Building a Fairer Economy with Worker‑Owned Cooperatives and Employee‑Owned Businesses

Worker-owned cooperatives are democratically controlled organisations jointly owned and managed by their employees. This model empowers individuals, improving job security, working conditions, innovation, and employees' commitment to their work.

In Employee-Owned Businesses, employees hold a stake, either directly or through a trust. This means they have a say in key decisions and benefit directly from the company's success. Employee-Owned Businesses can be more resilient, and often show increased productivity and innovation due to the vested interest of the employees.

If you're a South Ribble resident or business interested in starting or converting to a worker-owned cooperative or an employee-owned business, the Council offers support, including training, funding, assistance with finding suitable premises, digital support, and general guidance.

• Co-operatives UK: This is the central organisation for the cooperative movement in the UK. It provides resources and support for cooperatives.
• Facts and figures | ICA: This page provides key statistics and facts about cooperatives globally.
• Seeds for Change: This network provides resources and training to cooperatives and other groups working towards social change. They have a range of resources on setting up and running cooperatives.
• Financial Literacy for co-ops - Seeds for Change: This guide provides financial advice specifically for cooperatives, including budgeting, accounting, and planning for financial sustainability.

• Employee Ownership Association: The EOA represents organisations which are employee owned or transitioning to employee ownership across the UK.
• Employee Ownership: How To Get Started - GOV.UK: This guide from the UK Government provides an overview on setting up an employee-owned business.