Posts about Business

How to work in partnership in a housing co-operative
From Vicky Watts – Old Oak Housing Co-op – Carmarthen My experience was that we were going to build a co-operative scheme and had to find the interested members through recruitment. Our development (construction) process began some time before we recruited the members; Welsh Government had offered funding, Carmarthenshire Council took it on, earmarked a site, […]

Economic Action Plan
In December, Welsh Government launched their ‘Prosperity for All: Economic Action Plan’. . It sets out Welsh Government’s plans to increase wealth and well-being through inclusive economic growth. The main points are summarised in our blog. We’re running a consultation on the Action Plan during our workshops for social businesses in February in in […]

Call for evidence: Tell us your locally owned community energy story
Last year, Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs announced new targets for energy generation in Wales. Targets include Wales generating 70 per cent of its electricity consumption from renewable energy by 2030 with renewable energy projects having at least an element of local ownership by 2020. Welsh Government is now gathering […]

Goodbye 2017, hello 2018
2017 was a busy, productive year at the Wales Co-operative Centre. We took the opportunity to review our strategy in light of Brexit and other changes to the policy and funding environment in which we work. As a result our purpose is now broader. We retain our leading position as Wales’s social business development agency […]

What does the Welsh Government’s economic action plan mean for social businesses?
Following the launch of ‘Prosperity for All: the national strategy’, Welsh Government has published its new economic action plan. It sets out Welsh Government’s plans to increase wealth and well-being through inclusive economic growth. The main points are summarised below. Welsh Government has started a period of engagement on the plan and we’d love […]

Mastering Corporate Governance and Engagement
From Deb Oxley, CEO, Employee Ownership Association This year I had the pleasure of chairing the UK Employee Ownership Awards, which recognise employee owned companies that have set their markets alight and delighted their customers by effectively engaging their employees via an ownership stake and culture. It’s been a privilege to hear firsthand these success […]

Newport venue brings talk of community shares into ‘the public space’
A week before our special Twitter takeover for the Community Shares Wales project, we’re sharing a guest blog post from Gary Inight of Le Public Space – a live music and arts venue in the centre of Newport, which has recently opened with support of the project and a community share issue. If you live […]

First Minister places co-operatives and co-operation at the heart of Welsh Government
Speaking at the recent centenary conference of the Co-operative Party, Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones set out how Welsh Government has supported co-operation and co-operatives to date and its plans to support the sector over the term of this Assembly. He put co-operation firmly at the centre of Welsh Government’s thinking, stating: Achieving fair […]

Co-operative models can help drive up standards for Taxi drivers in Wales
Working conditions for taxi drivers do not have to suffer with the introduction of digital platforms in the taxi industry. Co-operative models can offer customer convenience whilst maintaining employment standards. It can be win-win. Uber has made headlines in recent weeks following London Transport’s decision not to renew their London license. Uber was deemed to […]

Newport housing co-op member stars in volunteer awards
Many thanks to Jill Stringfellow, Co-operative Housing Development Manager at POBL Group, for sharing this story with us. The story is about Luana Dee, a member of the Loftus Village Housing Co-operative, who has won a Highly Commended Award through the Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO) Volunteer Recognition Scheme. A housing co-operative is not […]