Growing Rural Businesses through Collaborative Solutions Project (UK)

This Project of the Cooperatives UK organisation has produced a number of useful resources for communities seeking economic renewal through cooperative ventures.

As the apex organisation for co-operative enterprise in the UK, Cooperatives UK promotes co-operative and mutual solutions, and works in partnership with members to build a strong and successful co-operative movement.

Resources available for download (PDF) on the Cooperatives UK Rural Cooperation website include:

• Five information sheets about the project and the benefits of collaboration between rural businesses and groups. Includes mini case studies.
  
• Helping Rural Businesses Thrive:  A two-part guide for businesses and groups wishing to collaborate through joint marketing, service provision and purchasing, taking them through all the steps from start to finish.
  
• Keeping Rural Businesses Alive: A two-part guide for community and employee groups wishing to buy out vital rural businesses threatened with closure, including post offices, shops and pubs. It takes users through from start to finish, with information on items such as raising finance and assessing commitment within the group.
  
• Fact Sheets: A series of eight fact sheets to accompany the two guides, providing more detailed information on the more complex issues, such as legal and organisational structures, and sources of specialist support.
  
• Delivering Employee and Community Buyouts - A Guide to the Succession Process: This is a technical guide for development workers and business advisers. The guide covers: Routes to Succession, Assessment of the Business, Raising Finance, Legal Structures for Succession, Taxation, Learning & Participation, and also contains a checklist and case studies.

Follow this link to Rural Cooperation Resources (opens in a new browser window)

For further information

Contact	:	Cooperatives UK – The Union of Cooperative Enterprises
Address	:	Holyoake House Hanover Street Manchester M60 0AS UK
Phone	:	0161 246 2900
Fax	:	0161 831 7684
Email	:	rural@cooperatives-uk.coop

WWW

:

http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop