types of co-operative

 

Worker Co-operatives

Businesses owned by people who work in them. Control is democratic: one person, one vote.

A wide range of legal structures are available for people setting up or converting to worker co-operatives. Advice is needed to help you decide on the right structure. For example co-operatives may be partnerships, or companies with or without shares.

Housing co-operatives

Housing controlled by the people who live there. People living in the premises jointly own and control the co-op, this in turn controls and manages the premises. Members are at one and the same time landlord, manager and tenant. The CDA does not specialise in assisting housing co-ops.

Confederation of Co-operative Housing
Leicester Housing Association

Community Co-operatives or Community Businesses

Businesses set up to provide services and benefits and employment for a local community or neighbourhood, often where there is a gap in the local economy. Profits are recycled for community benefit. Members are usually anyone in the community. Often also known as community enterprises.

Marketing, Service or Secondary Co-operatives

Members can be individuals or businesses getting together for mutual benefit to do contract delivery, joint marketing, bulk buying or to share premises.

Credit unions

Financial co-operatives which bring people together to save, borrow at low cost rates, and manage their finances.