The ‘advise a co-operative’ online support service will help business advisors provide high quality assistance to people who are thinking about setting up a co-operative business.
The service, developed by the experienced team at Co-operatives UK, concludes a series of online support services from the national trade association, adding to the already up and running ‘start a co-operative’ and ‘grow a co-operative’ services launched earlier in the year.
The latest online support service strengthens Co-operatives UK’s position as the first port of call for anyone thinking about starting a co-operative – a business that is owned and run by its members.
The ‘advise a co-operative’ website will provide business advisors with:
· Specialist legal registration advice;
· Bespoke co-operative governance advice;
· Clear links to events, training and networking;
· Links to a range of relevant resources and publications.
Commenting on the launch of the final phase of the new online support service, Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, said: “Co-operative businesses as a whole have been outperforming the economy, growing by 21% since the start of the credit crunch in 2008, reflecting a turn to more trusted businesses following the financial crisis of the last few years.
“With more and more people exploring the co-operative options, this new support service brings together expert resources and advice to give business advisors key information about co-operatives and signpost them to specialists where needed.”
The online support service launches as part of the International Year of Co-operatives 2012 – a unique opportunity for co-operative businesses and their members and supporters to come together as a global movement to promote how co-operatives build a better world.