Co-operatives UK launches'most comprehensive' suite of resources for community enterprises

 The most comprehensive suite of resources ever to be developed for community enterprises has been launched today by Co-operatives UK to give community enterprises access to top quality financial, legal and governance advice.

Co-operatives UK, the trade association for co-operative enterprises, has developed the resources with nationally recognised experts as part of the Making Local Food Work programme, a £10m project funded by the Big Lottery Fund that supports community food enterprises across England.

 The suite of resources, available both online and as hard copies, is free to use and includes: 

• Simply Finance – pooling expert advice on financing a community enterprise
• Simply Governance - a comprehensive guide to efficiently and effectively running a community enterprise
• Online governance audit - a tool to allow enterprises to assess and diagnose how they are being run
• Online select-a-structure - a tool allowing fledgling enterprises to find the most appropriate legal structure for their needs.

Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, said: “Co-operatives UK is a recognised specialist in the governance of co-operative and community enterprises. This is the first time resources of this calibre have been available, free of charge, for community enterprises. Through the 'Simply' suite we aim to help enterprising communities across the country to start and run sustainable businesses.”

The suite of resources can be accessed at: www.uk.coop/simplyseries

To order hard copies of Simply Legal, Simply Governance and Simply Finance, simply contact Penny Claiden at: penny.claiden@uk.coop; 0161 246 2953