Training: Understanding your co‑op’s finances - November 2026

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 Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 November 2026 from 9.30am to 1.30pm
• Attendees will need to attend both days
• A mix of presentation, Q&A and breakout sessions
• Refreshment breaks will be incorporated 

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

How much does it cost?

• £160 + VAT for members of Co‑operatives UK
• £235 + VAT for non‑members. Co‑operatives UK members receive 30% off all paid events – plus LOTS more benefits. Learn about Co-operatives UK membership
• £210 + VAT for individual supporters of Co-operatives UK. Learn more about becoming an Individual Supporter of Co-operatives UK

NOTE: We must receive payment in advance of the training taking place. We have the right to withhold joining instructions and/or the recording unless payment is received in advance of the training course taking place.

Maximum places per organisation

Our standard training courses can take a maximum of four people from any one organisation. You will be unable to book on more than four places. 

If you have five or more people interested in one course, we highly recommend our competitively priced bespoke in-house training course. This can be 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.

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.

Payment MUST be received before the training takes place. We reserve the right to withhold joining instructions until payment is received.