Co-operatives UK launches online support service to help business advisors

business-consultant

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.