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Greater Manchester Co-operative Commission calls for evidence
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has recently established a Co-operative Commission “in order to be a driver for the development of co-operative activity across the city-region”:
[The Commission] will explore whether co-operative ideas can help to solve existing problems, encourage greater collaboration within the co-operative sector and contribute to the achievement of the ambitions of the Greater Manchester Strategy.
The Commission (comprising nine experts), sits as an independent panel and is chaired by Councillor Brett, Leader of Rochdale Borough Council with Cllr Angeliki Stogia from Manchester City Council as vice chair. The role of commissioners is to consider evidence and draw upon their own expertise, to make policy recommendations to GMCA about the benefits that co-operatives can bring to our city-region.
There is a consultation up and running, intended “to gather examples of good practice and to seek views on the opportunities and barriers of the cooperative sector”:
There is a strong history of co-operative business in Greater Manchester and the Commission is keen to hear from those involved in running, setting up or trying to set up co-operatives so we can learn from your experiences and expertise.
We are particularly keen to discover examples of success, innovation and growth potential, and enablers to success, as well as lessons learnt, and the barriers and pitfalls to avoid.