Launch a Co-operative Development Agency

A network of support and capacity building to develop and extend the capabilities of the co-operative movement.
A Co-operative Development Agency would strengthen the growth of the sector, helping co-operatives – both individually and as a network – to develop by providing a thick ecosystem of institutions and cultures that give information, advice, expertise and support.
A Co-operative Development Agency would have responsibility for:
Facilitating knowledge exchange among co-operatives
This would give co-operatives the space to share best practice, costs and risks through co-operative clusters, federations, peer support and mentoring programmes.
Supporting co-operative business development
The agency could work with the sector to promote economic co-operation between co-ops by connecting co-operative supply chains and encouraging inter co-operative trading.
Funding the development of a core co-op API
The core co-op API could provide the building blocks of a common digital infrastructure, enabling co-operatives to operate at scale. Benefits of digital connectivity could include:
- More meaningful membership participation in governance
- Greater collaboration within and between co-operatives
- Better relationships with co-operative customers and members
Replicating, sheltering and expanding successful co-op models
This would provide the required support to enable the replication and proliferation of successful co-operative models. The Agency would help shelter new co-operatives by providing support with core infrastructural requirements, reducing costs in the process.
Providing technical support to assist in worker buy-outs
This would include providing workers with professional feasibility studies for assessing the viability of new worker co-ops, as well as legal and technical assistance during the process.
Tags Democratic ownership
Policy in practice
Projects that demonstrate the benefits or may be helped by polices like this.
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Scallywags nursery
Parents collaborate with skilled staff to provide high-quality affordable care at this well-established nursery. -
Preston Community Wealth Building
Preston, recently named the UK's "most improved city", has pioneered more democratic ways to build local wealth. -
Riverford Organics
Riverford switched to employee ownership to protect its values and independence in 2018. -
Aardman
Founders of UK’s biggest animation company handed 75% share to employees to ‘safeguard independence’. -
Novograf
Former owners sold leading signage company to its workforce. -
Space4
Space4 is a co-working space for social enterprises and worker co-operatives in the digital tech sector. -
Friendly Families nursery
This brand new nursery provides affordable, child-centered care co-produced by parents and staff. -
North West Mutual
Community bank will help local businesses and individuals neglected by mainstream banks. -
Equal Care Co-op
Co-op matches those seeking care with care workers and professionally trained volunteers. -
The Larder
This workers' co-operative connects local growers with businesses in the fightback against food poverty.