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| coop:co-operatives [2025/11/30 11:28] – external edit 127.0.0.1 | coop:co-operatives [2025/12/17 04:30] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 |
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| <caption> | <caption> |
| | _The [Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Society_of_Equitable_Pioneers), aka the Rochdale Pioneers, who wrote down the co-operative principles in 1844; they were [updated](http://ica.coop/en/whats-co-op/co-operative-identity-values-principles) by the International Co-operative Alliance in 1966._ |
| The [Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Society_of_Equitable_Pioneers), aka the Rochdale Pioneers, who wrote down the co-operative principles in 1844; they were [updated](http://ica.coop/en/whats-co-op/co-operative-identity-values-principles) by the International Co-operative Alliance in 1966. | |
| </caption> | </caption> |
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| <caption> | <caption> |
| | _[Suma Wholefoods Co-op](http://www.suma.coop) - the UK’s largest independent wholefood wholesaler/distributor._ |
| [Suma Wholefoods Co-op](http://www.suma.coop) - the UK’s largest independent wholefood wholesaler/distributor. | |
| </caption> | </caption> |
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| 1. worker co-ops: owned by employees | 1. worker co-ops: owned by employees |
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| 3. consumer co-ops: owned by customers ([housing co-ops](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/housing-co-operatives/), [credit unions](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/credit-unions/), food purchasing co-ops and social centres/clubs are sub-categories of consumer co-op) | 3. consumer co-ops: owned by customers ([housing co-ops](/coop/co-operatives), [credit unions](/crun/credit_unions), food purchasing co-ops and social centres/clubs are sub-categories of consumer co-op) |
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| 5. producer (or marketing) co-ops: owned by independent producers (farmers, for example) to market their produce | 5. producer (or marketing) co-ops: owned by independent producers (farmers, for example) to market their produce |
| 'Multi-stakeholder co-ops' are hybrids that can bind together different interest groups in one co-op - such as workers, consumers, investors etc. Often, different stakeholders in a co-op have different objectives. A good example is a credit union, where borrowers want low interest rates and savers want higher interest rates. A multi-stakeholder co-op can ensure that different viewpoints are taken into consideration. The [Ecological Land Co-op](http://ecologicalland.coop/) is a multi-stakeholder co-op in which 50% of voting rights are held by ecological land managers, 25% by investors and 25% by staff and volunteers. | 'Multi-stakeholder co-ops' are hybrids that can bind together different interest groups in one co-op - such as workers, consumers, investors etc. Often, different stakeholders in a co-op have different objectives. A good example is a credit union, where borrowers want low interest rates and savers want higher interest rates. A multi-stakeholder co-op can ensure that different viewpoints are taken into consideration. The [Ecological Land Co-op](http://ecologicalland.coop/) is a multi-stakeholder co-op in which 50% of voting rights are held by ecological land managers, 25% by investors and 25% by staff and volunteers. |
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| [Platform co-ops](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/platform-co-ops) are online marketplaces that are owned and controlled by their members, and are formalised into co-operatives. | [Platform co-ops](/pltc/platform_co-ops) are online marketplaces that are owned and controlled by their members, and are formalised into co-operatives. |
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| <WRAP center centeralign> | <WRAP center centeralign> |
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| Worker co-ops are not just employee-owned businesses – they are democratically managed by their workers. [The John Lewis Partnership](https://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/work/employee-ownership.html) (including Waitrose) is a well-known employee-owned business. Employees either own shares in the company, or in a trust of some kind, which owns shares in the company (maybe all of them), and shares are not publicly traded. When the company does well, employees benefit financially. Workers have much more control in co-ops – they either make decisions directly, or decide who’s going to make them. Employee-owned businesses are fellow-travellers, however, along with [mutual societies](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/building-societies/), although neither are true co-ops, which subscribe to the principles and values above. | Worker co-ops are not just employee-owned businesses – they are democratically managed by their workers. [The John Lewis Partnership](https://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/work/employee-ownership.html) (including Waitrose) is a well-known employee-owned business. Employees either own shares in the company, or in a trust of some kind, which owns shares in the company (maybe all of them), and shares are not publicly traded. When the company does well, employees benefit financially. Workers have much more control in co-ops – they either make decisions directly, or decide who’s going to make them. Employee-owned businesses are fellow-travellers, however, along with [mutual societies](/bsoc/building_societies), although neither are true co-ops, which subscribe to the principles and values above. |
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| Structures of co-ops can vary enormously. In the UK, there is no one legal structure that co-ops have to adhere to. If an organisation’s constitution matches the above definition, values and principles, and the members consider themselves part of the co-operative movement, then they are. Elsewhere (e.g. Germany), there are much more specific definitions and legal structures. | Structures of co-ops can vary enormously. In the UK, there is no one legal structure that co-ops have to adhere to. If an organisation’s constitution matches the above definition, values and principles, and the members consider themselves part of the co-operative movement, then they are. Elsewhere (e.g. Germany), there are much more specific definitions and legal structures. |
| ### Potential downsides | ### Potential downsides |
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| Compared to the [commons](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/economy/commons-economy/), co-ops may be less able to challenge the status quo, for the following reasons: | Compared to the [commons](/coec/commons_economy), co-ops may be less able to challenge the status quo, for the following reasons: |
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| - They don't have strong enough asset locks. The Co-op Bank is no longer a co-op. It’s owned by various hedge funds and asset management companies. Although Co-op Energy is still owned by Midcounties Co-op, its energy supply and billing is run by Octopus Energy. | - They don't have strong enough asset locks. The Co-op Bank is no longer a co-op. It’s owned by various hedge funds and asset management companies. Although Co-op Energy is still owned by Midcounties Co-op, its energy supply and billing is run by Octopus Energy. |
| </WRAP> | </WRAP> |
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| Switch to a [credit union](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/credit-unions/) for local savings and loans. | Switch to a [credit union](/crun/credit_unions) for local savings and loans. |
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| Switch to the [Phone Co-op](https://www.thephone.coop/) for your broadband, landlines and mobile (it’s not possible to get phones themselves from a co-op, but [they’re coming](http://www.shareable.net/blog/how-a-cooperative-in-indonesia-is-bridging-the-digital-divide)). | Switch to the [Phone Co-op](https://www.thephone.coop/) for your broadband, landlines and mobile (it’s not possible to get phones themselves from a co-op, but [they’re coming](http://www.shareable.net/blog/how-a-cooperative-in-indonesia-is-bridging-the-digital-divide)). |
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| At the moment, there’s no way to get your electricity and gas directly from a co-op, but although Co-op Energy is no longer a co-op, they purchase their energy directly from community energy groups. At some point, it may be possible to purchase electricity directly from a local [community energy](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/community-energy/) scheme, but it’s not possible yet. However, Co-op Energy purchases electricity from community energy schemes, and you can choose the type of renewable energy you want (wind, solar, hydro etc.) and from where. Switching couldn’t be simpler – just sign up online or by phone. You’ll receive a welcome letter, and then after a ‘cooling off’ period to give you time to change your mind, Co-op Energy will contact your current (no pun intended) supplier and do everything for you. They arrange a switchover date – usually 4-6 weeks from signing up. You provide a meter reading on that date, receive a final bill from your previous supplier, and you’re switched to co-operative energy. Sign up [here](https://www.cooperativeenergy.coop/gas-and-electricity/how-switching-works/). | At the moment, there’s no way to get your electricity and gas directly from a co-op, but although Co-op Energy is no longer a co-op, they purchase their energy directly from community energy groups. At some point, it may be possible to purchase electricity directly from a local [community energy](/comy/community) scheme, but it’s not possible yet. However, Co-op Energy purchases electricity from community energy schemes, and you can choose the type of renewable energy you want (wind, solar, hydro etc.) and from where. Switching couldn’t be simpler – just sign up online or by phone. You’ll receive a welcome letter, and then after a ‘cooling off’ period to give you time to change your mind, Co-op Energy will contact your current (no pun intended) supplier and do everything for you. They arrange a switchover date – usually 4-6 weeks from signing up. You provide a meter reading on that date, receive a final bill from your previous supplier, and you’re switched to co-operative energy. Sign up [here](https://www.cooperativeenergy.coop/gas-and-electricity/how-switching-works/). |
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| <WRAP center centeralign> | <WRAP center centeralign> |
| </WRAP> | </WRAP> |
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| Plus, closely related to co-ops, you can shop with [John Lewis](https://www.johnlewis.com/) / [Waitrose](http://www.waitrose.com/), and switch your mortgage and savings account (and current account, in some cases) to a [building society](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/building-societies/). | Plus, closely related to co-ops, you can shop with [John Lewis](https://www.johnlewis.com/) / [Waitrose](http://www.waitrose.com/), and switch your mortgage and savings account (and current account, in some cases) to a [building society](bsoc:building_societies). |
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| You can also join the [Worker Co-op Solidarity Fund](http://solidfund.coop/). Individuals can join for a pound a week, and a fund builds up to promote the co-operative movement. | You can also join the [Worker Co-op Solidarity Fund](http://solidfund.coop/). Individuals can join for a pound a week, and a fund builds up to promote the co-operative movement. |
| ## Further resources | ## Further resources |
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| | - [International Co-operative Alliance](https://ica.coop/) |
| - [UK Co-operative Directory](https://www.uk.coop/directory) | - [UK Co-operative Directory](https://www.uk.coop/directory) |
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| - [Co-operative World Map](https://worldmap.coop/) | - [Co-operative World Map](https://worldmap.coop/) |
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| - [Step-by-step guide to starting a co-op](https://www.uk.coop/start-new-co-op/start) | - [Step-by-step guide to starting a co-op](https://www.uk.coop/start-new-co-op/start) |
| | - [Co-op Culture](https://www.culture.coop/) - supporting co-ops |
| | - [Catalyst Collective](https://www.catalystcollective.org/) - supporting the development of co-ops |
| | - [Co-operative & Community Finance](https://coopfinance.coop/) |
| | - [Co-operative College](https://www.co-op.ac.uk/) |
| | - [Co-op News](https://www.thenews.coop/) |
| | - [Radical Routes](https://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/) - advice, loans |
| | - [South-west Co-op Development](https://www.southwest.coop/) - helping start co-ops |
| | - [United Diversity](https://library.uniteddiversity.coop/Cooperatives/) - huge co-op library |
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| ## Specialist(s) | ## Specialist curators of this topic |
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| Thanks to Cath Muller of [Radical Routes](http://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/) for information. | |
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| Mark Simmonds works at [Co-op Culture](https://culture.coop), offering advice and support for co-operatives and co-op start-ups. He's a a founder member of the [Fox and Goose Co-operative Pub](http://www.foxandgoose.org/), [Pennine Community Power](https://powerinthecommunity.wordpress.com/), [Platform 6 Development Co-operative](https://platform6.coop/) and currently occupies the co-operative development seat on the board of [Co-operatives UK](https://www.uk.coop/). | |
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| _Date on Lowimpact:2017-06-22_ | |