Listening to the Co-operative and Mutuals Sector: A Roundtable at New Lanark to Shape Government Support for Growth

A recent roundtable held at the historic New Lanark venue brought together leaders and practitioners from the co-operative and mutuals sector to share experiences, challenges, and aspirations. The gathering, rooted in a long-standing tradition of democratic ownership and collective endeavour, sought to translate lived practice into practical policy that helps businesses grow and thrive in a sustainable way.

Context and purpose
New Lanark’s heritage as a living example of cooperative values offers a meaningful backdrop for a discussion centred on how government can best back cooperatives, mutuals and social enterprises. The participants reflected on the spectrum of the sector—from small community enterprises to larger co-operatives with regional influence—and explored how public policy can better recognise and reward the social value these organisations create, alongside traditional economic gains.

What we heard
Key themes emerged from the roundtable, underscoring both the potential and the hurdles facing the sector:

– Access to patient, mission-aligned finance: Many cooperative and mutuals emphasised the need for funding that respects governance models and long-term impact rather than short-term returns.
– Fair and accessible procurement: Opportunities in public sector procurement could be expanded for co-operatives and mutuals that demonstrate social value and local commissioning benefits.
– Supportive regulatory environments: There is value in simplifying compliance where possible and offering tailored guidance that respects collective decision-making structures.
– Skills, training and workforce development: Investment in people—leadership development, governance training, and workforce upskilling—was repeatedly highlighted as critical to growth and resilience.
– Governance and democratic control: Mutualised ownership models bring strengths in accountability and member engagement, but may require targeted support to navigate growth while maintaining governance standards.
– Collaboration and scale: Networks that enable sharing services, joint procurement, and shared back-office functions can unlock efficiency and competitiveness.
– Digital infrastructure and data: Access to digital tools, cyber security support, and clear guidance on impact measurement helps Cooperatives and Mutuals demonstrate value to members, funders, and the public sector.

Implications for government policy
The discussions pointed to a practical set of actions that could help the sector expand in a way that benefits communities and the wider economy:

– Create dedicated finance and funding channels: Instruments designed for co-operatives and mutuals, with governance that aligns to democratic decision-making and long horizons for returns.
– Expand inclusive procurement routes: Develop procurement pilots and guidance to simplify participation for mutuals and co-ops, including clear criteria for social value and local impact.
– Tailored governance and compliance support: Offer a package of advisory services and simple templates to help co-operatives navigate growth while preserving democratic governance.
– Invest in skills and leadership development: Joint programmes with sector bodies to build governance capacity, member education, and management skills within co-operatives and mutuals.
– Promote shared services and regional collaboration: Fund and facilitate collaborative platforms for back-office operations, procurement consortia, and shared digital services to improve efficiency and scale.
– Strengthen data, impact reporting, and measurement: Provide easy-to-use frameworks for measuring social impact, financial health, and environmental performance to demonstrate value to members and funders.

Venue and the enduring thread of cooperation
New Lanark’s legacy as a pioneering cooperative community provides an apt reminder of what is possible when people work together with shared purpose. The venue’s history reinforces the message that practical policy support, coupled with a culture of collaboration, can help social enterprises and worker-led organisations grow while keeping people and communities at the centre of decision-making.

What happens next
The roundtable marks a milestone in ongoing dialogue between the co-operative and mutuals sector and policymakers. The insights gathered are being reviewed by participating bodies and partner agencies, with a view to translating them into concrete policy recommendations and pilot opportunities. A follow-up session is planned to review progress, refine proposals, and align effort across departments.

If you want to contribute your experience or join a future roundtable, please reach out through sector networks or contact your regional co-operative federation. Shared stories, practical ideas, and collaborative action will help shape a government approach that supports growth, resilience, and democratic enterprise for co-operatives and mutuals across the country.

January 26, 2026 at 09:00AM
苏格兰合作社在推动行业发展中处于核心地位

在历史悠久的新兰纳克（New Lanark）场地举行的圆桌会议，聆听来自合作社与互助机构领域的经验，以便政府能够支持企业实现增长与繁荣。

阅读更多中文内容： 在新兰拉克历史遗址举行的圆桌对话：聆听共济与互助领域经验以指引政府扶持企业成长