UK Worker Co-operatives

Case Study: Whomadeyourpants?

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:30:00 PST

I always enjoy supporting new co-operatives and hearing their story. Here is a case study of Whomadeyourpants? by Becky John one of the founder members.I had the idea in May 2006 to start a co-operative underwear business and started making formal enquires to CAN (Co-operatives Assistance Network) in January 2008. I quit my job on June 30th 2008, and started full time work on this on July 1st

Case Study: Software.coop an LLP

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:31:38 PDT

We are seeing more new-start co-operatives set-up as LLP's and even some conversions of existing co-operatives. software.coop has written up their personal experience of setting up a Limited Liability Partnership and some of the practical things you should know. If you want to know more or interested in setting one up please contact Co-operativesUK. We can put you in touch with existing LLP's

Business Referral Network

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:58:38 PDT

I attended a Co-operativesNW event yesterday and had a revelation. 30 or so co-operatives in the room stood, and told me about their business. What they want, who they want to talk to, and that dream contract they would like to land.Although we talk to each other about values, promoting the movement and improving society, how often as co-operatives do we actually talk about what our business

Worker Co-operative Survey Results

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:55:00 PDT

This year we asked worker co-operatives to fill in a few more questions in their annual return, to help us better understand the sector. Below is a summary from the 99 who returned their survey, Thank you!These results only cover co-operatives that are live and trading. Roughly 25% returned the survey and some only partially completed, please view the results in this context. I hope you find

Principle 6: Trading together, do we?

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:23:16 PDT

When I first learnt about co-operatives, I thought Principle 6: Co-operating with other Co-operatives was the most powerful of all the principles and gave co-operatives a serious competitive advantage against other forms of business and other social enterprises for that matter.I imagined this to be like being in the Freemasons, or going to the right University. The right handshake, name dropping

Principle 5: Learning together to be a better co-op

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:26:52 PDT

A post from Adrian Ashton sharing his thoughts on training - Training...an idea that either fills you with enthusiasm, or fills you with dread (depending on your experience of previous trainers). Or, maybe something that your co-op regularly budgets for (in cash and time), or views as a luxury – to be undertaken only if someone else is paying and no-one's off sick or on holiday...Whatever our

Case Study: Calverts

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:57:39 PDT

Calverts, one of our long standing worker co-operative members and has kindly updated their case study. If your interested in what makes a successful worker co-op, continue reading. If you want to help us promote the co-operative model, I am always looking for more case studies.Founded in 1977, and based in central London, Calverts North Star Press Ltd (now trading simply as Calverts) is a

Mediation: does it work?

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:10:00 PDT

Article by Dr Rory Ridley-Duff in response to Bob Cannell's article on mediation. Does it really work?This short article examines research findings from the US Postal Service where there is widespread use of mediation. Given the process of mediation is suited to the authority structures of co-operatives, these findings are of particular interest to co-operative and employee-owned enterprises.In

Worker Co-operative European Conference

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:41:57 PDT

On 28th September, CECOP (European wide body for worker co-operatives) will be holding their annual conference in Brussels. The theme for this years conference is "Managing Change with sessions on: Corporate Governance, Restructuring, Clusters & Innovoation.They will also launch a book "Cooperatives and Social Enterprises - governance and normative framework". Which is the result of analysis

Part 2: The Surge of the 70's and its Aftermath

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:05:00 PDT

In the 1970’s ICOM, young and full of evangelising zeal, soon identified two key problems which were hindering the expansion of the employee-ownership sector; first, the need for an easily understood model legal framework, and second, the need for start-up capital. Several of the entrepreneurs behind these ten founder businesses of ICOM had spent huge amounts of time and expense on constitutions

A short history of worker co-ops part 1

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:48:15 PDT

For those new to worker co-operatives interested in history, Roger Sawtell has kindly written a brief article. This first part looking at pre-1970's worker co-operatives. The second part will look at the rise in the 1970's of worker co-operatives.Roger Sawtell is a co-operative entrepreneur, co-founded two ongoing worker co-operatives, Trylon Ltd.,Wollaston, in 1968, and Daily Bread

Mediation in worker co-operatives

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:48:58 PDT

Bob Cannell has kindly provided a summary of the 37 page ACAS guide to mediation. A topic of interest to worker co-operative and other equal status organisations where management authority is is not available to "sort out" arguments between peers.MediationMediation is increasingly recommended (ACAS, CIPD) as a method to resolve conflicts and disagreements between people at work. Unresolved

Map of worker co-operatives

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:56:13 PDT

Ed Russell (Co-operative web), one of our new worker co-operative council reps, has kindly given up a bit of his time to map worker co-op members.This is purely a test and is not 100% accurate, as only the postcode and town of a co-op has been entered, but I thought it might be interesting to share. If people think this is a good idea, or have other ways of mapping the same information using open

Worker Co-operative Forum

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:47:15 PDT

The Worker Co-operative Forum took place last Friday as part of Co-operatives 2009 Conference and was attended by 33 delegates. This is the first time I have organised a worker co-operative specific strand and I hope to build on this and our presence at Co-operatives 2010 next year.We had workshops on: Marketing co-operatives, running effective meetings, HR issues, and implementing The Code of

ECC Election Results

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:46:45 PDT

Who cares about the Council and European Elections. The Employee Co-operative Council results are in. Britta Wermer (Unicorn) & Babs McGregor (Green City) have been re-elected. There are also two new faces, Ed Russell of Co-operative Web and Dan Harris from Oxford Cycle Workshop. The new members will join at the first meeting after Congress and will stand for two years as your represenatives

Member Visit: Infinity Foods

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:22:07 PDT

Founded in 1971, Infinity has grown from a student run Cafe to a £14m turnover business owned and controlled by its worker members. Infinity Food is spread over 3 business locations in Brighton. A shop & bakery selling wholefoods and ethical lifestyle products, a cafe and a large wholesale and distribution operation.The 3 parts of the business are relatively autonomous with their own member

Member Visit: Suma

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Fri, 29 May 2009 01:42:55 PDT

Last week I visited Suma Wholefoods, to talk about measuring and reporting business performance within worker co-operatives. Suma is largest worker co-operatives in the UK. wholesale and distribution business with 120 employees and turnover of £24.7 million. They have grown year on year and operate a successful business in a very competitive industry.How do they do it?Suma has grown and

ECC Elections now open for voting

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:08:23 PDT

Nominations for the Employee Co-operative Council have now officially closed and members should be receiving ballot papers through the post in the next week. There are four places available with 6 potential candidates so choose wisely! Biographies below, in no particular order:Babs MacGregorGreencity WholefoodsI’ve been a member of Greencity Wholdefoods in Glasgow for 9 years, working across

Worker Co-operative Forum in June

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:36:53 PDT

I have updated the Congress website with details of the worker co-operative forum taking place on the Friday 26th June. If you are interested in attending and want more info or have any feedback (have topics to fill the open session) please get in touch with me. If the full package is too expensive for your co-operative we have found alternative accomdation for £33 a night which can bring the

Annual Scottish Worker Co-operative Forum

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:36:55 PDT

Last Friday I was involved in organising an event with Co-operative Mutuality Scotland and Co-operative Development Scotland. The event was held in Glasgow, bringing together worker co-operatives from all over Scotland. We discussed closer working between co-operatives and getting the most out of the business support on offer from organisations like Co-operative Development Scotland.Lisa McNair

Economist Article on Worker Co-operatives

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 01:42:40 PDT

The Economist has posted an article on worker co-operatives; talking mainly about Mondragón , in Spain and the effects of the recession."Spain’s seventh-largest industrial group, with interests ranging from supermarkets and finance to white goods and car parts. It accounts for 4% of GDP in the Basque country, a region of 2m people. All this has made Mondragón a model for co-operatives from

Approaches to employee participation

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:52:30 PDT

When hunting for information on the web about worker co-operatives I often come across examples of employee participation in other countries. Here are two recent finds.Semco - Ricardo Semler (wiki entry)In 1982 at the age of 24, Ricardo Semler took control of Semler & Company, a business founded and managed by his father. He set about dramatically reorganising the structure: eliminated all

Calling on world leaders to put people first

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:05:08 PDT

One of our worker co-operative members New Internationilst is heaviliy involved in the campaign calling on the G20 leaders to rebuild the global economy.We at Co-operatives UK are encouraging members to support this campain that calls on G20 leaders, when they meet in London on 2nd April, to put people first by providing decent jobs and public services for all, an end to global inequalities of

Employee Co-operative Council Elections

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 07:24:59 PDT

Interested in representing your worker co-operative and influencing Co-operatives UK? Why not nominate yourself for a seat on the Employee Co-operative Council (Representative body for worker co-operatives).There are 3 places up for grabs this year and we are always interested in new people getting involved. Remember we are a member owned organisation like any other co-operative and we are what

Co-operatives in the recession

noreply@blogger.com (John Atherton) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:31:21 PST

Both economic conditions and government policy have changed dramatically in the last three months. The UK is now officially in recession and a number of new government initiatives have been launched. To continue to inform action to support co-operatives we need to know what things are like for you on the ground. Co-operativesUK and the Social Enterprise Coalition (SEC) are conducting a short