Two specialist co-operative funds are working together to help raise the final pounds needed before work can start on transforming an empty historic building in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, into a community-owned cultural and business asset. The community co-operative set up to restore and run Unity Hall has already raised nearly £4m, had its plans approved […]
With the recent loans released to School Trends and Valley Organics cumulative lending since The Co-operative Loan started in 2002 has topped £3m. Although the fund was created to lend to co-operative business ventures that some lenders might regard as high risk, in fact the level of bad debt and write off is very low. […]
One of the UK’s leading suppliers of decorated school uniform, which is employee-owned, has bought back the freehold of its headquarters for less than it sold it for nine years ago. Co-operative & Community Finance made one of its largest-ever loans to help Sheffield-based School Trends to raise the funds to complete the purchase. School […]
Valley Organics, the specialist grocers in the centre of Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, opened on 4 June as usual but with new owners – the employees. With expert advice from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub and finance from The Co-operative Loan Fund they have set up a co-operative and bought the business from the previous owners […]
The residents of Chittlehamholt in north Devon are making the final preparations for the opening of their new community-owned shop at the end of June. Chittlehamholt (population 400) and the nearby villages of Warkleigh and Satterleigh have not had a local shop since Chittlehamholt Post Office closed in 2009. The nearest shops were over 6 […]