BID: Empowering residents within housing estates to adopt sustainable behaviours
- February 2024
Coop Option Training
Over 80 funded places for members to find out more about offering the cooperative option when speaking to businesses
- Lead Member Kirklees Council
- Participating Members Cheshire West and Chester Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Hackney Council, Inverclyde Council, Kirklees Council, Oxford City Council, Preston City Council, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, South Ribble Borough Council, Stevenage Borough Council, Stir to Action, Sunderland City Council, Trafford Council, Wigan Council
- Year 2023
- Status Policy Labs
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Bid
Principles met
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Learning
We will capture and ‘expand’ the experience and learning from individual projects and approaches in order to encourage broader application of co-operative principles within individual member Councils and across the Network. -
New models of meeting priority needs
In exploring new ways of meeting the priority needs of our communities we will encourage models, such as co-operatives and mutuals, which give greater influence and voice to staff and users. in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources. -
Walking the talk
As a membership organisation, we will make this statement of our principles operational by: • Co-operation among members: Our members work together to help each other implement our values, sharing experiences and learning. • Openness of membership: Full, Associate and Affiliate Membership is open to any qualifying Council, organisation or individual who shares our values and is committed to putting them into action. • Co-production of the Network’s work: Members help shape the Network’s work programme and the content of events and written products. • Action-focused: The network is a vehicle for helping councils translate co-operative values and principles into policy and practice. •Membership-based: The network is majority funded by modest membership subscriptions from its member Councils, Associates and Affiliates. •Non-party-political: Members share the belief that working co-operatively within and across communities holds the key to tackling today’s challenges.
About the project
Overview
Coop Option Training is designed to increase the knowledge and capacity around alternative business models of the following:
• Business development workers of local authorities and LEPs
• Community development workers
• Social Enterprise Advisors
The training comprises a core module around support for alternative business models and two optional models for those wanting a deeper dive. It is recommended that the core module is attended as preparation for the optional modules, but is not essential.
Core module
An introduction to alternative business models, focused on those used by co-operatives and community business, including the support landscape for alternative business models and the key differences in delivery of support to groups adopting alternative business models.
Attendees will leave with:
- Knowledge of alternative business models proven to work in the UK economy.
- An understanding of the similarities to, and differences from, more “conventional” business models.
- A knowledge of the support landscape available to alternative business models.
- An understanding of approaches that are effective when supporting groups adopting alternative business models.
This core module would bring development workers up to speed around the co-op option so as to be able to recognise where an alternative business model might be appropriate and to be able to signpost to further support.
Watch the video from the session below.
Co-op Options Training - First Session Video
Optional Legal Structure & Governance module
An overview of the different legal forms and organisational types available to organisations using alternative business models.
Attendees will leave with:
- Knowledge of the range of legal forms in the UK economy.
- Knowledge of the range of organisational types and how that relates to the legal form.
- Knowledge of the factors that affect the choice of legal form and organisational types, including how this relates to financing.
- An understanding of approaches that are effective when supporting groups adopting alternative business models.
Watch the video from the session here.
Legal Structures
Optional Finance module
An overview of the commonly used finance options available to organisations using alternative business models.
Attendees will leave with:
- Knowledge of the typical grant, debt and equity finance options available to organisations using alternative business models.
- An understanding of the similarities to, and differences from the financing of more “conventional” business models.
- A knowledge of the relationship between finance and governance of such organisations.
Watch the video from the session here.
Finance
Project Lead
Jonathan Nunn
Policy & Partnerships Manager
Kirklees Council
