WHAT WE DO

We listen to people and their ideas and help them decide WHAT the right process is for them and HOW to develop it.

There is no fixed model, we guide you decide.

HOW WE DO IT

Consultation: Discussion:
Listening: Developing:
Nurturing:

Backed by professional skills, extensive experience and long term involvement.

SCDG has developed “user friendly finance” through Sheffield Co-operative Ventures Ltd, a successful revolving loan fund.

It has developed Aizlewood’s Mill, Sheffield’s First and Best managed workspace.

Sheffield Co-operative Development Group is a small business advice agency specialising in helping people set up and develop democratically owned businesses. Importantly it not only helps them start but continues to help them and is available whenever needed. At our last survey co-operatives in South Yorkshire employed about 200 people with a combined turnover of £4-5 million.

Co-operative businesses and other forms of genuine worker participation have many advantages for their employees - they know what is going on and take the important decisions themselves or with other colleagues locally - they are not dependent on distant employers.

At the same time they are private entrepreneurial businesses which have to operate profitably. Sometimes the decisions faced are difficult, sometimes groups disagree, but co-operators must accept their responsibilities and act in a positive and timely way.

Co-operatives seek to apply the principles adopted by the traditional Co-operative Alliance (ICA):-

Voluntary and open membership

Democratic member control

Member economic participation

Autonomy and independence

Education, training and information

Co-operation amongst co-operatives

Concern for Community

Sheffield Co-operative Development Group was formed in 1980 to provide practical help and advice to people interested in worker co-operatives. The Group’s office is staffed by workers who provide expert advice in an informal environment. The Group’s staff have many years experience in working with co-operatives as well as specialist business skills, including accountancy.

The Group was founded by a partnership of Sheffield City Council, The Co-operative Bank, The Co-operative Party and Sheffield Trades Council. It has the responsibility of promoting and developing worker co-operatives in the city and nearby regions. Our organisation is controlled by its members - the worker co-operatives in South Yorkshire.

We believe that a suitable co-operative constitution can be worked out for any business where workers wish to share membership and control.

Our help is tailored to meet the needs of each group of people we work with. We do not have any set schemes or training programmes which we expect people to fit.

SCDG is an equal opportunity, non discriminatory organisation. Our help is given to anyone genuinely seeking a co-operative outcome based on the ICA principles set out above.


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