Reimagine your work, food, housing, school, health, energy, community
Join the new wave of people across the UK setting up co-ops – or get support to make yours stronger.
- Support for co-ops
Support for co-ops
Find out about the advice and training opportunities available for co-operatively run businesses and organisations, from expert one-to-one advice, peer mentoring and one-day skills training.
- Direct support: What's on offer
We offer a range of business support for new groups and existing co-ops including one-to-one advice, peer mentoring, one-day training sessions and FREE 'Is a co-op right for you?' workshops
- FREE 'Is a co-op right for you?' events
FREE half day workshops for people wanting to learn more about co‑ops, what's needed to start one and the support available.
- The Hive Providers & Peer mentors
See the wider range of co-operative business advisers and experienced peer mentors working on The Hive.
- About The Hive
Find out more about The Hive, a business support programme for co‑ops, run by Co-operatives UK in partnership with The Co-operative Bank.
- Sign-up for The Hive updates
Receive The Hive email updates to know when new opportunities are on offer to new and existing co‑ops.
- Contact usGet in touch with any questions and we'll point you in the right direction.
- Direct support: What's on offer
- Business planning
Business planning
This section is packed with step-by-step guides and resources to work through the process of testing your business idea to writing a business plan, as well as sign-posting the business support on offer for groups in the very early stages of starting a co‑op.
- Web resources: Get started
From testing your business idea to writing a business plan, this section takes you through the process – step-by-step – with information and downloads to help you kick off.
- Direct support: What's on offer
Groups can apply for expert one-to-one business advice or the chance to be matched with an experienced mentor from an existing co‑op.
- FREE 'Is a co-op right for you?' events
FREE half day workshops for people wanting to learn more about co‑ops, what's needed to start one and the support available.
- About The Hive
Find out more about The Hive, a business support programme for co‑ops, run by Co-operatives UK in partnership with The Co-operative Bank.
- Web resources: Get started
- Setting up a co-operative
Setting up a co-operative
Everything you need to know and do to get your co-operative business registered as a legal entity.
- Web resources: Get started
A step-by-step guide with additional resources to help get your co-operative business registered as a legal entity.
- Direct support: What's on offer
Groups can apply for expert one-to-one business advice or the chance to be matched with an experienced mentor from an existing co‑op.
- FREE 'Is a co-op right for you?' events
FREE half day workshops for people wanting to learn more about co‑ops, what's needed to start one and the support available.
- About The Hive
Find out more about The Hive, a business support programme for co‑ops, run by Co-operatives UK in partnership with The Co-operative Bank.
- Web resources: Get started
- Grow your co-operative
Growing your business
Some key areas of focus when you are looking to grow your business, firm-up some of your weaknesses, or improve your sustainability.
- Web resources: Get started
Guidance and downloads to help your co-op work through some key areas including governance, HR & people, membership, marketing your co-op and managing environmental impact.
- Direct support: What's on offer
Groups can apply for expert one-to-one business advice or the chance to be matched with an experienced mentor from an existing co‑op.
- Training courses
We offer a range of one-day training courses to help existing co-ops learn new skills and strengthen in key areas, from strategic planning and change management, to marketing your co-op difference.
- About The Hive
Find out more about The Hive, a business support programme for co‑ops, run by Co-operatives UK in partnership with The Co-operative Bank.
- Web resources: Get started
- Buyouts and conversions
Co-operative buyouts and conversions
The different ways in which a non-co-operative business could become co-operative.- Direct support: What's on offer
Groups can apply for expert one-to-one business advice to help work through their buyout or conversion.
- Web resources: Employee buyouts
Employee ownership is a viable succession option for business owners, who can get a fair price for the business by selling it to those who know it best – the employees.
- Web resources: Community buyout
Advice and guidance for groups considering community buyouts and community shares, where key amenities, assets and services are taken into the ownership of the community.
- About The Hive
Find out more about The Hive, a business support programme for co‑ops, run by Co-operatives UK in partnership with The Co-operative Bank.
- Direct support: What's on offer
- Online community
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