What is a co-op

Why are there not more co-ops?

With all that’s going for co-ops, why aren’t there more of them? In 2020 less than 1% of UK businesses are co-ops.

Although co-ops are nearly twice as likely to survive the first five years as other types of business, just not enough are being started at the moment. 

This may be due to a lack of awareness and understanding of co-ops in communities and among entrepreneurs, workers, businesses, policymakers, and those who advise them.

Co-ops often go against established ways of doing things. Starting and running a co-op is much harder than it should be, as most support is usually geared to mainstream types of business. 

Co-operatives UK works with and on behalf of our members to make it easier to start and grow co-operative enterprises.