Co-operative Business Assistance

Following last year's sucessful programme, when seven co-operatives across the region were supported, Co-operatives North West is delighted to announce that more free business consultancy is now available to co-operatives in the North West. Two days of free, direct, tailored consultancy is available to 15 more co-operatives between now and the end of March 2011.

To be eligible for this support co-operatives must already be trading and must become members of Co-operatives North West. Co-operatives must be based in the North West region- Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria or Lancashire.

The consultancy must be taken up before the end of March 2011 and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Co-operatives who have already received four or five days support from Advice & Training or C-Change- are welcome to apply.

Co-operatives North West has secured funding for this programme from the North West Development Agency, through Social Enterprise North West, following a competitive tendering process. A consortium of more than 20 consultants has been selected from across the region to deliver the support; this means that Co-operatives North West can provide beneficiary co-operatives with access to a wide range of expertise in all varieties of co-operative enterprise.

The consortium includes Co-operative & Mutual Solutions, Social Enterprise and Co-operative Development (SECOD), Bob Cannell (Co-operative Business Consultants), Mutual Business Advice, Adrian Ashton, North West Housing Services, Loop Systems, GM Associates and Sustainable Change; all who have many years experience in the co-operative sector.

To apply for assistance from the Co-operative Business Assistance programme, please complete the online application form at: www.cooperatives-nw.coop/documents/co-operative-assistance-application-form