Practitioners Forum 2026

This session will provide an update on the work of the Mutuals Team at the Financial Conduct Authority, the legislative environment and the priorities of the Team going forward. We will hear an update from Brian McQuillan, who leads the Mutuals Team, and receive an introduction to the team's new Technical Specialist.

Brian McQuillan, Financial Conduct Authority. 

This session will explore the concept of deliberative democracy and consider how co-ops could utlise it to engage their members in their democratic governance. We will hear how NEST Pensions has delivered a Ctizen's Assembly, and about a recent project commissioned by Co-op Group to modernise its democratic governance processes using deliberative democracy.

With Jess Clarke and Dan Sharples, Co-op Group, and Nest Pensions.

In this session, we will demystify the essentials of financial governance for leaders without an accounting or finance background. We will explore the "Big Three" financial statements and walk through some of the key metrics that leaders and trustees should be aware of and how to calculate and look at how to translate complex financial information into plain English.

We'll also explore the use of finance from a storytelling perspective and how to identify trends that could potentially indicate concern and strategic questions that can be thought about during financial discussions and decision making processes such as:

• Are we doing well financially or should I be worried? 
• Are we receiving the right level of information or should I be asking for more?
• What numbers/metrics should I be monitoring on a regular basis?
• Are our financial processes in line with similar organisations?

With Abbas Shapuri, Third Sector Accountancy. 

Common VAT issues and potential VAT savings for Co-ops. A brief outline of the key issues including exemptions, business / non-business, VAT records, reverse charge, option to tax.

With Patrick Morrello, Third Sector Accountancy. 

A session on how to make decisions about how to finance your co-operative.

With Jo White, Co-operative Futures.

In this session, we will look at what has changed in the world of employment law in the last 12 months and what to look out for in 2027.

With Emma Bagshaw, Nexa Law. 

An interactive workshop on the upcoming changes to unfair dismissal law and the practical implications for things like probationary periods.

With Kate Fielding and Stephen Jones, Co-operatives UK. 

Great PR starts with a good story, not a press release. In this session, we'll look at how to spot the stories within your co‑operative that will actually appeal to journalists, and the different routes you can use to get them out into the world – from traditional media relations to digital channels and content creator engagement. This session is designed with DIY and smaller-budget PR in mind but – whether you're doing this yourself, working with a small budget, or want fresh ideas to bring back to an in-house team – you'll leave with practical thinking to help answer:

• What makes our story newsworthy?
• Which channel suits the story we want to tell – media, social, or working with a creator?
• Where should we focus first when time or budget is limited?

This session will give you the confidence to tell your organisation’s story with better images taken on any smartphone. Creating a bank of good photography may seem difficult, but with a few simple tips on basic photography skills and the tools available in all smartphones, anyone can improve their shots.  

Topics will include:

• Using natural light, background and composition
• Editing with your phone
• Tips for photographing events/people in action as well as taking your own portrait or headshot

This workshop will be delivered by Breige Cobane. After working in local government for 15 years before starting her own business in 2021 Breige has been taking photographs and making videos for a living ever since. She is known for capturing genuine emotion and human connection, showing off people in places, deliver high quality engaging work and finding that beautiful shot in the most unexpected surroundings.

With Breige Cobane Photography.