About
About

The network for Britain’s thousands of co-operative businesses, Co-operatives UK works to promote, develop and unite member-owned business worth £38.2 billion to the British economy.

Overview
- About Co-operatives UK
  Learn more about our governance and strategy, read annual reports, and disover the latest career opportunities
- What is a co-operative?
  Co-operatives are driven by values and not just profit. Discover more about what makes co-ops so special
- Case studies
  Read a selection of case studies to discover why the co-op model works for all sorts of businesses and puts members in control
- The co-operative economy
  Discover the total turnover of the UK's co-operative sector and latest trends
- Contact Us
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Campaigns
& Policy
Promoting co-operatives

We bring co-operatives together to campaign on vital issues, raise awareness of co-operative businesses and help create a level playing field for the start-up and growth of co-operatives.

Overview
- Co-operatives Fortnight
  Once a year co-ops of all shapes and sizes come together to show the power of co-operation
- Influencing Policy
  Details on our role in campaigning for co-operative policy and getting members involved
- More Than a Shop podcast
  More Than a Shop welcomes guests with something new and radical to say about the big issues of our day and doing business the right way.
- Brexit
  Our position and plans on how co-operatives can thrive in a post-Brexit Britain
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Advice &
Support
Developing co-operatives

As the UK’s network for co-operatives, we help new-starts get off the ground, provide specialist advice for growing businesses and lead major programmes to develop the UK co-operative sector.

Overview
- Coronavirus: Advice for co‑ops
  In response to a growing number of enquiries we have produced practical guidance for co‑ops. Updates are being added weekly.
- Advice and support for your co-op
  Expert advice on everything from governance to HR. Discover how we can help develop your co-op
- Register your co-op
  Use our expert advice and guidance to register your co-op society or company
- Support and funding for co‑ops
  Co-operatives UK also manages and delivers a number of other co‑operative support and funding programmes.
- The Hive
  Get a bespoke package of direct support, training and mentoring for new start-up or existing co-op via The Hive, in partnership with The Co-operative Bank
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Events &
Training
Uniting co-operatives

As the network for the UK’s co-operative businesses, we organise flagship national events and facilitate networks and workshops to enable co-operatives to connect, learn and do business with one another.

Overview
- Practitioners Forum
  Our popular training event for co-op workers/professionals will now be delivered online.
- Co-op events calendar
  All upcoming conferences, training events and networking opportunities from Co-operatives UK and across the sector.
- Training for co-ops
  Strengthen in key areas from governance and finance to HR and membership.
- Co-op Connections events
  Co-op Connections are FREE events and online webinars that bring together people from co‑ops of all types to share experience and learning through lively networking events.
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Membership
Membership

As the network for Britain’s thousands of co-operative businesses, we provide our members with access to advice, training, networking and events.

Overview
- Coronavirus: Advice for co‑ops
  In response to a growing number of enquiries we have produced practical guidance for co‑ops. Updates are being added weekly.
- Benefits of membership
  Discover what membership can do for you and your co-op
- Membership packages
  Small or large, retail or agriculture, we've got a package to suit the full spectrum of co-ops
- Contact Package
  Your co-op can access the best support from some of the UK’s leading advisers on governance, finance, HR and membership.
- HR package
  High quality HR advice and support plus significant procurement savings are just some of the benefits
- Agricultural package
  Find out about our bespoke membership offer for farmer-controlled businesses
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Search

Search for a local co-op Browse the newsroom Downloadable resources
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Co-operatives UK Resources

Search for documents relating to your area of interest.

You've Joined a Movement - A Guide to Co-ops

Type: Co-operatives UK documents | Topic: About co-operatives | Format: Information sheet | 2

So it's your first day at a co-op and there's so much to learn. But what even is a co-op? Download our simple guide, which explains the size and impact of the co-op movement, what makes a co-op...

Co-op Fortnight 2020 posters, graphics & logos

Type: Co-operatives UK documents | Topic: About co-operatives | Format: Graphics | 5

Download your Co-op Fortnight 2020 toolkit guide, posters, graphics and logos. View thumbnail images by clicking on the links below. CAMPAIGN PACK GRAPHICS (various) Use our ready made graphics Adapt...

What is a co-operative?

Type: Practical guides | Topic: About co-operatives | Format: Film

A short film explaining what a co-operative is, their performance in 2015 and and what a difference they can make to people by giving them control over things that matter to them.

A fair share for co-ops

Type: Co-operatives UK documents | Topic: About co-operatives | Format: Documents and policies | 1

The Ownership Hub – prospectus

Type: Co-operatives UK documents | Topic: Start-ups | Format: Information sheet | 1

The Ownership Hub raises awareness of the benefits of employee and worker ownership at a national level. We provide support and resources to run an intervention to grow employee and worker ownership...

Guidance for societies facing financial strife

Type: Co-operatives UK documents | Topic: Finance | Format: Information sheet | 1

The current economic climate is tough for all businesses. Government has introduced new insolvency legislation to give businesses in distress more opportuny to turn things around. Following...

Union-Coops:UK Manifesto: Co-operatives UK and Worker Co-op Council response

Type: Co-operatives UK documents | Topic: About co-operatives | Format: Documents and policies | 1

Co-operatives UK and its Worker Co-operative Council warmly welcome the launch of Union-Coops:UK manifesto . We are eager to strengthen and broaden existing collaborations between unions and co-ops...

Community co-operation in the COVID-19 recovery

Type: Co-operatives UK documents | Topic: About co-operatives | Format: Documents and policies | 1

This is our response to the Prime Minister’s call for proposals for how civil society, community groups and social enterprise can be supported to contribute to ‘levelling up’ and the COVID-19...

Returning to work after furlough - editable template

Type: Co-operatives UK documents | Topic: Employment | Format: Documents and policies | 1

This editable template is designed to help ensure colleagues/employees make the transition from being furloughed to returing to work as easy as possible.

We are the rebuilders: Four co-operative offers for building back better from COVID-19

Type: Co-operatives UK documents | Topic: About co-operatives | Format: Report | 2

'We are the rebuilders' is a short new paper by Co-operatives UK. It makes four co-op ‘offers’ to everyone working for a more sustainable and just future. In this moment of crisis, co-ops are a great...

About

Promoting co-operatives

Developing co-operatives

Uniting co-operatives

Membership

Co-operatives UK Resources

You've Joined a Movement - A Guide to Co-ops

Co-op Fortnight 2020 posters, graphics & logos

What is a co-operative?

A fair share for co-ops

The Ownership Hub – prospectus

Guidance for societies facing financial strife

Union-Coops:UK Manifesto: Co-operatives UK and Worker Co-op Council response

Community co-operation in the COVID-19 recovery

Returning to work after furlough - editable template

We are the rebuilders: Four co-operative offers for building back better from COVID-19

Pages

Centre for SME Development: The Time for more Ownership? Introduction to Employee and Worker Ownership - Online

Centre for SME Development: The Time for Worker Co-ops? - Online

UK Society for Co-operatives Studies Research Conference | UK Society for Co-operative Studies