A unique English/Scottish consultancy co-operative is poised for growth after receiving finance from The Co-operative Loan Fund. Centrifuge Consulting, which has offices in Newcastle and Glasgow, provides a range of social and economic consultancy mostly to local authorities and other public sector organisations from northern England to central Scotland. Its work includes strategy/policy development, monitoring […]
The workers’ co-operative that operates the UK’s first sustainable sawmill is growing rapidly. Earlier this year Towy Timber Co-operative in Llandeilo, South Wales, used loans from the Industrial Common Ownership Fund plc and the Co-operative Loan Fund to purchase new machinery. This resulted in increased capacity and more jobs. The co-operative took on three new […]
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, […]
Twelve years ago the employees of Science Workshops Ltd bought the business from their boss; now they are planning to buy one of their suppliers. Once again The Co-operative Loan Fund is helping with appropriate loan finance. Science Workshops supplies and maintains the complete range of commercial catering equipment from freezers to ovens, air cleaners […]
A workers’ co-operative has opened a wholefood store, juice bar and vegan takeaway after receiving a loan from The Co-operative Loan Fund. Wild Thyme in Southsea, Portsmouth, opened on Saturday 9 May 2015; the result of two years’ hard work from the co-op’s eight members. It is the only wholefood shop in the area, but […]
Finance from us has allowed a renewable energy installer to take on bigger contracts, ensuring growth and sustainability for the business. R-ECO is a workers’ co-operative with branches in Cornwall, Bristol and Oxford, which designs and installs bespoke renewable energy systems for domestic, commercial and community clients. The co-op was founded in 2008 with the aim […]
A long-established marketing and design co-operative has taken on a new generation of workers and is developing new services with help from the Co-operative Loan Fund. Alpha Communication, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, has launched two new services – video production and graphic animation – and is already working on projects for several clients involved […]
A forestry co-operative in rural North Wales is bringing neglected woodlands back into productive management with the help of a loan from The Co-operative Loan Fund. Elwy Working Woods has negotiated with local landowners to manage and harvest eight woods located around the Elwy valley near Abergele. The multi-stakeholder co-operative has 12 members who are […]
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 Co-operative Loan Fund assisted The Bakery Dunbar back in 2011, when Dunbar residents formed a community co-operative with the vision of re-opening the only bakery in their village. The venture attracted investment from over 550 local supporters, and the co-op happily opened its doors (and turned on the ovens) in October 2011. We’ve watched […]