News Archive
Celebrating ICOF 50th birthday – looking back at our early loans – Adept
We think that this was a drilling machine, bought by engineering co-op Adept. We think this was the 70s… Anyone remember? Were they attempting an early channel tunnel? Since publishing this article, we’ve been told by Ian Taylor that Adept was an early 1990s loan. The photo is of a Heidelberg printer. A couple with […]
Unveiling 50 years of ICOF
We were delighted to unveil a timeline charting fifty years of ICOF (and other!) history as we launched our birthday celebrations at Cooperative Futures recent From Crisis to Co-ops Conference. We dedicated this to co-operative giant Roger Sawtell – look out for another article about Roger very soon Thank you so everyone who has been part […]
Want to save energy in your co-op or community business?
Rising costs are hitting individuals and businesses across the board, and co-ops and community businesses are no exception. Here, we’re delighted to share this video of a recent webinar hosted by Plunkett Foundation and Midcounties Co-op which explored ways that village shops could save energy. The tips within are useful for all small businesses – […]
ICOF – The Borrowers Point of View
Through this, our fiftieth year, we’re delighted to be talking to some of the incredible people who have worked with us along the way – borrowers, supporters, investors, partners, Trustees, and staff. Here we share The Borrower’s Point of View, in this piece written twenty five years ago by Martin Meteyard, who was a member […]
Celebrating ICOF 50th birthday – looking back at our early loans – Antiques R Us
An Antiques co-op – yes, really! Not a type of business we’ve funded often but look at all that incredible stuff! Does anyone remember this co-op? We’d love to know more about it. Since publishing this article, we’ve been told by Ian Taylor that Antiques R Us is in fact a co-op auction house in […]
50 years of friendship and finance – meet Dame Pauline Green
Through this, our fiftieth year, we’re delighted to be talking to some of the incredible people who have worked with us along the way – borrowers, supporters, investors, partners, Trustees, and staff. Today, we introduce Dame Pauline Green ‘I have known ICOF for some time, but then I’ve been a co-operator for a very long […]
Celebrating ICOF 50th birthday – looking back at our early loans – The Bike Doctor
Bicycle co-ops were huge in the 70s! Here we see The Bike Doctor being opened by Graham Obree, who was at the time of the picture, the fastest cyclist around. We’re not sure where this was – anyone know? Since publishing this article, we’ve been told by Ian Taylor that this photo was taken around […]
50 years of friendship and finance – meet Malcolm Lynch
Through this, our fiftieth year, we’re delighted to be talking to some of the incredible people who have worked with us along the way – borrowers, supporters, investors, partners, Trustees, and staff. Today, we introduce Malcolm Lynch, who is a solicitor and heads the Charity and Social Economy Team at Wrigleys Solicitors ‘My involvement with […]
Celebrating ICOF 50th birthday – looking back at our early loans – Foundation for Human Development
Here we have the Foundation for Human Development in London in, we think the 70’s with… a tiny, portable computer? Or a printer? We’re not entirely sure what this but we suspect it’s probably available as an app nowadays.
Enrolling now: barefoot training
We are so pleased to see enrolment open for another barefoot training cohort. If we are going to grow the co-op sector its essential we have new Co-op Development Practitioners to support new and developing democratically owned businesses. Could you apply the skills and experience you have developed working in a co-operative or community business […]