With new energy within local government to transform local constituencies, particularly the promotion of democratic business models with the business economy, council officers and elected councillors at UK councils started to show more interest in developing their own awareness and knowledge so they could be more effective in their public roles.

There was also a recognition that business advisors and third sector bodies had low knowledge about democratic models, which was restricting their adoption by new business owners and retiring owners selling their businesses. 

Co-op Council Innovation Network

— As affiliate members of the Co-operative Council Innovation Network – the fast growing local government network – Stir to Action and Co-op Culture worked with a member council to submit an application to the Policy Lab programme to secure grant funding to design a three-module course and then deliver to the member councils. 

— We were awarded £10,000 to design and delivered it for a range of councils, including Preston, Cheshire West & Chester, GMCA, Hackney, Inverclyde, Kirklees, Oxford, Rochdale, South Ribble, Stevenage, Sunderland, Trafford, and Wigan.

Business for Good in West Yorkshire

— In 2022, the UK Government launched the Shared Prosperity Fund to invest in communities, local business, and economic development. We were invited to be part of a consortium bid to West Yorks Combined Authority, which was successfully granted £500,000 support for the Business for Good Programme. The wider programme offers coaching, accelerators, study visits, and training opportunities for new and mature businesses, council officers, and third sector professionals.

— Our Co-op Option course was delivered via the Business for Good programme and has now been accessed by more than 50 individuals in West Yorkshire — mainly council officers, business coaches, and senior members of local third sector infrastructure bodies. 

Community Wealth Building in Scotland

— Following success in West Yorkshire, we were then approached by Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS), part of Scottish Enterprise, who in light of the Scottish Government adopting the Community Wealth Building (CWB) approach to economic development, delivered a successful CWB awareness programme across 32 local authorities. As a practical follow on from the programme, more than 20 Co-op Option training places were funded by CDS and offered to each local authority with a view to securing regional co-operative champions within each council.   

Where next? 

— The course is a great way of developing the knowledge and horizons for people who want to advocate for democratic business models within public and third sector institutions. The course is available to purchase, and we’re looking forward to working with foundations, councils and third sector organisations to significantly increase democratic business model knowledge levels and capacity of our business advisor base.