2024 Democratic Business Summit Report:
Doubling the Size of the Co-op and Mutual Economy
Last year, we were in Manchester talking about the need for the government to take democratic business more seriously, and making a speculative bet that we could encourage different movements for democracy in business to come together to promote how our approaches to business ownership can transform our broken economy.
Last year, we were in Manchester talking about the need for the government to take democratic business more seriously, and making a speculative bet that we could encourage different movements for democracy in business to come together to promote how our approaches to business ownership can transform our broken economy.
Last year, we were in Manchester talking about the need for the government to take democratic business more seriously, and making a speculative bet that we could encourage different movements for democracy in business to come together to promote how our approaches to business ownership can transform our broken economy.
This year, the second year of the Summit, we hosted a one-day event in Cardiff, with a new supportive government in place, a policy commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutual economy, and the creation of a new council to represent us within government.
This year, the second year of the Summit, we hosted a one-day event in Cardiff, with a new supportive government in place, a policy commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutual economy, and the creation of a new council to represent us within government.
This year, the second year of the Summit, we hosted a one-day event in Cardiff, with a new supportive government in place, a policy commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutual economy, and the creation of a new council to represent us within government.
Despite a natural hesitation about what the government can and can’t do, it still feels there’s a significant and historical opportunity to take advantage of this new policy and to make sure our wider movement informs how the government supports our sector, as well as making the most of the general positivity about co-operatives and mutuals for probably the first time in a generation.
Despite a natural hesitation about what the government can and can’t do, it still feels there’s a significant and historical opportunity to take advantage of this new policy and to make sure our wider movement informs how the government supports our sector, as well as making the most of the general positivity about co-operatives and mutuals for probably the first time in a generation.
Despite a natural hesitation about what the government can and can’t do, it still feels there’s a significant and historical opportunity to take advantage of this new policy and to make sure our wider movement informs how the government supports our sector, as well as making the most of the general positivity about co-operatives and mutuals for probably the first time in a generation.
In short, these are the areas we suggested are key to making progress with this policy ambition:
In short, these are the areas we suggested are key to making progress with this policy ambition:
In short, these are the areas we suggested are key to making progress with this policy ambition:
Mobilising the evidence to support our argument of why democratic models for business and asset ownership are best placed to deliver long-term inclusive growth
Mobilising the evidence to support our argument of why democratic models for business and asset ownership are best placed to deliver long-term inclusive growth
Mobilising the evidence to support our argument of why democratic models for business and asset ownership are best placed to deliver long-term inclusive growth
Investing in R&D to deliver on opportunities for influencing the succession market, encouraging workers to restart closed businesses, and testing the appetite for developing franchise models out of successful businesses in our sector
Investing in R&D to deliver on opportunities for influencing the succession market, encouraging workers to restart closed businesses, and testing the appetite for developing franchise models out of successful businesses in our sector
Investing in R&D to deliver on opportunities for influencing the succession market, encouraging workers to restart closed businesses, and testing the appetite for developing franchise models out of successful businesses in our sector
Defining what parts of the economy should be the sector’s focus for growth, making sure they’re not just based on the government’s priorities, but where the market is strong and the social need is high
Defining what parts of the economy should be the sector’s focus for growth, making sure they’re not just based on the government’s priorities, but where the market is strong and the social need is high
Defining what parts of the economy should be the sector’s focus for growth, making sure they’re not just based on the government’s priorities, but where the market is strong and the social need is high
Investing in the support ecosystem that will build the pipeline for a new generation of democratic businesses in our local and national economies over the next parliamentary term and beyond.
Investing in the support ecosystem that will build the pipeline for a new generation of democratic businesses in our local and national economies over the next parliamentary term and beyond.
Investing in the support ecosystem that will build the pipeline for a new generation of democratic businesses in our local and national economies over the next parliamentary term and beyond.
Left: Jonny Gordon-Farleigh, founding director of the Centre for Democratic Business addresses the audience in his opening speech.
Right: Lucy Humphreys, Owen Powell, Oliver Allies and Derek Walker discuss ' The power of democracy in business' at the Summit’s opening panel.
The roundtables
The roundtables
The roundtables
We collated the key observations, actions and opportunities discussed by participants in the four roundtables. These explored options for both funding and building more specialist support for a growing co-operative and mutual economy, and ideas for promoting democratic business ownership through existing and newly commissioned research; as well as key legislative recommendations for the new government.
We collated the key observations, actions and opportunities discussed by participants in the four roundtables. These explored options for both funding and building more specialist support for a growing co-operative and mutual economy, and ideas for promoting democratic business ownership through existing and newly commissioned research; as well as key legislative recommendations for the new government.
We collated the key observations, actions and opportunities discussed by participants in the four roundtables. These explored options for both funding and building more specialist support for a growing co-operative and mutual economy, and ideas for promoting democratic business ownership through existing and newly commissioned research; as well as key legislative recommendations for the new government.
Roundtable One
Roundtable One
Roundtable One
How can we secure the investment we need to grow the sector?
How can we secure the investment we need to grow the sector?
How can we secure the investment we need to grow the sector?
Introduce a new Social Investment Tax Relief-style option to encourage more investment into co-operatives
Introduce a new Social Investment Tax Relief-style option to encourage more investment into co-operatives
Introduce a new Social Investment Tax Relief-style option to encourage more investment into co-operatives
Explore the potential to follow the success of Italy’s Marcora Law which provides Corporate Tax relief on profits that are paid into a development fund
Explore the potential to follow the success of Italy’s Marcora Law which provides Corporate Tax relief on profits that are paid into a development fund
Explore the potential to follow the success of Italy’s Marcora Law which provides Corporate Tax relief on profits that are paid into a development fund
Expand the community shares market through attracting more institutional investors, such as charitable foundations, pension funds, and local authorities
Expand the community shares market through attracting more institutional investors, such as charitable foundations, pension funds, and local authorities
Expand the community shares market through attracting more institutional investors, such as charitable foundations, pension funds, and local authorities
Use recommendations to the Law Commission to influence local and national government in terms of democratic capital raising mechanisms
Use recommendations to the Law Commission to influence local and national government in terms of democratic capital raising mechanisms
Use recommendations to the Law Commission to influence local and national government in terms of democratic capital raising mechanisms
Create a ‘levy fund’ to enable large co-ops to reinvest into developing and scaling new businesses in the sector
Create a ‘levy fund’ to enable large co-ops to reinvest into developing and scaling new businesses in the sector
Create a ‘levy fund’ to enable large co-ops to reinvest into developing and scaling new businesses in the sector
Ensure that financial ‘settlements’ between central and devolved regional governments, and a prospective next iteration of the UK’s Shared Prosperity Fund, is increasingly used to develop democratic – not just ‘social’ – businesses.
Ensure that financial ‘settlements’ between central and devolved regional governments, and a prospective next iteration of the UK’s Shared Prosperity Fund, is increasingly used to develop democratic – not just ‘social’ – businesses.
Ensure that financial ‘settlements’ between central and devolved regional governments, and a prospective next iteration of the UK’s Shared Prosperity Fund, is increasingly used to develop democratic – not just ‘social’ – businesses.
Roundtable Two
Roundtable Two
Roundtable Two
What would a strong ecosystem of democratic business support look like?
What would a strong ecosystem of democratic business support look like?
What would a strong ecosystem of democratic business support look like?
Move forward on plans for a National Co-operative Development Agency to increase visibility and make it easier to commission specialist support from our sector
Move forward on plans for a National Co-operative Development Agency to increase visibility and make it easier to commission specialist support from our sector
Move forward on plans for a National Co-operative Development Agency to increase visibility and make it easier to commission specialist support from our sector
Allocate significant funding to rapidly rebuild the number of specialist advisors in the democratic business sector, particularly though resourcing existing programmes like ‘barefoot’
Allocate significant funding to rapidly rebuild the number of specialist advisors in the democratic business sector, particularly though resourcing existing programmes like ‘barefoot’
Allocate significant funding to rapidly rebuild the number of specialist advisors in the democratic business sector, particularly though resourcing existing programmes like ‘barefoot’
Bring in more international experience to the UK on business development growth models, such as conversions, franchises, and business restarts, from places like the United States and Europe
Bring in more international experience to the UK on business development growth models, such as conversions, franchises, and business restarts, from places like the United States and Europe
Bring in more international experience to the UK on business development growth models, such as conversions, franchises, and business restarts, from places like the United States and Europe
Invest in raising awareness of democratic options for new entrepreneurs and existing business owners, particularly within the public sector and professional services
Invest in raising awareness of democratic options for new entrepreneurs and existing business owners, particularly within the public sector and professional services
Invest in raising awareness of democratic options for new entrepreneurs and existing business owners, particularly within the public sector and professional services
Use bodies like the regional Ownership Hubs to promote a diverse range of democratic models for business ownership, and explore targeted interventions and build specialisms in specific sectors.
Use bodies like the regional Ownership Hubs to promote a diverse range of democratic models for business ownership, and explore targeted interventions and build specialisms in specific sectors.
Use bodies like the regional Ownership Hubs to promote a diverse range of democratic models for business ownership, and explore targeted interventions and build specialisms in specific sectors.
Roundtable Three
Roundtable Three
Roundtable Three
What kinds of evidence can make the case for democratic business ownership?
What kinds of evidence can make the case for democratic business ownership?
What kinds of evidence can make the case for democratic business ownership?
Mobilise existing evidence, such as Ownership at Work’s Knowledge Programme, to promote powerful data on the scale and impact of democratic business in contrast to non-democratic entities, particularly in relation to the sector’s higher productivity, wages, and wellbeing
Mobilise existing evidence, such as Ownership at Work’s Knowledge Programme, to promote powerful data on the scale and impact of democratic business in contrast to non-democratic entities, particularly in relation to the sector’s higher productivity, wages, and wellbeing
Mobilise existing evidence, such as Ownership at Work’s Knowledge Programme, to promote powerful data on the scale and impact of democratic business in contrast to non-democratic entities, particularly in relation to the sector’s higher productivity, wages, and wellbeing
Use international case studies of successful business and sectoral growth to inspire UK development, particularly in relation to the government’s priorities on renewable energy, housing, and social care
Use international case studies of successful business and sectoral growth to inspire UK development, particularly in relation to the government’s priorities on renewable energy, housing, and social care
Use international case studies of successful business and sectoral growth to inspire UK development, particularly in relation to the government’s priorities on renewable energy, housing, and social care
Demonstrate how social value impacts (economic, social, and environmental) can align with national and regional growth objectives
Demonstrate how social value impacts (economic, social, and environmental) can align with national and regional growth objectives
Demonstrate how social value impacts (economic, social, and environmental) can align with national and regional growth objectives
Create a national research unit that can be commissioned to produce new research that supports the government’s strategy to double the size of the co-op and mutual economy.
Create a national research unit that can be commissioned to produce new research that supports the government’s strategy to double the size of the co-op and mutual economy.
Create a national research unit that can be commissioned to produce new research that supports the government’s strategy to double the size of the co-op and mutual economy.
Roundtable Four
Roundtable Four
Roundtable Four
What does our business movement want from the new government?
What does our business movement want from the new government?
What does our business movement want from the new government?
Set up a review of the potential tax advantages for democratic businesses, including extending the eligibility of current tax reliefs for the EOT model – such as capital gains tax and employee bonus relief – to co-operatives
Set up a review of the potential tax advantages for democratic businesses, including extending the eligibility of current tax reliefs for the EOT model – such as capital gains tax and employee bonus relief – to co-operatives
Set up a review of the potential tax advantages for democratic businesses, including extending the eligibility of current tax reliefs for the EOT model – such as capital gains tax and employee bonus relief – to co-operatives
Encourage new bodies like the Mutuals and Co-operatives Business Council to include business representation to inform the government’s strategy
Encourage new bodies like the Mutuals and Co-operatives Business Council to include business representation to inform the government’s strategy
Encourage new bodies like the Mutuals and Co-operatives Business Council to include business representation to inform the government’s strategy
Ensure the current Law Commission creates a definition of co-operatives that concentrates on purpose and strengthens accountability to members
Ensure the current Law Commission creates a definition of co-operatives that concentrates on purpose and strengthens accountability to members
Ensure the current Law Commission creates a definition of co-operatives that concentrates on purpose and strengthens accountability to members
Follow the success of Scotland’s Community Right to Buy legislation by introducing it to other parts of the UK, as well as learning from the adoption of Community Wealth Building legislation
Follow the success of Scotland’s Community Right to Buy legislation by introducing it to other parts of the UK, as well as learning from the adoption of Community Wealth Building legislation
Follow the success of Scotland’s Community Right to Buy legislation by introducing it to other parts of the UK, as well as learning from the adoption of Community Wealth Building legislation
Review public procurement rules to increase benefit to local suppliers, particularly democratic businesses
Review public procurement rules to increase benefit to local suppliers, particularly democratic businesses
Review public procurement rules to increase benefit to local suppliers, particularly democratic businesses
Provide dedicated resources to support businesses in their pre-income generation phase and embed these services within business support schemes.
Provide dedicated resources to support businesses in their pre-income generation phase and embed these services within business support schemes.
Provide dedicated resources to support businesses in their pre-income generation phase and embed these services within business support schemes.
Left: Suzanne Orchard (standing) is the Centre for Democratic Business’ Co-lead and played a key role during the Summit, introducing the different speakers and facilitating throughout the roundtables.
Left: Suzanne Orchard (standing) is the Centre for Democratic Business’ Co-lead and played a key role during the Summit, introducing the different speakers and facilitating throughout the roundtables.
Right: Participants in conversation during the first two roundtables, that took place simultaneously. The idea was to escape the rigid structures of similar events and promote cross-pollination of ideas and between participants.
Right: Participants in conversation during the first two roundtables, that took place simultaneously. The idea was to escape the rigid structures of similar events and promote cross-pollination of ideas and between participants.
Who joined the summit?
Who joined the summit?
Who joined the summit?
The event convened policy makers, businesses, federations, academics, and funders to develop and promote more awareness of democratic business, with representatives from a range of organisations including:
The event convened policy makers, businesses, federations, academics, and funders to develop and promote more awareness of democratic business, with representatives from a range of organisations including:
The event convened policy makers, businesses, federations, academics, and funders to develop and promote more awareness of democratic business, with representatives from a range of organisations including:
Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
Where next?
Where next?
Where next?
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. Whether you're a funder, worker-owner, or local authority representative, your participation is vital in building a stronger, more resilient economy. Here are a few ways to get involved:
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. Whether you're a funder, worker-owner, or local authority representative, your participation is vital in building a stronger, more resilient economy. Here are a few ways to get involved:
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. Whether you're a funder, worker-owner, or local authority representative, your participation is vital in building a stronger, more resilient economy. Here are a few ways to get involved:
Policy
Policy
Policy
Sign up and become involved in the Co-operative Party’s efforts to support the government’s strategy
Sign up and become involved in the Co-operative Party’s efforts to support the government’s strategy
Sign up and become involved in the Co-operative Party’s efforts to support the government’s strategy
Engage with the new Mutual and Co-operative Business Council, which aims to be the sector’s partner to government.
Engage with the new Mutual and Co-operative Business Council, which aims to be the sector’s partner to government.
Engage with the new Mutual and Co-operative Business Council, which aims to be the sector’s partner to government.
Training
Training
Training
Sign up to the Barefoot Pledge and invest in training new advisors over the next few years. With your funding, we can subsidise access to training and create hundreds of new specialists around the UK.
Sign up to the Barefoot Pledge and invest in training new advisors over the next few years. With your funding, we can subsidise access to training and create hundreds of new specialists around the UK.
Sign up to the Barefoot Pledge and invest in training new advisors over the next few years. With your funding, we can subsidise access to training and create hundreds of new specialists around the UK.
Contact: suzanne@stirtoaction.com
Contact: suzanne@stirtoaction.com
Contact: suzanne@stirtoaction.com
Events
Events
Events
Join the Future Co-ops Conference on 31st January-1st February in Lichfield, and be part of the conversation around what doubling the sector actually looks like in practice
Join the Future Co-ops Conference on 31st January-1st February in Lichfield, and be part of the conversation around what doubling the sector actually looks like in practice
Join the Future Co-ops Conference on 31st January-1st February in Lichfield, and be part of the conversation around what doubling the sector actually looks like in practice
Join Co-op Congress on the 4th & 5th July in Rochdale. After a year into our new Labour Government, join other co-operators to reflect, share ideas, and take action.
Join Co-op Congress on the 4th & 5th July in Rochdale. After a year into our new Labour Government, join other co-operators to reflect, share ideas, and take action.
Join Co-op Congress on the 4th & 5th July in Rochdale. After a year into our new Labour Government, join other co-operators to reflect, share ideas, and take action.
Get involved
Get involved
Get involved
Democratic Business Summit 2025. We’re planning to host it in Scotland next year, so let us know if you could co-sponsor the event, and have recommendations for venues.
Democratic Business Summit 2025. We’re planning to host it in Scotland next year, so let us know if you could co-sponsor the event, and have recommendations for venues.
Democratic Business Summit 2025. We’re planning to host it in Scotland next year, so let us know if you could co-sponsor the event, and have recommendations for venues.
Full Report
Full Report
Full Report
To access and download the full report from the 2024 Democratic Business Summit please click below.
To access and download the full report from the 2024 Democratic Business Summit please click below.
To access and download the full report from the 2024 Democratic Business Summit please click below.
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
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
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
Designed and built by Stir to Action Studio