Co-operative College

Last week, our Principal, Ali Longden, and Education Practitioner, Kate Greaves ACC ICF Coach, facilitated a full day workshop on values-based recruitment for Central Co-op at their Support Centre in Lichfield. During the session, participants collectively explored how co-operative values and principles can be weaved into all stages of recruitment process. Throughout the day, Ali and Kate provided space for reflection, allowing participants to consider what is currently working well, and to help identify challenges and opportunities. The workshop ended with attendees discussing and setting practical next steps to put their learning from the day into everyday practice within their roles. #CooperativeCollege #learning

The Our Malawi Partnership Project places a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability. In addition to supporting the establishment of the first-ever tea cooperative union by providing ten thousand tea seedlings, we have also conducted training sessions on the production of organic fertilizer. This initiative not only helps reduce production costs but also enhances soil health, ensuring long-term agricultural productivity and environmental conservation. The project is supported by Central Co-op and Co-operative College but implemented locally by The Malawi Federation of Cooperatives Dr Sarah Alldred

Our learning team managed to pack a lot into their two day trip to Edinburgh. 💫 As well as facilitating our fully-booked workshop at the Gathering, Ali Longden and Catherine Darby also visited with Lynne Ogg from Scotmid Co-operative to explore possible collaborations to support their member learning and engagement. Ali and Cat also took the opportunity to catch up, in person, with Chris Jardine, who is one of our College Trustees. Being a remote working organisation, we've developed excellent online systems and processes for staying meaningfully connected to our people, and the wider co-operative movement...but there's something special about renewing those connections face-to-face. 🤝

🫶 We are thrilled to share the winning line-up aiming to inspire and challenge at Co-op Retail Conference, 14-16 March. AND we're so pleased to reveal VME Coop are proud sponsor – for the seventh year running! See the full line-up 👉 https://lnkd.in/d5NbsnGs 🥇 Insights on building an Olympic-winning team from Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE 📈 Retail trends and insights from IGD 🌏 International perspectives on co-operative retail featuring leaders from Mondragon (Spain) and SOK (Finland). 🛒 One of the most respected retail consultants in the UK, Clare Bailey 🎤 CEO Panel: The New Wave with Fresh Perspectives #CoopRetail #coops #IYC2025 #CoopsBuildABetterWorld

Well that was fun! Thank you to #SCVOGathering for such an amazing conference, and to everyone who attended the College's workshop on leading and embedding change. We relished the opportunity to share our co-operative learning approach with a new audience, and loved the fact the our values-bases approach resinated with so many attendees. If you'd like to find out more about the in-person and online organisational training that we can offer, check out: https://lnkd.in/e9WuTRZQ Ali Longden Catherine Darby Hayley Street #values #cooperativecollege #learning

Our Head of Engagement, Hayley Street, attended day one of #SCVOGathering in Edinburgh today. With a packed programme of workshops, seminars and activities, the event was full of learning opportunities and provided the chance to meet and network with colleagues from the wider values-led sector. We're looking forward to day two of the Gathering, where Ali Longden and Catherine Darby will be facilitating our own ✨fully booked✨ session on leading and embedding change! SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations)

The Malawi Federation of Cooperatives (MAFECO), through it's flagship project, #Our_Malawi_Partnership_Project, has Kickstarted the commemoration of international year of cooperatives by donating ten thousand tea seedlings to one of its affiliates, Mulato tea growers cooperative union in mulanje. Chairperson of Mulato, commended MAFECO for the gesture indicating that the assistance will help the members to fill the tree gaps in their tea plantations thereby increasing production. Apart from the donation, members were also trained on how to make organic fertilizer. With the support from Central Co-op and Co-operative College the project has lined up a number of activities to commemorate this year's International Year of Cooperatives. #international_year_of_cooperatives Dr Sarah Alldred

Want to do business fairly & democratically? Start a co-op! Find out how at our free workshop in Edinburgh featuring Co-operate Scotland & established #coops Open Data Services Co-operative Tripod: Training for Creative Social Action. Sign up now and to learn how your business can thrive as a #coop: https://bit.ly/4ffqG9D

We're looking forward to hosting our (fully booked 🙌 ) workshop, 'Leading and embedding change' at the Gathering on Wednesday 5 February! #SCVOGathering #learning

🎉 The results are in! #coops are brilliant places to work for Gen Z! 🗺️ To kick start our celebrations for the UN International Year of Co‑operatives 2025, we've research that reveals 18-27 year olds demand employment that’s fair, ethical and meaningful – and co‑operatives fit the bill! 🥫 26‑year‑old Buncey is one of those people. He works for Suma Wholefoods, a vegetarian food brand and wholesaler in Halifax. Suma is a worker co‑op and Europe’s largest equal pay employer. 💬 “At my previous firm, I remember rounds of redundancies and cost cutting – but I found out that at the end of the year, the directors had all taken dividends. That can’t happen here because we have full visibility and a say in that. “In the old place, I knew nothing about the business. They needed me to conform, to be a cog in a machine and I didn’t get to see the bigger picture. “Here, there is complete transparency, all members are presented with the inside scoop on everything from sales to stock levels.” 🔍 Read our findings 👉 https://lnkd.in/eeP_dtVB #GenZ #IYC2025 #CoopsBuildABetterWorld