The co-operative sector today claimed its model will be more resilient to the current political and economic crisis than other businesses because it is more in tune with the British zeitgeist over Brexit.
In a ‘state of the nation’ report, published on the eve of the Queen’s Speech, trade body Co-operatives UK said its moves towards selling British products, as well as an ethos of “self-help and self-responsibility”, had struck a chord with the population amid the upheaval.
The report, The UK Co-operative Economy 2017, said there were 6,815 independent co-operatives across the UK, including high street retailers and farmer-owned businesses.
The number of people who own and have a say in how the UK’s co-ops are run was also on the rise, with 700,000 new members over the last year, bringing the total to 13.6 million active members.
The report included new polling data conducted by YouGov showing that people want more of a say over the economy, with two-thirds of people saying that they have no control over the economy
“The co-operative model fits with the desire for more self-help and self-responsibility. The debate is moving on from the reasons for Brexit and more towards what comes of Brexit,” said Co-operatives UK secretary general Ed Mayo,
“In the current zeitgeist, people are looking at our model and things like our commitment to source British meat and support local supply chains with more deference than they are at global brands and businesses. There is a call for an economy over which they have more of a say and from which they get a fair share.”
Co-op Group chief executive Steve Murrells said: “It’s testament to the strength and relevance of the co-operative model that we see such a positive report on our sector, especially when set against the background of a climate of economic and political uncertainty.
“The Co-op difference is something we know our members increasingly see as being relevant, both in their communities and to themselves, but also in addressing issues that our country faces today, such as modern slavery and loneliness and isolation. Co-ops are about making society a better place. That’s been our role since we were founded, and it’s our responsibility to carry that forward for the co-operators of tomorrow.”
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