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Unique lending:

to co-ops, from co-ops.

Providing ethical, accessible loan finance for Co-operatives

We lend money exclusively to co-operatives. Our approach to lending is ethical, accessible and sympathetic to your co-op’s needs. Co-op Loan Fund is entirely funded and run by co-ops, so unlike many conventional lenders we truly understand and actively support democratically owned and controlled enterprises. We reinvest any surpluses into the fund to continue this support.

Eligibility
Loans are only available to economically viable co-operatives registered in the UK.

Our offer to Co-operatives

Are you:

Setting up a new co-op?

Expanding the size and scope of an existing co-op?

Moving premises?

In need of working capital?

Buying new equipment?

Involved in an employee buyout or company succession? 

We provide:

Unsecured loans with no personal guarantees

No set lending terms (flexible between 1-20 years)

Loans between £10,000 and £85,000

Interest charged on reducing balance

Ongoing support throughout the term of the loan

Security

Co-op Loan Fund is able to make unsecured loans, but will take security if available. We do not take personal guarantees on loans.

Repayment terms

There is no set lending term, as far as is possible loans will be tailored to the business and the capacity to make repayments. The maximum term is usually 10 years.

Special features

Co-op Loan Fund is able to make loans that are flexibly tailored to meet your requirements. Lending by Co-op Loan Fund will be at or near market terms.

We welcome applications from new and existing co-ops based in the UK.

Who We’ve Helped

Co-op Loan Fund has worked with and supported co-ops from a variety of sectors across the UK including worker owned co-ops, community owned co-ops, digital & platform co-ops, Eco co-ops, housing co-ops, hospitality co-ops, creative co-ops, fair trade co-ops and many more. You can read some of our inspiring loan stories below:

(sort by category)

Sectors we support

Since 2002 Co-op Loan Fund has supported and provided ethical, accessible loan finance to a wide variety of co-ops and sectors across the UK. Here are just some examples of the sectors we support and why they are so important in delivering co-operative values and principles not just locally within their communities, but nationally and internationally. We are incredibly proud to support them.

Worker-owned co-ops can bring sustainability, equality and equity to members providing fair work at a time when it is greatly needed. We provide an altogether different route to ethical loan finance for worker co-ops across the UK.

Find out more

Co-op Loan Fund exists to empower co-ops and the communities they serve by providing the accessible loan finance needed to breathe life into vital community assets, local economies and forgotten high streets.

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Creative co-ops are delivering greater equality – both economically and culturally – not just to the co-operative sector, but locally in our communities, nationally and internationally. Together as co-ops we can offer an altogether different way of doing business.

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Eco co-ops have long been at forefront of putting environmental principles and values into action to tackle climate breakdown. We have worked with many dedicated Eco co-operatives who put the environment, climate change and their own ecological impact at the heart of everything they do.

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Fair Trade co-ops have been global leaders in building economic, social and environmental sustainability through creating models of business based on ethical values and principles. We are proud to support them in building and trading in a fairer and better world.

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As a finance co-op ourselves we are proud to support the finance co-ops sector creating an altogether different way of doing business and providing accessible routes to ethical financial services.

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We provide crucial guidance and supportive loan finance to hospitality co-ops. We aim to create new opportunities for local involvement in community business enabling an altogether different way of doing business for patrons and punters that supports communities and boosts local economies.

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Housing co-ops offer an excellent opportunity to meet the affordable housing need in the UK. However, the sector is massively under resourced. Supporting housing co-ops and proving the model works is vitality important to Co-op Loan Fund and your right to fair and affordable housing

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We recognise tech and platform co-ops as a sector that requires significant focus and investment. They are uniquely placed to provide digital and technology enabled solutions which can address the challenges of the modern world while promoting co-operative values and principles.

Find out more
Co-op Loan Fund

We’re making the UK’s co-operative sector stronger by providing ethical, accessible loan finance. 

Co-operation among co-operatives

Co-op Loan Fund was set up to strengthen the size and scope of the co-operative sector through the provision of ethical, accessible loan finance.  It is funded and run by co-operatives with the specific aim of helping other co-operatives – a practical example of the principle of co-operation among co-operatives.

We work closely with a number of organisations involved in co-operative development including Co-operative & Community Finance, Co-operatives UK and the Plunkett Foundation.

Structure, governance and management

Co-op Loan Fund is a company limited by guarantee.  It is overseen by a board of directors who represent the funding societies and other co-operative organisations.  Board meetings are usually held four times a year.

The day-to-day management of Co-op Loan Fund is conducted by Co-operative & Community Finance, an independent organisation that  is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the conduct of investment business.

Co-operative & Community Finance has been providing loan finance for co-operatives, employee-owned businesses and social enterprises since 1973.

Our Impact

Our funders have lent £5m in over 200 loans to co-ops since 2002. We are incredibly proud to have The Co-op Group, Your Co-op, East of England Co-operative Society and Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society as funders, fellow co-operators and supporters.

Four Co-ops
Have lent £5 million
In over 200 loans to co-ops since 2002

Making an endowment
We would welcome endowments from any co-operative that want to support the work of the fund.  Co-operatives that make endowments of over £50,000 may appoint a representative to the board if they wish.  Co-operatives making small donations will also benefit from publicity.  

If you wish to discuss making an endowment please contact Alain Demontoux (alain@coopfinance.coop or 0800 464 7262).

Contact

Co-op Loan Fund is managed by Co-operative & Community Finance.

Head Office:
1-3 Gloucester Road
Bristol
BS7 8AA

Email: info@coopfinance.coop
Tel: 0800 464 7262

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