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Co-operating for Business Success in the Creative Industries

Co-operating for Business Success in the Creative Industries. Diarmuid McDonnell Co-operative Education Trust Scotland 28/02/2013 diarmuid@cets.coop. Outline. What is a co-operative? Are they relevant? Are they ethical? Are they useful? Why would I choose one? How would I set one up?

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Co-operating for Business Success in the Creative Industries

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  1. Co-operating for Business Success in the Creative Industries Diarmuid McDonnell Co-operative Education Trust Scotland 28/02/2013 diarmuid@cets.coop

  2. Outline • What is a co-operative? • Are they relevant? • Are they ethical? • Are they useful? Why would I choose one? • How would I set one up? • What other ways can I get involved? • Further resources • Discussion Qs

  3. Introduction Despite the wide-ranging successes of co-operatives, in financial terms as well as in the development of sustainable communities, the study of these democratic forms of enterprise remains surprisingly absent from the curricula of most university business schools around the world.

  4. The Invisible Giant

  5. Co-ops defined Co-operatives are businesses • Member-owned • Democratically controlled • Distribute surplus to members Purpose is not profit maximisation; they serve the needs of members. However, the do generate a surplus.

  6. Members Why become a member? It’s about achieving self-interest in a collective manner  A group of individuals have a common need that is not being met

  7. Types of co-op Typical types: • Consumer • Producer • Worker Sectors: Finance Insurance Agriculture Retail Housing Education Creative ....and pretty much every other you can think of!

  8. Co-operatives globally (1) Source: ‘Statistical Information on the Co-operative Movement’ ICA. http://www.ica.coop/coop/statistics.html, accessed 29 September 2011.

  9. Co-operatives globally (2)

  10. The UK co-operative sector (1) Source: Co-operatives UK. The UK co-operative economy 2011: Britain’s return to co-operation (Manchester: Co-operatives UK), 2011.

  11. The UK co-operative sector (2) Source: Co-operatives UK. The UK co-operative economy 2011: Britain’s return to co-operation (Manchester: Co-operatives UK), 2011. p. 23.

  12. The UK co-operative sector (3) Source: Co-operatives UK. The UK co-operative economy 2011: Britain’s return to co-operation (Manchester: Co-operatives UK), 2011. pp. 20-2.

  13. Odd one oot!

  14. Value-driven Co-op Values Solidarity Equity Equality Democracy Self-help Self-responsibility Ethical Values Openness Honesty Social responsibility Caring for others BUT... Google, Tesco and Barclays have values as well...

  15. Values in action Co-op Principles • Voluntary and open membership • Democratic member control • Member economic participation • Autonomy and independence • Education, training and information • Co-operation amongst co-operatives  • Concern for community All* co-ops subscribe to these principles – firm ethical foundation

  16. Uses of co-op model

  17. Case study 1 - Bridges Actor-owned and controlled agency providing casting and PR services. Usually between 10-20 members at any one time. Members pay the usual fee (12.5%) and volunteer some of their time - 3 days per month - to admin tasks. http://s.coop/1f3c3

  18. Why choose co-ops?

  19. Case study 2 – Openspace Producer co-operative of self-employed professionals and small businesses. Joint renting and management of office space – ‘co-working’ The space is used by a broad mix of people including: a digital marketing consultant, a web designer, two freelance journalists, an author, a writer/performer, a cartoonist,  an illustrator.... http://s.coop/me3t

  20. Setting up a co-op • Shared purpose and objectives • Ownership structure • Democratic governance • Distribution of surplus • Membership • Capital requirements • Legal structure

  21. Case study 3 – graphics.coop A worker co-operative of web and graphic design experts.  Operating for over 20 years, graphics.coop specifically targets the third sector and ‘ethical’ businesses. Set up by individuals fresh out of university. http://s.coop/1f84u

  22. Example Business idea: marketing services for local SMEs

  23. Case study 4 - Yellow Brick House Media A producer co-operative (known as a consortium) of digital media professionals and businesses.  New media content and marketing, television production, web development and graphic design. Each professional and business retain their own identity but jointly bid for contracts. http://s.coop/1f3dh

  24. Get involved In higher/further education: • Join/set up a ‘vegbag’ scheme – http://s.coop/1f35f • Need books or other services? – http://s.coop/1f35j • Freshsight model – http://s.coop/1f35t In the ‘real world’: • Bank/save with a co-op – http://s.coop/8157; http://s.coop/1f36a • Shop with a co-op – http://s.coop/1f36b; http://s.coop/1f36h • Create your own employment – see any of the cases in this presentation!

  25. Case study 5 - Freshsight Student-run enterprise providing consultancy services to the third sector in Edinburgh. In the process of becoming a worker co-operative with help from CETS and Co-operative Development Scotland. The basic idea is replicable, if not in the same sector (uni students are a plentiful and in demand resource...) http://s.coop/1f35t

  26. Conclusion • The Invisible Giant • Share resources, share risk, share rewards • Ethical • Democracy in action • Easy to get involved in

  27. Key message

  28. Further resources Co-operative Entrepreneurship – an ebook and VLE aimed at students/graduates containing information on how to set up a co-operative enterprisehttp://cets.coop/moodle/course/view.php?id=4 Start a co-operative – an online resource by the UK’s trade body for co-operativeshttp://www.uk.coop/start-co-op Join the Co-op Future – a 4 minute film that offers a snapshot of the co-operative sector in Scotlandhttp://vimeo.com/43665118

  29. Further resources (2) Creative Co-operatives – a dedicated guide to the creative co-operative sectorhttp://s.coop/1f83y Co-operative Development Scotland – free and expert advice on a variety of co-operative modelshttp://s.coop/vft6

  30. Discussion Qs • If everything I’ve said is true and so great, why are there not more co-ops? • Are there any areas of your life (as a student or in general) where setting up a co-op could make things much better? • Why is democracy not widespread in corporations, but is nonetheless something we strive for in society (and for which people in some countries sacrifice their life)?

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