Influencing policy
Our policy work is crucial to ensuring co-ops, of all shapes and sizes, enjoy the best possible business environment. We do this by working for and alongside our members to influence government policy - at both a local and national level. The includes securing funding for co-op development, campaigning against punitive and unfair legislation, promoting the benefits of co-ops to policy-makers and much more.
Featured content
A once in a generation opportunity to change co-operative law
Government has asked the Law Commission to conduct a wholesale examination of co-operative law. Co-operatives UK is now working with members and partners to influence this important review.
A Call for Co-operative Growth
Leading UK co-operatives are calling on all political parties to commit to co-operative growth at the next general election.
Help influence Scottish Government
Respond to this consultation to ensure Scottish co-ops have their voices heard.
Search policy activity
Search our policy activity by issue, sector or region
Do more, faster, together: Joint declaration by the UK’s co-operatives in the run up to COP26
Joint declaration on climate action by the UK’s co-operatives in the run up to COP26.
We are the rebuilders
Co-ops are pivotal to helping our communities and country build back better from Covid-19. In this short paper we make four co-op ‘offers’ to everyone working for a more sustainable and just future.
Work in partnership
Through partnership working with local government, business networks and community organisations we help transform local economies and communities. It's all about local wealth building, co-op development and community engagement.
Recent news
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Co-operative and mutual sector calls on next government to back business with purpose beyond profit
Industry bodies representing members whose revenues exceed £87 billion a year are calling on the next government to back business with purpose beyond profit.
1 month 3 weeks
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Member consultation: Help shape our policy priorities
Ahead of Co-op Congress and Co-op Fortnight, Co-operatives UK is urging members to feed into policy priorities as we look ahead to the next general election.
8 months
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Advocacy for worker co-ops: Co-operatives UK submission to Treasury
Co-operatives UK policy team has submitted a representation ahead of the Spring Budget.
11 months 1 week
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Call for £40m investment into community shares
Content by Community Shares
The Community Shares Unit, led by Co-operatives UK in partnership with Locality and Plunkett Foundation, has responded to the Dormant Assets consultation with a headline call for £40m to be invested…
1 year 3 months
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Co-operatives call on new Prime Minister to act now or face ‘doom-loop’
Government must take immediate and effective action to prevent permanent damage to UK businesses, including co-operatives.
1 year 4 months
Blog posts
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Co-op Policy Blog: Securing jobs through worker co-ops
This week’s Autumn Statement comes against a backdrop of rising business closures. Will government announce improvements to the employee buyout tax reliefs that could help save thousands more jobs and…
2 months
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Co-op Policy Blog #26: Co-ops to the rescue?
A growing number of businesses in the UK are going bust. Two years of lost income, uncertainty, stress, ballooning debt and now rising costs, may be taking their toll.
1 year 11 months
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Co-op Policy Blog #25: Levelling up the land
When Michael Gove stood at the dispatch box and said government’s flagship Levelling Up White Paper was a strategy “to shift wealth and power decisively towards working people” I had to stop and…
1 year 11 months
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Co-op Policy Blog #24: Budget implications for co-ops across the UK
The Chancellor’s Budget and Spending Review is not earth-shattering... or really Earth saving either.
2 years 2 months
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Co-op Policy Blog #23: Breakthrough in Scotland
Scottish government is now committed to supporting co-ops in its policy programme. This provides a massive opportunity to unlock the huge potential for co-ops in Scotland and follows a successful…
2 years 4 months
Resources
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The Purpose of Mutual and Co-operative Business in Society
Read our joint prospectus calling on the next government to create a meaningful covenant between mutuals and co-operatives.
1 month 3 weeks
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Webinar: Black History Month through a co-operative lens
Watch this online panel discussion on Black History Month and the co-operative movement – how it started and what it means for us trying to tell the co-op story fairly.
3 months 2 weeks
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Co-operative and Mutual Economy 2023
Our ground-breaking Co-operative and Mutual Economy 2023 report presents a compelling case for harnessing the full potential of co-operatives and mutuals in the UK.
4 months
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Everybody's Business: A Call for Co-op Growth
We set out how – with the right policies in place – co‑operatives will deliver a more inclusive, responsible, wellbeing-enhancing economy.
5 months 3 weeks
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Scottish Policy Summit - the results
The Scottish Policy Summit brought co-operatives together to identify needs and opportunities ahead of a major government review of how to support co-operative growth.
6 months
You may also be interested in
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A once in a generation opportunity to change co-operative law
Government has asked the Law Commission to conduct a wholesale examination of co-operative law. Co-operatives UK is now working with members and partners to influence this important review.
1 month 2 weeks
Image
Co-operative and mutual sector calls on next government to back business with purpose beyond profit
Industry bodies representing members whose revenues exceed £87 billion a year are calling on the next government to back business with purpose beyond profit.
1 month 3 weeks
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Cross Party Group on Co-operatives in Scottish Parliament
Organised by Co-operatives UK
Join the next meeting of the Cross Party Group on Co-operatives on Wednesday 13 December 1-2pm in the Scottish Parliament.
Wednesday 13 December 2023
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Virtual round table: The Law Commission review
Organised by Co-operatives UK
Join our policy team on Tuesday 28 November to discuss strategic objectives relating to the Law Commission's ongoing review.
Tuesday 28 November 2023
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Influencing Scottish government's review of co-operative growth - ONLINE
Organised by Co-operatives UK
Join our Policy Team on Friday 17 November for the last opportunity to have your say and influence Scottish government's ongoing review.
Friday 17 November 2023