Co-operatives UK backs plans to encourage employee-controlled businesses in public sector supply chains

We welcome the change in direction government proposed in this consultation. We make suggestions throughout our consultation response and asked government to particularly look at:

• The need to recognise and support the worker co-operative model, alongside employee trusts, as a proven vehicle for giving employees ownership; and to recognise it as the only model that provides significant employee control by default
• The need to promote more democratic uses of the employee trust model
• The need to recognise that mutuality, member benefit and social purpose often combine
• The need to recognise the provision of decent, empowering work and shared wealth as a clear social purpose