Platform co-ops – your route to an ethical digital business

One of a series of webinars brought to you by The Hive, a programme of support for new and existing co-ops delivered by Co-operatives UK in partnership with The Co-operative Bank.

About the webinar

Job insecurity and precarious working have proliferated with the rise of digital platforms like Uber and Deliveroo. Meanwhile, the tech giants behind digital platforms dominate markets and make huge profits.

But there’s a fairer alternative: platform co-ops. Join Co-operatives UK’s Petra Morris and Ludovica Rogers for this one-hour webinar. Petra will introduce the session and Ludovica will explain how platform co-ops put workers in control of a business, providing better conditions and fairer pay. They will be joined by guest speakers from platform co‑ops:

• Signalise – a sign language interpreting service that uses a digital platform to connect its members: Deaf people, BSL interpreters and service user organisations

• Open Food Network UK – a co‑op of co‑ops whose members collectively own and control an innovative software platform they use to trade the food they produce

Platform co‑ops are democratically owned and controlled businesses that use an online platform or mobile app to trade, connect people and pool resources or data. They’re built on co‑operative principles and values that ensure the business:

• Truly responds to the needs of its community
• Embeds equity and social purpose from day one
• Has a growth model that does not involve giving up control to external profit‑driven investors

Format

• An online one-hour webinar on Zoom
• Presentations from several speakers with an opportunity to ask questions at the end 

How much does it cost?

This webinar is FREE to everyone who wants to attend.

What attendees will learn:

• An overview of platform co-ops
• What a platform co‑op is and isn’t
• About setting up and running a platform co-op, from platform pioneers
• What support is available for those wishing to set up a co-op, including The Hive business support programme and the next UnFound Accelerator programme

Who should attend?

Anyone keen to learn more about platform co-ops, this includes:

• Individuals and groups looking to set up a digital platform enterprise 
• Anyone wanting to learn more about co-ops: business advisors, local authorities, community leaders, voluntary sector support agencies, etc.

About the hosts

Ludovica Rogers is the Programme Manager, New Co-op Ventures for Co-operatives UK. She manages the Unfound programme that supports and promotes platform co-operatives in the UK. She is a designer and has worked as an architect, process designer, researcher and campaigner. Her interests lie in the overlapping spaces between the commons, tech and finance.

Petra Morris works in the Development Team at Co‑operatives UK and leads on the delivery of The Hive business support programme, which has supported thousands of co‑ops. She’s busy co‑operating elsewhere too, as a voluntary Director (Secretary) of Friends of Stretford Public Hall, a historic multi‑purpose building owned by its 800 investor members. Petra has previously run her own business and spent many years in local government promoting tourism, economic development and supporting local communities.

Recording the webinar

This webinar will be recorded. We will share the recording with participants shortly afterwards. This webinar is part of a series. If you cannot attend this one, we hope you can join us for another webinar. Alternatively, visit our step by step: start a co-op tool or read about the business support available to start-up co-ops.