Resources & Guides
Legal guides, funding tools, network directories, and practical how-tos for every stage of your co-operative journey — from initial idea to established enterprise.
Starting and running a co-operative is rewarding — but you don't have to figure it out alone. The UK has a rich ecosystem of co-operative support organisations, funding bodies, legal templates, and peer networks. This page brings together the most useful resources, organised by category.
23 resources across all categories
Types of Co-operative in the UK: A Guide
An accessible overview of all eight co-operative types, their legal structures, governance requirements, and which sectors they are best suited to.
Read more →Co-operative Governance: A Practical Guide
How to run effective member meetings, make democratic decisions, elect a board, and handle conflicts in a co-operative — written for newly formed groups.
Read more →Worker Co-op Code of Governance
Co-operatives UK's official guidance on the worker co-operative code, covering member control, democratic practice, and what good worker ownership looks like in practice.
Read more →Recruiting and Welcoming New Members
Practical guidance on growing your membership, communicating co-operative values, designing onboarding processes, and keeping members engaged long-term.
Read more →The Board's Role in a Co-operative
Guidance for co-operative board members on their legal duties, relationship with the membership, strategic oversight, and avoiding common pitfalls.
Read more →Community Shares Handbook
Detailed guidance for groups raising community shares — legal requirements, offer documents, the Community Shares Standard Mark, and good practice for share offers.
Read more →Tax and Co-operatives: An Overview
Key tax considerations for UK co-ops including Corporation Tax, VAT treatment, and the tax position on member contributions, dividends, and share interest.
Read more →Community Energy: A How-To Guide
Reports, toolkits, and sector guidance for community energy organisations developing renewable generation and energy advice projects across the UK.
Read more →Starting a Co-operative: The Complete Checklist
A comprehensive step-by-step checklist covering legal formation, governance setup, financial planning, and launch — ideal for groups at the very beginning of their co-op journey.
Read more →Model Rules & Rule Book Templates
FCA-approved model rules for the most common co-operative forms (Co-operative Society, Community Benefit Society), with annotated guidance on which clauses to adapt for your organisation.
Read more →Co-operative Business Plan Template
A business plan template tailored for co-operative enterprises, including sections for democratic governance, membership strategy, surplus distribution, and social impact measurement.
Read more →FCA Mutuals Public Register
Official FCA search tool for registered co-operative societies, community benefit societies, and credit unions in the UK. Search by name, number, or location.
Open tool →Co-operative & Community Finance
Specialist ethical finance provider offering loans, advice, and support for co-operatives, employee-owned businesses, community businesses, and social enterprises across the UK.
Open tool →Worker Co-op Solidarity Fund
Peer support and small grants for UK worker co-operatives, funded by contributions from established worker co-ops and supporters. Provides emergency assistance and development grants.
Open tool →Co-operatives UK
The UK's central membership organisation for co-operative enterprise. Provides advice, training, networking, policy advocacy, and resources for existing and aspiring co-ops.
Open tool →Plunkett Foundation
Dedicated support for rural community businesses and co-operatives. Helps communities save shops, pubs, and services through co-operative models, with advisory support and grants.
Open tool →Confederation of Co-operative Housing (CCH)
National member body and resource hub for UK housing co-operatives, tenant management organisations, and community-led housing groups. Provides model rules, training, and advocacy.
Open tool →Worker Co-op Council
The representative body for worker co-operatives within Co-operatives UK. Advocates for worker ownership, organises peer support, and promotes good practice across the worker co-op sector.
Open tool →The Hive — Co-op Business Support
Co-operatives UK's business support programme, funded in partnership with The Co-operative Bank. Offers tailored advice, funding, and mentoring for new and growing co-operatives.
Open tool →Community Energy England
The national body for the community energy sector. Provides resources, data, networking events, and policy advocacy for community-owned renewable energy co-operatives.
Open tool →Radical Routes
A UK-wide network of housing and worker co-operatives providing mutual support, loans, and shared resources. Particularly strong on supporting new co-ops through peer learning.
Open tool →Co-operative Development Scotland
Scottish Enterprise's specialist co-operative development body. Provides advice, funding, and resources for employee ownership, community co-ops, and consortium co-ops in Scotland.
Open tool →Wales Co-operative Centre
The leading co-operative development body in Wales. Supports social businesses, co-operatives, and employee-owned enterprises across Wales through advice, training, and grants.
Open tool →Recommended Tools for Co-ops
Services and software that align with co-operative values — ethical, affordable, and well-suited to member-owned organisations.
🖥️Hosting
UK-based, 100% renewable-powered hosting. B Corp certified, with free hosting for registered UK charities and discounts considered for co-ops case by case. Free SSL, daily backups, and UK support.
300% renewable energy hosting — they put back 3× the energy they consume. Affordable shared and WordPress hosting with a strong environmental commitment.
UK green hosting with tree planting, renewable energy, and carbon offsetting. Good value for small co-ops and community groups.
🌐Domains
🏦Banking
The UK's leading ethical bank. Current accounts, business accounts, and loans with a published ethical policy covering human rights, environment, and animal welfare.
Sustainable banking — only lends to organisations that benefit people and the environment. Full transparency on every loan they make.
Specialist bank for social enterprises, charities, and co-operatives. Understands the sector and offers tailored business banking.
📊Accounting
Award-winning accounting software for small businesses and freelancers. Excellent for co-ops with straightforward finances. Free for NatWest/RBS business account holders.
Cloud accounting with multi-currency support, payroll integration, and a strong API ecosystem. Good for larger co-ops with complex finances.
🤝Collaboration
Free or heavily discounted Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet) for eligible non-profits and social enterprises. Many co-ops qualify.
Self-hosted file sharing, calendar, and collaboration platform. Open source and privacy-respecting — ideal for co-ops that want full control of their data.
Collaborative decision-making software designed for co-ops and democratic organisations. Built by a worker co-operative in New Zealand.
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