Co-operatives Unleashed - a Local Perspective

Co-operative Alternatives

This is a free event

Co-operative Alternatives Annual Conference and 2018 AGM

The New Economics Foundation (NEF) has launched an independent report setting out an ambitious vision for a UK co-operative sector double the size it is today.

Co-operatives Unleashed: Doubling the Size of the Co-operative Economy addresses these two fundamental questions. ‘If co-operatives are better businesses that can help create a better economy, society and environment, why they have not thrived in UK? And why have they thrived elsewhere?” The report calls for significant expansion of the UK co-operative sector, bringing it closer into line with other countries.

Co-operative Alternatives have supported the development of the co-operative sector for the past five years and with our successes we also bring concerns for missed opportunities. Interestingly, the report highlights the need for a Co-operative Development Agency in Northern Ireland as one of the key aspects to enable the growth of the sector. Co-operative Alternatives welcomes the recommendations and encourage this local debate. If you are a co-operative, a co-operator, or simply interested in a different type of economy, join us at this seminar. We will discuss the findings of the report with Claire McCarthy who commissioned the report and debate them with local co-operative analyst Paul Gosling.

Presentations will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by Tony McMullan.

2018 Annual General Meeting will follow.