Events:

Reports on past Co-operatives South West events:

Creative Co-operatives event - Bristol, 16 February 2011

Students, graduates and freelancers in the South West's creative industries came together in Bristol to find out if setting up a co-operative was a good way of launching or growing a business.

Creative Co-operatives, organised by Co-operatives South West in partnership with CDA (BRAVE Ltd) and Co-operatives UK, gave businesses from the region's thriving creative scene a chance to network, strike up lasting working relationships, and learn about the co-operative business model.

Setting the scene for the seminar and networking event, Annie Warburton of Skillset – which provides training and support to creative businesses – talked about Bristol's thriving creative sector, which ranged from big institutions like the BBC and Aardman Animations to micro-enterprises.

She revealed that the creative industries were one of the most important sectors of the UK economy – generating seven percent of the nation's wealth – and that Bristol and Bath were two of the UK's 10 creative innovation hotspots.

Ed Russell, of Co-operative Web, a worker co-operative with a £1m annual turnover, which is owned by its 21 employees, said: “Co-operative is a different way of doing business. It's still a business and we still have to make a profit, but everyone gets an equal say in the way the business is run, and a fair share of the profits.”

Expanding on the theme of the co-operative business model, Jim Pettipher of Co-operative Futures, which helps co-operatives in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire get off the ground, said: “It's about how you trade and what you do with the money. It's a democratically-run business in which no-one can buy influence by holding more shares than somebody else.”

The seminar heard from three businesses in the creative industries about their experiences of operating under the co-operative model.

Jon Tan from website designer Analog Co-op told delegates how forming a five-man co-operative had helped him and his colleagues compete for big contracts against larger competitors.

Freya Miller and Tortie Rye of Snap Studios said forming a seven-person print makers co-operative had helped them to buy and rent equipment and premises that the would not, individually, have been been able to afford.

And Jim O'Shaughnessy of Forest of Avon Wood Products said forming a co-operative had brought a diverse group of woodland businesses, including wood turners, sculptors, hurdle makers and furniture makers together to share the costs of creating, marketing and selling their products.

Feedback following the conference indicated that 100% or participants gave either 'good' or 'excellent' when rating the speakers, case studies and the usefulness of the event.

Co-operatives UK have launched 'Creative Co-operatives', a new guide and website. Click here to find out more about the Creative Co-operatives guide…

Big Society, Local Solutions - Exeter, 16 November 2010

For details of this event click here.

'Doing Business the Co-operative Way' at Co-operatives 2010

On the first day of Co-operatives 2010 (25 June), Co-operatives SW hosted 'Doing Business the Co-operative Way', a programme aimed at small to medium sized businesses, especially in the South West. At least 40 people attended. The programme was varied and engaging with plenty of audience contribution, including a business networking session, a workshop on 'From Conflict to Co-operation', and surgeries on all sorts of useful topics. A ‘Question Time’ in the afternoon prompted some stimulating debate.

Co-operatives 2010 is the national event for co-operatives and co-operators. It is when we showcase to the wider world that our business model is just as relevant today as it was in the past, and that it is what people are increasingly seeking as the alternative to other models of business.

Doing Business the Co-operative Way was held to mark Co-operatives Fortnight, which ended with International Co-operatives Day, celebrating co-operation across the globe.

Annual General Meeting 2009 and conference - 23 June, Plymouth

In his Directors Report, Brian Titley, Chair of Co-operatives SW, highlighted the main achievements of Co-operatives South West's aims:

Represented the co-operative & mutual sector in the South West: C-SW were represented on the RISE Board by Alan Bonner and on the Regional Assembly (now disbanded) by Chris Herries.
Provided networking and inter-trading opportunities for co-operatives in the South West: through a Trade Fair held in partnership with RISE, a housing event in partnership with the Confederation of Co-operative and Mutual Housing, and also via content in newsletters and website.
Encouraged co-operative development in the South West by supporting the formation of South West Co-operative Support (SOCS) - a consortium of CDBs providing region-wide coverage for existing and new start co-ops.
Built partnership structures and arrangements with organisations with similar objectives: worked with RISE on the Trade Fair and refining the criteria of the Social Enterprise Mark and maintained regular links with other Regional Co-operative Councils in the UK by attending quarterly meetings to share information and best practice.
Created a strong and positive image of the organisation and the benefits of membership through the 'Co-operative Economy in the South West' leaflet, quarterly newsletters, the website, a pull-up display at conferences and Fairs and an 'information pack' on CD for new members. Membership has increased by 10 in the past year, and certificates have been printed which will be awarded to each existing member.

Accounts to 31 March 2009 were circulated and Paul Mallett, the Treasurer highlighted areas of income and expenditure. These spanned a 16 month period due to the decision made at the AGM 2007 to change the Year End to match that of the RCC's major funders.

Following Elections to the Board (Click here for a current list of Board members), Chris Herries reported on the transition from the former Regional Assembly to theSouth West Stakeholder Group, the result of successful lobbying by the Social and Economic Partners of the RA. There will be two representative groups - a larger group (including Co-operatives SW) will elect a smaller representative group which will meet with the RDA. Alan Bonner, Co-operative South West's representative on theRISE board reported on key issues. have been the Social Enterprise Mark and its criteria, and funding issues which have forced RISE to consider its operations and how it can continue to be sustainable and raise income.

Discussion on the future direction of Co-operatives South West for 2009/10, facilitated by The Zebra Collective.

The brief was to be solution-focused, with clear objectives and to examine the best way of achieving them. The current Draft Plan should assimilate ideas resulting from the session (in italics to distinguish it from earlier content). The revised Plan should be approved at the October Board meeting and published on the website, with reasons given for ideas that are not achievable.

A thought provoking debate on The shape of things to come took place in the afternoon with speakers Alan Bonner (Radstock Co-operative Society) and Alex Lawrie (Somerset Co-operative Services) stating the case for 'Small is Beautiful) and Chris Herries (The Co-operative Group) and Steve Guy (City of Plymouth) arguing that 'Big is better'. Recognising that the terms 'big' and small' are relative, and that both models can be complex (hence the decision not to take a vote) - the merits of each were highlighted and the debate achieved its aim in promoting the benefits of co-operative businesses of all kinds. The four speakers were thanked for their excellent contributions

Exploring Co-operative and Mutual Housing in relation to the nation's needs: housing event held in Bristol on Monday 6 April

Co-operatives SW would like to thank all the organisations that took part in the Commission for Co-operative and Mutual Housing Hearing on 6 April. 11 organisations were represented - both co-ops and non-co-ops. Confederation of Co-operative Housing co-ordinator Nic Bliss and the Deputy Commissioner were pleased with the quality of evidence - especially as it was a different perspective to the views gathered in other regions where housing co-operatives are larger and more numerous. Some of the unofficial feedback was also included as 'evidence' as it was considered valuable to the Commission.

Report on the trade fair for co-operatives and social enterprises held on 1^st December 2008 at Watershed Media Centre, Bristol

The event was organised by Co-operatives South West in partnership with RISE, with additional financial support from Watershed Media Centre and the Social Enterprise Mark fund. The Trade Fair was also supported by CDA (BRAVE Ltd), Social Enterprise Works and Co-opportunity, and their help - in particular with the afternoon visits - was much appreciated. Of the 49 organisations (70 delegates) that booked, 24 co-operatives were present, of which 18 are C-SW members ( 30% of the total membership) Five local co-operatives were also involved, by welcoming delegates for afternoon visits. Bristol Community Transport minibuses were hired for the visits. We were pleased to see a good cross section of businesses present. Dawn Primarolo MP presented an award to a photographic competition for social enterprises, and gave a speech highlighting the worth of these types of organisations.

Comments were as follows:

Possibility of Co-operatives South West participation with the Commission of Co-operative and Mutual Housing (following example of Co-operatives South East)
Make sure C-SW engages with sectors not well 'engaged' at present, eg credit unions, LETS, social clubs etc.
Need to roll the co-op model out further. Perhaps hold regional or sub-regional event eg on social / home care, as Local Authorities do not really distinguish between the third sector and other providers of Care.
Promote the success of lesser recognised co-operatives such as doctors co-ops.
Link with English Food and Farming Partnerships
Recognised that there is difficulty in spreading the co-operative message but there could be more mutuality of support, with members 'flying the flag' more.
Co-operatives UK could promote the distinctiveness of co-operatives more.