Co-operatives UK

This article is about the federation of UK Co-operatives. For the UK-wide consumer co-operative, see The Co-operative Group.

Co-operatives UK Limited
Formerly
  • Co-operative Central Board
  • Co-operative Union
  • Industrial Common Ownership Movement (ICOM)
Company typeCo-operative Federation
IndustryTrade association
FoundedManchester (1889 (1889))
HeadquartersHolyoake House, Hanover Street, Manchester
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Rose Marley (CEO)
Members700+[1]
Number of employees
31[2]
Websiteuk.coop

Co-operatives UK is a British co-operative federation described as "the central membership organisation for co-operative enterprise throughout the UK".[3] It was founded in 1870 as the Co-operative Central Board, changing its name to the Co-operative Union[4] before finally becoming Co-operatives UK following its merger with the Industrial Common Ownership Movement (ICOM) in 2001.[5] Historically associated with consumer co-operatives, the merger broadened its scope to include worker co-operatives and it now exists to support and promote the values of the entire co-operative movement throughout the UK.[6]

During its history it has been responsible for the organisation of the Co-operative Congresses, the establishment of both Co-operative Commissions and the creation of the Co-operative College and the Co-operative Party.[7] The head office, Holyoake House in Manchester, is a Grade II listed building, and was built in 1911 in memory of the co-operative activist George Jacob Holyoake.[8]

Membership of Co-operatives UK includes organisations as diverse as the Woodcraft Folk, Suma Wholefoods and the Co-operative Group. It is controlled by a board elected by its membership, is a member of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the trustee of the Co-operative College, and retains a nominated seat on the National Executive Committee of the Co-operative Party.[7]

  1. ^ Co-operatives UK (2010), Co-operatives UK Annual Report 2009 (PDF), Co-operatives UK, p. 35, archived from the original (PDF/paperback) on 29 September 2011, retrieved 20 July 2010
  2. ^ Co-operatives UK (2010), Co-operatives UK Annual Report 2009 (PDF), Co-operatives UK, p. 15, archived from the original (PDF/paperback) on 29 September 2011, retrieved 20 July 2010
  3. ^ "Co-operatives UK's web site". Co-operatives UK. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  4. ^ UK Co-op Milestones, August 2003, archived from the original on 28 September 2007, retrieved 19 October 2007
  5. ^ Co-operatives UK (2002), Annual Report and Financial Statements 2002, Co-operatives UK, pp. 4–5
  6. ^ Mitchell, Graham (2003), "In With the New", Co-operatives, 1: 18–19
  7. ^ a b See references in relevant sections of article.
  8. ^ Background, 2005, archived from the original on 6 June 2002, retrieved 18 October 2007