Co-operatives UK

This has been a super encouraging end to what has been new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first week in office. Today, we (Co-operatives UK) joined Social Enterprise UK and other civil society organisations in the Prime Minister's first meeting with business representatives to discuss how good growth can be felt in every community. On the same day, 28 leaders from across the UK's co-operative movement have written to the Prime Minister with a shared message. That message is that co-operatives stand ready to help deliver good growth, secure the essentials, empower communities and support the UK's reindustrialisation. We know co-operative businesses create more resilient economies, stronger communities and broader prosperity. Now is the opportunity to unlock even more of that potential. Our letter sets out how government can build on the strong foundations already laid by improving access to finance and business support, modernising co-operative legislation and backing co-operative solutions across the economy. If you back us, we will deliver. Co-op, Arla Foods, Scotmid Co-operative, East of England Co-op, Camgrain Stores Ltd, Suma Wholefoods, Heart of England Co-operative Society Ltd, Glasgow Credit Union, West Granton Housing Co-operative Limited, Commsave Credit Union, The Money Co-op, Berry Gardens Growers Ltd, Radstock Co-operative Society, OneFamily, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, British Wool, Infinity Foods Wholesale, Cwmpas, Plunkett UK, Confederation of Co-operative Housing, Community Energy England, workers.coop, Community Land Trust Network, ACE Credit Union Services, SAOS Ltd, Energy Local, Co-operative Councils' Innovation Network (CCIN), James Wright

Our apprentice content creator, Hannah, asked our CEO, Rose Marley, to give us some behind-the-scenes footage from one of her jam-packed weeks! If you’ve ever wondered what a CEO gets up to, here’s a glimpse into a week in the life... What part of Co-operatives UK's work would you like to see next?

📣 Co‑op Fortnight 2026 – have your say 💬 We’re always working to improve what we do to better serve our members and support co‑operatives so that they can thrive. So we’d love to hear what you thought of this year’s Co‑op Fortnight – our annual celebration of all things co‑operative that ran from 22 June to 5 July. It takes just one click, a few minutes ⏱️ and the answers to some simple questions to share your thoughts on what worked – and how we can do even better next year. So let us know.👂We’re all ears ➡️ https://buff.ly/0EY5xp8 #CoopFortnight #Coops #CommunityOwned #BenComs

Congratulations to Andy Burnham on becoming the UK's first Labour and Co-operative Prime Minister. Over many years, we've been proud to welcome Andy to Co-op Congress, our National Youth Summit and conversations about how co-operation can help tackle some of the UK's biggest challenges.   Throughout that time, one idea has remained consistent: that communities should have more power over the places where they live, and that economic success shouldn't just be measured in £££s. We're talking about giving people and communities power and control. Andy Burnham talks about good growth in every postcode - and "good growth" absolutely speaks to co-operatives and our language.   So we now look at a an opportunity to turn those ideas into action.   Government's commitment to double the size of the UK's co-operative and mutual sector is ambitious, But it'll deliver that good growth... We're talking creating stronger local economies; giving communities a greater stake in their future; delivering an economy that works for everyone. We all benefit.   We now look forward to working with the Prime Minister, ministers, parliamentarians from all parties and our members across the UK to help make that ambition a reality.   Congratulations, Prime Minister. Rose Marley | James Wright

As our CEO Rose Marley said on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning, Andy Burnham is set to become the UK's first Labour and Co-operative Prime Minister today. That matters. Co-operation is about bringing people with you. It's about recognising that the people closest to the challenges are often closest to the solutions. And it's about sharing wealth, power and opportunity more widely. Government has committed to doubling the size of the UK's co-operative and mutual sector. We already know this. And we know it's also one of the most practical ways to deliver the kind of economy Britain needs. A larger co-operative economy will drive good growth. Co-operatives and mutuals consistently make an outsized contribution to productivity and economic resilience while ensuring more wealth stays in local communities. They create jobs, invest for the long term and help spread prosperity across regions, rural areas and neighbourhoods that have too often been left behind. Whether it's housing, food, energy or social care, co-operative and mutual models give people greater control over the services they rely on every day. At a time when resilience matters more than ever, ownership and accountability matter too. Rose pointed out that a different approach is needed if we're to get different results – and fix our broken systems. So if we're serious about building an economy that works for more people and more places, doubling the co-operative and mutual sector needs to happen. And we'll have a new prime minister who understands the importance of #coops. Listen to Rose on BBC Five Live (from 1hr 26m in) here: https://lnkd.in/edew6HkU

“When you act in co-operative ways, you have to bring people with you.” Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning our CEO Rose Marley reflected on Andy Burnham’s leadership style, his belief in sharing power with communities, and why co-operative approaches have helped shape Greater Manchester. She also highlighted initiatives including Our Pass and Mayoral Development Corporations, such as Stockport and more recently with Middleton Co-operative MDC. ▶️ Watch from 9:31am: https://lnkd.in/enihgYcS #coops #BBCBreakfast #andyburnham

After Andy Burnham’s appointment as Labour leader today, our CEO Rose Marley appeared on Sky News this evening talking about what it means for Burnham to become the first Labour and Co-operative Party Prime Minister. This included Burnham's history of being involved with the co-operative sector and his understanding of how community ownership – and putting communities at the heart of the conversation – gives people agency to effect change.

Our Youth Ambassador, Louis Burnay, delivered a workshop on co-operatives for Young Manchester this week. Read his post below, which offers hope as so many have ideas for spaces that support their communities. If you want to hear about our work in this area, sign up to our mailing list (link in comments).

Huge thanks to Andrew Pakes MP and colleagues from across the co-operative food system for gathering in Parliament today to discuss our collective plans for food security. Actions are: 🥦 collate list of cases where co-operatives are ineligible for DEFRA programmes 🧀 write to Secretary of State outlining key propositions from this meeting 🍎 develop a whole system plan for food security that utilises horizontal and vertical co-operation, from agri-inputs through to retail and consumers 🌽 learn from other countries that, frankly, do this better than us (Note on gender balance: we were also joined by Karen Scott from Scotmid, Debbie Robinson from Our Co-op, Laura Dunne from Lincolnshire Co-operative and online by suzy russell from Community Supported Agriculture)