Creative Co-ops

Tech co-op enriches the human potential of workers, clients and audiences

A worker co-operative specialising in civic tech and extended reality (XR) are creating next generation software to enhance human potential in a sustainable way. London based tech co-op Animorph specialise in delivering user-centric and context-specific software applications aimed at addressing people’s unmet needs, whether that’s improving the attention of brain injury survivors, or helping bring communities together towards […]

Could your business be the next creative co-op?

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. Often made up of a consortia of the self-employed, small businesses and freelancers; creative co-ops can bring people together through mutual support, shared services, democratic governance and sustainable employment […]

From the Globe to the Globe

A unique music co-operative is developing new ways to bring musicians and audiences together while the venue it owns remains closed. The Globe in Newcastle upon Tyne was bought by Jazz.Coop in 2014 with investment from a community share issue and loans from Co-op Loan Fund and Co-operative & Community Finance. It is thought to […]

Charlotte England, Ieva Padagaite and Simon Ball pictured in the new premises

New base for radical film-makers

Blake House Cooperative is set for growth having just moved into new premises and taken out a loan from Co-op Loan Fund. The London-based film-makers have achieved a lot since incorporating in 2015. The worker co-operative, which at one time operated from cafes, libraries and living rooms, has recently moved from a small, temporary office […]

Bradford’s New Pioneers

A co-operative that brings together freelances, small businesses and community organisations is about to transform a five-floor building in the independent fringe of the centre of Bradford. The building at 14 North Parade, which has been empty for over a year, will include studio, office and meeting space for co-working, and a café with commercial […]

Co-op controls the Globe

The first pub in the UK to be owned by a co-operative dedicated to jazz has started a new phase in its development with help from the Co-operative Loan Fund. Jazz.Coop, which owns The Globe bar and music venue in Newcastle upon Tyne, has employed a manager and bar staff for the first time. The […]

Pioneering local TV channel set to grow

The only community-owned local TV channel in the UK, launched 18 months ago, is growing with help from The Co-operative Loan Fund. Sheffield Live! TV is broadcasting seven days a week to 500,000 adults via Freeview, cable and the internet, reaching an estimated 19% (95,000) each week. There is a full programme of live TV […]

Community-owned creative centre opens in Sheffield

A major new community-owned centre for artists, designers and makers opened in central Sheffield on 21 November. This was the culmination of a three-year project that had raised £1.2m to transform a row of seven empty Georgian houses into the biggest co‑operative venture in the city. The Grade II listed buildings have been substantially redesigned […]

£1.2m Creative co-op in heart of Sheffield

Work is well underway on a £1.2m project to transform a row of seven empty Georgian houses in central Sheffield into a new community-owned centre for artists, designers and makers called The Roco. The Grade II listed buildings are being substantially redesigned to house galleries, workshops, studios, offices, events space, café/bar, terrace and roof garden. […]

New arts café opens in Folktown

A workers’ co-operative in Northern Ireland has opened a café and event space after receiving a loan from us. Lunasa Café opens this week after nearly two years of hard work from the co-op’s four members. The old exhibition space on King Street, Belfast, has been completely refurbished and now boasts a well equipped kitchen, […]