Archive for the ‘Co-operative’ Category
Event hears from company that shares its profits with customers
The CEO of a company that refunds its customers if it makes too much money addressed around 100 like-minded business owners in Birmingham last week.
Ben Reid, chief executive of The Midcounties Co-operative, was the keynote speaker at a networking lunch thrown by Co-operatives West Midlands at the Council House. Read the rest of this entry »
New consumer champion for Oxfordshire formed with backing of Prime Minister
The founding members of the Oxfordshire Community Benefit Society: Alison Baxter, chief executive of Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action; Judith Wardle, chairman of Oxfordshire Carers Forum, Linda Watson, of Oxfordshire Rural Community Council; Yvonne Cox of Oxfordshire Wheel; Sue Butterworth, chairman of Oxfordshire Link; and Jean Nunn-Price MBE, of The Midcounties Co-operative
A new consumer champion for health service users in Oxfordshire has been launched – with the blessing of Prime Minister David Cameron.
Fourteen voluntary and community groups have come together to form Oxfordshire Community Benefit Society, with the intention of bidding for the contract to establish a Local Healthwatch body in the county – and reckon they are ‘the bid to beat’. Read the rest of this entry »
Co-operative enterprises raise a glass to sustainable food production
Co-operative enterprises raised a glass to sustainable food production at a seminar in Birmingham.
Cider pressed at a co-operatively-run orchard in Worcester was the toast of the seminar, where ethical coffee production was also celebrated.
And the seminar heard how shoppers at Co-operative supermarkets could find more local produce on their shelves in the future. Read the rest of this entry »
Patients groups in Oxfordshire join forces to create new consumer champion – to delight of Prime Minister
Prime Minister David Cameron
Patients’ groups in Oxfordshire have joined forces in a bid to create a new consumer champion for the county – a move that has received a ringing endorsement from Prime Minister David Cameron.
Representatives of 14 voluntary and community sector organisations have formed a Community Benefit Society to tender for the establishment of a Local Healthwatch body – a UK first
The Government wants every local authority in England to establish a Local Healthwatch – to replace existing Local Involvement Networks – by April next year.
And David Cameron has welcomed the establishment of the new organisation, describing it as “the Big Society in action.” Read the rest of this entry »
Ethical businesses provide food for thought
Ethical businesses will be providing food for thought at a seminar in Birmingham next month.
Members of three co-operatives involved in the production and selling of food and drink will be talking on the topic of food sourcing. Read the rest of this entry »
Learn about community shares from record-breaking solar farm
Westmill Solar Farm. Image courtesy of Adrian Arbib
The chance to learn from a director of the company behind the UK’s most successful community share issue is being offered to businesses and community enterprises.
Last month, Westmill Solar Co-op Ltd, on the Wiltshire / Oxfordshire border, reached its £4 million community share issue target in a record-breaking six weeks.
The share issue gave members of the public the chance to invest between £250 and £20,000 in the 21,000 panel solar farm, and 60 percent of the share applications came from people living within 25 miles of the site.
Share holders became members of the co-operative, giving them an equal say in the way the company is run, and making them eligible to join the board of directors.
Now Mark Luntley, a director at Westmill Solar Co-op Ltd and chairman of the community-owned wind farm on the same site, has been confirmed as guest speaker at the Co-operative Futures seminar at City Works in Gloucester on Wednesday, September 5. Read the rest of this entry »
Showcase season for West Midlands co-operatives
A series of summer and autumn events – including a run-past by the Olympic Torch – will showcase and celebrate co-operative enterprises in the West Midlands during the 2012 International Year of Co-operatives.
Midlands Co-operative Society and NHS foundation trusts will be holding an event to introduce co-operatives to medical professionals on Friday, June 29.
Guest speakers at the event, which will be held in Birmingham from 9.30am until 1.15pm include Dr Aresh Anwar, medical director of the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, and Lisa Thomson director of corporate affairs responsible for membership with Hanne Hoeck, chairman, of West Midland Co-operatives Member Education Group. Read the rest of this entry »
Young citizens’ inquiry into Birmingham disorders
Future Melting Pot
The following press release was written by young people from Birmingham’s Future melting Pot with training from Secret Agent Marketing:
A panel of young people will get the opportunity to quiz senior officials on the disorders at a ‘Young Citizens’ Inquiry into the events of last summer.
The Future Melting Pot’s Outreach Citizens’ Inquiry will be held at Birmingham Council House on Thursday, April 5 from 9am. Read the rest of this entry »
More to co-operatives than shops, West Midlands businesses discover
Guest speakers Len Wardle and Kevin Rye with Nick Matthews
A wide range of West Midlands professionals gathered in Birmingham on Friday (March 23) to network, do business, and find out more about the co-operative enterprise model.
The meeting was held at the lavish banqueting suite of Birmingham Council House, and was attended by Anita Ward, the city’s first female Co-operative Lord Mayor.
Anyone under the impression that this meant dividing her time between leading a city and running a supermarket was soon put straight. Read the rest of this entry »
