Influencing policy
Our policy work is crucial to ensuring co-ops, of all shapes and sizes, enjoy the best possible business environment. We do this by working for and alongside our members to influence government policy - at both a local and national level. The includes securing funding for co-op development, campaigning against punitive and unfair legislation, promoting the benefits of co-ops to policy-makers and much more.
Featured content
A Call for Co-operative Growth
Leading UK co-operatives are calling on all political parties to commit to co-operative growth at the next general election.
Help influence Scottish Government
Respond to this consultation to ensure Scottish co-ops have their voices heard.
Search policy activity
Search our policy activity by issue, sector or region
Do more, faster, together: Joint declaration by the UK’s co-operatives in the run up to COP26
Joint declaration on climate action by the UK’s co-operatives in the run up to COP26.
We are the rebuilders
Co-ops are pivotal to helping our communities and country build back better from Covid-19. In this short paper we make four co-op ‘offers’ to everyone working for a more sustainable and just future.
Work in partnership
Through partnership working with local government, business networks and community organisations we help transform local economies and communities. It's all about local wealth building, co-op development and community engagement.
Recent news
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Member consultation: Help shape our policy priorities
Ahead of Co-op Congress and Co-op Fortnight, Co-operatives UK is urging members to feed into policy priorities as we look ahead to the next general election.
4 months ago
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Advocacy for worker co-ops: Co-operatives UK submission to Treasury
Co-operatives UK policy team has submitted a representation ahead of the Spring Budget.
7 months ago
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Call for £40m investment into community shares
Content by Community Shares
The Community Shares Unit, led by Co-operatives UK in partnership with Locality and Plunkett Foundation, has responded to the Dormant Assets consultation with a headline call for £40m to be invested…
11 months ago
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Co-operatives call on new Prime Minister to act now or face ‘doom-loop’
Government must take immediate and effective action to prevent permanent damage to UK businesses, including co-operatives.
1 year ago
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New Bill for co-operatives in Parliament
Co-operatives UK is supporting a new Bill boosting co-operative investment, innovation and development.
1 year ago
Blog posts
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Co-op Policy Blog #26: Co-ops to the rescue?
A growing number of businesses in the UK are going bust. Two years of lost income, uncertainty, stress, ballooning debt and now rising costs, may be taking their toll.
1 year ago
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Co-op Policy Blog #25: Levelling up the land
When Michael Gove stood at the dispatch box and said government’s flagship Levelling Up White Paper was a strategy “to shift wealth and power decisively towards working people” I had to stop and…
1 year ago
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Co-op Policy Blog #24: Budget implications for co-ops across the UK
The Chancellor’s Budget and Spending Review is not earth-shattering... or really Earth saving either.
1 year ago
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Co-op Policy Blog #23: Breakthrough in Scotland
Scottish government is now committed to supporting co-ops in its policy programme. This provides a massive opportunity to unlock the huge potential for co-ops in Scotland and follows a successful…
2 years ago
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Co-op Policy Blog #22: Hitting the ground running
Across the UK politicians from a range of parties have just been elected with commitments to support co-ops and a more democratic economy. We are already reaching out to offer our help, so politicians…
2 years ago
Resources
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Co-operative and Mutual Economy 2023
Our ground-breaking Co-operative and Mutual Economy 2023 report presents a compelling case for harnessing the full potential of co-operatives and mutuals in the UK.
3 days ago
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Everybody's Business: A Call for Co-op Growth
We set out how – with the right policies in place – co‑operatives will deliver a more inclusive, responsible, wellbeing-enhancing economy.
1 month ago
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Scottish Policy Summit - the results
The Scottish Policy Summit brought co-operatives together to identify needs and opportunities ahead of a major government review of how to support co-operative growth.
2 months ago
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Member consultation: Help decide our policy priorities
Ahead of Co-op Congress and Co-op Fortnight, Co-operatives UK is inviting members to consult on policy priorities as we look ahead to the next general election.
4 months ago
Scottish Policy Summit Briefing
This briefing is intended to inform discussion and debate at the forthcoming Scottish Policy Summit (1 pm – 4.30 pm, 19 April at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh). This summit brings together representatives…
5 months ago
You may also be interested in
Mutuals and Co-operatives Prospectus
The Mutuals and Co-operatives Prospectus is coming soon. Register your interest to be the first to receive a copy.
1 day ago
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Help influence Scottish Government
Respond to this consultation to ensure Scottish co-ops have their voices heard.
7 days ago
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A Call for Co-operative Growth
Leading UK co-operatives are calling on all political parties to commit to co-operative growth at the next general election.
1 month ago
Image
Member consultation: Help shape our policy priorities
Ahead of Co-op Congress and Co-op Fortnight, Co-operatives UK is urging members to feed into policy priorities as we look ahead to the next general election.
4 months ago
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Advocacy for worker co-ops: Co-operatives UK submission to Treasury
Co-operatives UK policy team has submitted a representation ahead of the Spring Budget.
7 months ago