New ‘Discover co-ops’ roadshow launches to showcase a fairer way to live and work

Co-operatives UK has teamed up with co-operative experts across the country to deliver a series of FREE workshops introducing co-ops as a fairer way to live and work.

The sessions, entitled Is starting a co-op right for you? will explain how the co‑op model can create and sustain a successful, values-based business; what steps are needed to start one and what support is available to do so.  

The roadshow is part of the Business Support for Co-ops programme, which offers up to six days expert support to new and existing co-ops, delivered by Co-operatives UK, in partnership with The Co-operative Bank. The Co‑operative Bank’s funding has enabled support for more than 1,200 groups since the partnership with Co‑operatives UK began in 2016.

Taking place in February and March 2024, the workshops will be led by local organisations with experience of co‑operatives joined by people from nearby co‑operatives sharing their experiences of starting and running a co‑op. 

These informative, interactive and fun sessions will provide a more in-depth understanding of co‑operatives, as well as the next steps for setting one up.

The co-op experts running the sessions will also focus on their areas of expertise such as worker owned co-ops, housing co-ops, community ownership of rural assets or converting a social enterprise to a co-op.

Petra Morris, Co-operatives UK’s Co‑op Development Manager, who leads the Business Support for Co‑ops programme, said: 

“We’re delighted to be teaming up with so many passionate, knowledgeable co‑op experts to introduce co-operatives to people in towns and cities across the country.  

“These workshops are free and are guaranteed to be enlightening and inspiring. There are thousands of co-ops across the UK that generated more than £40 billion last year, benefitting the UK economy, as well as their members – by operating fairly and democratically. 

“It’s proof that there is a fair and profitable alternative way to live, work and be involved in your local community.”

Co-ops can be businesses of all kinds, run by their members, who can be customers, employees, residents or suppliers – and who have a say in how the co‑op is run, making it a fairer, more democratic way of doing business.

Co-operatives UK – and the partner organisations – are inviting people to come and find out for themselves the benefits of setting up a co‑op. They will also learn about support on offer through the Business Support for Co-ops programme to help new co‑operatives get started. 

 To find out more and see the full listing of workshops throughout the country, see the Discover co-ops listings.  

In partnership with...

This series is funded through the Business Support for Co-ops programme, delivered by Co-operatives UK, in partnership with The Co-operative Bank.

Thank you to all of the organisations who have partnered with us on this series: Co‑operatives West Midlands and Co‑operative Futures; Co-op Culture and Calderdale Co‑operative Association; Community Empowerment Ltd, Co‑operative Assistance Network, and Social Enterprise Link CIC; Sister Midnight and The Community Shares Company; Stirchley Co‑operative Development; Co‑operative and Mutual Solutions Limited; CASE (Co‑operative and Social Enterprise Development Agency); Principle 6, workers.coop and Space4; and South West Co‑op Development and Exeter University. 

We're also grateful to Co‑operative Development Scotland, Cwmpas and Plunkett Foundation for putting on their own workshops as part of the Discover Co‑ops series.