EVENT POSTPONED The Business Of Us - Commonweal Series

Key strengths of the Co-operative movement in the South West are community owned pubs and shops, agricultural growers, Land Trusts, Credit Unions, music venues, car clubs and sustainable energy providers. But what is a Co-op, how does it differ from other businesses, and why do so many ordinary people create them to address needs in their community? 

In this workshop we will take a non-technical look at how you can be empowered to start a co-op and give you the confidence and support to take your idea forward.  For more information contact [email protected], or visit our website at www.southwest.coop. Topics will include: 

• The Co-op Story: From History to Today
• An easy-to-digest look at how the movement started (The Rochdale Pioneers) and why it’s more relevant now than ever. We’ll look at the social history of people coming together to solve their own problems.

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  Co-ops vs. Traditional Business: Spot the Difference
• A side-by-side comparison. We’ll explore the "Competitive Advantage"—why co-ops are more resilient, stay in business longer, and treat workers better than standard for-profit models.

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  What brought you here, and do you have an idea you want to explore?  
• A judgement-free, non-technical discussion on people’s ideas for co-operatives and whether the co-op advantage can make it work!

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  Job Creation & Worker Ownership
• How to "be your own boss" without being alone. A session on worker-owned businesses, collective entrepreneurship, and how to build a board where everyone brings a different skill to the table.

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  Raising Money Without Losing Your Soul
• A deep dive into Community Share Offers and raising investment. We’ll explain how you can get the funding you need from the community without selling out to a single wealthy owner or a bank.