Co-operate to grow Glasgow economy

GLASGOW'S economy would grow significantly if there were more co-operative and employee owned companies, according to Co-operative Development Scotland.

The Scottish Enterprise subsidiary is urging local entrepreneurs throughout Lanarkshire and the West to explore co-ownership as part of the UK's first Co-operatives Fortnight from 19 June to 3 July.

Co-operative and employee owned business models are attracting increasing interest from businesses and policymakers across the UK seeking more productive and profitable ways of working. Research suggests a combination of shared ownership and employee participation delivers superior business performance and sustainability.

Local success stories include Merchant City Tourism & Marketing Co-operative, a co-operative of 180 businesses in Glasgow's historic Merchant City, including bars, restaurants, theatres, visitor attractions, shops and music venues. Since receiving start-up advice from CDS, joining forces has allowed the members to create a brand, a website, merchandise and a marketing plan to attract more people to the area.

Chair and Leader of Glasgow City Council Gordon Matheson says: "What the businesses are telling us is that their footfall has increased and their take at the tills has gone up as a result of the activities that we have been promoting." 

In East Kilbride, robotic handling specialist Clansman Dynamics completed a £2.2m employee buyout last year with specialist help from Baxi Partnership and CDS. The company, which numbers Volvo and Fiat amongst its clients, employs 30 people and turns over £7.5m.

Founder Dick Philbrick says: "I wanted to find a form of ownership that was anti-short-termism and would keep the business in Scotland. Employee ownership will allow us to focus on the long-term, develop an increasing range of technically difficult products and build the business in a highly competitive market." 

CDS promotes co-operative and employee owned enterprise across Scotland and is widely supporting Co-operatives Fortnight.

The initiative is organised by Co-operatives UK, the membership organisation for co-operative enterprise, and will promote co-operative business models with the theme – There is an Alternative – and a website – http://www.thereisanalternative.coop/

For more information, please contact Victoria Masterson on 07733 301715 or Ian Spinney on 07973 671773.

About CDS

CDS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise. The organisation was established by the Scottish Government to promote and support the development of co-operative and employee owned business models throughout Scotland. CDS supports the remit of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Business Gateway. A specific focus is on growth industries, including food and drink, renewable energy, forestry and tourism. Co-operative business models have a major role to play in the growth of these sectors. 

CDS has its own Advisory Board comprising industry representatives and co-operative experts.  By working closely with key partners, CDS aims to demonstrate the improved productivity, sustainability and community benefits that co-operative models can offer. Its remit is to:

• Raise awareness of co-operative business models

• Help new and existing co-operatives to gro
• Develop markets for co-operative businesses

Some of Scotland's best-known co-operative and employee owned businesses include Tullis Russell, Loch Fyne Oysters, Highland Home Carers, First Milk, John Lewis Partnership, The Co-operative Group and Scotmid.

www.cdscotland.co.uk/