The 'Simply' Suite of Legal and Governance resources

In partnership with Making Local Food Work, Co-operative UK’s comprehensive suite of resources for community enterprises, provides community enterprises with top quality financial, legal and governance support.

This suite of resources is free to use and includes:

Simply Start Up

Advice and guides | Codes of practice

A guide for anyone involved in the creation of an enterprise that will be owned by, run by, and supported by the community in which it operates. Read More »

Simply Legal

Advice and guides | Codes of practice

A detailed guide covering all you need to know about legal forms and organisational types for community enterprises. Read More »

Simply Finance

Advice and guides | Codes of practice

A comprehensive guide to the different options for financing a community enterprise. Read More »

Simply Governance

Advice and guides | Codes of practice

A comprehensive guide to understanding the systems and processes concerned with the running of a sustainable community enterprise. Read More »

From conflict to co-operation

Advice and guides

Image of the Conflict to Co-operation Owl

From Conflict to Co-operation is a series of five cartoon booklets from Co-operatives UK which aims to help enterprises not only deal with conflict when it arises but also avoid unnecessary conflict. Read More »

Online select-a-structure

A supporting tool for Simply Legal allowing fledgling enterprises to find the most appropriate legal structure for their needs. You will need to be, or become, a registered Co-operatives UK site user in order to access and use this tool. Read More »

Online governance audit

A supporting tool for Simply Governance which allows enterprises to assess and diagnose how their organisation is being run. You will need to be, or become, a registered Co-operatives UK site user in order to access and use this tool. Read More »

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.

By launching the most comprehensive suite of resources for community enterprises, in partnership with the Making Local Food Work Programme, we aim to help the thousands of community enterprises across the country start and run sustainable businesses."

If you would like to know more about the booklets, or order a hard copy, please contact Penny Claiden at Co-operatives UK on 0161 246 2953; penny.claiden@uk.coop

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