Training: Understanding your co‑op’s finances – May 2025

About the training

This advanced-level workshop is a must‑attend for board directors, management committee members and members involved in overseeing their co‑op.

It aims to demystify accountancy and help delegates interpret their co‑op’s management accounts and use that financial information to make informed business decisions.

Please note: This course is suitable for all legal forms. It is not an accountancy course based on what the law says – it’s about how to understand accounts and what they mean. 

Format

• This training will be hosted online for four hours on both 20 and 21 May
• Attendees will need to attend both days
• A mix of presentation, Q&A and breakout sessions
• Refreshment breaks will be incorporated

How much does it cost?

• £150 + VAT for members of Co‑operatives UK
• £215 + VAT for non‑members. Co‑operatives UK members receive 30% off all paid events – plus LOTS more benefits. Learn about Co-operatives UK membership

What you will learn

• Concepts of accounting
• Importance of management accounts for making financial decisions
• How to interpret management accounts
• How to forecast cashflow and interpret cashflow statements
• How to create an income statement, profit and loss sheet, and balance sheet
• Financial performance indicators and what can we learn from them
• Gearing ratios and what we can learn from them
• How share capital relates to this accounting framework

Who should attend

The course for anyone running co-operative organisations who need to understand and make decisions based on financial accounts. For example:

• Members of a board of directors
• Members of a management committee
• Members involved in overseeing the business

Group bookings: For five or more people from one organisation

Our standard training courses can take a maximum of four people from any one organisation. If you have five or more people interested in one course, we:

• Highly recommend a bespoke in-house training course
• Can tailor the course content to suit the needs of your organisation’s size and model

Please get in touch with our Advice Team at [email protected] to get a quote and date availability from our trainers.

About the trainer

Andrew Woodcock is from Co‑op Culture and Acorn Co‑op Support. An experienced trainer with excellent communication skills, they have great knowledge of participatory techniques and have lived and worked in co‑ops for the last 20 years.

Andy co-manages a £750,000 co‑op loan fund, as well as a co‑operative investment fund of almost £1million. They have helped various co-ops raise over £5m of capital, as well as being treasurer to many co-ops. Andy also prepares co‑ops’ accounts. 

Andy co‑produced the Introduction to Financial Literacy workshop which has now trained over 500 people in better understanding their co‑op’s accounts.

Recording the training

This training course will be recorded and shared with training participants afterwards. The recording will be available for one month after the training date. If you are unable to attend on the stated date, you can still book on to receive the recording link.

Alternative dates available

Can’t make this date? No problem! We’re also running the training on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 October, so follow the link to book. 

Cancellations policy

Any cancellations made within 28 days are subject to full payment with no refund. Name swaps and deferrals can be made free of charge until the day of the event. Please contact us via [email protected] to discuss.