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.
Allerdale Borough Council
