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At the roots of our broken economy is an ownership crisis.

Democratic business is how we reverse it.

The Centre for Democratic Business advances democracy in our workplaces and communities through partnerships with local and national government, industry bodies, membership associations, and foundations.

Our approach

Who we are

What we do

Hosted by Stir to Action, we provide economic development and support programmes for democratic business in the UK.

Who we are

What we do

Hosted by Stir to Action, we provide economic development and support programmes for democratic business in the UK.

Who we are

Hosted by Stir to Action, we provide economic development and support programmes for democratic business in the UK.

Hosted by Stir to Action, we are a provider of economic development and support programmes for democratic business in the UK.

What we do

Economic Strategy

Assist supportive institutions with effective planning, infrastructure, and investment.

Research & Analysis

Demonstrate the benefits and address the challenges of democratic ownership in practice.

Training & Development Programmes

Directly support the growth and strengthening of the whole ecosystem.

Our work

Learn more about what we do with this selection of our latest projects and publications — for further details on any of these or more work currently in development, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Learn more about what we do with this selection of our latest projects and publications — for further details on any of these, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Projects

EVENTS

Democratic Business Summit

Every year we hold a national summit bringing together participants from across the democratic business sector for a one-day event to advance democracy in workplaces and communities. Involving business federations, foundations, local government, think tanks, and universities, our inaugural Summit in 2023 was held in Manchester, with this year’s Summit taking place in Cardiff in December.

Publications

REPORT

Community Anchors: Preston City Council

by Stir to Action

A third sector incubator focused on training minority-led charities to stimulate cultural awareness of democratic business models in priority sectors.

Publications

ARTICLE

The Return of Ownership? How to really make the economy fairer

by Jonny Gordon-Farleigh

A brief history of policy development under New Labour, the limits of business reform, and a proposal to advocate for new policy campaigns that directly address business ownership.

Projects

TRAINING

Alternative Business Models / The Co-op Option

This capacity-building course, delivered in partnership with Co-op Culture, is designed to increase knowledge and capacity among policymakers, business advisors, and foundations around business models such as co-operatives and community business, including the support landscape and key support needs.

Projects

NETWORK

Democratic Ownership Matters Network

We’re the anchor organisation for an international network of researchers, practitioners, and campaigners, building the field of democratic ownership of business into a connected movement for change in our economies, through small thematic & geographic groups, with common agendas for learning or change.

Publications

REPORT

Social Business Research: Hackney Borough Council

by Stir to Action, Co-op Culture & Renaisi

An article in Coop News on our project to support the council to design the most effective ecosystem of social business support in an urban context. Full report will be published soon.

Publications

REPORT

Technocratic to Democratic: Building democratic culture, skills, and partnerships

by Jonny Gordon-Farleigh

A flagship report on how policy makers, local government, and think tanks can more effectively promote and develop democratic businesses.

Publications

CASE STUDY

The Islington Model: Community Wealth Building Adapted

by Jonny Gordon-Farleigh

Islington Council has pioneered an interventionist approach, using its services, programmes, and assets to directly tackle the roots of inequality. A core focus of this approach is the transformative role of democratic ownership of local businesses and assets.

Publications

CASE STUDY

Project spotlight: Kitty's Launderette

by Grace Crabtree

Launderettes are not usually the most beloved of locations: unstaffed, faulty dryers, sticky floors, expensive cycles eating up large stacks of pound coins. But in the Anfield area of North Liverpool, there is one that is doing things differently.

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Work with us to build a new generation of democratic businesses

We are already working with councils, foundations, development bodies, and membership associations to promote more democratic ownership of UK businesses and assets.

If you are an organisation who is interested in harnessing the power of democratic ownership and governance in your area of work, get in touch.

The CfDB is a project of Stir to Action Ltd, a worker co-operative registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Company number 07951013

Our team is based in Dorset, London, and Manchester

info@democraticbusiness.org

Subscribe to our newsletter

Designed and built by Stir to Action Studio

You can subscribe to our newsletter here

The CfDB is a project of Stir to Action Ltd, a worker co-operative registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Company number 07951013

Our team is based in Dorset, London, and Manchester

info@democraticbusiness.org

Designed and built by Stir to Action Studio

You can subscribe to our newsletter here

The CfDB is a project of Stir to Action Ltd, a worker co-operative registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Company number 07951013

Our team is based in Dorset, London, and Manchester

info@democraticbusiness.org

Designed and built by Stir to Action Studio