
Discover co‑ops

Watch the recordings of our series of FREE webinars introducing co-ops and inspiring people to find fairer, more equitable ways of living and working.
Co-ops do business differently. They’re suitable for people looking to challenge the status quo and find fairer, more equitable ways of working. Co‑ops are owned and controlled by their members, giving people a share in the success of the business.
Co-operatives UK has recently held a series of FREE webinars and live events to introduce people to the co-op business model – and provide a launchpad for starting a co‑op business. This series is brought to you through Business Support for Co-ops – Co-operatives UK and The Co-operative Bank supporting fair and ethical business together.
You can see the recordings of the webinars below. We’ll be putting on more FREE introductory webinars and events throughout 2023. Sign up for our email updates to be the first to hear about them. And follow Co-operatives UK on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Watch the recordings of our webinars
According to the latest official figures, there are some 4 million self-employed people in the UK. Whatever their reasons for being self-employed, they have this in common: they’re more likely to have unstable incomes and to miss out on social protections such as pensions, insurance and sick pay.
But there is a way to enjoy a thriving, autonomous and secure career: co‑ops. Forming a co‑op makes good business sense. Freelancers who’ve joined forces to set up co-ops have benefitted in many ways – from sharing costs, skills, knowledge and risk, to gaining new opportunities and enjoying peer support. WATCH THIS WEBINAR to find out more.
The arts and cultural industries make an important contribution to the economy. Yet there are plenty of challenges for people within this sector – with squeezed funding, digitisation and unstable freelance work, sustaining careers, spaces, opportunities and morale can be a challenge.
That’s where co-ops can help. They can empower creativity, create work opportunities, preserve vital spaces and provide support that empowers individuals to thrive within their chosen field of work. WATCH THIS WEBINAR to find out more.
Job insecurity and precarious working have proliferated with the rise of digital platforms like Uber and Deliveroo. Meanwhile, the tech giants behind digital platforms dominate markets and make huge profits.
But there’s a fairer alternative: platform co-ops – democratically owned and controlled businesses that use an online platform or mobile app to trade. They’re built on co‑operative principles and values, making them a fairer way to do business digitally. Watch this webinar hosted by Co-operatives UK’s Ludovica Rogers for this FREE one-hour webinar to find out more. WATCH WEBINAR.
Offering Hope to Future Generations, a report from Co‑operatives UK, has found that mental health, job security, career prospects, a lack of control over working lives and climate change are major causes of stress in young people. But there is a solution: co‑ops. The co‑op model gives members ownership and control, which aids mental health and wellbeing significantly.
This webinar will hear from young people who have been involved in or founded a range of co‑ops. Discover how co‑ops can empower young people and provide opportunities to help them build successful, fulfilling lives. WATCH WEBINAR.
The last decade has seen an increase in the number of community owned co‑ops across the UK. Co‑ops are democratic businesses that allow local communities to take control of the services and spaces that matter most to them. They enable people to pool resources to trade goods and services that benefit the community. Watch this webinar to hear from co-ops that provide solutions, spaces and services that benefit communities. WATCH WEBINAR
The co-op model, based on equity, fairness and transparency, has proved particularly suitable for businesses with environmental aims. Co-ops are a grass roots force for climate action. Hear from speakers from Repowering London, Carbon Co-op and Bristol Wood Recycling Project in this introductory webinar working collaboratively to tackle the climate emergency. WATCH WEBINAR.
Why co-ops?
Sharing ownership not only boosts morale and productivity, it harnesses innovation – and research suggests that co‑ops are far more resilient. Something that’s not very widely known is that co‐operatives in the UK are very resilient – they were five times less likely to stop trading in 2021, compared to businesses generally. Worker-owned co‐ops also tend to create more jobs than other forms of business.
Offering Hope to Future Generations, a report from Co‑operatives UK, also recommended co-ops as solution to the challenges young people face: mental health, job security, career prospects, a lack of control over working lives and climate change. The co‑op model gives members ownership and control, which aids mental health and wellbeing significantly.
Support for starting a co-op
Co-operatives UK offers business support designed to help you start or grow your co-op – thanks to our partnership with The Co-operative Bank, supporting fair and ethical business.
If you have a business idea:
- Access our online step-by-step tool that guides you through the start‑up process – and you can even register your new co‑op
- Apply to our programme for start-ups to access up to six days of tailored support with a co-op expert to help you get your co-op off the ground

Start a new co‑op

Business Support – start your co-op

Support for platform co-ops
