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Select-a-structure tool
This tool has been designed primarily for use by an experienced development worker supporting groups who wish to determine the most appropriate legal structure for their venture. It can be used, with care, by the groups themselves, who feel confident enough to do so.
You will need to be, or become, a registered user of this site in order to use the tool. This is so that your results can be stored and accessed again if you need them.
To use the tools, please select from the links to the right: use the Express Select-a-Structure tool if you are a development worker or confident with how the tool works, or use the full Select-a-Structure tool to work through each question one by one.
Disclaimer
This select-a-structure exercise is intended to give general information about the range of legal structures and organisational types that may be suitable for a range of enterprise and does not constitute legal advice. Should you require some assistance after completing the exercise please contact us using the contact details below.
How the Select-a-structure tool works:
- First we need some information about you and the organisation
- You will then be asked a series of questions
- The answers to the questions will alter the list of possible structures
- At the end you will be left with a list of the possible structures for the organisation
To use the tools, please select from the links to the right: use the Express Select-a-Structure tool if you are a development worker or confident with how the tool works, or use the full Select-a-Structure tool to work through each question one by one.
More information:
We ask you to complete a form with your details before you can access the tool. This is to allow us to e-mail the results to you and to monitor the types of responses different organisations are giving. Your answers will not be shared with a third party.
The tool displays a list of the possible legal forms and organisational types.
- Legal form - A legal form is the sort of organisation it is considered to be in the eyes of the law, for example, whether it is a company limited by guarantee or by shares, an industrial and provident society or an association.
- Organisational type - The organisational type of an organisation may define what type of business or activity it undertakes, how it goes about that business (its ethos and values) or what sector it operates in (such as social enterprise or food co-operative) but it would not be recognised as such in the eyes of the law.
You will be asked a series of questions and your responses will lead to some of these options becoming less likely as the appropriate choice for your venture. Options marked unlikely will probably be unavailable or at least inappropriate; those marked less likely are still possibilities but probably not your first choice; and those remaining likely are the most likely candidates.
If more than one option remains likely in any list you may well have a choice.
If all options are marked unlikely in either list your project probably requires further analysis, or you may want a mix of constitutional features that simply cannot be achieved.
If some of the questions seem irrelevant it is because this exercise is designed to cater for a very wide range of organisations.
And finally... DON‘T PANIC! Although the questionnaire may look a little daunting, if you work through it methodically you should get a result. You also have the option to start again at any time.
When you have finished the questionnaire you will be e-mailed a copy of the results.
If all options are marked unlikely or you get a different answer to what you expected contact our Legal Services Team to discuss your requirements.
To use the tools, please select from the links to the right: use the Express Select-a-Structure tool if you are a development worker or confident with how the tool works, or use the full Select-a-Structure tool to work through each question one by one.
Co-operatives UK Legal Services Team
Holyoake House
Hanover Street
Manchester
M60 0AS
Tel: 0161 214 1750
Email: legal@ uk.coop