Follow the web's co-operative.connections '” December

Blogs

“So what might happen when worker co-ops and the public sector newbies get together? Will there be a radical and powerful paradigm shift that moves us out of our current silos, bringing us to a new and shared understanding of ownership? Taking us beyond Thatcher and Blair’s consumer model for public services, applying the legacy of the Rochdale Pioneers, reflecting bottom up the aspirations and expectations of the wider public?” ChangeAGents, s.coop/64w

“Francis Maude is giving front line staff a new ‘right to provide’ services independently of the state through employee-owned mutuals or co-operatives. This could turn public service provision completely on its head! Could small be better? Smaller organisations are usually better at preserving creativity and innovation while larger organisations get bogged down with processes put in place to control a larger staff group.” Andrew Laird, s.coop/6ar

Web 

Triodos Bank has spruced up its website, highlighting its ethical credentials with simple messages and videos. A map also shows which businesses the bank lends to. www.triodos.co.uk

Visit the website for the Campaign on Sustainable Employment, which highlights the benefits of worker co-operatives across Europe. It also features profiles on some recognisable faces from the UK Movement. www.sustainableemployment.eu

Twitter

creativecoop: Creative Coop member Simon Bottrell in the Mail on Sunday — Solar power fairy lights and sloe gin bit.ly/hq5mVU

bobcannell: Just spoken on behalf of small business, boycott tax dodgers, at bradford against the cuts demo.

GilesCoopsUK: Excellent debate about how to make #coops work for delivering public services at public servants conf — co-ops not a panacea #bigsociety.

Coop_Bob: says: “The potential of worker co-operatives can be extended by connecting them with other commons struggles!” s.coop/68y

enterprisehub: If you’re off out for a Christmas drink tonight, why not think about visiting the Hudswell Community Pub? s.coop/bt

athertonjohn: This week’s blog, what lessons can we learn from consumer co-operatives? s.coop/5z3 #coops

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