Business Support for Co-ops programme empowers more than 4,000 groups

Co‑operatives UK and The Co‑operative Bank are celebrating the transformative impact of their joint Business Support for Co‑ops programme, which has strengthened the UK co‑operative movement since its inception in 2016.  

A new report published today highlights the programme’s far‑reaching impact and announces the renewal of their partnership for 2025. 

The report is released to coincide with confirmation that funding from The Co-operative Bank for the Business Support for Co‑ops programme has been renewed for 2025.

Over the past nine years, The Co‑operative Bank has pumped more than £3.2 million into the programme, enabling Co‑operatives UK to deliver a wide range of initiatives, including expert business support, awareness campaigns, workshops, and the development of innovative tools and accelerators. 

Highlights from the report include: 

• Direct support to 500 groups, including start-ups (57%), existing co-operatives (28%), and those converting to the co‑operative model (15%) 
• Events reached 2,850 people, promoting co-operatives nationwide 
• 10 million campaign impressions, building public awareness of co-operatives 
• 700 co-ops registered via the online incorporation tool
• 26 digital business ideas developed through the UnFound Accelerator programme
• 37 projects supported through Co-op Hackathon events 
• Empowered more than 4,000 groups through events, direct or peer mentor support and subsidised support to register as a co-operative.

An impressive 80% of co‑operatives receiving direct business support through the Business Support for Co‑ops programme – formerly called The Hive – are still trading, while 45% of all new UK co‑operatives registered since 2020 have used the programme’s online tool. 

Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, said: “This partnership is a shining example of what can be achieved when organisations work together with a shared mission. 

“Thousands of groups have been inspired or supported to explore the co-operative model and the positive impacts ripple through local communities, businesses and economies and – as the report shows – make considerable advancements to the UN sustainable development goals.”

Maria Cearns, The Co‑operative Bank’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “Co‑operative values, on which The Co‑operative Bank was founded over 150 years ago, remain at the core of how we operate to this day.” 

Expert support making a difference 

The programme’s tailored support has helped a diverse range of co-operatives thrive including: 

• Carrick Greengrocers, a community-owned shop in Northern Ireland, revitalised their high street 
• Loco Home Retrofit in Glasgow is addressing climate change through home energy solutions 
• Allie’s Art Club in London promotes wellbeing in the local community through creative projects

Allie’s Art Club founder Lydia Rose said: “It was a fantastic opportunity to receive tailored support to help us grow. We now have a legal structure and have set up a bank account with The Co‑operative Bank, which enabled us to receive our first grant and make it possible for us to do more good work in the community.”

Chris Carus, co‑founder of Loco Home Retrofit, said: “We were mentored by co-op advisor Adrian Ashton. He helped us understand our year end accounts, tax return and preparing for our AGM. He took us through it step by step. It gave us the confidence to keep going. His help was really valuable.”

Commitment to the future 

Looking ahead, Co-operatives UK and The Co-operative Bank are reaffirming their dedication to building a resilient, sustainable co-operative movement in 2025. 

"We’re so proud to continue to support the co‑operative movement, working together to create lasting positive change," said The Co‑operative Bank’s Maria Cearns.