Co-operative sector nudges £34 billion

Co-operative Development Scotland says the figures - released by Co-operatives UK during the first ever Co-operatives Fortnight (19 June to 3 July 2010) - show the resilience of co-operative and employee owned enterprises.

In Scotland, co-operatives make a significant contribution to the economy, employing 28,600 and producing just over £4billion in turnover.

Co-operatives UK, the trade body for co-operatives, also found that the number of co-operative members (i.e. owners) surged by 14% to 12.9 million people over the last year - more than one in five of the population. There are now 4,992 jointly owned, democratically controlled co‑operative businesses across the UK, sustaining over 237,000 jobs.

These numbers include not only the consumer owned high street “Co-operative” shops but also employee owned co-operatives, co-operative consortia, agricultural co-operatives, housing co-operatives, fishing co-operatives, credit unions and community owned co‑operatives.

CDS is a subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise set up to develop the contribution of co-operative and employee owned businesses to Scotland's economy.

Chief Executive Sarah Deas said: "As the coalition government debates the provision of public services via co-operative models, these figures show that there's already growing interest in alternative, more sustainable ways of doing business."

Ed Mayo, Co-operatives UK Secretary General said: “Despite the ongoing difficulties in many sectors of the economy, co-operative businesses have maintained their momentum of recent years and continue to grow and prosper."

The Co-operative UK 100 – the annual ranking of the UK’s biggest co-operative businesses – was also unveiled. The top ten co-operative businesses in the UK are the Co-operative Group, John Lewis Partnership, Midlands Co-operative Society, The Midcounties Co‑operative Society, First Milk, Milk Link, National Merchant Buying Society, Openfield Group, East of England Co-operative Society, Scottish Midland Co-operative Society.

Said Ed Mayo: “Co-operatives enable customers, employees and communities to work together, allowing them to control the business and share the profits: co-operatives are a powerful alternative.”

The Co-operative Economy can be downloaded at www.uk.coop/economy/uk100.

For more information, please contact Victoria Masterson at The Very People on 07733 301715

Co-operative Development Scotland is a subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise set up to develop the contribution of co-operative and employee owned businesses to Scotland's economy. Our remit complements the mainstream support provided by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Business Gateway. A specific focus is on growth industries, including food and drink, renewable energy, forestry, tourism and creative industries. Co-operative business models have a key role to play in the growth of these industries. 

www.cdscotland.co.uk

Co-operatives UK works to promote, develop and unite co-operative enterprises. It has a unique role as a trade association for co-operatives and its campaigns for co-operation, such as Co-operatives Fortnight, bring together all those with a passion and interest in co-operative action.

www.cooperatives-uk.coop