Co-operative Development and Social Enterprise
Co-operative Development
Establishing a co-operative is one route for two or more people
to go into business together. The structure of co-operatives
ensures that personal financial risk is minimised. In a
co-operative, everyone who comes to work for the business, and
remains within it, is given a say in how the firm is run and a
share of the profits.
For further information about co-operatives please follow the
links given below:
Social Enterprise
'Social enterprises are businesses with primarily social
objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that
purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being
driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.'
Social Enterprise: A Strategy for Success. Department for
Trade and Industry, 2001.
West Cumbria Social Enterprise Hub
The West Cumbria Social Enterprise Hub is now up and
running. Co-operative and Mutual Solutions Ltd. is the project
manager of The Hub which is designed to:
- increase the levels of social entrepreneurship
in West Cumbria;
- create a viable and co-ordinated level of social
enterprise support provision in the area and;
- ensure that emerging/growing social enterprises
have access to the support they need, in an accessible manner and
at a time convenient to them.
It is a three year project funded by West Lakes Renaissance,
Cumbria County Council and Government Office North West. The raison
d'etre for the Hub is to "up the game" in West Cumbria by providing
specialist support not currently available, improving co-ordination
between partners through actively managing the development process
and ensuring access to relevant, quality, timely advice and
support.
In conjunction with partners in the area, The Hub is developing
a coherent set of services for new start and trading social
enterprises. This includes business consultancy advice and support,
a programme of venture planning (experiential learning for new
groups and experienced managers/board members), feasibility grants,
mentoring, and revenue and capital grants.