That business could be anywhere in the UK, operating in any sector of the economy. It could be a new enterprise, that has a co-operative model in its sights, an established business that is transforming itself into a co-operative, or it could be an existing co-operative that is looking for a helping hand at a critical point in its journey.
It could be your big idea.
The Hub's programme of free advice and training is available exclusively to co-operatives in the UK, and has been established with the aim of supporting the next generation of co-operators to build sustainable, co-operative enterprises and deliver a stronger co-operative economy in the UK. It represents a significant investment in the co-operative sector by The Co-operative Group, the UK's largest mutual business.
Since 2009, the Hub has supported over 700 would-be or established co-operatives, with an average of 3.4 days free advice and training from professional co-operative development advisers. Do the maths and it becomes apparent just how much the Hub is investing in co-operative development in the UK – some 2,300 days of free support, or 6.3 years' worth of free advice and training has been offered to date.
Co-operation is in vogue – it resonates with people and the times. According to Michael Fairclough, The Co-operative Group's Head of Community and Co-operative Investment, "the co-operative business model has been described as an old solution to a modern problem. Fundamentally, it gives people a voice, a say in how services are delivered. In an age when the general public have serious concerns about the transparency of our financial systems, it is a model that is being increasingly adopted."
And The Co-operative Enterprise Hub is responding to the renewed interest in co-operation, expanding its offer to ensure that its support to the expanding sector is maximised. In 2012, the Hub will: plough resources into a programme encouraging young co-operative enterprise; establish a £20m global development co-operative to provide loans to co-operatives in the developing world; offer Hub clients the opportunity to purchase green energy at discounted rates; and launch new standards and guidelines for co-operative development advice in the UK.
If you want to learn more about the co-operatives helped by the Hub, you need look no further than the latest New Pioneers Report. It sets out the stories of how the Hub has supported new businesses, like Maracuja in Rochdale, who are starting out on their co-operative journey, having turned a fabulous idea into practice; others, like Cheviot Care who have found that by choosing co-operation they can continue to provide a much needed service; and long established co-operatives like Tess Music Alliance who the Hub has worked with to ensure a more sustainable future.
