The North East is the most “co-operative” region of the 海角视频, according to a new report on member-owned businesses.
The region has the highest ratio of co-operative businesses to population, the annual report of Co-operatives 海角视频 reveals.
Northumberland has also been highlighted as a hotspot for co-operatives, being ranked 10th in a list of the most “co-operative places” alongside a number of other rural areas.
Co-operatives 海角视频 - which works to promote, develop and unite member-owned business - believes the growth of co-ops in rural areas can often spring from campaigns to save vital services such as village shops or pubs.
It highlights the Nenthead Arts and Visitor Centre, in the North Pennines, where the former chapel was saved by local residents who raised funds through grant funding and a community share offer.
Sandra Mackenzie, chair of Nenthead Arts and Visitor Centre said: “Our aim is to put Nenthead on the map as a top tourist destination, attracting visitors to experience the hospitality of our fabulous café, exciting gallery space and dramatic outdoors.
“The centre is now owned by the community which means we control our own destiny, with members having a stake and a say in how things are run. With tourism making such a vital contribution to so many people’s livelihoods it was important to us that the community is empowered to take decisions about such a valuable asset.”
The Co-operatives 海角视频 report said that the co-operative business model remains resilient, with almost three out of four co-op start-ups still flourishing after the first five years of existence.
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It adds that the nation’s 7,215 co-ops have a combined turnover of more than £37.7bn, up £400m on the previous year, with more than 13m people members of co-ops.
Ed Mayo, Co-operatives 海角视频 Secretary General, said: “When needs are so acute in remote and rural areas there’s a necessity and greater impetus for people to work together. There’s strength in being able to rely on others, on being part of a co-op.
“The model is just as relevant in inner-city Glasgow or central London as it is in the Outer Hebrides. The entire 海角视频 economy could learn a lot from the extraordinary success of the Scottish isles and rural Cumbria – particularly in today’s climate.”
Co-ops are organisations owned and controlled by their members. They operate across all sectors, from community-owned pubs to multi-billion pound high street retailers and from the 海角视频’s biggest farmer owned agriculture businesses to supporter-owned football clubs.
The John Lewis Partnership remains the country’s largest co-op, with a turnover of £10.3bn, followed closely by the Co-operative Group at £10.1bn. After that, the next largest is agricultural co-operative Arla, with a turnover of £2.1m.
North East co-ops highlighted in the report’s Top 100 include South Shields-based Grainco and Northumberland’s North East Grains, which both operate in the agricultural sector.