Worker Coops v Employee Ownership

Many thanks John for the clarification. I guess my frustration around this is that it seems to have taken so long to get to the point where a "worker co-op friendly EOT" is being developed. The current boomer bubble of business owners looking for exit strategies could be seen quite clearly years ago, and conversations about business succession have been happening for as long as I can remember. Better late than never I suppose.

At the very least the programme could have included a strand whereby the professional advisors are skilled up to understand what a worker co-op is? And where is the framework that advisors can follow to simply organise a conversion direct to a worker co-op?

"We dont have similar for worker coops, for various reasons none of which are insurmountable. Its commonplace in France, Italy, USA, Spain, to convert boomer businesses into proper worker coops. There hasnt been the committment here in the UK to make it happen like they have."

Why not? This looks like a huge strategic mistake.

Hi Steve - I'd be really interested in that!

About 20 years before I got old I began to research how walkers/cyclists' hostels and intergenerational housing co-operatives might support one another: My Olympic standard proclivity to procrastinate has not helped but I still haven't found a legal entity that would be suitable for 3ahh's project: https://www.facebook.com/3rdager. Please take a look at our Fb page and @3rdagehostels and let me know what you believe would suit us. We are based in the UK. I visited Barcelona with Cath from Radical Routes and few years ago and, if anybody knows her, I'm enjoying following Claire de la Lune's adventures on her Fb page; the last time we met was at a co-operative farm in Barcelona. Cheers from @3rdagers.

hi everyone. James Wright (CUK policy officer) and I organised a study circle looking at co-operative business succession and the barriers to worker co-op buyouts. The 5th session will be on 26th August 9-10.30am, looking at the lack of worker agency in the narrative around buyouts and at the lack of worker confident/capacity. That session will be at https://rr.meet.coop/cat-0r5-itt-vad

Notes from the first four sessions, plus recordings and links to extra reading are here:
https://files.radicalroutes.org.uk/s/GaXZoeAsKogTqTs

A lengthy paper with policy asks has been drafted to input into CUK's strategy process - the legitimacy of the asks comes from individual and group endorsements and we are keen for anyone who's particularly supportive of CUK putting more resource into supporting co-operative buyouts to have a look, make comments and add their name to the bottom.
Deadline for comments & endorsements 6th August: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QlH7IGXdL8Unf8zGbh1dUWiOEurmYtksryp_8Y4kB1k/edit

There is potential for a development programme and possibly some kind of advisory group, it would be good to explore that further

A really important initiative. My only surprise is that it is only just happening now.

Looks good.

Excellent paper. So pleased to see this initiative going forward

Really pleased this work is being done. Thank you.