Practitioners Forum 2024

Practitioners Forum is the number one training and development event for people working in co-operatives of all sizes, from any sector. 

We've a range of ticket options – member (30%-off standard price), non-member and bursary tickets (50%-off).

What to expect at Practitioners Forum

Choose from 20 sessions across five specialist forums. It's the perfect professional development opportunity for people working across one or more of the following areas: Membership • Governance • Finance • HR • Communications

Our mix and match format enables delegates to choose the sessions through the day from across the forums.

Timings

• 9.30am: Arrival, registration, networking
• 10-11: Session 1, followed by 20 mins refreshments and networking
• 11.30-12.30: Session 2, followed by 60 mins lunch and networking
• 1.30-2.30: Session 3, followed by 20 mins refreshments and networking
• 2.50-4: Session 3. The event finishes at 4pm

Please note: The order of sessions is still to be confirmed.

Membership forum

• Increasing member engagement through Facebook: A deep dive for co‑operatives

Amrit Singh, Rebel Creatives

In this session we'll delve into the effective use of Facebook as a tool for co-operative businesses, particularly those with smaller marketing teams. It will explore strategies for increasing membership engagement, leveraging the platform's features, and building a loyal following. The presentation will also discuss the importance of a Facebook strategy, the use of Meta tools, and exciting future developments in the field.

• Leading and embedding change

Stacey Salt and Ali Longden, The Co-operative College

Using the lens of co-op values, this session will explore approaches to change – and how to ensure change is managed and communicated to inspire positive action.

• Modernising membership 

Kenyatte Nelson, Co-op

The Co-op’s Chief Membership and Customer Officer will discuss membership management and the steps the organisation is taking to modernise its membership function.

Finance forum

• Access to finance for co-operatives

Tim Coomer, Co-operative & Community Finance

Hear from financial services and organisations that specialise in offering support to co-operatives. Delegates will leave with a greater understanding of the financing options for their co-operative, its members and employees.

• Financial reporting update 

Catriona Lawrie, Forvis Mazars

• Optimise your finance function

Alan Frost, Forvis Mazars

• Employment tax and VAT for co-ops

Jacki Wells and Nicola Kelleher, Crowe UK LLP

The session will cover a wide variety of VAT issues, including VAT registration, annual accounting and cash accounting simplifications, property costs, VAT recovery and the option to tax, reverse charges, grants versus contracts, business/non-business apportionments and partial exemption.   

Governance forum

• Ask the experts

Zena King, Co-operatives UK; Dave Boyle, the Community Shares Company; Sarah Patrice, Anthony Collins Solicitors

Don't miss this interactive session with a panel of experts who will answer your most burning governance questions. Zena King is a Senior Governance Advisor at Co‑operatives UK and a Chartered Company Secretary, and was Co‑operatives UK’s Society Secretary for five years. Dave Boyle has worked in the co‑operative movement for 25 years, specialising in advising on governance and capital raising. He is a member of Co‑operatives UK's Board and a member of the Expert Governance Panel. Sarah Patrice heads up Anthony Collins Solicitors' governance, funding and corporate team. Specialising in all aspects of legal governance, she advises clients on wide-ranging contractual, governance and Board‑level issues.

• Law Commission consultation

Dr Nathan Tamblyn, Law Commission of England and Wales

Running from September to December 2024, the Law Commission consultation is a once in a generation opportunity to improve co-operative law and unlock growth within the co-operative economy. This session welcomes Nathan Tamblyn from the Law Commission of England and Wales and gives members the chance to ask questions, discuss ideas and help shape the Law Commission’s work, alongside the Co-operatives UK Policy team. 

• Neurodiversity guidance for boards

How can your organisation embrace diversity, ensure an inclusive environment and improve conditions to strengthen the contribution of neurodivergent individuals? Join us for this session where we address challenges neurodivergent people face within the boardroom, and provide you with the tools needed to support neurodivergent directors, enhancing decision-making and governance across the sector. 

HR forum

• Employment law update 

Emma Bagshaw, Nexa Law

Emma Bagshaw, employment and immigration lawyer at Nexa Law, will examine recent and upcoming changes in employment law and implications for businesses. The spotlight will be placed on those areas having most impact on co-operative businesses. 

• Creating an inclusive and accessible workplace

Enhance the UK

In this session we'll be covering the knowledge and skills needed to engage with disabled colleagues using appropriate language and terminology, as well as how best to encourage disabled people to work for your organisation.

• The use of AI in recruitment

Recruitment and Employment Confederation

Adopting AI‑enabled tools in HR and recruitment processes can offer greater efficiency, scalability, and consistency – but can come with risks too. This session will explore what co‑ops should consider so they can deploy AI responsibly in recruitment. 

• Flexibility at work

Dr Sarah Dauncey, Timewise

Timewise was formed in 2010 to help businesses shape better flexible working policies and practices. And they’ve been working to establish more inclusive workplaces powered by flexible working ever since. In this session, Dr Sarah Dauncey will explore how co‑ops can implement flexible working practices to help create stronger, more inclusive and ultimately more successful organisations. 

Communications forum

• The dos and don’ts of AI

Matt Haworth, Co-Founder and Director, Reason Digital

Join Matt Haworth, co-founder of Reason Digital will deliver a talk where you can learn about the do’s and don’ts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the context of co-operatives. Matt’s talk will cover the best and latest tools and potential pitfalls of the usage of AI, facilitating a discussion on how the “virtual employee” of AI can be treated by member owned organisations.

• Social Media 101: The ABC of social platforms

Amrit Singh, Rebel Creatives

Join Content Creator and Digital Consultant Amrit Singh for this comprehensive overview of the top social media platforms, their unique features, and how they can be used to meet different business needs. It will also explore hidden gems within these platforms and discuss strategies for telling a compelling brand story through social media. The presentation will address questions such as whether a business should be on every platform, the best posting times, and the importance of a social media strategy.

• Telling our powerful pioneer stories

Steve Rawling, Business Storytelling Expert

In this session, you will receive a storytelling masterclass from Steve Rawling on how to find and tell great stories about your co-operative, and key tips to bring stories to life. You will be encouraged to get to work straight away as Steve shares an overview of what makes a good story to help you to develop and tell powerful human stories to about your co-operative. We will look at this in the context of the United Nation's International Year of Co-operatives 2025 and you will hear how we work together to amplify each others' stories across the international year.

• Making the most of your content: A guide for co-operative businesses

Amrit Singh, Rebel Creatives

How can you maximise the value of existing content, such as photographs, videos, and user-generated content for your co-op?  This session will explore strategies for creating new engaging content without a large marketing budget, leveraging trends like "day in the life of" videos, and utilising the right equipment. The presentation will also discuss how co-operatives can take advantage of the upcoming International Year of Cooperatives to showcase their work and connect with a wider audience.

Proudly sponsored by CIVICA

A message from our sponsor, CIVICA:

"With more than 20 years’ experience, we understand that democracy is right at the heart of how co-operatives, mutuals and building societies function and make decisions. From elections to boards, councils, or committees to voting at AGMs, we ensure members can take part in decision-making quickly, easily, and securely.

Stay in the loop

Sign up for email updates or keep an eye on our social media for updates: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram