Free website offer for co-ops

HONEYSUCKLE Wholefoods and Deassartation School co-ops have launched websites thanks to a free design service from Co-operatives UK.
Members of Co-operatives UK are being offered the chance to have a website designed and hosted for free. Using their own web address, members will be able to advertise their own business or organisation.
Honeysuckle Wholefoods (www.honeysuckle-wholefoods.co.uk), a natural and organic foodstore in Oswestry, and Deassartation School in Pembrokeshire (www.deassartation.coop), an organisation which offers training in traditional rural skills and crafts, are reaping the benefits of this scheme.
"We&#039re pleased to be taking advantage of this new service, which meant that Co-operativesUK dealt with the set up of the new site according to our requirements, while we concentrated on running our business," says Gemma Syrett-Judd at Honeysuckle Wholefoods. "This is a great way for our shop to get a presence on the web."
David Coulter, Deputy Chief Executive of Co-operatives UK, added: "I&#039d like to see many more of our members contacting us so that they too can have a free web presence."
Interested members should e-mail Steven Kay to find out more.
Co-operatives UK has also launched a new intranet service for members. Accessible by password at www.cooperatives-uk.coop, the area provides instant access to news, member services, statistics and other important information.
A spokesman said: "It is designed to complement the monthly member briefings and provide valuable information to members in a timely manner,."
In tandem with this is also an intranet to support the Co-operatives UK team, providing a central web-based resource for staff to access key resources and collaborate on projects, without the need to be physically in the office.