Case studies
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A pedal powered local community champion – Chorlton Bike Deliveries
Content by The Hive
Chorlton Bike Deliveries Co-op has achieved a great deal in a short space of time. When the Covid-19 pandemic forced the UK’s first lockdown, the inhabitants of Chorlton in south Manchester took to…
3 years
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Innovators making changes that matter: Animorph Co‑operative
Content by The Hive
The ingenious team at Animorph Co‑operative produce augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) solutions that create a positive social impact.
3 years 1 month
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Co-operative architects putting equality into action: Studio Skein
Content by The Hive
After operating as a limited company for nearly two decades, Plymouth based architecture firm Studio Skein – formerly McCaren Design – became an employee ownership trust on 1 June 2020.
3 years 2 months
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Serving up help, hope and hearty meals: Warehouse Café
Content by The Hive
Creating delicious vegan dishes, the Warehouse Café is a worker co-op situated in the Friends of the Earth Building in Birmingham. The café has been in existence for 35 years. And in early 2019, the…
3 years 2 months
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Rehabilitation the co‑operative way: New Leaf Co‑op
Content by The Hive
The New Leaf Initiative is a Birmingham-based mentoring organisation that supports people with criminal convictions to find work.
3 years 3 months
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On the front foot through challenging times: October Books
Content by The Hive
In January 2020, October Books, a worker-owned and run community bookshop in Southampton, was on the verge of taking great new strides.
3 years 6 months
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Making Manchester’s The Meteor “bigger, better and more influential”
Content by The Hive
The Meteor is an independent, community‑based media outlet that’s been providing news, features and commentary to the people of Manchester since 2016. In July 2019, it became a co‑op.
3 years 11 months
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InFact Digital Co-op: “Co‑op working is the future”
Content by The Hive
They met through a digital boot camp. Loved working together. And discovered a shared belief in the power of technology as a force for good.
4 years 2 months
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Signalise Co-op: “We bring deaf people and interpreters together”
Content by The Hive
"We know of a deaf man who was in hospital for 21 days without any interpreting support. Global agencies often provide poor sign language services in favour of profit," explains Jen Smith on why…
4 years 2 months
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Helping Blake House Cooperative plan for a sustainable future
Content by The Hive
As a new start‑up business, filmmakers Blake House Cooperative applied to The Hive to access an experienced peer mentor to help them with a range of areas, from business development to client…
4 years 9 months
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Projekts MCR – a skatepark changing lives in Manchester
Content by The Hive
Projekts MCR is a skatepark based in Manchester city centre. It recently received support from The Hive – the support programme for co-ops delivered by Co‑operatives UK in partnership with The…
5 years 1 month
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“Work that feels meaningful” – South East London Community Energy co‑op
Content by The Hive
Tea, coffee, cake and energy advice. Over 1,300 operational solar panels. Access to energy saving gizmos, insulation and grants. Put simply, this is how South East London Community Energy (SELCE)…
5 years 5 months
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“A great sense of community” – October Books
Content by The Hive
From constrained to creative. From frustrated to fulfilled. From boredom to belonging. That’s the difference being part of the October Books co-op has made to Jessica Haynes.
5 years 5 months
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“Social and environmental aims are fundamental to our work” – OrganicLea
Content by The Hive
OrganicLea is a small workers’ co-operative growing food on London’s edge in the Lea Valley.
5 years 6 months
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“Co-operation was the natural choice” – Natural Foodstore Diss
Content by The Hive
When the owner of the The Natural Foodstore in Diss, Norfolk, announced her plans to retire after over 25 years, workers at the store decided to take action...
5 years 9 months
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The world’s first community-owned distillery: Glenwyvis Distillery
Content by The Hive
The GlenWyvis Distillery is a whisky producing co-op in the Scottish Highlands. It was born of an idea to create sustainable local wealth from a traditional local craft.
5 years 11 months