Driving Innovation In The Co-operative Sector
About Us
Why we exist
Innovation runs through the veins of the co-operative movement. Sadly this legacy of creative problem solving isn’t reflected in public perceptions about co-operatives today. Fixing social and financial problems in communities has always been what co-ops do, and this work is more important now than it has ever been. The Phone Co-op Foundation for Co-operative Innovation is here to ensure co-ops play a more important role in our communities.
Our story
We exist thanks to the generosity of the Phone Co-op. Their financial and institutional support has enabled the creation of the Foundation. The Phone Co-op has also successfully shown how co-operatives can enter the mass market and be successful. Our aim is to take The Phone Co-op’s purpose of ‘inspiring others with a better model for business and the economy’ to another level.
Head to our about page to read more about our purpose and vision.
What we do
We support and empower people and communities to form co-operatives that meet their economic and social needs, giving them more control over the key things that affect their lives.
Our work starts with initial concepts which we work through together with key stakeholders. We then develop business and finacing plans as we help develop these new co-operative business model ideas. The co-operative business plans that stack up are then tested and incubated with our support. While we’re doing this we also work to resolve structural or systemic barriers facing start-up co-operatives, such as by bringing mission aligned finance into the frame to support emerging new co-operatives.
You can read more about our strategic approach, including our theory of change, on our what we do page.
Current Projects
Student Co-op Homes
Student Co-op Homes is the national body for student housing co‑ops, providing a co-operative alternative to student housing
A Social Purpose REIT
A Social Purpose Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) will direct tax efficient investments into the social purpose sector.
A National Freeholders Co-operative
A more equitable system of property tenure for leaseholders, through a National Freeholder Cooperative.
Holiday Accomodation Cooperative
A Co-operative providing co-operatively owned holiday cottages, accommodation and membership services
Co-operative Fintech
A radical and innovative, co-operatively owned alternative to traditional banks via a co-operatively owned and operated alternative.
Energy Efficency Co-operative
An energy efficiency co-operative offeing an innovative solution to scalable financing and retrofitting for a greener future.
Supporting a French Phone Co-op
We have worked with the founders of Télécoop to share the experience gained over 2 decades of The Phone Co-op’s development in the UK