Understanding co-ops (Edinburgh)

Thinking of starting a business? Or looking for a different approach to your existing business or community venture? If you're looking for an inclusive, democratic approach to your business, then a co-op could be a perfect fit.

Completely free to attend, this workshop in Edinburgh explores how your business could thrive as a co-operative. It's brought to you by Co-operative Development Scotland, part of Scottish Enterprise.

All kinds of businesses operate as co-ops – pubs, energy suppliers, taxi firms, bookstores, community gardens, wine sellers, farms, sports clubs, and much more.

They are run by their members, who can be customers, employees, residents, or suppliers, and who have a say in how the co-op is run – making it a fairer, more collaborative and democratic way of doing business.

Co-ops are also resilient as a business model. They are more than twice as likely to survive the early years of trading when compared to other start-up businesses.

This informative and interactive workshop will give you a more in-depth understanding of co-operatives, as well as the next steps for starting one. You’ll discover:

• The different kinds of co-ops and which might suit you best
• What membership means
• The strengths of co-ops versus traditional business models
• Co-op values and principles
• Co-op facts and figures
• The different legal forms a co-op can take
• Support for co-ops from Co-operative Development Scotland

The workshop will be led by a co-op specialist from Co-operate Scotland LLP and will feature guests from local co-ops. Our guests will share their experiences of starting and running a co-op.

Tea and coffee will be provided on arrival and a light lunch will be available after our speakers have presented.

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Host or Publisher Scottish Enterprise