A graphic displaying: Webinar - employment law update. Wednesday 6 May, 11.00am - 12.00pm, Online via Zoom.
You can also join our HR experts on Wednesday, 6 May, as they explore the implications of the Employment Rights Act 2025.
There is no charge for Co-operatives UK members to attend, but you must secure your place in advance: buff.ly/IW7W8OW
Is your co-operative prepared for major employment law changes?
✍️ Our HR Manager, Kate Fielding, reveals the key changes employers must prepare for now, in her latest blog >> buff.ly/K2QMDlh
Tony Walsh will perform a specially-adapted version of the poem at Co-op Congress, and we're also producing a video for Co-op Fortnight.
There's lots of ways for your co-operative to get involved! 👉 buff.ly/WwypyGj
🤝 Co-operate and we can change the world! That’s the theme for Co-op Congress (12–13 June) and Co-op Fortnight (22 June–5 July) 2026 🙌
The theme is inspired by This Beautiful Idea, a powerful poem by Tony Walsh – with two exciting opportunities to hear an adapted version 👇
A photograph of Co-operatives UK HR Manager Kate Fielding presenting on the Employment Rights Act 2025.
Is your co-operative or community business ready?
The Employment Rights Act 2025 is here. And in this great blog our HR Manager Kate Fielding runs through the key changes employers must prepare for right now 👇
www.uk.coop/blog/employm...
Policy Call for Co-operative Scotland. Scottish 2026 Holyrood Elections. Guidance for engaging with candidates. Co-operatives UK
Ahead of the Scottish 2026 Holyrood Elections on 6 May, we've created a guide to set out how you can use the Call for a Co-operative Scotland to engage with MSP candidates and political parties before, during and after the election. Access it here: buff.ly/6dxkTLh #Holyrood2026 #coops
🫶 Co-op Congress returns to Birmingham on 12–13 June!
The moment the UK co-operative movement comes together to set direction, spark ideas and turn ambition into action.
Join us for bold ideas, inspiring speakers and real conversations: www.uk.coop/congress
Sponsored by The Co-operative Bank 👏
@greencitycoop.bsky.social, @mediaco-op.bsky.social, @cohousingscotland.bsky.social, @glasgowenergy.coop, @research-for-act.bsky.social.
The policy platform is designed by Scottish co-operatives to act as a shared document that all types of co-operatives can use to stress the sector's collective needs to political parties ahead of the election.
Has your co-op backed the call? Sign-up here: buff.ly/AA5TD0B #Holyrood2026 #coops
Policy Call for Co-operative Scotland. Scottish 2026 Holyrood Elections. Guidance for engaging with candidates. Co-operatives UK
Ahead of the Scottish 2026 Holyrood Elections on 6 May, we've created a guide to set out how you can use the Call for a Co-operative Scotland to engage with MSP candidates and political parties before, during and after the election. Access it here: buff.ly/6dxkTLh #Holyrood2026 #coops
🫶 Co-op Congress returns to Birmingham on 12–13 June!
The moment the UK co-operative movement comes together to set direction, spark ideas and turn ambition into action.
Join us for bold ideas, inspiring speakers and real conversations: www.uk.coop/congress
Sponsored by The Co-operative Bank 👏
There are only 15 places. Secure your spot and learn about:
- Co-operatives and mutuals are and how they differ
- Democratic governance and raising finance
- How to assess suitability for your context
Hosted by Social Enterprise Cumbria Partnership. Find out more: buff.ly/zvHLwin #Cumbria
Graphic saying - Co-operatives & Mutuals workshop This workshop will cover: - What co-operatives and mutual ownership are -Democratic governance and member control - Community shares and raising finance - Whether the co-operative model could work for your organisation. Tuesday 21 April, 5.30pm - 7.30pm, online via zoom. Picture of Co-operatives UK Development Manager, Petra Morris to the side.
Are you based in #Cumbria? Could your organisation benefit from being a co-operative or mutual?
Whether you’re part of a social enterprise, community group, or just exploring new ways of working, this online workshop is a great place to build your understanding.
🗓️ April 21, 5.30–7.00pm - online👇
Training - understanding your co-op's finances. Tuesday 28 April and Wednesday 29 April. 9.30am-1.30pm, Online via zoom.
If you want guided learning, book onto our online finance training - helping you interpret management accounts, forecast cashflow, and use financial information to make better decisions.
💻️ 28 and 29 April, 9.30am-1.30pm
➡️ For more on our training: buff.ly/qjIdMQZ
Resource - A Guide to Co-operative Finance Turn data into decisions, explore our finance toolkit and online training. Understand your accounts, make sense of numbers and act with confidence with your finances. Co-operatives UK
Feeling stuck on VAT, corporation tax, or what your accounts are actually telling you?
Our Finance Toolkit is a practical set of resources to help co-operatives understand accounting and financial reporting, plus guidance on those knotty topics.
🔗 Explore our toolkit here: buff.ly/akZ4SBp
More great training plus our Co-operative Secretary Training package deal found here: buff.ly/wr4rzRG
Join us online for our Co-operative Secretary Training I: The essentials on 15 July.
Want to put your learning into practice? Book onto our in-person Co-operative Secretary II Training – 24 September to get hands-on and problem-solving to make sure you can do your job with confidence.
Whether you're looking to refresh your knowledge or build confidence in a complex role, our Secretary training courses are designed to support your governance practice - from essential responsibilities to real-world planning. ⬇️
Good governance doesn't happen by accident - and the Secretary plays a central role in making it work.
Don't miss out, book today - buff.ly/sqiM3Hy 🔗
#coop #cooperative #training
🚨 Approaching sessions include:
- Using community shares: The differences for CBSs and co-operatives, 23 April
- Understanding your co-op finances, 28 and 29 April
- Employment law update, 6 May
- Tax reliefs while using community shares capital, 7 May
- Essential co-op risk, 13 May
Ready to level up your co-operative's skills? 🤔 Join our upcoming online training programme, including our brand new course - Essential Co-op Chairperson.
Learn from experts and take away practical tools across governance, finance and HR.
#Coops #CoopRetail
@coopfinance.bsky.social, @coopnews.bsky.social, @greencitycoop.bsky.social, @mediaco-op.bsky.social.
Last week’s Co-op Retail Conference was full of energy, ideas and action.
📹️ Hear from our CEO, Rose Marley, as she reflects on the conversations, opportunities and next steps. Thanks to the sponsors and exhibitors who made it possible.
Got a takeaway from the event? Let us know. 📣
Delegates take on the Longwall Security challenge at Co-op Retail Conference 2026.
Anthony Collins Solicitors, @coopfinance.bsky.social, @coopnews.bsky.social, Co-operative Party, Dalriada Trustees, @greencitycoop.bsky.social, The Money Co-op, @mediaco-op.bsky.social, Plunkett UK, and Co-operative Heritage Trust.
A photograph of Jesper Tofte Søegaard, from main event sponsor Lobyco, on stage at Co-op Retail Conference 2026.
The Lobyco stand at Co-op Retail Conference 2026.
Massive thanks to our main sponsor @Lobyco, Marsanz and Joalpe International UK in partnership with Formbar (Thursday evening), and Longwall Security (Gala Dinner).
And to our fantastic exhibitors 👇
Photograph from the Co-op Retail Conference 2026. Images: Robin Mitchell Photography
Photograph of (left to right) Claire Blackburn, Kirsty Wark, Jo Phillips and Matt Bland on stage for the credit unions session at Co-op Retail Conference 2026 in Glasgow. Images: Robin Mitchell Photography
A question from the floor at Co-op Retail Conference 2026. Images: Robin Mitchell Photography
We had a brilliant few days in sunny Glasgow at the #CoopRetail Conference last week.
It was a super engaging event, bringing together leaders from across the UK’s co-operative retail sector to share insight, tackle challenges and shape what comes next. Check out the pics and also some shout-outs👇
After the first two days of the Co-op Retail Conference, here's our coverage, including discussion of cybercrime, government policy, purpose-led business and the launch of a community business buddying scheme
#coops #retail @cooperativesuk.bsky.social
www.thenews.coop/tag/coopreta...
💗 Rooted in decades of volunteer passion & strengthened by co‑operative structure, theirs is a unique success story demonstrating how community ownership can keep Britain’s railway heritage alive. 🚃
🔎 Read all about them here: buff.ly/LQB6Umw #CommunityBusiness #ComShares #BenCopms #Coops (2/2)
🚂 Full steam ahead – thanks to community ownership! 👋 Meet one of Co-operative UK’s most mobile members: Vintage Trains, an operator of trains powered by steam💨 – and the community – to make its business a success. 🧵 (1/2)
