A
new national consortium of co-operative development workers is
proposing a to pilot a wave of co-operative incubators around the UK,
following a research project by SCS. They believe that the mix of affordable workspace for
social entrepreneurs, linked to a local network of technical and
financial support, could be an effective model for growing a new
generation of community owned businesses.
SCS carried out the study as part of a Bristol
University programme, in order to identify the conditions for more
business support aimed at enterprises that are managed democratically
by employees and other stakeholders, and are run in accordance with a
policy of sustainability of community development. Despite recent
interest in social enterprise across the country, Co-operatives UK
found in 2016 that specialised support services were in steep decline
– and had been for several years.
Drawing
on examples from Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Sheffield and Taunton, SCS
found that a key part of reversing this trend would be a new approach
to business incubation. “Grant funding for social enterprise hasn’t
encouraged incubators, and grant funding for incubation hasn’t
benefited social enterprises. What we need now is fully financed
incubators in which the tenants have a diverse range of business
ideas but share co-operative values and work together in co-operative
ways; supported by staff that are actively engaged in bringing
together talented people with good ideas and networks of ethical
investors,” said Alex Lawrie, the author of the report.
The
proposal is being actively investigated by The Development
Co-operative, a new national consortium of co-operative development
specialists. They are looking for groups and experienced individuals
that are interested in starting new co-operative incubators; with a
critical mass of projects, the Development Co-operative can start
working with the growing number of social investors to help them get
off to the best possible start. Interest from all over the UK is
encouraged, and by projects at any stage of development.
Somerset
Co-operative Services already manages a hot desking hub for
co-operators at 10 East Reach in Taunton, where the new social
enterprises taking shape include an urban farming collective, the
UK’s first co-operative train operating company and a community
business developing tram systems. A second incubator is planned for
nearby Wiveliscombe, taking over complex of small offices developed
for sole traders. “It’s very important that as well as helping
micro-businesses, an incubator enables good ideas to scale up – to
the point where they outgrow the incubator. We can add value to
existing business premises by adding high quality advice and
training, and by encouraging more mutual aid and use of shared online
services.”
