Business Advisor – SFEDI Accredited.
Well done to Clayton Elliott, one of our business advisors, for being re-accredited with the SFEDI Business Advisor Award.
SFEDI is the Government recognised UK Standards Setting Body for Business Support and Business Enterprise.
Growing your co-operative – Bristol, Friday 11 November, 10.30am-4pm
For all new or established co-operatives and mutuals, or for people /organisations thinking of setting one up.
Last year’s conference was a big success and a full house – so book early for this year’s FREE event. With a keynote speech from Kerry McCarthy MP for East Bristol, case histories from Essential Trading and Sparks Inc, refreshments from Runcible Spoon – and plenty of time for networking with like minded people! The event will round off with our AGM. For fuller details, see attachment (contact us if you would like a leaflet posted to you). To book your place, simply call 01752 822261 or email info@cooperatives-sw.coop
UK’s 2012 International Year of Co-operatives website goes live
Co-operatives UK has today launched the UK’s website for the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives 2012 – www.uk.coop/2012.
The website provides information on what is happening across the country and features a range of useful resources about co-operatives and the International Year for businesses, individuals, journalists and all those interested in learning more.
Also available on the website is a UK identity mark for the International Year. Developed by The Co-operative Group and Co-operatives UK, it can be downloaded in various formats by co-operative businesses and supporters for use in communications and campaigns during the International Year.
In addition, toolkits and leaflets can now be ordered from the site. A range of materials will be added over the coming months – case studies, images and films – which businesses and supporters can use to make the most of the International Year.
The 2012 website also provides extensive links to other activities and sites across the world, including a feed to the Global News Hub and a forthcoming link to www.stories.coop, a new International Co-operative Alliance initiative which is due to go live at the start of 2012.
Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, said: “2012 is a unique opportunity. We’d love to see everyone in the sector – and beyond – make it a co-operative year by promoting their co-operative values.
“This new website will help businesses and individuals make the most of it – an online events map, useful resources to order or download and links to what else is happening. It will be an online hub for everyone in the UK involved or interested in the International Year of Co-operatives.”
To find out more, please visit the website www.uk.coop/2012
Public invited to community owned wind turbine launch
Cornish residents with an interest in community owned renewable energy schemes will have the opportunity to get close to the first two wind turbines financed by a Community share issue on Saturday 1st October.
Community Power Cornwall will be hosting a public launch event for its two Endurance E-3120 50KW wind turbines on land at Tregerrick Farm, Gorran Highlanes.
Between 1-3pm the pubic are invited to find out more about the installation and to get up close to the turbines and watch screenings of a short film documenting the installation.
The site entrance, which will be marked on the day, is on the main road North of Gorran Highlanes, before the signs for Tregarton Park campsite.
Community Power Cornwall has evolved through community demand for ownership and integration of renewable energy technologies into everyday lives and settings. The co-operative’s development has been supported through a partnership between Cornwall’s sustainable energy charity Community Energy Plus and the Cornwall-based co-operative development body, Kabin.
Neil Farrington, Co-Director of Community Power Cornwall said: “The launch event provides an opportunity for the co-operative’s members to see where their investment has been spent and for the wider public to find out about the financial, social and environmental benefits of the initiative”.
Paul Martin, Co-Director of Community Power Cornwall, added: “I’ve been looking forward to the launch of our first community-owned turbines for four years, which was when we first started to develop the idea of the co-operative. We’ve proved that the model for community ownership of renewable energy projects can work and look forward to demonstrating the contribution that co-operative can make towards securing a sustainable energy future for the people and communities of Cornwall.
