Community Shares Standard Mark

What is the Community Shares Standard Mark?

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It’s a gold standard awarded to community share offers based on an independent assessment. The Standard Mark builds trust and confidence by assuring an offer meets the highest standards.

Standards are overseen by the Co-operative and Community Capital Committee, a member group of Co-operatives UK with representatives from across the sector.

How the Standard Mark can help you succeed 

It’s a powerful endorsement that tells investors your offer is clear, honest and transparent. The Standard Mark can make a huge difference to reaching your target because it improves: 

• Investor confidence: More people will trust your share offer and feel secure in investing.
• Reduce risk: The Standard Mark assessment reduces the risk that a mistake has been made in the share offer documents, protecting the Board at time of share offer launch.
• Strong business plans and governance: Your organisation will be built on solid legal and financial foundations.
• Long-term impact: Investing time in preparing a well-structured share offer enables greater long-term success, stronger engagement and a community that thrives for years to come.

Find out more about what other societies are saying about how the Standard Mark strengthened their share offers...

Creating a Standard Mark quality share offer 

Use the Standard Mark Assessment Framework to create a compelling, high-quality share offer. It will ensure you define your purpose, set out strong governance, develop a solid business plan and implement effective community engagement. Follow the step-by-step guidance to compile a clear share offer document with full transparency around investment terms, risk and potential returns.

Community Shares Handbook

The Community Shares Unit provides detailed technical guidance on best practice standards in our Community Shares Handbook.

See who is using the Standard Mark

A bonus of receiving the Standard Mark is Co-operatives UK adds you to our online list and can provide social media exposure. See who else is using the Standard Mark.

Funding to pay for the Standard Mark

You may be eligible for the Reach Fund which can cover Standard Mark costs in England. 

Practitioner Training

We run a training and accreditation scheme for practitioners to become licensed to award the Standard Mark and develop quality community share offers. Find out more.

Co-operative and Community Capital Committee

For more information on the governance and oversight of these standards, read more about our Co-operative and Community Capital Committee.