Standard Mark for Societies
The Community Shares Standard Mark is awarded to share offers that meet national standards of good practice.
Community share offers run by registered societies are exempt from any statutory regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority. This importantly keeps the cost of running public share offers down and ensures the model continues to be affordable and accessible.
The Community Shares Standard Mark award and development framework encourages voluntary regulation to ensure community share offers are honest, transparent and simple to understand.
This Community Shares Standard Mark assessment framework can be used to develop the share offer and associated business plan and financial forecasts before enlisting a community shares practitioner to award the Standard Mark.
A Licensed Community Shares Practitioner is accredited by the Community Shares Unit to award the Mark. Societies can independently contract a community shares practitioner to support in developing the offer and award the Standard Mark.
Funding is available through the Booster Programme in England and other devolved nation programmes to cover the costs of the award.
Find a Community Shares Practitioner
Community Shares Standard Mark Assessment Framework
The Community Shares Standard Mark is awarded to community share offers that meet national standards of best practice.