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The Welsh Co-operatives and Mutuals Commission has published its report, which makes recommendations on growing and developing the co-operative and mutual economy in Wales, in order to create jobs and wealth.

The ‘Co-operatives and Mutuals Commission Wales Report 2014’was launched at Accommodation Furniture Solutions Ltd (AFS Ltd), Swansea. AFS Ltd is a worker co-operative that was formed with support from the Wales Co-operative Centre following the closure of the Remploy factories in 2012. Continue reading →

Wales needs to embrace co-operatives for bright economic future, says report to Welsh Government

Wales needs to embrace the co-operative and mutual business model to achieve a real improvement in social and economic wellbeing, according to a report published today on the potential of co-operatives and mutuals to create jobs and wealth.

The report, prepared by the Welsh Co-operative and Mutuals Commission under the chair of Professor Andrew Davies, was commissioned by Minister for Economy Edwina Hart. It sets out 25 recommendations on creating a culture and environment in which co-operative ways of doing business are the norm, not the exception.

The report will be launched by the Minister on a visit with Professor Davies to Accommodation Furniture Solutions in Swansea, a co-operative set up by seven former Remploy workers

Mrs Hart said: “I am very grateful to Professor Andrew Davies and the Commission for their work in producing this comprehensive report.

“The report recognises the many benefits of co-operative and mutual business models and makes a strong case for developing them further. I will give a full response to each of the recommendations in the report in due course. However, in principle I am minded to accept all of the recommendations that fall within my area of responsibility.”

Professor Davies, Chair of the Welsh Co-operative and Mutuals Commission, said: “The Commission believes strongly that conventional approaches to economic development are not enough alone to deliver the long-term improvements needed for the Welsh economy. Co-operatives and mutuals offer significant economic, social and environmental benefits compared with ordinary business and have the potential to transform our economic fortunes, as well as improve our public services.

“Wales, the birth place of Robert Owen, one of the founders of the co-operative movement, has a long tradition of co-operative business which continues to this day. The global banking and economic crisis of 2007 has led many to question the traditional economic and business models. Now is the time to embrace our co-operative tradition in Wales and bring it in from the side-lines to the heart of our economy.”

The report’s recommendations cover how to integrate co-operatives and mutual into education; government business advice and support; investment finance; planning; and public procurement. It also makes a number of recommendations on how the Welsh Government can encourage innovation amongst co-operative enterprises and how the co-operative and mutual movement can increase its voice, influence and capacity.

Accommodation Furniture Solutions has doubled its workforce since company was formed in October last year and now employs 14 former Remploy staff.

Managing Director Kevin Edwards said: “With this new worker co-operative, we aim to develop a successful and profitable business and become a leading manufacturer and sub-contracting assembler within the UK market. As we grow, we intend to operate as a financially viable workers co-operative which supports our disabled and disadvantaged workforce and offers training and employment opportunities to the wider Swansea community.”

There will be a period of consultation on the recommendations of the report.

The report is available here:-

English: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/welsh-coop-mutuals-commission/?lang=en

Cymraeg: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/welsh-coop-mutuals-commission/?lang=cy

An online Assembly petition has been launched with the aim of persuading the Welsh Government to rename its newly acquired (Cardiff Wales) Airport as the Robert Owen International Airport.

The petition, started by Justin Lilley  of Positive Money, is available to sign until December 21st at:- https://www.assemblywales.org/epetition-list-of-signatories_all.htm?pet_id=923 

Newtown born Robert Owen was in many ways the originator of the co-op movement in Wales, and in the year that the Welsh Government’s Commision on Co-operatives and Mutuals is due to report, Justin believes recognising Robert Owen in this way would be  an appropriate way to mark this major policy initiative.

Seven ex-Remploy employees have joined together to form a worker co-operative on the site of Remploy’s former factory in the Fforestfach area of Swansea.

Accommodation Furniture Solutions (AFS) will initially provide work for the seven staff who have all invested their redundancy payments into the venture.

The new business will assemble and make furniture. Its owners have plans to expand and offer more ex-Remploy employees the chance to become involved.

Work will start today (14 October 2013) on assembling kitchen furniture on behalf of the Richmond Cabinet Company for some of its social housing clients. Continue reading →

The Co-operative Economy has continued to grow in Wales throughout the recession, just as it has across the UK.

The UK Economy’s GDP shrank during the recession, and has only just recovered to the same level as when the recession began in 2008. Over the same period the UK’s Co-operative Economy has grown by 28%, proof if any were needed that co-operatives and mutuals are more robust than the investor driven businesses in the rest of the economy.

Read the full report here:-

Over the last 18 months the Wales Co-operative Centre have published a series of research reports. The latest looking at Co-operative Housing is available here

Other reports include Alun Burge’s look at co-op history

and a report on the future of direct payments

CMW organised a special event on the community ownership of sport at the Co-op Congress at the SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff last month.

Read the full report at http://www.news.coop/article/no-upper-limit-what-community-owned-club-can-be