About
About

The network for Britain’s thousands of co-operative businesses, Co-operatives UK works to promote, develop and unite member-owned business worth £36 billion to the British economy.

Overview
- About Co-operatives UK
  Learn more about our governance and strategy, read annual reports, and disover the latest career opportunities
- What is a co-operative?
  Co-operatives are driven by values and not just profit. Discover more about what makes co-ops so special
- Case studies
  Read a selection of case studies to discover why the co-op model works for all sorts of businesses and puts members in control
- The co-operative economy
  Discover the total turnover of the UK's co-operative sector and latest trends
- Contact Us
Close
Campaigns
& Policy
Promoting co-operatives

We bring co-operatives together to campaign on vital issues, raise awareness of co-operative businesses and help create a level playing field for the start-up and growth of co-operatives.

Overview
- Co-operatives Fortnight
  Once a year co-ops of all shapes and sizes come together to show the power of co-operation
- Influencing Policy
  Details on our role in campaigning for co-operative policy and getting members involved
- More Than a Shop podcast
  More Than a Shop welcomes guests with something new and radical to say about the big issues of our day and doing business the right way.
- Brexit
  Our position and plans on how co-operatives can thrive in a post-Brexit Britain
Close
Advice &
Support
Developing co-operatives

As the UK’s network for co-operatives, we help new-starts get off the ground, provide specialist advice for growing businesses and lead major programmes to develop the UK co-operative sector.

Overview
- Coronavirus: Advice for co‑ops
  In response to a growing number of enquiries we have produced practical guidance for co‑ops. Updates are being added weekly.
- Advice and support for your co-op
  Expert advice on everything from governance to HR. Discover how we can help develop your co-op
- Register your co-op
  Use our expert advice and guidance to register your co-op society or company
- Support and funding for co‑ops
  Co-operatives UK also manages and delivers a number of other co‑operative support and funding programmes.
- The Hive
  Get a bespoke package of direct support, training and mentoring for new start-up or existing co-op via The Hive, in partnership with The Co-operative Bank
Close
Events &
Training
Uniting co-operatives

As the network for the UK’s co-operative businesses, we organise flagship national events and facilitate networks and workshops to enable co-operatives to connect, learn and do business with one another.

Overview
- Co-op events calendar
  All upcoming conferences, training events and networking opportunities from Co-operatives UK and across the sector.
- Training for co-ops
  Strengthen in key areas from governance and finance to HR and membership.
- Co-operative Retail Conference
  The Co-operative Retail Conference, Friday 28 February to Sunday 1 March 2020, will attract the leaders, managers and directors of the UK's consumer owned retail co-operatives.
- Co-op Connections events
  Co-op Connections are FREE events and online webinars that bring together people from co‑ops of all types to share experience and learning through lively networking events.
Close
Membership
Membership

As the network for Britain’s thousands of co-operative businesses, we provide our members with access to advice, training, networking and events.

Overview
- Coronavirus: Advice for co‑ops
  In response to a growing number of enquiries we have produced practical guidance for co‑ops. Updates are being added weekly.
- Benefits of membership
  Discover what membership can do for you and your co-op
- Membership packages
  Small or large, retail or agriculture, we've got a package to suit the full spectrum of co-ops
- Contact Package
  Your co-op can access the best support from some of the UK’s leading advisers on governance, finance, HR and membership.
- HR package
  High quality HR advice and support plus significant procurement savings are just some of the benefits
- Agricultural package
  Find out about our bespoke membership offer for farmer-controlled businesses
Close
Search

Search for a local co-op Browse the newsroom Downloadable resources
Close

Practitioners Forum

Practitioners Forum offers superb professional development for people operating in key roles in co-operative businesses large and small.

An annual sell-out, Practitioners Forum is made up of a series of specialist forums: communications; finance; governance; HR and membership. Delegates are able to mix and match across forums creating a fantastic professional development opportunity for co-operative practitioners to learn from experts and network with peers.

Practitioners Forum 2019 took place on Thursday 7 November.

view photos & presentations

The 2020 Practitioners Forum will take place on 19 November.

Topics in this section:

Programme overview & speaker presentations

A quick look at what's in store at this year's Practitioners Forum taking place in Manchester on 7 November...

Photo gallery: Practitioners Forum 2019

Photo gallery | 95 | 4 months ago

We enjoyed another great day of learning and networking at Practitioners Forum 2019. If you'd like access to hi-res versions of these images, please...

View the gallery

Exhibitors at Practitioners Forum

Discover which businesses are exhibiting at Practitioners Forum.

Co-operatives UK Limited,
Holyoake House,
Hanover Street,
Manchester,
M60 0AS.

Registered in England as a registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.
Reg No. 2783R
Vat Reg. 147 8611 47

About

Promoting co-operatives

Developing co-operatives

Uniting co-operatives

Membership