Application questions – about your business

Organisation aims/brief description

Tell us about your business and how you currently trade.

• Briefly describe the business – aims and purpose.
• Tell us about your business.

Products, services & customers

• What are your products and services?
• Who are your customers and users? Are they individuals or businesses?
• Try to be specific e.g. numbers, demographics, where located
• What is your motivation for converting to a co-op? This could be due to retirement or succession? Are you looking to transfer ownership to the employees or your community?
• How have existing employees/proposed members been consulted? How will a co-op model of ownership add value to your business?
• Tell us about your business and how you currently trade.

Sustainability and growth.

• What are your ambitions for the business?

• If available, please attach a copy of your current business plan and / or strategic plan at the end of the form.

• If available, please attach a copy of your most recent annual accounts at the end of the form. 

• What are your likely risks, challenges and barriers?

Governance

How are you organised?

• What is the current business model and how is it organised?

• Who is involved and what roles will they play in this process-i.e. vendor and employee committee etc.?

• How have existing employees/proposed members been consulted?

Social and environmental impact

• Tell us how your business idea/organisation supports, serves or benefits under-represented or hard to reach communities and demographics, e.g. Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic communities (BAME), or young people.

• Tell us how you are creating or delivering social value and environmental impact (what issues, problems are users/beneficiaries facing and how are you solving these issues? How will you measure social impact?

• Do you have an understanding of the co-operative values and principles?