News Archive
Let’s Connect At The Co-op Retail Conference 2026
Will you be heading to Glasgow for the Co-op Retail Conference 2026 in March? If you are, come and find us! We’ll be exhibiting at this busy annual event, built around the needs of consumer-owned retail societies. From the 19th to the 21st of March, senior leaders, boards and management teams will share insight, tackle common […]
Proud to sponsor Future Co-ops 2026!
We’re delighted to be sponsoring this year’s Future Co-ops conference! Taking place in Birmingham from Friday 27th February to Saturday 28th February, the two-day gathering will examine how collective action and co-operation can rebuild trust and deliver real power at a local level. It will bring together co-operative activists, policy thinkers, campaigners and community business leaders to explore […]
Own The Future: One-year accelerator programme for worker co-ops
Workers.coop is launching Own The Future, its first co-op support programme for workers leading the transition to a new economy. Own the Future will recruit five groups across the country for a one-year accelerator programme of training, mentoring, specialist advice and peer support. Workers.coop is looking for groups with a fully formed idea for an economic activity addressing […]
Residents invest in community pub with additional funding package
A community pub has secured additional loan finance and investment for growth ensuring protection and ownership for future generations. In 2021 The Bell Inn pub in Frisby on the Wreake (situated on the Upper Wreake Valley of Leicestershire) had closed its doors as the village’s only remaining pub. The community worked quickly and proactively in […]
It’s all happening in Glasgow!
Co-operative development specialist, our Board member and Glasgow resident Jaye Martin has been busy lately! “As a proud Glasgow resident, I was so happy that not one, but two, major events in the co-op sector’s calendar were held in the dear green place this month. The Democratic Business Summit, organised by the Centre for Democratic Business, […]
Introducing our New Director, Gareth Nash
We’re delighted to welcome Gareth Nash to our Board of Directors. We spoke to him recently about his three plus decades of experience in co-operative development and finance, and why the time was right to join us. “I’ve always been interested in democratic forms of organisation. I remember walking past a co-operative development agency when […]
Introducing our new Director, Mark Simmonds
We’re pleased to announce, during trustees Week, that experienced co-operator Mark Simmonds, founder of Co-op Culture, has joined our Board of Directors. We spoke to Mark recently about his co-operative journey, and why he’s joined us. “While I’m involved in a number of organisations, at the moment, I mainly deliver my work through Co-op Culture. […]
Introducing our new Director, Dan Kelly
We’re pleased to share that Dan Kelly, was elected to our Board at our AGM this year. Here, for Trustees, Week, we speak to Dan about his co-operative journey, and why he’s joined us. “Like a lot of people in this sector, I do about five jobs. Being fundraising and development coordinator for Two Queens, […]
Loan finance secured as family and friends work together to establish sustainable living housing co-op
A group of family and friends have come together to purchase a property and create an intergenerational housing co-op built on environmental sustainability and co-operative values. In 2024, husband and wife Graham Turner and Kyra Pollitt set up Big Step Housing Co-operative alongside daughter Edie, her partner Spring and their friends Caitlin and Dan. The plan […]
The 2025 Co-operative and Mutual Economy Report is out!
Last week, on Tuesday 23 September, Co-operatives UK released the 2025 Co-operative and Mutual Economy Report, revealing a record-breaking year for the UK’s co-operative and mutual economy. The CCF team said: “As an organisation that has been supporting cooperatives for over 50 years, we are incredibly proud to see the power, breadth and strength of […]