What is good governance?
![Emma Laycock](jpg/expert-ref-panelcrop0e5a.jpg)
Good governance is crucial to the effective operation of co-operatives regardless of size, legal form or business sector.
The key to a successful co-op
Governance is, to put it simply, all about how running a business. And good governance is about running a successful business. It's about people and performance; policies and processes; rules and regulations... and lots more.
It's the same for co-operatives, but with a good twist. Co-ops exist to serve the needs of their members. And they're founded on a set of values and principles which set the agenda for a different, fairer and better way of doing business. So good governance has to encapsulate those fundamental elements as well.
The wheel of good governance
To help with your governance, our Co-operative Governance Expert Reference Panel has created a great resource. It depicts the key areas of governance that should be in place within a thriving co-operative businesses. They are:
![Governance wheel](png/screenshot%202020-10-22%2018.14.45.png)
![Governance wheel](png/screenshot%202020-10-22%2018.14.451522.png)
Governance wheel
![Little people turning the pages of a large book](png/rule%20book6f34.png)
Co-operative Corporate Governance Code
![Directors Toolkit square image](png/directors%20toolkit6808.png)
Directors toolkit
![Head of advice Emma Laycock](jpg/emma%20cropdb6c.jpg)
Governance support
![Cover of KPI guidance for co-ops](jpg/kpi_cover_08048.jpg)