meet those needs, whether through mortgages or wider investment options.

That approach is supported by a strong, inclusive team of professionals who are ready to work closely with clients, whether they are looking at residential or commercial property, and help shape opportunities that suit their individual circumstances.

Importantly, those opportunities are not limited to one group. While VM has strong roots in supporting the Jamaican diaspora, the business works with a wide range of clients, providing access to investment opportunities for anyone who needs them.

We also place real value on direct engagement with clients. As directors, we have the opportunity to meet with clients at least once a year, which allows us to gather feedback and ensure we’re continuing to meet their needs as they evolve.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

I’ve always enjoyed working with people and staying actively involved in the community.

Even after retiring from public service, I continued to support community events, often acting as a master of ceremonies to help bring people together. It’s something I’ve done regularly, helping organisations run events without needing additional resources.

That connection to the community is something I’ve carried through into my role at VM as well, where I continue to engage with people, attend events and maintain those relationships.

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