Watch again: Co-op Congress 2025

• Rose Marley, CEO, Co-operatives UK
• Paul Waugh, Labour and Co-operative MP for Rochdale
• Steve Hughes, Group Chief Executive, Coventry Building Society Group

Our movement is steeped in history, developing pioneering solutions to some of the greatest societal challenges. But it's not clear how we are using our combined co-operative superpowers to face up to one of the biggest challenges we face: the monopolisation of tech.

In this session, we heard a provocation from Cory Doctorow, Canadian-British blogger, journalist, and science fiction author, followed by a panel discussion.

• Cory Doctorow, Canadian-British blogger, journalist, and science fiction author
• Chris Croome, CoTech, Webarchitects and Agile Collective
• Violetta Nafpaktiti, CEO, DotCoop LLC
• Lynne Davis, Founder & CEO, Food Data Collaboration
• Stephen Gill, Founder CEO and CTO, Coop Exchange
• Maria Young, Agile Collective Co-operative and Open Digital Cooperative
• Dominic Kendal-Ward, Group Secretary and General Counsel, Co-op Group

Hosted by Rose Marley, Co-operatives UK

As we marked the International Year of Co-operatives 2025, what is the outlook for our global movement? Rebecca Harvey, Executive Editor of Co-op News, hosted a panel from across the world to help build a global picture, including: Jeroen Douglas, Director General, International Cooperative Alliance, who will talk about the ICA's recent co-operative identity review – what it means and the ICA’s ambitions.

• Jeroen Douglas, Director General, International Cooperative Alliance, who will talk about the ICA's recent co-operative identity review – what it means and the ICA’s ambitions.
• Debbie Robinson, CEO of Central Co-op, a member of the Cooperatives and Mutuals Leadership Circle (CM50) and a founding member of the Fund for International Co-operative Development.
• Todor Ivanov, Secretary-General, Euro Coop
• Andrew Pakes, Labour and Co-operative MP for Peterborough
• Noel Raboy, President and CEO of CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative – a leading micro-insurance provider in the Philippines

Journalist Grace Blakeley delivered an inspiring provocation exploring the opportunity and power of working together to achieve great things. 

Actor, writer and producer Steve Coogan was born in nearby Middleton and has strong family connections in the area and is an ambassador for Middleton Co-operating. Steve joined Grace on the sofa for a discussion on the state of the nation and how we need the people to rise up and affect change. 

We'll also heard from: 

• Kallum Nolan from Middleton Cooperating
• Sarah Pearson and Oli Wilson from Beyond the Music

Hosted by Co-operatives UK CEO, Rose Marley.

In this defining address, Lucy Powell MP, Leader of the House of Commons, sets out the government’s co-operative agenda in the context of a historic year - with the Co-operative Party's growing influence and the United Nations designating 2025 as the International Year of Co-operatives.

The session will include a video message from Gareth Thomas MP which will feature government's 'call for evidence' on co-operatives and mutuals and role of the Mutual and Co-operative Sector Business Council.

• Welcome back from Rose Marley, CEO, Co-operatives UK
• Jeroen Douglas, Director General, International Cooperative Alliance to mark the International Day of Co-ops

When vital services and spaces are under threat, communities are stepping up – not just in one town or village, but across the UK. This session showcases powerful stories of resistance and renewal, from saving music venues and pubs to building infrastructure that helps others do the same. Whether it’s a local group driving a co-operative solution, or a national co-operative enabling dozens of communities to act, these are grassroots movements with real impact. 

We heard from the people turning co-operative principles into action – and find out how your organisation or community could be next. We'll also heard from founder of Community Clothing, TV presenter and author, Patrick Grant.

Patrick's keynote was followed by a panel hosted by Musician, author and campaigner, John Robb, and including: 

• Amy Hall, Co-Editor, New Internationalist
• Matthew Otridge and Chris Sherrington, Music Venue Trust
• Marianne Heaslip, Co-Founder and Technical Director, People Powered Retrofit
• Rhodri Evans, Chair, Tafarn yr Heliwr

We could be celebrating the thousands of inspiring and innovative co-operatives that exist across the UK. But in this session, we could only spotlight five. Hosted by Denise Scott-McDonald, President, Co-op Group National Members Council, we met five of our movements superheroes representing fantastically diverse co-operatives and community organisations:

• Larke Adger, CEO, West Granton Housing Co-operative
• Glen Taylor, COO, Community Dental
• Vilte Vaitkute, Creative Director and Editor, Media Co-op
• Alison Scowen, Non-Executive Director, Bright Future Co-op
• Perry Blake, Founder of 21UP Movement
• Alison Westworth, Partnership Manager for Newcastle and Gateshead, GLL

This session explored the role co-operatives play in peace building and international development – from immediate crisis response and medium-term rebuilding to long-term mutual trade and co-operative development. The panel reflected on international examples where co-operatives have come together to fund and work in solidarity with co-operatives on the ground. The panel also reflected on new opportunities to deepen this collective work, including the role of the Fund for ICD in helping co-operatives worldwide rebuild after crises and promote peace through co-operation. Expect insights and inspired action on how the co-operative movement can be a powerful force for peace and sustainable co-operative development in such a fragile world.

The panel:

• Paul Gerrard, Campaigns, Public Affairs & Policy Director at the Co-op Group (UK)
• Francesca Ottolenghi, Chief of International Relations at Legacoop Nazionale (Italy)
• Anca Voinea, International Editor, Co-op News
• Donna C. Dizon, Executive Director at CIM

One of the biggest opportunities for the co-operative movement is the potential for genuine intergenerational collaboration – where people of all ages work together, share power and perspectives, and build something greater than the sum of its parts. 

Young people bring bold ideas, energy and urgency. Older co-operators bring deep knowledge, networks and lived experience. Combined, we create co-ops that are more resilient, relevant and ready for the future.

Rylie Sweeney, youth campaigner and policy advisor, gives a keynote, followed by a panel discussion with:

• Anthony Scott, Events Co-ordinator, Kitty’s Launderette 
• Sahar Alhakkak-Martinez, Communities Creating Homes Intern, Cwmpas
• Rose Marley, CEO, Co-operatives UK

Join Rose Marley, Cllr Janet Emsley (Mayor of Rochdale) and Cheryl Barrott as they reflect on the last two days of Co-op Congress 2025.