New Pioneers by Delineo

New Pioneers November 2010

Inspiring examples of a fresh approach to co-operative development

Front cover: The Green Valley Grocer This page: Oxford Cycle Workshop inside back cover: Unicorn Grocery

New Pioneers

Modern, effective and relevant By Kathryn Smith Chair of The Co-operative Enterprise Hub I am delighted to introduce our first annual report which describes the national roll out of our programme of specialist advice and training for co-operatives following a successful pilot project. I am also very pleased to announce that The Co-operative Group will be investing £7.5 million in The Co-operative Enterprise Hub over the next three years. This demonstrates our solidarity and commitment to the wider co-operative sector. A significant proportion of this investment is used to support a free advice and training service to new and existing co-operative enterprises, EFMJWFSFE ¢ PO CFIBMG PG The Co-operative Group ¢ CZ SFHJPOBM DPOTPSUJVNT of co-operative development professionals.

After providing advice and training, the co-operative development advisers are able to recommend further support from the Hub in the form of finance packages. The Co-operative Enterprise Hub is witnessing a growth in the number and diversity of co-operative enterprises. Communities are setting up, running and growing member-owned enterprises, embracing the spirit of co-operation and having a say in the running of businesses and services that impact on them. The co-operative approach itself is enjoying renewed interest from a public concerned for environment, ethical trading and sustainability - from pubs to grocers and cafes to childcare, it is seen as an

attractive business model for UPEBZ§T FUIJDBMMZ NPUJWBUFE entrepreneur. As a modern, effective and relevant approach to business, the co-operative business model has, without doubt, an exciting part to play in fostering future UK enterprises. I hope that you enjoy reading about some of the diverse and interesting co-operative enterprises we have been supporting over the last year.

Building a strong co-operative economy This year, for the first time ever, expert advice on how to set up and develop a co-operative has been made available throughout England and Wales, free of charge. This remarkable development in specialist business support is the result of generous investment by The Co-operative Group combined with detailed planning, market testing and DPOTVMUBUJPO XJUI UIF 6,Â§T MFBEJOH FYQFSUT JO DP PQFSBUJWF development. The initiative started as a pilot project in the North West region, which successfully assisted 50 co-operative enterprises. The Co-operative Enterprise Hub started to be rolled out nationally in September 2009. Regional consortiums of co-operative development professionals have now been set up in every English region and in Wales. Consortiums are expected to be established in Scotland and Northern Ireland early in 2011. A package of advice and finance is provided to help new and existing co-operatives become more sustainable businesses. By the end of October 2010, over 300 co-operative enterprises had been approved for free advice and training. This promotion of the co-operative model is proving popular with ethically-motivated entrepreneurs because Â&#x2026; Advice, training and consultancy are provided free of charge Â&#x2026; Support is provided by co-operative development professionals Â&#x2026; Loans are available without security or personal guarantees. This initiative is helping to improve the availability and quality of advice, training and finance for co-operative businesses across the UK.

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There is also a growth in regional co-operative networks, providing opportunities for co-operative enterprises to discuss, learn and do business with like-minded entrepreneurs. The Co-operative Enterprise Hub welcomes applications from all kinds of co-operatives and from people who want to set them up. To be eligible for free advice, the venture must be:

A co-operative, or soon to be a co-operative Free advice, training and consultancy is available to help existing co-operatives to adapt and grow, to help people set up new co-operatives and to assist in the conversion of existing enterprises to co-operatives.

An incorporated body or soon to be incorporated Free advice and training is only available to organisations that are (or are about to be) registered companies, industrial or provident societies, limited liability partnerships or similar bodies. The Co-operative Enterprise Hub can also help you to register your enterprise.

Based in the United Kingdom Free advice is only available to co-operatives whose registered office is in the UK.

New Pioneers

Free accessible and relevant support for co-operatives Accessing the free advice and support available from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub is easy. Everything you need to know, including a simple application form, is on the website www.co-operative.coop/enterprisehub. We welcome applications from all kinds of co-operatives; from established businesses and from groups about to set up a new co-operative enterprise. In particular we offer support to co-operatives that are Preparing to start trading In their first year of trading Experiencing rapid growth Planning to move premises Needing to buy equipment Developing a new product, service or market Wanting to change their management or structure. If your application is eligible it will be passed to the lead co-operative development organisation in your region. Within a few days a consultant will contact you to make an appointment. The consultant will usually visit you to discuss your business needs in detail and will then prepare a proposal. This might include business consultancy, management training, a finance package of a small grant and a loan ... whatever the consultant and your co-operative think is the best way of ensuring the sustainability of your enterprise. The consultant then sends the proposal to our head office for approval. The Co-operative Enterprise Hub will pay for up to GPVS EBZT§ DPOTVMUBODZ XIJDI NJHIU JODMVEF CVTJOFTT QMBOOJOH financial, staffing, legal and governance advice.

The Co-operative Enterprise Hub can also help co-operatives to access finance to help them start up and grow. We have a small amount of grant funding available to help co-operative enterprises become sustainable. Applications for grants (up to a maximum of £5,000) will only be considered in conjunction with a loan application. Grants are only available to co-operatives that have received advice and training from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. Building a close link between advice and training, grants and loans will help us to achieve our aim of creating a thriving co-operative economy. We work closely with The Co-operative Loan Fund, which supports co-operative enterprises throughout the UK through the provision of accessible, ethical loan finance. It exclusively lends to co-operatives and is entirely funded and run by co-operatives, so unlike many conventional lenders it truly understands and actively supports democratically owned and controlled enterprises. The Co-operative Loan Fund is willing to make unsecured loans and does not ask for personal guarantees. Loan applications are welcome from co-operatives that require finance to Set up a new enterprise Expand an existing enterprise Assist employee buyouts or company successions Purchase a property or business Purchase capital equipment or create working capital.

The heart of the communityy F UIF W B I E ME M V P I UJJFFT T Â¤$PNNVOJUJ ir pub e h t e v a s to dells. right to try o m e iv t a r -ope through co s been a h h c a o r p This ap saving in l u f s s e c suc MMMM DMMVVCT ÂĽ extremellyy B C U P P G E O QT B WJJMMMMBBHF TIP an ter Couchm lunkett Foundatit on Pete utive, P Chieef Exec

Metfield Stores Stores

Concern for community is a cor coree co co-operative -operative principle. In recent recent yyears ears co-oper co-operatives atives ha have ve been very very successful in using the pow power er of community ownership to tak takee over over the running of shops, pubs and green green spaces where where private private enterprise has failed.

Metfield Stor Stores es

The George George & Dragon Dragon g

Our Our SShop hop Our Pub Our P ub Our Our Land Land Community co-opera co-operatives tives ha have ve been ver veryy successful in saving saving villa village ge shops. The same spirit of co-opera co-operative tive enterprise has also been transf transforming orming urban shops, pubs and open space. n nterprise Hub was given right at the bbeginning of the project, when we needed assistance with a constitution, e eeded e istering the business and establishing eg o we were able to sell shares to local ow e eople. We only had one month to get the a rolling, and without the support a fast all r rnaround would have been impossible.

The Gre reen Valley Gro rocer

The Green Gr een Valley Valley Grocer Grocer, in Slaithwaite, West Yoorkshire, k hi is one of a growing number of community-owned shops. When the local greengrocers closed in May 2009 a group of residents set up a co-operative that would allow the community to purchase shares in the business and have control. In just 15 weeks, the greengrocers reopened as a community-owned shop. Graham Mitchell, chair of the co-operative, believes the community co-operative model is the ideal way to finance and run a local shop. Â¤&TUBCMJTIJOH B DPNNVOJUZ PXOFE TIPQ was the only solution to keep our village HSFFOHSPDFST ÂĽ IF TBJE Â¤3VOOJOH UIF business as a co-operative seemed like a natural fit, as no one wanted to be a greengrocer, yet no one wanted to lose it. Â¤5IF TVQQPSSUU GSPN 5IF $P PQFSBUJWF

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We â&#x20AC;&#x153; We were were all all working working tto oo one ne ccommon ommon goal goal w which hich was was to to ensure ensure o our ur ccommunity ommunity ccontinued ontinued tto o tthrive.â&#x20AC;? hrive.â&#x20AC;? Â¤8F IBWF CFFO BNB[FE BU IPX NVDI the project has brought the community together. Everyone involved wanted the project to be successful and we were all working to one common goal, which was to ensure our community continued to thrive. Not only were people investing their money through the purchase of shares, but people volunteered their time BOE FYQFSUJTF UP SFOPWBUF UIF TIPQ ÂĽ Metfield Stor es, in Suffolk, like Stores many community-owned shops, is the only shop for miles around. It is a convenience store with a strong emphasis on local produce, including meat, vegetables and bread. It is staffed entirely by volunteers and open seven EBZT B XFFL Â˘ B SFNBSLBCMF BDIJFWFNFOU for a village of just 400 residents.

New Pioneers

Metfield Storrees

When the original shop closed in 2005, a group of villagers came together with the aim of promoting a community buyout, but at a public meeting no consensus could be reached on how to do it. At the last moment, with the building going up for auction, a resident volunteered to buy the premises if the community could put it in order and run it as a community shop. Earlier this year the shop was in financial difficulty and the villagers rallied round and raised another ÂŁ10,000 from a community share issue. They also sought the assistance of The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. It was then that the value of getting specialist advice about co-operatives became apparent. Sally Kelly from The Guild, the consultant engaged by the Hub, has been helping the business to change its legal structure. In 2006 the business had been registered as a community interest company limited by shares. At the time this legal form was relatively new but it was not, as it turns out, quite what the villagers required. Â¤5IFZ IBWF CFFO PQFSBUJOH MJLF B co-operative, taking decisions on the basis of one person one vote when in fact it should have been on the basis of UIF OVNCFS PG TIBSFT IFME ÂĽ 4BMMZ ,FMMZ FYQMBJOFE Â¤8F BSF OPX IFMQJOH UIFN UP DPOWFSSUU JU UP B DP PQFSBUJWF $*$ ÂĽ Â¤5IJT JT B HPPE FYBNQMF PG UIF CFOFGJUT of The Co-operative Enterprise Hub being able to give advice to existing co-ops as and when they need it.

EPFTOÂ§U IBWF UIF TBNF l good factor as setting OFX DP PQT *UÂ§T NVDLZ SL CVU JUÂ§T UIF TUVGG UIBU ny co-ops need. Yoou e to roll your sleeves up HFU TUVDL JO ÂĽ Busy Bee TToy oy Shop, in Manchester, shows that community-owned shops EPOÂ§U IBWF UP CF JO WJMMBHFT PS TFMM GPPE When the owner of the much loved toy shop decided to retire after 25 years, the residents of Chorlton formed a community co-operative to take over the business. They held several meetings to build local support, drew up a business plan and invited people to buy shares in the co-operative. In just five weeks they raised enough to buy the name and stock and take on the lease. In July 2009 Busy Bee Toy o Shop re-opened under new ownership.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The â&#x20AC;&#x153;The main main driver driver was was tthe he number number of of local local p people eople who who were were sad sad to to ssee ee the the shop shop shut.â&#x20AC;? shut.â&#x20AC;? behalf of The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. Â¤5IJT JT B HPPE FYBNQMF PG UIF GMFYJCMF nature of the advice and training provided CZ 5IF $P PQFSBUJWF &OUFSQSJTF )VC ÂĽ TBJE (BSFUI /BTI PG $.4 Â¤5IF HSPVQ was very well networked and got support from a number of sources including some other co-ops. They dipped into the advice available from the Hub as and XIFO UIFZ OFFEFE JU ÂĽ The Geor George ge & Dr Dragon agon, in Hudswell, North Yoorkshire, is one of the very few examples of a co-operatively owned pub.

Â¤5IF NBJO ESJWFS GPS UIJT XBT UIF OVNCF of local people ple who were sad to see thee TIPQ TIVU ÂĽ TBJE +BNFT )JMMPO POF PG UIF GPVOEFS NFNCFST Â¤4PNF QFPQMF considered taking it on themselves but no one felt they had the money or energy to do it alone. We formed the co-operative because we wanted the TIPQ UP CF SVO CZ UIF DPNNVOJUZ ÂĽ The 115 members of the co-operative are mostly residents of Chorlton or people who have links with the area. Busy Bee Several of them fondly remember Toy Shop visiting Busy Bee Tooy Shop when they were children. About 250 people live in Hudswell. There is a village hall but no The co-operative employs a store shop or post office. The closure of the manager and two part-time staff. The pub in August 2008 was a blow to the co-operative also relies on volunteers for social fabric of the village, as well as the management, administration and to help loss of a local business. in the shop. Busy Bee Toy o Shop received free consultancy from Co-operative and Mutual Solutions (CMS) working on

By June 2009 the empty pub remained unsold and so the villagers formed a co-operative and made an offer to buy it.

Visit www.slaithwaite.coop metfield.org.uk busybeetoyshop.co.uk

land is being developed as community allotments. Â¤8F EFDJEFE UIBU IBWJOH B UFOBOU XBT UIF CFTU PQUJPO GPS SVOOJOH UIF QVC ÂĽ TBJE .BSUJO #PPUI Â¤*U XPVMEOÂ§U XPSL IBWJOH members arguing about the price of CFFS ÂĽ With thousands of pubs closing each year, many other communities want to follow the example of Hudswell Community Pub. Earlier this year it looked as though government funding The Georrg would be available to facilitate this but ge & Dra rag gon the programme was cancelled by the "U GJSTU UIF CBOL UIBU PXOFE UIF QSPQFSUZ coalition government. EJEOÂ§U UBLF PVS PGGFS TFSJPVTMZ ÂĽ TBJE â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153;It It wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work work Martin Booth, one of the directors of the DP PQFSBUJWF Â¤5IFO JO 0DUPCFS UIFZ h having aving members members accepted it and wanted to complete aarguing rguing aabout bout tthe he p price rice the sale within a ridiculously short time o off b beer.â&#x20AC;? eer.â&#x20AC;? scale. We had to explain that democratic DPNNVOJUZ PXOFSTIJQ EPFTOÂ§U XPSL MJLF *O 4FQUFNCFS B ÂŚ$P PQFSBUJWF 1VCT UIBU ÂĽ 4VNNJUÂ§ XBT IFME JO UIF 0ME $SPXO JO )FTLFUU /FXNBSLFU $VNCSJB UIF 6,Â§T The group registered an industrial and first co-operatively owned pub - which provident society, prepared a business was attended by The Co-operative plan, issued a prospectus and raised Enterprise Hub, the Plunkett Foundation, ÂŁ224,000 in share capital. They Co-operative & Community Finance, received advice and support from a Co-operatives UK and other co-operative number of different sources, including organisations. They committed The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. themselves to supporting the 82 communities that had already The George & Dragon is now owned by applied for assistance from the Hudswell Community Pub Ltd, which is cancelled programme. democratically owned and controlled by its members. Any person or organisation can become a member by purchasing shares; the minimum investment is Â&#x192; 5IF DP PQFSBUJWFÂ§T SVMFT TUBUF UIBU at least 40% of the shareholders must live in the parish of Hudswell. The co-operative has appointed a tenant to run the business. The tenant is free to make all key business decisions but there are various conditions to ensure that the pub is used for community events. There is a library in the pub and part of the

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Heptonstall Allotment Gar Garden den Society, near Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, o k hi is one of the thousands of allotment societies in the UK that operate as co-operatives. Some are incorporated organisations but many are not. Heptonstall was not but the group soon found that they needed to become a legal entity to pursue their ambitious plans to buy the land and develop the allotments. They sought advice from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. Â¤5IJT JT B TUPSZ PG B MPDBM DPNNVOJUZ taking ownership of the allotments and then preserving them for future HFOFSBUJPOT BT B DP PQFSBUJWF ÂĽ TBJE +PO $MBSLF GSPN )VNCFSTJEF $%" Â¤8F helped them choose the right legal form and set it up. They were quite clear that they wanted a co-operative structure but there were some complications. We also MPPLFE BU TPNF UBY JTTVFT GPS UIFN ÂĽ Now all 22 allotment holders are actively involved members of the co-operative. Mark Simmonds, one of the members TBJE Â¤5IF BEWJDF XBT JOWBMVBCMF )BWJOH someone look at our project from an PVUTJEF QFSTQFDUJWF XBT WFSZ VTFGVM ÂĽ Last year Heptonstall Allotment Garden Society won the Morrisons / Action Earth award for the besst project p j in

Â¤8F BMM GFMU B TUSPOH NPSBM EVUZ to help these communities that the government has UVSOFE JUT CBDL PO ÂĽ TBJE 1FUFS Couchman, chief executive of the Plunkett Foundation. Heptonstall Â¤5IF TVQQPSSUU XJMM OPU CF BU Allotment G ard rden Society t the same level as it would have been, but b those h choosing h i down the co-operative pub route te will the North of England for receive support from highly experienced changing green areas in their community. DP PQFSBUJWF EFWFMPQFST ÂĽ

Visit www.richmond.org/community/hudswellpub eastsideroots.org.uk

New Pioneers

Eastside Roots runs a community garden centre at a local railway station in Bristol. Over the last three years the co-operative, relying almost entirely Eastside Ro ots on volunteers, has transformed a piece of derelict land into a vibrant, a community space. As welllll as selling lli plants, the community garden centre hosts training workshops and music evenings. Eastside Roots also runs a plant nursery, allotments and an orchard at another site nearby. Anyone who does voluntary work for Eastside Roots can become a member of the co-operative and there are currently 15 members. There is also a management committee that is elected annually. This year there was a major change of personnel in the management committee and also the funding for the one paid employee had come to an end.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our sseasonal easonal sales sales aand nd o our ur w workshops orkshops aand nd music m usic evenings evenings h have ave b been een very very successful, successful, aattracting ttracting over over 1 100 00 p people eople eeach ach ttime.â&#x20AC;? ime.â&#x20AC;? Â¤0OF PG UIF CJHHFTU DIBMMFOHFT XBT moving from having a paid co-ordinator who made the day-to-day decisions, to having to do everything ourselves and DP PQFSBUJWFMZ ÂĽ TBJE .BSJBO $POOPMMZ UIF USFBTVSFS Â¤*UÂ§T CFUUFS SFBMMZ *UÂ§T NPSF DP PQFSBUJWF ÂĽ The Co-operative Enterprise Hub provided a training course for the committee members that included an introduction to co-operatives, democratic meeting skills and the duties of the company secretary.

Â¤* EPOÂ§U UIJOL UIF DIBMFU PXOFST DBMMFE t a co-operative at the time but they were running i it on the th basis b i of o one NFNCFS POF WPUF ÂĽ TBJE 5SFWPS "MMFO ho is now the chair.

Marian, who admits that Marian TIF Â¤EJEOÂ§U LOPX BOZUIJOH BCPVU DP PQT PS BCPVU SVOOJOH B CVTJOFTTÂĽ CFGPSF TIF got involved just over a year ago, was enthusiastic about the training. Â¤8F BSF HPJOH UP CF EFWFMPQJOH B MPOHFS term business plan, looking at what XFÂ§WF EPOF TP GBS BOE CVJMEJOH PO PVS TUSFOHUIT ÂĽ TIF TBJE Her advice to other co-operators is TJNJMBS UP IFS BEWJDF UP HBSEFOFST Â¤4UBSU small and concentrate on looking after ZPVS SPPUT ÂĽ Elmrise Chalet P ark, at Llansteffan Park in West Wales, is a mutual holiday home park. The members own their own chalets, and the co-operative owns the freehold land, together with open areas, a nature reserve of 6.5 acres and a swimming pool. This arrangement is not uncommon with residential developments but it is a very rare example of ÂŚDPNNPOIPMEÂ§ CFJOH VTFE GPS IPMJEBZ homes.

All chalet owners can become members the co-operative but, as with all operatives, membership is voluntary. ere are 99 chalets on the site and 96 There members of the co-operative. Â¤1FPQMF XBOU UP IBWF B TBZ JO IPX UIF TJUF JT NBOBHFE ÂĽ TBJE 5SFWPS Â¤"OE UIFZ want to make sure that chalet ownership SFNBJOT BO BGGPSEBCMF IPMJEBZ PQUJPO ÂĽ Elmrise tries to operate to the highest environmental standards. It was the first company in Wales to take up a Carbon Trust loan to improve environmental efficiency and it has won a Green Dragon award for environmental management. It has contacted The Co-operative Enterprise Hub for help in accessing finance for further improving the bio-diversity of the site. Alex Bird of consultancy.coop said: Â¤.PTU DIBMFU BOE DBSBWBO QBSLT BSF SVO by very greedy landlords, who charge high rents and impose restrictions such as only buying caravans or chalets from them. We think this may be unique in not IBWJOH BO FYUFSOBM MBOEMPSE ÂĽ

Originally Elmrise Chalet Park was owned by a private company, set up in 1972, with a few shareholders who owned several chalets. By 1997 most of the directors had left or retired. The chalet owners formed a group and persuaded the remaining director to let Elmrise Cha l t Park le them take over.

Protecting our environment mbating o c is e iv t a er The Co-op e to make life good ang climate ch e for everyon

New Pioneers

The Co-oper Co-operative ative is among the w worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s orldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading businesses when it comes to taking up the challenge of combating global climate change. As w well ell as being dir directly ectly inv involved olved in wind farms, solar pow power er and its own energy energy efficienc efficiencyy pr programme, ogramme, it is supporting many other climate change initiativ initiatives es via The Co Co-operative -operative Enterprise Hub. All of the diverse diverse co-operative co-operative enterprises supported have have one thing in common - they are are democratically democratically owned and controlled controlled and fully accountable to their members.

Clean Green Energy Generating Generating energ energyy from renewable renewable resources and reducing carbon emissions are activities tha thatt can bring communities together using co-opera co-operative tive models. TTorrs orrs o Hydr Hydroo New Mills, in Derbyshire, XBT UIF 6,Â§T GJSTU DPNNVOJUZ BOE co-operatively owned hydropower scheme, and one of the first environmental projects to be supported by The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. Electricity is generated by a reverse Archimedes screw, called Archie, installed at Torr o Weir. It is owned by a community co-operative set up by the efforts and investment of local people, businesses and supporters of renewable energy schemes. The Co-operative Bank is the principal lender to the scheme and a grant of ÂŁ45,000 was provided by The Co-operative Enterprise Hub.

Energy, a community interest company providing sustainable energy consultancy and Humberside. in Yorkshire oorks k The Norton Energy Community co-operative will consist of members of the local community around the ancient market towns of Norton, Sutton and Campsall, near Doncaster. Members will all have common ownership of the two proposed wind turbines. The energy generated will be sold to the National Grid, and members of the co-operative will decide how this profit will be reinvested in order to benefit their community the most.

Very appropriately, Archie supplies the nearby Co-operative Food store in New Mills. Since this success other communities are developing similar schemes. The Co-operative Enterprise Hub is supporting the development of another 10 community-owned hydropower co-operatives, working with Water Power Enterprises. Energy gy Community, Community Norton Ener in North Yoorkshire, is preparing too set up a community-owned owned windd farm. This form of co-operative enterprise has been used successfully in some 20 other communities in the UK, but this is the first to be assisted by The Co-operative Enterprise Hub and the first in a series of community-owned projects to be operated by Origin TToorrs Hydrroo

November 2010

The aim is to help the community to reconnect with their local environment as a source of wellbeing. The purpose of issuing shares is not only to raise capital but also to engage the community and encourage their investment of interest and co-operation. Â¤5IF $P PQFSBUJWF &OUFSQSJTF )VC really came into its own via community DPOTVMUBUJPOT ÂĽ TBJE 4UFWF $BSOFZ EJSFDUPS PG 0SJHJO &OFSHZ Â¤%BWF [Hollings, the consultant engaged by the Hub] provided advice at our meetings and really helped with improving understanding in the community. He was able to give the community a voice. We would have found it much more difficult to get a handle on the co-operative movement without The Co-operative &OUFSQSJTF )VCÂ§T IFMQ ÂĽ Renewable Energy The Renew able Ener gy Co-operative Co-operative, in Cornwall, installs renewable energy systems both for individuals and community-run organisations. This helps customers to reduce carbon emissions and it also provides them with the potential to earn income. The co-operative also sources its supplies from manufacturers that meet its strict environmental s environmen criteria. A Additionall y, it is looking too partner with community com tions to provide free r rganisa e ectricity for schools and community m mmunity centres centres. Thee scheme has three thr outcomes t those involved: a guaranteed yment m from the Feed-In ment Fe Taariff (a government scheme whereby all e ernment

New Pioneers

households generating energy receive income from energy suppliers); green energy for the household to use; and an additional income from the National Grid which receives any excess energy generated by the system. Â¤8F BMM IBWF FYQFSJFODF PG XPSLJOH in the renewable energy industry, and we wanted to have control over what IBQQFOFE XJUIJO UIF CVTJOFTT ÂĽ TBJE DP PQ NFNCFS 4UVBSU .BKPS Â¤8F also want to drive up the standards of customer service. We have seven members of the co-operative, each with different strengths, and we work in teams to make different decisions for the business based on these strengths. Â¤5IF $P PQFSBUJWF &OUFSQSJTF )VC help was very comprehensive. Brian Titley provided the consultancy and helped us to clarify our purpose and business structure. He gave an outside perspective on our areas of competence and our training needs. It was great to get the external analysis, with a sense of PCKFDUJWJUZ ÂĽ Hook Norton Low Carbon, in Oxfordshire, is pioneering a new, sustainable approach to the use of grant funding for community environmental projects. For around 18 months, the Hook Norton community had a low carbon group which was looking into sources of funding. In 2009, the group decided to form a community-owned co-operative to manage and redistribute money for low carbon schemes. After winning ÂŁ400,000 from the Low Carbon Community Challenge, the group decided to redistribute this money to projects and initiatives which will reduce carbon emissions. However, this will be done with a difference. The money will be redistributed as loans, such as for home insulation, or invested in projects which will earn a return on the investment. This will recycle and retain

the money within the local community Â˘ NBLJOH UIF XJOOJOHT B TVTUBJOBCMF source of income for Hook Norton. One of the projects is a community biodiesel tank stocked with recycled cooking oil. Participants will be able to fill up their vehicles and register their consumption on a key card. By billing for this at the end of each month, income will be generated from sales.

â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Their Their iideas deas aappeal ppeal to to aw wide ide m membership embership in in tthe he ccommunity.â&#x20AC;? ommunity.â&#x20AC;? Jo White of Co-operative Futures, who advised the group on behalf of The $P PQFSBUJWF &OUFSQSJTF )VC TBJE Â¤* XBT very impressed with the innovative way they were looking to use the grant from the Carbon Challenge fund and how their ideas appeal to a wide membership in UIF DPNNVOJUZ ÂĽ

managed fund to ensure the income made by energy generated can remain a rolling resource, just as Hook Norton has done. The consultancy is being provided by Kabin, a co-operative development body based in Cornwall. Kabin created two co-operative organisations with the support of Transition Ladock and Grampound Road and Community Energy Plus, as well as other members of the community, which will own and allocate the income generated from the Feed-In Tarif ar a f. The two organisations have open membership and are accessible to the entire community. Â¤5IJT NFBOT UIBU JODPNF XJMM CF re-invested in yet more energy efficiency BOE SFOFXBCMF FOFSHZ BTTFUT ÂĽ TBJE 1BVM .BSUJO PG ,BCJO Â¤*UÂ§T B HSFBU FYBNQMF PG what could be possible if the Transition Movement and the Co-operative Movement really recognised their common ground and the potential for

TTransition ransition Ladock and Grampound Road, Gr ampound Road in Cornwall, is another project that has been awarded funding from the Low Carbon Community Challenge. Supported by Community Energy 1MVT $PSOXBMMÂ§T MFBEJOH energy charity, the TTrransitioon n Ladoocck k and Grampo p und Road project has initiated energy efficiency ency measuress d li i re-localised delivering l li d llow carbbbon in homes andd local businesses to reduce d demand. It has also installed a range FOUFSQSJTF GPS QFPQMF BOE QMBOFU ÂĽ of renewable energy technologies to produce clean, green energy and Chris Jones, a member of the Transition generate income to support carbon Ladock and Grampound Road group, reduction actions across the parish. TBJE Â¤,BCJO IBT HJWFO VT FYDFMMFOU Ladock and Grampound Road won first support, from explaining the options QSJ[F GPS $PSOXBMM 4VTUBJOBCMF 7JMMBHF PG available to us, through to actually the Year in 2010. establishing the structures needed to manage the project. Paul was very The Co-operative Enterprise Hub is flexible and made himself accessible for helping the project to set up a community BOZ RVFTUJPOT ÂĽ

Visit www www.nortonenergycommunity.org .nortonenergycommunity.org torrshydro.co.uk hn-lc.org.uk transitiontowns.org/Ladock-Grampound

R Reuse euse and and Recycle R ecycle Co-operative Co-operative enterprise has always always pioneered new activities and in recent years some of the most fertile gground round ffor or innovation innovation has been in recycling. Paper, plastic, computers, furniture, CJDZDMFT BOE OBQQJFT Â˘ JO BMNPTU FWFSZ area of waste management there are co-operative and community enterprises showing the best ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. Cambridge W ood W orks is a new Wood Works business set up with assistance from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub in March 2010. It is one of a growing network of wood recycling social enterprises but the first to have a co-operative legal structure.

boxes, compost bins, bee hives, shelves and tables. Much of the remainder is chopped up for firewood and some is sent to be remade into chipboard. One of the strengths of the business model is the mix of income streams. About 45% of income comes from the collection service; 35% from retail sale of reclaimed wood and timber; and 20% from products, firewood and pallets. The saving and reuse of timber is only QBSU PG UIF DP PQFSBUJWFÂ§T NJTTJPO *U also aims to provide jobs, training and volunteering opportunities for a wide range of people, many of whom are disadvantaged.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;As well â&#x20AC;&#x153;As well as as rraising aising aawareness wareness we we are are aaiming iming tto o build build b better etter ccommunity ommunity ccohesion.â&#x20AC;? ohesion.â&#x20AC;?

Â¤#FJOH B DP PQFSBUJWF JT FYUSFNFMZ JNQPSUBOU UP VT ÂĽ TBJE EJSFDUPS %BWJE 0VTCZ Â¤0VS MFHBM TUSVDUVSF EFNPOTUSBUFT very clearly our commitment to social and environmental objectives and to the Â¤"T UIF CVTJOFTT FYQBOET XF QMBO UP QSJODJQMF PG POF NFNCFS POF WPUF ÂĽ build the volunteer network and training QSPHSBNNFÂĽ TBJE %BWJE Â¤8F PGGFS The co-operative collects waste wood courses in basic wood working skills to and timber that would otherwise be people from a nearby homeless hostel, put in skips. The material is taken to XIJDI CVJMET UIFJS TLJMMT BOE DPOGJEFODF ÂĽ UIF DP PQFSBUJWFÂ§T CBTF JO $BNCSJEHF where it is sorted and used in the most Cambridge Wood Works also plans to run environmentally beneficial way. family days where local people will be Any long lengths, larger pieces of sheet material, doors or other reusable items are sold for DIY or given to charities. Some of the timber is used to make useful items for sale, such as bird

November 2010

invited to learn how to make useful things GSPN ÂŚXBTUFÂ§ XPPE Â¤"T XFMM BT SBJTJOH BXBSFOFTT XF are aiming to build better community DPIFTJPO ÂĽ TBJE %BWJE

Paper chain

P aperc Paperchain in Exete of a long-established community based recycling co-operative. It was set up in 1990 as a not-for-profit initiative by a partnership including Exeter City Council, BT, Devon County Council, Exeter Friends of the Earth and Devon Wildlife Trust. Paperchain now provides a service to over 600 businesses in the Exeter area. Office paper, cardboard, plastic, cans, computers and other electrical goods are all collected for recycling. Paperchain offers a confidential paper shredding service and the destruction of CDs and hard drives. Paperchain also sells bedding for animals (from hamsters to horses) made from shredded cardboard. This part of the business provides training and work opportunities for people with learning disabilities. Â¤0WFS UIF ZFBST XF IBWF QJPOFFSFE aspects of recycling that have now CFDPNF TUBOEBSE QSBDUJDF ÂĽ TBJE managing director Colin Matthews. Â¤8IFO 1BQFSDIBJO TUBSSUUFE SFDZDMJOH XBT a fringe and subsidised activity. Now there is massive competition. It has taken us a long time to wake up to the DIBOHFE DPNNFSDJBM FOWJSPONFOU ÂĽ This year, with help from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub, PEARLS Paperchain has become a stronger business. The co-operative has moved from very cheap, nearly derelict premises to a larger and more expensive modern industrial unit.

/PX XFÂ§WF HPU QSPQFS PGGJDF TQBDF BOE OEPPS UPJMFUT BOE UIF SPPG EPFTOÂ§U MFBL ÂĽ BJE $PMJO Â¤5IFSFÂ§T UISFF UJNFT BT NVDI w warehouse space space. This has enabled us o improve our services and storage. 5IF $P PQFSBUJWF &OUFSQSJTF )VC provided us with the business p busin planning a practical support that made the and m possible. Our business strategy move iss to become more commercial and comm sustainable and reduce reliance on HSBOUT UP B NJOJNVN *Â§N QMFBTFE UP say that now 96% of our income is from USBEJOH ÂĽ PEARLS, in Rochdale, is an innovative redistribution scheme that encourages community activities. This year it was transferred from council ownership to a XPSLFSTÂ§ DP PQFSBUJWF XJUI BEWJDF BOE finance from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub and The Co-operative Loan Fund. PEARLS co-operative, which stands for the Play, Education, Arts and Reusable Lending Service, collects scrap and unwanted materials from local businesses and sells them from its warehouse in Rochdale to nurseries and schools, as well as to individuals. The materials can be anything from card to carpet, threads and fabric, pencils and paints. PEARLS also buys in a selection of new arts and crafts materials for resale.

but recent cutbacks meant that it was forced to close. Â¤8IFO UIF TDIFNF XBT TIVU EPXO four of us decided we wanted to keep JU HPJOH BT B DP PQFSBUJWF ÂĽ FYQMBJOFE DP PQFSBUJWF NFNCFS 5JOB 8SJHIU Â¤8F contacted The Co-operative Enterprise Hub for support and they helped us to negotiate with the council. We needed to buy the fixtures and fittings, as well as operate from the same building we had been in when the council owned the scheme. We also received help drafting MFHBM EPDVNFOUT ÂĽ

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ffact act tthat hat somebody somebody b believes elieves in in yyou ou aand nd yyour our b business usiness .... .. iiss sso o motivating.â&#x20AC;? motivating.â&#x20AC;?

with assistance from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. The training centre hosts workshops, events and training programmes, with a strong community focus. It works with schools, as well as organisations such as the Youth o Offending Service and Asylum Welcome.

Four months after the transfer, PEARLS received a loan from The Co-operative Loan Fund to help increase the stock and update the IT systems.

The members of Oxford Cycle Workshop had a clear vision when choosing to set up the new venture as a community-owned co-operative.

Â¤8F IBE QSFWJPVTMZ BQQSPBDIFE CBOLT for small amounts, and even these were turned down. It can be difficult to get finance as a new, small business. It can NBLF ZPV MPTF GBJUI ÂĽ TBJE 5JOB Â¤8F are very happy with the loan from The Co-operative Loan Fund. The fact that somebody believes in you and your business enough to support you with this GJOBODF JT TP NPUJWBUJOH ÂĽ

Â¤8F EFDJEFE UP TFU VQ UIJT UZQF PG co-operative because we wanted a XBZ UP FNQPXFS UIF DPNNVOJUZ ÂĽ TBJE Jonty Semper, co-director of the training DFOUSF Â¤8F XBOUFE UP SVO B CVTJOFTT JO which the community could become fully involved. The aims of the organisation reflect the needs of the community that owns us.

Oxford Oxfor d Cycle W Workshop orkshop rescues, repairs and recycles about 1,000 r bicycles each year and in the process provides training and life skills to trai disadvantaged young people.

PEARLS scheme had been run by Rochdale Borough Council since 1989

Oxford Oxfor d Cycle W Workshop orkshop

This successful success and innovative business is actuall a y two complementary co-operatives. Oxford Cycle Workshop T B XPSLFSTÂ§ DP PQFSBUJWF UIBU SVOT the retail outlet. It was set up in 2008 out when it bought boug the privately owned bike shop. The training centre was set up in 2009 as a community co-operative

Â¤5IF $P PQFSBUJWF &OUFSQSJTF )VC listened to what we needed and really delivered on that. They put us in touch with the relevant people and gave advice on what we needed to move forward. They also helped us to focus on our aims and objectives as an organisation, and on how relationships with members and our legal structure would reflect these. Â¤5IFSF BSF DVSSFOUMZ BCPVU NFNCFST CVU XF IBWFOÂ§U SFBMMZ QVTIFE JU ZFU 8F want to reach over 1,000 members in UIF OFYU ZFBS *UÂ§T BNCJUJPVT CVU UIBUÂ§T UIF XBZ XF MJLF UP XPSL ÂĽ

Visit www. www. cambridgewoodworks.org.uk pa paperchain-recycling.org.uk perchain-recycling.org.uk pearlscoop.co.uk coop.co.uk

cycleoxford.coop cycleoxf ord.coop

Taking care and control

New Pioneers

Ex-Cell Solutions Substance

Caring for others - for childr children, en, yyoung oung people, old people, disabled people and any anyone one who is disadvantaged disadv antaged - is a fundamental ethical vvalue. alue. When combined with the co-oper co-operative ative vvalues alues of self-help, self-r self-responsibility, esponsibility, democr democracy, acy, equality equality,, equity and solidarity the result result can often be inspiring, innovative innovative businesses. Many carers, carers, including childcare childcare w workers, orkers, in the private private sector suffer from from low pay, pay, poor conditions of employment employment and a lack of training training opportunities. Many people who need help to live live independently are are frustrated frustrated by by the lack of control control they ha have ve over over the quality of care care they receive. receive. Many people who are are disadvantaged disadvantaged in the labour market market would would be doing meaningful work work if they had appropriate appropriate support. Co-operative Co-operative enterprise is the solution.

C Children hildren aand nd Y Young People oung P eople Sparks

Â¤5IF DP PQFSBUJWF CVTJOFTT NPEFM XPSLT SFBMMZ XFMM XJUI Â¤5IF DP PQFSBUJWF CVTJOFTT NPEFM XPSLT SFBMMZ XFMM XJUI DDIJMEDBSF JUÂ§T B OBUVSBM GJU ÂĽ TBZT #SJBO 5JUMFZ POF PG 5IF IJMEDBSF JUÂ§T B OBUVSBM GJU ÂĽ TBZT #SJBO 5JUMFZ POF PG 5IF $P PQFSBUJWF &OUFSQSJTF )VCÂ§T BEWJTFST JO 4PVUI 8FTU $ P PQFSBUJWF &OUFSQSJTF )VCÂ§T BEWJTFST JO 4PVUI 8FTU England. And many many childcare and youth workers, parents and young people across the countr countryy aagree gree with him. Sparks Co-oper Co-operative ative, in Bristol, offers a variety of childcare options to 4-14 year olds, including a breakfast club, an after-school club and a full-time play scheme in the holidays. It aims to provide services which respond to the needs of local families, and offers an environment for children which is both safe and stimulating.

Sparks

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A â&#x20AC;&#x153;A cclear lear b business usiness plan plan and and good good financial financial planning p lanning are are essential essential tto o anybody anybody llooking ooking to own to start start ttheir heir o wn co-operative.â&#x20AC;? co-operative.â&#x20AC;?

The co-operative started in 1984 and was originally run by a voluntary management committee of parents. Carole Theyer, founding member and director of Sparks, initiated the change UP B XPSLFSTÂ§ DP PQFSBUJWF JO BGUFS attending a meeting about childcare co-operatives. Sparks currently employs 10 people, eight of whom are members of the co-operative. One of them, Charlie Wilson, attended Sparks herself as a child from 1997 to 2002. Members of Sparks speak to secondary school children who they know from previous attendance at the nursery and offer them the opportunity to work for them. Charlie started out as a junior playworker, and has now become a director of the co-operative. Sparks received advice from its local

November 2010

co-operative development agency, CDA (BRAAVE V Ltd) Ltd), and finance from The Co-operative Loan Fund. Following the creation of The Co-operative Enterprise Hub, Sparks applied for and received further free advice and training, delivered by Brian Titley. Â¤5IF BEWJDF GSPN #SJBO XBT WFSZ IFMQGVM ÂĽ TBJE $BSPMF 5IFZFS Â¤5IF TVQQPSU BOE training he provided was brilliant. I have had help from other organisations, but it was not as useful as that from the CDA and The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. Â¤" DMFBS CVTJOFTT QMBO BOE HPPE GJOBODJBM planning are essential to anybody looking to start their own co-operative. You o also need to ensure you have enough time for staff meetings outside of the allotted DIJMEDBSF IPVST ÂĽ Sunflowers Sunflow ers Neighbourhood Nursery XBT BXBSEFE ÂŚ0VUTUBOEJOHÂ§ Nursery in every category in its January 2010 OFSTED inspection. The inspector said this was only the second organisation to score so highly in her 20 years of experience. The nursery, based in Braunstone, Leicestershire, provides full as well as sessional day care for children five days

New Pioneers

a week, 51 weeks of the year and is open from 8am to 6pm. It is available for children aged three months to five years old. Starting out with 32 places in 2005, the nursery now offers 58 childcare places, all of which are filled. Sunflowers operates in purposebuilt premises designed to provide a stimulating environment for children. The nursery allows easy interaction between children of all ages through an open-plan set up. It has also taken over running a creche in the adjoining leisure centre, and has plans for further expansion.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;You sshould â&#x20AC;&#x153;You hould p prepare repare yyourself ourself for for some some h hard ard work w ork b but ut it it is is w worth orth iit.â&#x20AC;? t.â&#x20AC;?

Â¤5IF $P PQFSBUJWF &OUFSQSJTF )VC provided us with a five-year review of the business, as well as working with us on governance and membership. We also received support on increasing the TVTUBJOBCJMJUZ PG UIF OVSTFSZ ÂĽ TBJE (BSZ Blockley, the manager and one of the founding members.

community and social so people, e developmentt to improve ethical im t th and demonstrate t values u and accounta bility impact and value. o Substance provides rovide T DPSF ÂĽ AAdam. specialist advice XBOUFE to organisations our members throughout the m UK, offering ff to be involved as them a range of a much as possible social research, l and after le we monitoring and w still Sunfl owers consult our employees evaluation e Neigh bourh ood N on decisions which will services. w urser y fect the future Its clients range nge from fr u of the government depar departments and councils to MPDBM ZPVUI PSHBOJTBUJPOT BOE DIJMESFOÂ§T charities. Substance has become a Substance received start-up advice from well-respected co-operative enterprise The Co-operative Enterprise Hub on in the North West region, with an annual potential structural changes, the rules turnover of almost ÂŁ2 million. PG XPSLFSTÂ§ DP PQFSBUJWFT QBZNFOU structures and share options. As well as Dr Adam Brown, one of the founders, this, the organisation received financial believes that the organisational structure advice from The Co-operative Enterprise of Substance has played a large part in Hub further down the line. its success. Â¤5IF HVJEBODF XF SFDFJWFE EVSJOH PVS start up was invaluable as it helped us Â¤8IFO XF FTUBCMJTIFE 4VCTUBODF XF GFMU UIBU B XPSLFSTÂ§ DP PQFSBUJWF XBT UIF set up a business which reflected our best way to run a company which placed PXO FUIJDBM WJFXT BOE BJNT ÂĽ TBJE "EBN

Â¤*G BOZCPEZ FMTF XBT MPPLJOH JOUP EPJOH similar to us, I would recommend you tap into the resources that can be available to you. You o should prepare prepar yourself for TPNF IBSE XPSL CVU JU JT XPSUI JU ÂĽ Substance, based in Manchester, uses the co-operative business model to support young people in their social development. Established in 2005, Substance is a social research company specialising in the youth, sport and positive activities sector. It helps projects and organisations delivering personal,

Substance

Visit www.sparks-inc.org.uk c.org.uk substance.coop

Support aatt H Support Home ome and Work and aatt W ork Very Very diverse co-opera co-operative tive enterprises are providing care, support and advice when and where it is needed. Sunshine Car Caree is a co-operative community interest company set up by a group of former local authority care workers in Rochdale to support people with short and long term needs, enabling them to have control of their wellbeing and enhancing their quality of life. Its services include personal care, domestic services, support for socialising and palliative care.

â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153;The The personalisation personalisation aagenda genda is is a ggreat reat o opportunity pportunity ffor or cco-ops.â&#x20AC;? o-ops.â&#x20AC;? The co-operative was set up following the DPVODJMÂ§T SFPSHBOJTBUJPO PG UIF QSPWJTJPO of domiciliary care, which resulted in more outsourcing to private contractors. Â¤"MM UIF MPDBM DBSF BHFODJFT BSF JO JU GPS private profit and tend to have a high UVSOPWFS PG TUBGG ÂĽ TBJE $ISJT #BJMFZ NBOBHFS PG 4VOTIJOF $BSF Â¤8F UIPVHIU theree should be a

system that was fairer for both customers BOE TUBGG ÂĽ Rochdale council provided a grant to help the co-operative start up and they received assistance in business planning from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. It started trading at the end of 2009. Sunshine Care has set out to be the best provider of support for adults in Rochdale. Chris Bailey strongly believes that the combination of skilled staff and co-operative values will benefit customers and their families and friends.

CC aims to bring a new kind C o omiciliar y care service to the Workers Co-o perraativvee

Workers Co-o pera rative ve

l l community local i , along l witithh training i i andd employment opportunities for carers.

Â¤+VTU BT FWFSZ DMJFOU JT VOJRVF TP JT FWFSZ Â¤8IBU XF BSF EPJOH JT OFX BOE EJGGFSFOU ÂĽ individual care package and we are TBJE $ISJT Â¤8F BSF SFBMMZ VQ UP EBUF XJUI taking time to ensure that we can deliver the quality services local people want, the new personalisation agenda. Once XIFO UIFZ XBOU UIFN ÂĽ TBJE 1IJM 4NBMMFZ people realise they can choose who the chair of SLCC and himself a recipient UIFZ HFU TVQQPSU GSPN UIFZÂ§MM DIPPTF VT of direct payments. because having well trained staff makes BMM UIF EJGGFSFODF ÂĽ Â¤5P EP UIJT XF IBWF JEFOUJGJFE B UFBN of experienced dedicated personal South Leicestershir Leicestershiree Car Caree assistants who are ready to meet the Co-operative Co-operative (SLCC) provides a similar challenges of personalisation and be range oof ser s vices to Sunshine Care innova tive and caring when developing t has a different co-operative and delivering the high quality of service s structure: both service SFRVJSFE PG VT ÂĽ u users and care providers aare members. It is a new o-operative model developed to espond to the direct payments s stem which enables people to a ge their own care budgets if ana y wish.

Yoork Disable Y d

The Co-operative Enterprise Hub helped the group with guidance, support, training and legal services, which were QSPWJEFE CZ -FJDFTUFSÂ§T $P PQFSBUJWF BOE Social Enterprise Development Agency (CaSE-da). Â¤5IF QFSTPOBMJTBUJPO BHFOEB JT B HSFBU

New Pioneers o ee s

PQQPSUVOJUZ GPS DP PQT ÂĽ TBJE 5JN 5BWFOFS PG $B4& EB Â¤4PVUI -FJDFTUFSTIJSF NBZ be the first of its kind but there will CF NPSF BOE UIFZÂ§MM BMM CF JOEJWJEVBM The combination of users and carers running the co-ops should help to ensure TVTUBJOBCJMJUZ ÂĽ York Y oork Disabled W Workers orkers Co-operative Co -operative :%8$ EPFTOÂ§U QSPWJEF care. It provides training and meaningful employment for disabled people in a woodwork factory making a range of products, including garden furniture, bird tables, bat boxes and rabbit hutches, using mostly recycled timber. YDWC opened just as this report went to print. The opening marked the end of a long period of struggle, uncertainty BOE IPQF TJODF 3FNQMPZÂ§T :PSL GBDUPSZ which had employed 53 people (49 of whom were disabled), closed in March 2008. The closure was part of a major reorganisation at Remploy, the quango that provides specialist employment services for disabled people.

Ex-Cell Solutions, Solutions based in Manchester, provides support and employment services for ex-prisoners. The XPSLFSTÂ§ DP PQFSBUJWF also helps other disadvantaged groups Ex -Cell Solutio ns including refugees and asylum seekers, recovering drug and alcohol users, homeless people, and people with mental health issues. Ex-Cell started as a charity in 2005 but in 2009 Ex-Cell Solutions was set up as an independent co-operative and the charity has since closed. Becoming a co-operative business has allowed the five members to be more enterprising and innovative. They have developed a new Co-operating into Work programme that helps ex-prisoners to secure work by setting up co-operative consortiums to

supply labour in particular sectoors - delivery, cleaning, building etc. The Co-operative Enterprise Hub helped Ex-Cell Solutions with its legal structure, business plan and marketing materials. As a result of its contact with the Hub, Ex-Cell Solutions has become part of the network of co-operative development advisers and has started to do specialist consultancy work for other co-operative bodies.

Â¤*Â§WF BMXBZT CFMJFWFE JO DP PQT ÂĽ TBJE John Wilson, the co-ordinator of YDWC. Â¤8F IBE MPUT PG TVQQPSSUU GPS PVS DBNQBJHO to keep the factory open but despite all our efforts Remploy said it had to close. 5IFO TPNFPOF TBJE ÂŚNBZCF XF DBO EP B CFUUFS KPC UIBO UIFZ EJEÂ§ BOE TP XF EJE B GFBTJCJMJUZ TUVEZ ÂĽ The new co-operative has received significant financial and logistical support from the GMB and Unite trade unions, as well as help with business planning and registration from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. The plan is for there to be 10 to 12 people employed by the end of the first year. All of the income will come from the sale of products. The GMB says that YDWC is aiming to be the gold standard in the employment of disabled people.

Ex-Cell Solutions

Visit www www.. slccltd.co.uk yorkdwc.co.uk ex-cell.org.uk

Wholesome food at fair prices

The co-oper co-operative ative mo movement vement began with food and todayy it is still leading the w toda way. ay. Fair tr trade, ade, or organic, ganic, local sour sourcing cing - almost ev every ery rresponsible esponsible and ethical tr trend end in food pr production, oduction, distribution and pr preparation eparation has been pioneer pioneered ed b byy co-oper ative enterprises. co-operative

From P From Plant lant tto o Plate Plate Unic

Unico rn Gro y r cery e c o r G n r o

Hig Highly motivated motiva ted co co-operative -operative entrepreneurs are involved in ever everyy sta stage ge of the ffood ood suppl supplyy chain, from ggrowing rowing to selling to ser serving. ving. Unicorn Gr Grocery ocery, in Chorlton, Manchester, is a prime example of co-operative excellence. In 14 years its turnover has grown from ÂŁ3,500 to ÂŁ3.5 million and its membership from four to 50. It has won a string of awards along UIF XBZ JODMVEJOH 0CTFSWFS .POUIMZÂ§T ÂŚ#FTU *OEFQFOEFOU 4IPQÂ§ BOE UIF 3BEJP 'PVS 'PPE BOE 'BSNJOH "XBSET ÂŚ#FTU -PDBM 'PPE 3FUBJMFSÂ§ JO *U BMTP IBT UIF GJSTU ÂŚMJWJOH SPPGÂ§ PG JUT LJOE JO UIF UK: a converted roof garden which aims to encourage the conservation of local wildlife. 4FU VQ JO BT B XPSLFSTÂ§ co-operative, Unicorn specialises in organic, fair trade and local produce. Over 70 lines of organic fruit and vegetables, at very reasonable prices, are stocked in its 10,000 sq ft premises. The principles that lay the groundwork for this successful ethical business include secure employment, equal opportunity, wholesome and healthy consumption, fair and sustainable trade and solidarity

November 2010

pperation. It donates 5% n wage bill to local and nual n projects. Unicorn also nal orces a self-imposed carbon tax, ta which contributes to a tree planting r ributes m to offset the damage ming n a business. ning Unicorn works hard to keep the food miles of its stock to a minimum and buys locally wherever possible. One of its suppliers of vegetables, Glebelands City Growers, is three miles away and also a co-operative. In autumn 2008 Unicorn acquired 21 acres of prime growing land JO (MB[FCVSZ BCPVU NJMFT XFTU PG UIF shop, which it is developing as an organic vegetable garden. From start up and through each stage of growth, Unicorn has used the advice and finance available from co-operative organisations, including The Co-operative Loan Fund and The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. It has twice issued ock to its customer loan stock customers pporters - an action actio and supporters that engages customers in the development evelopment of the business.

Unicorn needed to grow the co-operative from their original membership base. The process completely opened up 6OJDPSO UP OFX NFNCFST ÂĽ Glebelands City Growers Growers is an organic market garden based on the banks of the river Mersey in Sale, and is one of only a handful of urban growing projects in the UK. In 2009 the established enterprise was taken over CZ B OFX XPSLFSTÂ§ DP PQFSBUJWF TFU VQ with the support of The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. Glebelands operates under Soil Association organic standards and also tries to ensure that all of its produce is sold within five miles of the site. Â¤8IBU BUUSBDUFE VT BMM UP (MFCFMBOET XBT the fact it was an established business with a close network of local suppliers BOE B TUSPOH CSBOE JNBHF ÂĽ TBJE &E Sweetman onee of members

The Co-operative Enterprise Hub has provided assistance XJUI 6OJDPSOÂ§T CVTJOFTT Glebland s City Gro rowers planning. Bob Cannell of Co-operative Business Consultants, wh TPNF PG UIF DPOTVMUBODZ TBJE Â¤* XBT Â¤8F MPWFE UIF GBDU UIBU XF XPVME CF growing in an urban environment rather involved with the development of a than an isolated farm, and believed that membership recruitment strategy.

New Pioneers

CafĂŠ f Kino, in Bristol, was set up inn 2006 to provide excellent vegan a and vegetarian food and a space for independent and marg m inalised artists. It is a FSTÂ§ DP PQFSBUJWF XJUI members e and several volunteers.

nicorrn Gro rocery

vess a diverse range of food, from Thai Tha green curry to full English we could continue with the previous (vegetarian) breakfast, at reason success of Glebelands. prices. It also serves organic wi Â¤/POF PG VT IBE BOZ FYQFSJFODF JO TFUUJOH beers and ciders. The cafĂŠ also community events, networking m up a co-operative, so we relied on The games nights and many other evv Co-operative Enterprise Hub for start-up advice and guidance about the business It is very popular. So popular thaa structure and rules. Our adviser, Gareth members realised they needed t Nash, had a sound knowledge about and earlier this year contacted T financial planning and helped us set up Co-operative Enterprise Hub for the spreadsheets and books we needed on moving to bigger premises. to begin trading.

â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Helping Helping a co-operative co-operative tto o eexpand xpand aand nd move move premises premises is is exactly exactly what what the the Hub Hub is is aabout.â&#x20AC;? bout.â&#x20AC;? Â¤*O BEEJUJPO IF IBE FYDFMMFOU LOPXMFEHF about the range of support, including grants, that we were entitled to and we were pleased to be awarded a number of TNBMM HSBOUT UIBOLT UP (BSFUIÂ§T IFMQ ÂĽ Glebelands works in close partnership with Unicorn Grocery, its main customer. There is a great deal of flexibility and understanding between the two co-operatives. Unicorn receives high quality produce that is picked for sale on the same day, and orders can be altered at short notice and delivered within a few hours. In a new development Glebelands is raising seedlings for planting out on 6OJDPSOÂ§T MBOE BU (MB[FCVSZ Visit www.unicorn-grocery.co.uk

They received ed advice and training trainin from Brian Titley that included a visioning session leading to a business plan, a governance audit to check it was fit for growth, and help with the lease Ca fĂŠ Kin o negotiations. Â¤5IF BEWJDF XF received was CSJMMJBOU ÂĽ TBJE DP PQ member Rosie Hadrill. Â¤*U XBT SFBMMZ IFMQGVM to us having people so experienced and skilled in business, but who also understood where we were coming from as B DP PQFSBUJWF ÂĽ Brian also helped them to identify sources of finance and they applied for a loan from the Co-operative Loan Fund.

CafĂŠ Kino

glebelandscitygrowers.co.uk cafe-kino.com

Â¤)FMQJOH B DP PQFSBUJWF UP FYQBOE BOE move premises is exactly what the Hub JT BCPVU ÂĽ TBJE #SJBO Â¤8F BSF IFMQJOH UP build long-term sustainable co-operative FOUFSQSJTFT ÂĽ CafĂŠ Kino was just about to move premises (only a very short distance) as this report went to print.

A Arts rts aand nd Media M edia Artists often work alone but man manyy of them know the value of co-opera co-operation. tion. Studios, workshops and galleries across the UK are showing tha thatt co-opera co-operatives tives are a better wa wayy of doing business.

artists. They each remain self-employed and profit individually from the sale of their work but they share the benefits and responsibilities of running the gallery and workshop on a co-operative basis.

Or Oresome esome Gallery, overlooking the new NBSJOB JO )VMM JT IPNF UP B OFX BSUJTUTÂ§ co-operative. The four members, who met at Hull College, specialise in bespoke jewellery and silversmithing and share a determination and a belief in art. They found that by setting up a co-operative they could grow their enterprise and realise their artistic ambitions. Â¤'PS POF QFSTPO UIF DPTU PG UPPMT and equipment would have been too expensive, but by working co-operatively, we were able to get TUBSUFE ÂĽ TBJE 3BDIFM #VSSUUPO POF PG UIF NFNCFST Â¤8F EJEOÂ§U PSJHJOBMMZ DPOTJEFS the co-operative business model but, once we learned more about it, we quickly realised that it was the one for us. Â¤8JUI OP QSFWJPVT FYQFSJFODF JO UIF sector ourselves, we found that the advice, training and guidance received through The Co-operative Enterprise Hub was brilliant. They gave us advice on setting up the business structure. The service was fantastic and they are still BWBJMBCMF GPS POHPJOH DPOUBDU ÂĽ

Oresome Or esome Gallery

November 2010

The members of Oresome Gallery have chosen a co-operative model that has proven popular with many other groups of

Snap

selling the unique jewellery created by the members, Oresome Gallery will soon be offering classes and personal tuition in jewellery making. The artists want to share their skills and knowledge with people from the local community, especially those who may be disadvantaged or socially excluded. The co-operative will also provide a bench and tools for rent for individuals who want to make their own jewellery but have no place to work. Â¤5IJT JT B HSFBU FYBNQMF PG UIF TQJSJU PG DP PQFSBUJWF BOE TFMG IFMQ JO BDUJPO ÂĽ said Jon Clarke of Humberside CDA, XIP QSPWJEFE UIF DPOTVMUBODZ Â¤8JUI

New Pioneers

society increasingly concerned about environment, ethical trading and sustainability, we are seeing a growth in the number and diversity of co-operative FOUFSQSJTFT ÂĽ

Orreesome Ga lllery

Snap, an art gallery and print workshop in Bristol, is also a co-operative consortium. The eight members are artists, illustrators and designers, who work under one roof producing a diverse mixture of original printed artworks. The gallery sells their work, as well as books, cards and gifts. It is a place that brings affordable art to the local community. Snap is also a valuable resource for artists fresh out of college, as it provides a workspace for silk screen artists. It

Snap

rruns ns workshops orkshops and courses in screen printing and book binding.

and establishh what changes XFSF OFFEFE JO UIF NFNCFSTÂ§ TFSWJDF agreements.

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Productions Shedlight Pr oductions, in 4PVUIBNQUPO Â¤NBLFT JOTQJSJOH GJMNT UIBU MFBE UP TPDJBM DIBOHFÂĽ TBZT 1FUFS Thompson, one of the founders of this media co-operative. It works with community groups, social enterprises and co-operatives to help them tell their stories and communicate their visions. The business started in 2007, Shedlight Productio ns operating as a social enterprise a with help from The Co-operative and, Enterprise Enterprise Hub, Hu became a co-operative in $SJT +F[BSE PG /BUUZ 1MBUZ a nearby training and consultancy October October 2010. 201 It is set up as a multico-operative, provided the advice on stakeholder tive that allows stakeholder co-opera c behalf of The Co-operative Enterprise w workers, customers and other interested Hub. The consultancy included members. At present pparties arties to become be co-operative values, business planning, just are members but ust the two workers w financial advice and practical training. Thompson expects there to be 15 P Peter to to 20 members membe by next October. Â¤5IF CJHHFTU DIBMMFOHF GPS VT XBT UIF USBOTJUJPO UP B DP PQFSBUJWF ÂĽ TBJE 1FUFS Â¤5IF IFMQ XF SFDFJWFE XBT JOWBMVBCMF â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Build Build a ffoundation oundation PVMEOÂ§U IBWF NBEF UIF USBOTJUJPO ffor or your your organisation. organisation. 8toFa Xco-opera tive so quickly or smoothly E Establish stablish a m mission ission and and without that support.

yyour our vvalues.â&#x20AC;? alues.â&#x20AC;? Â¤8F IBE UIF LOPXMFEHF CVU XF EJEOÂ§U know how to implement it. Cris listened w t we wanted to achieve and made wha OTF PG FWFSZUIJOH ÂĽ

Â¤#FJOH B DP PQFSBUJWF JT UIF CFTU BSSBOHFNFOU GPS VT ÂĽ TBJE 4JNPO 5P[FS POF PG UIF NFNCFST Â¤&WFSZCPEZ JT working together while retaining UIFJS JOEFQFOEFODF ÂĽ Snap was set up in September 2007 with assistance from Brian Titley of CDA (BRAAVE V Ltd). Two w years ye later Brian conducted a business review, paid for by The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. He worked with new and original members to examine the business

.Z BEWJDF UP PUIFST UIJOLJOH PG HPJOH o this route is: Build a foundation own o your organisation. Establish or a mission and your values. Your o business decisions can be based business b BSPVOE UIJT ÂĽ rrooductions Shedlight P

Visit www.oresomegallery.com www.oresomegallery.com snapstudio.org.uk snapstudio.org.uk shedlightproductions.co.uk

F Fair air P Play lay Equal ay E qual SSay

FC Un ited o

f Man chest er

Most sport combines elements of team am spirit and competit competition. ition. i B when But h iti com comes es to business, co-opera co-operative tive enterprise is more rewarding ffor or participants and fans. FC United of Manchester, a supporter-owned club, has launched a pioneering ÂŁ1.5 million community share issue to raise funds for its own ground. It currently uses the ground at Gigg Lane in Bury, but has a site mapped out in Newton Heath. Closing on 30 November, the share issue will raise funds for the development of a new stadium that will also include meeting and leisure facilities for community use. FC United is the first football club in England to raise funding this way.

â&#x20AC;&#x153; Gradually m ore â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gradually more cclubs lubs aare re u sing tthis his using cco-operative o-operative m odel.â&#x20AC;? model.â&#x20AC;?

FC United of Manchester

FC United is a fantastic demonstration of what fans can achieve. The club was established in 2005, when a core group of individuals, who wanted a say in how their local team was run, established a steering committee. Supporters of FC United can become members and control the management of their club on a one member one vote basis - a practice very unusual in football. The club aims to provide affordable football, as well as being inclusive to as many communities as possible. It invests

d of Manchester FC United

November 2010

time and and money into many projects in the surrounding community and helps to attract other funding to subsidise these projects. This includes working with Barnados for the Making It Work project, hosting sports coaching courses for care leavers without employment. FC United has also provided coaching sessions for refugees and socially excluded groups, as well as arranging mini-tournaments before matches. These have had a huge involvement from fans. FC United now has so many volunteers who provide match day and community support that it has developed a Volunteer Information Pack with help from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. The pack includes volunteer job specifications and information on club policies. Â¤8F XFSF QSPWJEFE XJUI FYDFMMFOU IFMQ ÂĽ TBJE -JOETBZ 3PCFSUTPO DMVC BOE

DPNQBOZ TFDSFUBSZ Â¤8F LOPX UIBU UIFSF is ongoing help available if we need it. It was a great opportunity to receive help from an outside body, and provided us XJUI BO PCKFDUJWF QPJOU PG WJFX ÂĽ Wigton RUFC highlights a difference W i corporate approach between football in a rugby. While the vast majority of and football clubs are privately owned, the R y Football Union encourages clubs Rugb t become industrial and provident to p s societies, especially as the members in ted clubs can be personally u unincorpora l ble for thousands of pounds if any lia damage occurs.

Wig gton RU

g , , received help from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub to become incorporated

Visit www.fc-utd.co.uk www.fc-utd.co.uk wigtonrugby.co.uk wigtonrugby.co.uk shapelydoesit.co.uk shapelydoesit.co.uk sailboatproject.org sailboatproject.org

New Pioneers and to develop a business plan for growth. Â¤8F VTFE UIF 3VHCZ 'PPUCBMM 6OJPOÂ§T model rules, customised to meet the needs and traditions of Wigton Rugby $MVC ÂĽ TBJE %BWF )PMMJOHT XIP BEWJTFE UIF DMVC Â¤*O UIF QBTU NPTU DMVCT XFSF unincorporated. The RFU developed a co-operative model, and gradually more DMVCT BSF VTJOH UIJT ÂĽ Shapely Does It B XPNFOÂ§T HZN orkshire, is a in Bentham, North Yoorkshi XPSLFSTÂ§ DP PQFSBUJWF 5IF HZN PXOT toning chairs, a vibro-gym (similar to a Power Plate) and a treadmill, and the co-operative plans to increase the range of equipment on offer in the near future.

s It

Shapelyy Doe

The gym iss open to all women of any ability, as the toning chairs are power assisted and designed for low impact.

They are encouraged to attend monthly meetings where they can have an equal say in the running of Shapely Does It. The Co-operative Enterprise Hub provided advice on setting up the gym as a co-operative, helping with the legal structure and making themselves available for any questions. Â¤5IF IFMQ XBT FYDFMMFOU *UÂ§T SFBMMZ HPPE to know that we are still able to contact The Co-operative Enterprise Hub for any IFMQ ÂĽ TBJE 1BU Â¤* XPVME SFDPNNFOE people doing anything similar to get them JOWPMWFE ÂĽ oject, based in Project The Sail Boat Pr Brighton, began when three friends - aall community commun activists who also like sailing a ailing - had a far-fetched idea in a VC ÂŚXPVMEOÂ§U JU CF HPPE JG XF TFU VQ co-operative so that people like us i ithout muc money could go sailing and without much BZCF FWFO CVZ B ZBDIU Â§ 5ISFF ZFBST t , with support from The Co-operative ter n nterprise Hu the dream is becoming a Enterprise Hub, e . eality TThe main activities ac of the co-operative a education, training, skill sharing are and practice. At the n regular sailing s base in Brighton there is a 16ft sailing

Â¤4IBQFMZ %PFT *U PGGFST B NFBOT PG LFFQJOH GJU JO B TPDJBM TFUUJOH GPS XPNFO ÂĽ said Pat Redfern, one of the directors. Â¤8F BSF JO B SVSBM MPDBUJPO BOE TP UIF gym provides somewhere for people to NFFU XIJMTU XPSLJOH PVU ÂĽ The gym was set up as a co-operative in August 2010, after having been run privately for three years prior to the incorporation. When the previous owner decided to sell the business, the users of the gym came together to buy it between them. Now all the users of the gym can become members of the co-operative.

T e Sail Boat Projec Th t

several kayaks and plenty of equipment, including wetsuits and life jackets. Kayak training courses are also held in York o and the Lake District. By following the business plan developed with support from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub, the Sail Boat Project expects that by the end of 2011 it will own a yacht. Then the co-operative will be able to offer sailing holidays and long distance carbon-free travel, as well as opportunities for training and experience on a larger vessel.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;At tthe â&#x20AC;&#x153;At he ccore ore of of tthe he cco-operative o-operative model model is is a passion passion for for aactivity.â&#x20AC;? ctivity.â&#x20AC;? Â¤5IF $P PQFSBUJWF &OUFSQSJTF )VC IFMQFE us turn a pub conversation into a serious QSPQPTJUJPO ÂĽ TBJE %IBSB 5IPNQTPO PG UIF 4BJM #PBU 1SPKFDU Â¤5IFZ IFMQFE VT do some market research, sort out our finances, produce a business plan and HFU GPSNBMMZ DPOTUJUVUFE ÂĽ Jo Bird of Co-operative Business Consultants, who provided the DPOTVMUBODZ TBJE Â¤"U UIF DPSF PG UIF co-operative model is a passion for activity. The people at Sail Boat have built a co-op around their passion passi and their desire to make it available to others. UÂ§T BCPVU DPMMFDUJWF PXOFSTIJQ BOE CFJOH very open to new members and new QFPQMF CFOFGJUJOH ÂĽ

The Sail Boat Pr Project oject

Networks of co-operative expertise

“We are able to provide a support network, and can encourage relationship building with our available contacts.” Jim Pettipher

“They dipped into the advice available from the Hub as and when they needed it.” Gareth Nash

“We are seeing a growth in the number and diversity of co-operative enterprises.” Jon Clarke

“We are helping to build long-term sustainable co-operative enterprises.” Brian Titley

“It’s a great example of what could be possible.” Paul Martin

“Involving the Hub helped them to focus on the future and move forward.” Hywel Davies

“Fledgling co-ops are drawing on a vast body of experience in this field and it will cost them nothing.” Austen Cordasco

“The very flexible nature of the support provided by the Hub allowed us to bring it all together and fill in any gaps.” Dave Hollings

“It’s about collective ownership and being very open to new members and new people benefiting.” Jo Bird

“It’s mucky work, but it’s the stuff that many co-ops need. You have to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in.” Sally Kelly

November 2010

New Pioneers

Good for everyone Jim Pettipher is Development Director of Co-operative Futures, the agency that leads the consortium that delivers advice and training for The Co-operative Enterprise Hub in South East England. This is his view of the impact of The Hub Co-operatives are enjoying a bit of a renaissance at the moment. Each of the major political parties chose to feature them in their manifestos. Co-operative legal forms are at the heart of what the coalition government means by the Big Society. For example, emerging popular NPWFNFOUT TVDI BT GPPUCBMM TVQQPSUFSTÂ§ trusts, village shops and community shares all have co-operative values and principles at their centre. Thanks be then for the launch of The Co-operative Enterprise Hub. Without it many of these new community enterprise initiatives and others like them simply XPVMEOÂ§U CF BCMF UP BDDFTT UIF TQFDJBMJTU co-operative development expertise that is crucial to getting them off the ground. The Co-operative Enterprise Hub has offered a lifeline to the relatively few remaining co-operative development agencies. About two years ago, co-operative development seemed in a state of terminal decline. The number of specialist co-operative development agencies was falling. Co-operative development workers, with many years of developed skills and experience, were finding other jobs. All this was happening at the time when enquiries for help from prospective co-operators were just starting to increase. The Co-operative learned of this situation and came to the co-operative

development agencies with a simple question: what can we do to help? The answer: pay co-operative development agencies a fair rate for the valuable work that they do with new and existing co-operatives. And so The Co-operative Enterprise Hub came to be. The Hub is a perfect example of how The Co-operative brand lives up to its values and principles. By funding co-operative development work to support other smaller, newer, less well-resourced co-operatives, The Co-operative is delivering on the international co-operative principles (especially principles 5, 6 and 7, which broadly relate to how co-operatives all share responsibility for growing the co-operative movement). This is money well spent. Thanks to The Co-operative Enterprise Hub, $P PQFSBUJWF 'VUVSFT Â˘ UIF DP PQFSBUJWF development agency that I work for Â˘ IBT CFFO BCMF UP IFMQ NBOZ OFX co-operatives working in sectors as diverse as bicycles, paragliding, ethical retailing and childcare, to name a few. Up and down the country co-operative development agencies are working with co-operatives helping ex-offenders, saving community resources and starting renewable energy projects. The list goes on and on.

One of the other great features of The Co-operative Enterprise Hub is that it is a service that fits with the co-operative business model. It is not about giving grants. This is particularly timely given the economic situation and the comprehensive spending review. Here again the co-operative business model is perfect. There were no grants available to the Rochdale Pioneers in 1844. They shared a need, they developed a co-operative solution and they worked hard to deliver it. Thanks to them, co-operative development agencies can now bring over 160 years of accumulated expertise to bear in support of people driven by similar needs and a will to address them. Thanks to The Co-operative Enterprise Hub, co-operative development agencies can now do this sustainably. It really is good for everyone!

Co-operative principles 1 Voluntary and open membership 2 Democratic member control 3 Member economic participation 4 Autonomy and independence 5 Education, training and information 6 Co-operation among co-operatives 7 Concern for community

TThis his iiss jjust ust tthe he start start by by Angela Da Davies, vies, Co Co-operative -operative Development Mana Manager, ger, The Co Co-operative -operative Group

UIBU QSFWJPVTMZ EJEOยงU FYJTU "OE IBWJOH delivered this service, the advisers are better able to signpost clients to appropriate finance packages available through the Hub, thereby joining the dots and improving the quality of applications. But this is just the start. We want to make sure that The Co-operative Enterprise Hub continues to improve, building an ever stronger co-operative economy.

Co-operation among co-operatives is a core principle shared by all co-operatives. It is the driving force of The Co-operative Enterprise Hub which is matching the resources of The Co-operative Group with the skills of co-operative development advisers and the needs of new and established co-operative enterprises. As this report shows, it has already had an big impact on individuals and communities engaged in all kinds of activities - running shops and pubs, providing childcare and employment opportunities, renewable energy, recycling, food, arts and sport. Many of these clients have told us that their success was largely to the co-operative consultants pointing them in the right direction and providing appropriate advice and training. By engaging existing co-operative development pmen advisers to deliver the service, The Co-operative Enterprise Hub is providing a valuable income stream November 2010

To do this th we commissioned an independent evaluation of our work. This will provide us with baseline data and the tools for ongoing evaluation so that we can ensure a consistency of service across the regions and drive up standards. The provisional results of the evaluation show that almost two thirds (64%) of those surveyed are very satisfied with the programme, with a further 28% being fairly satisfied. An impressive 78% feel that The Co-operative Enterprise Hub met or exceeded their expectations.

A small percentage of applicants said that a quicker application process would be helpful. We endeavour to deal with all applications within five working days but occasionally this had not been possible. We will develop a new and improved application form that will reduce applicant waiting times. The regional launches of The Co-operative Enterprise Hub attracted very favourable media coverage and helped to build the positive image of co-operative enterprise generally. In June this year, I attended a Business in the Community awards ceremony where The Co-operative Enterprise Hub won a Big Tick award in the Northern Foods Rural Action category. I was especially pleased because these awards are judged by a panel of independent and experienced practitioners. The awards aim is to reward businesses that demonstrate the positive impact they have had on society, as well as the benefits associated with placing responsibility at the heart of the business. Placing responsibility at the heart of the business is exactly what co-operatives do. The co-operative model has proved to be one of the most enduring and successful ways of organising business - a success that stands out against the current backdrop of economic crisis and econ spending pending cuts. The tive he Co-opera Co-o Enterprise terprise Hub will continue ntinue to play its part in supporting upporti the growth and development develop of ainable co-operative enterprises prises long lo into the

Photographs: The copyright of all photographs belongs to either The Co-operative Group or the individual co-operative pictured except for: p5 George & Dragon © Co-operatives UK, p6 Green Valley Grocer © NB Press Ltd, p20 York Disabled Workers Co-operative © Les Woodward, p31 Jim Pettipher © Secret Agent Marketing Editorial and design: www.alpha.coop

Want to know more? For more information, please visit: co-operative.coop/enterprisehub twitter.com/enterprisehub facebook.com/enterprisehub flickr.com/photos/enterprisehub

The Co-operative Enterprise Hub is a working name for Co-operative Action Ltd. Registered Office: Co-operative Action Ltd, New Century House, Corporation Street, Manchester, M60 4ES. Registered in England/Wales. Registered No. 4495012.

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