Training: Using community shares – the differences for CBSs and Co-operatives

About the training

This 1.5-hour online session will consist of content delivered by Co‑operative UK’s Governance Advisor, Dane Pollard. Dane will explain the differences between a Community Benefit Society (CBS) and a Co-op Society in their use of community shares capital.

There will then be a Q&A session for practitioners to explore issues they are facing or further questions they have about the different models.

Practitioners are encouraged to read the following sections of the Community Shares Handbook:

• 2.1 Bona fide co-operative societies
• 2.2.3 Non-user investor shares
• 2.2.5 Multiple classes of shares
• 3.1.12 Use of profits
• 6.2 Distributions in co-operative societies
• 8.2 Income tax

It will also be beneficial to read the Community Shares Standard Mark assessment framework for co-operative societies.

We encourage participants to send in their questions in advance so that they can be considered for the session. An email address to send your questions to will be provided with confirmation of your booking. 

Format

• This training course will take place online for 1.5 hours
• A presentation will be delivered, followed by a Q&A session

How much does it cost?

• £50 + VAT for members of Co‑operatives UK
• £72 + VAT for non‑members

What attendees will learn

The differences between a CBS and a Co-op using community shares.

Who should attend

• Community shares practitioners keen to increase their knowledge and understanding of the CBS/Co-op models
• Groups that are considering which form of society they should use to constitute their group.

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 trainers

Dane Pollard works in our Advice Team and is the first point of contact for all governance and legal enquiries. He specialises in providing advice and guidance to new start co‑operatives and mutuals looking to incorporate, and he supports all types of co‑ops with their governance arrangements, processes and policies. Dane also acts as account manager to members that have set up in the last two years and provides guidance to them on all aspects of their governance calendar. He has many years of experience dealing with customers in the retail sector, as well as clients in the corporate world.

Alice Wharton works in the our Advice Team, specialising in standards relating to the use of community shares (withdrawable, non-transferable share capital). She leads on the continued development, innovation and management of best practice guidance and ethical regulations and standards, including the Standard Mark and the Community Shares Handbook.

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.