Centre for Democratic Business

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Publications
ARTICLE
More than a century of community wealth – the history and future of Britain’s social clubs
by Jonny Gordon-Farleigh
The article discusses the history and relevance of Britain's working men's clubs, their role in shaping civil society, and the debate around their current state and potential future.
Publications
ARTICLE
Scaling up democratic ownership: Adapting the employee ownership model to build truly democratic businesses
by Kosta Juri & Tej Gonza
This article discusses the commodification of businesses and its impact on democratic sovereignty, proposing democratic ownership through models like worker-owned businesses as a solution.
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.
Publications
ARTICLE
Can AI help democratise the economy?
by Daniel Stanley
What are the opportunities & risks of using the new wave of AI technology for economic change? Based on an event with the Institute for the Future of Work and Ada Lovelace Institute.
Publications
ARTICLE
'New Economies' and the Rebuilding of Democratic Power
by Jonny Gordon-Farleigh
To become a political force, the 'new economies' movement needs to prioritise member engagement and collective power, shifting from a model of civic privatisation to one of collective action.

Articles

Analysis and insight from Centre and partner authors, exploring issues around democratic business, ownership and economic change.

Publications

ARTICLE

More than a century of community wealth – the history and future of Britain’s social clubs

by Jonny Gordon-Farleigh

The article discusses the history and relevance of Britain's working men's clubs, their role in shaping civil society, and the debate around their current state and potential future.

Publications

ARTICLE

Scaling up democratic ownership: Adapting the employee ownership model to build truly democratic businesses

by Kosta Juri & Tej Gonza

This article discusses the commodification of businesses and its impact on democratic sovereignty, proposing democratic ownership through models like worker-owned businesses as a solution, with a focus on the UK's Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) model.

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.

Real-life examples of democratic businesses and their impact, highlighting the achievements and challenges.

Publications

CASE STUDY

Money for Good: the rise of ethical finance

Jonny Gordon-Farleigh & Grace Crabtree

A case study that explores the rise of democratic finance in the shadow of the financial crisis, the role of social investment platforms, and efforts to transform the ownership of assets and services in the UK economy.

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.

More case studies

Reports

In-depth research on various aspects of democratic business ownership, from developing new policy and infrastructure to addressing unique challenges in underrepresented communities and particular regions.

Publications

REPORT

What Support do Social Clubs need?

Results from a National Survey

January 2025

As part of our efforts to create a national conversation about the future of social clubs, we are publishing results from a national survey to share more evidence about their current position and support requirements, and to attract more financial support and progressive policy from the government.

Publications

REPORT

2024 Democratic Business Summit Report

Doubling the Size of the Co-op & Mutual Economy

By working together, we can double the size of this transformative sector, creating more opportunities for people to benefit from democratic ownership in their workplaces and communities.

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.

More reports

Interviews

Exploring the perspectives and experiences of experts, practitioners, policymakers and other stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities for democratic business.

Publications

INTERVIEW

Q&A with Ruth Cherrington

by Jonny Gordon-Farleigh

STIR #48 — Winter 2025

As part of a publishing series to start a new national conversation about the fate of Britain’s social clubs, we interviewed Ruth Cherrington, the author of Not Just Beer and Bingo!.

Publications

INTERVIEW

Democratic Business Series: The Capital Gap

with Jessica Craig, Jonathan Hutchins-Levy, Cathryn Chrimes, Ella Smith and Erika Rushton

This interview discusses the challenges faced by community businesses in accessing finance for growth and the various types of finance available, each with their own challenges.

Publications

INTERVIEW

The Ownership Gap podcast

with Keir Milburn, Rose Marley, Jonny Gordon-Farleigh and Suzanne Orchard

Recorded at Stir to Action's Playground for the New Economy 2023, this podcast explores the inequalities in business and asset ownership, and how democratic business can create more economic security in the UK.

More interviews

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

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Designed and built by Guillermo Ortego

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 Guillermo Ortego

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 Guillermo Ortego

Articles

Analysis and insight from Centre and partner authors, exploring issues around democratic business, ownership and economic change.

Case studies

Real-life examples of democratic businesses and their impact, highlighting the achievements and challenges.

Reports

In-depth research on various aspects of democratic business ownership, from developing new policy and infrastructure to addressing unique challenges in underrepresented communities and particular regions.

Interviews

Exploring the perspectives and experiences of experts, practitioners, policymakers and other stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities for democratic business.