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Become a Co-operatives UK member

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Three smiling attendees at the National Youth

Join the UK network for co-operatives and community businesses. Co-operatives UK membership gives your organisation access to expert advice, governance and HR support, training discounts, member-only resources, policy influence and a national network that understands co-operation inside out.

Apply for Co-operatives UK membership

At Co‑operatives UK, we help co‑operatives and community businesses be the best they can be - and we do that together with our members. Whether you’re a new co-op, established business, community benefit society or values-led organisation, we’ll help you strengthen your governance, support your people, connect with others and champion co-operation.

Every year, we help new co-operatives form, existing co-operatives flourish, and the co-operative economy grow. From HR and governance to funding and policy influence, our members benefit from professional guidance, peer support and a dedicated team that understands co-operation inside out.

Membership at half the price?
Members of workers.coop, CCH, ABCUL and other federals could be eligible for a 50% discount on Co-operatives UK standard membership.
Check eligibility >>

Why join Co-operatives UK?

  • Get expert support for your co-op – access member-only resources, advice services and discounted support across governance, HR, finance, health and safety, membership and more
  • Save money on training and services – benefit from discounts on training, conferences, bespoke advice and member-only packages
  • Connect with the UK co-operative movement – join member groups, events and networks across the sector
  • Shape policy and influence change – help strengthen the voice of co-operatives with government, partners and the wider economy
  • Show you are part of the movement – use the Co-operatives UK member marque and raise your profile through campaigns, case studies and directory listings
Quote mark
No-one knows our organisation’s purpose and core values better than we do. However, we were missing the technical knowledge and professional support from a body who truly understands the co-operative element of our business. The level of service, knowledge and resources gained through our membership with Co-operatives UK has exceeded all expectations.
– Larke Adger, CEO, West Granton Housing Co-operative

Which membership is right for you?

Standard membership is for smaller co-operatives and community businesses with turnover up to £500,000.
Partner membership is for larger co-operatives with turnover above £500,000.
Federal membership is for co-operative and mutual federal bodies.
Associate membership is for non-co-operatives and non-mutuals that support co-operative values and principles.

 Membership type
 StandardPartnerFederalAssociate
EligibilityAnnual turnover of £0-500kBased on annual turnover of more than £500,000Open to all co-operative and/or mutual federal bodies.

Non-co-operatives and non-mutuals that adhere to co-operative values and principles.

Charities and third sector organisations may be eligible for a discount.*

Annual payment£125 + VAT£500k-£10m: £1,750

Federal membership by agreement - contact [email protected].

Standard subscriptions apply for members of those federal bodies benefiting from Co-operatives UK membership.**

Standard rate £550

Discounted rate £275

£10m-£50m: £3,195
£50m-£250m: £4,120
£250m plus: £5,350

* Charities and third sector organisations may be eligible for 50% discount. Contact [email protected] to find out more.

** Members of federal bodies can access 50% off standard membership where a dual offer is in place. Contact [email protected] to find out more.

Top membership benefits

  • Expert support from a team that understands co-operatives
  • Member-only resources covering governance, risk, HR and finance
  • Access to the Contact Package and HR Package
  • Discounts on training, conferences and bespoke advice
  • Opportunities to influence policy and campaigns
  • Networking through member groups, events and peer connections
  • A member marque and enhanced directory listing to raise your profile

Discover what's included for each membership package and apply for membership:

Standard Membership Partner Membership Federal Membership Associate Membership
Annual CUK payment

£125 plus VAT per annum

Starting at £1,750 per annum – see table above

By agreement. Contact us for information.

£550/£275 plus VAT  *subject to charity status

Your Membership
Dedicated membership team support

Team support

Access to a dedicated team of experts.

Dedicated membership team support

Team support

Access to a dedicated team of experts.

Yes Account Manager Account Manager Account Manager
Certified Co‑operatives UK member marque

Exclusive 'certified member' marque

Access to an exclusive 'certified member' marque to display on marketing materials. 

Certified Co‑operatives UK member marque

Exclusive 'certified member' marque

Access to an exclusive 'certified member' marque to display on marketing materials. 

Yes Yes Yes
Member-focused newsletters

Member-focused newsletters

Receive newsletters which include news, opportunities, events and campaigns for co-operatives.

Member-focused newsletters

Member-focused newsletters

Receive newsletters which include news, opportunities, events and campaigns for co-operatives.

Yes Yes Yes Yes
Voting rights and co‑ownership
Voting rights and co‑ownership Yes Yes Yes Yes
Join member interest groups

Member interest groups

Co-operatives UK co-ordinates a number of formal and informal member-only groups.

Join member interest groups

Member interest groups

Co-operatives UK co-ordinates a number of formal and informal member-only groups.

Yes Yes Yes Yes
Annual visit from Co‑operatives UK

Co-operatives UK visit

We're committed to visiting as many of our members as possible each year.

Annual visit from Co‑operatives UK

Co-operatives UK visit

We're committed to visiting as many of our members as possible each year.

Yes Yes
Audience with Co‑operatives UK's CEO

Audience with Co-operatives UK's CEO

Invitation to book an annual surgery with a member of the Co-operatives UK Leadership Team (CEO, Advice, HR, Finance, Policy leads).

Audience with Co‑operatives UK's CEO

Audience with Co-operatives UK's CEO

Invitation to book an annual surgery with a member of the Co-operatives UK Leadership Team (CEO, Advice, HR, Finance, Policy leads).

Yes Yes
International Co‑operative Alliance (ICA) membership

Access to ICA resources

Co-operatives UK are members of the International Co-operative Alliance and through their membership with us our members have access to ICA resources.

International Co‑operative Alliance (ICA) membership

Access to ICA resources

Co-operatives UK are members of the International Co-operative Alliance and through their membership with us our members have access to ICA resources.

Yes Yes Yes Yes
Advice services
Member-only resources

Member-only resources

The resources area of our website offers a range of member-only resources that help co-operatives with a range of areas including governance, risk, HR and finance.

Member-only resources

Member-only resources

The resources area of our website offers a range of member-only resources that help co-operatives with a range of areas including governance, risk, HR and finance.

Yes Yes Yes Yes
Exclusive access to the Contact Package

Contact package details

Our Contact Package (£300 + VAT) – exclusively available to members of Co-operatives UK – provides access to the best support from leading advisers on co-operative governance, finance, HR, health and safety and membership.

Exclusive access to the Contact Package

Contact package details

Our Contact Package (£300 + VAT) – exclusively available to members of Co-operatives UK – provides access to the best support from leading advisers on co-operative governance, finance, HR, health and safety and membership.

Optional add-on Yes Optional add-on Optional add-on
Exclusive access to the HR Package

HR package

Starting from £1,200 a year – exclusively available to members of Co-operatives UK – this comprehensive support package provides advice and guidance on all aspects of HR and employment law.

Exclusive access to the HR Package

HR package

Starting from £1,200 a year – exclusively available to members of Co-operatives UK – this comprehensive support package provides advice and guidance on all aspects of HR and employment law.

Optional add-on Optional add-on Optional add-on Optional add-on
20% off bespoke advice and consultancy

Bespoke advice

Contact [email protected] for a no-obligation quote on bespoke advice and consultancy work covering co-operative governance, HR, finance, health and safety, membership and more.

20% off bespoke advice and consultancy

Bespoke advice

Contact [email protected] for a no-obligation quote on bespoke advice and consultancy work covering co-operative governance, HR, finance, health and safety, membership and more.

Yes Yes Yes Yes
30% off all training courses

Training courses

We offer a range of training courses that help people in co-operatives get skilled in key areas of governance, HR, finance and risk.

30% off all training courses

Training courses

We offer a range of training courses that help people in co-operatives get skilled in key areas of governance, HR, finance and risk.

Yes Yes Yes Yes
Annual advice surgery

Annual advice surgery

Access to a phone call with one of our advice team to review your co-operative.

Annual advice surgery

Annual advice surgery

Access to a phone call with one of our advice team to review your co-operative.

Yes Yes Yes Yes
Events
30% off all conferences
30% off all conferences Yes Yes Yes Yes
Publish your events on our listings page
Publish your events on our listings page Yes Yes Yes Yes
Policy Engagement
Priority access to our policy activity campaigns
Priority access to our policy activity campaigns Yes For federal bodies who represent their membership
Priority access to policy round-tables
Priority access to policy round-tables Yes For federal bodies who represent their membership
Support for your co-operative
Benefit from exclusive member offers

Take advantage of exclusive member offers

Access exclusive member-only offers and discounts via our Member Offers section.

Benefit from exclusive member offers

Take advantage of exclusive member offers

Access exclusive member-only offers and discounts via our Member Offers section.

Yes Yes Yes Yes
Submit an exclusive member offer

Submit an exclusive member offer

Submit an offer for inclusion on our Member Offers section and promotion through our networks.

Submit an exclusive member offer

Submit an exclusive member offer

Submit an offer for inclusion on our Member Offers section and promotion through our networks.

Yes Yes Yes Yes
Member-first procurement benefits

Member-first procurement benefits

Our commitment to prioritise working with Co-operatives UK members.

Member-first procurement benefits

Member-first procurement benefits

Our commitment to prioritise working with Co-operatives UK members.

Yes Yes Yes Yes
Be a case study

Raise your profile

Opportunities to raise awareness of co-operatives by being a case study for one of our reports, on social media and/or for one of our campaigns.

Be a case study

Raise your profile

Opportunities to raise awareness of co-operatives by being a case study for one of our reports, on social media and/or for one of our campaigns.

Yes Yes Yes Yes
Premium directory listing

Premium directory listing

All co-operatives and mutuals are listed on our directory, which prioritises the listings of Co-operatives UK members.

Premium directory listing

Premium directory listing

All co-operatives and mutuals are listed on our directory, which prioritises the listings of Co-operatives UK members.

Yes Yes Yes Yes

Frequently asked questions

Who can join Co-operatives UK?
Co-operatives, community businesses, federal bodies, values-led organisations and supporters of the co-operative movement may be eligible for different membership types.

How much does Co-operatives UK membership cost?
Standard membership starts at £125 plus VAT per year for organisations with annual turnover up to £500,000. Larger co-operatives, federal bodies and associates have different membership rates.

What support do members get?
Members can access expert support, member-only resources, training discounts, events, policy engagement, networking and exclusive member offers.

Do members get HR and governance support?
Yes. Members can access resources and services covering governance, HR, finance, health and safety, membership and more, including member-only packages and discounted bespoke advice.

Can members of other federals get a discount?
Members of workers.coop, CCH, ABCUL and other federal bodies may be eligible for a 50% discount on standard membership where a dual offer is in place.

Apply for Co-operatives UK membership
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