It looks like they do want to ask a wide range of experience, and it could help the co-op movement beyond Greater Manchester. If anyone wants a preview of the questions a tech co-op could be expected to answer it’s here (gleaned from the several web-pages the survey consists of)
SECTION 1. General principles of co-operative businesses
This section provides the opportunity for you to provide comments or documentation that relates to the general principles of co-operative working, or examples from other sectors that can be applied to any of the four opportunity areas.
- What are the benefits of a co-operative approach to help to address local, regional and national challenges?
Benefits of co-operative approach
.
2. What does the evidence tell us is the current picture of co-operative and mutual activity in Greater Manchester?
Evidence
.
3. How do we mobilise people to think and act in a more cooperative manner?
Drives
.
.
4. What examples of good practice of co-operative working do you know of either in the UK or internationally? How could Greater Manchester share the good practice existing in other sectors both locally and elsewhere and include it in the development of the four opportunity areas?
Good practice
.
5. What does the evidence tell us are the both the enables and barriers for co-operatives and mutuals? How might Greater Manchester overcome these barriers?
Barriers and pitfalls
.
6. How can Greater Manchester increase the diversity of people involved in the co-operative movement? How can we support the development of businesses led by young people, those with disabilities, as well as increasing diversity in race, and religion or belief?
Diversity
SECTION 4. Digital
With almost 8,000 digital and digital-intense creative businesses in Greater Manchester already employing more than 82,300 people, there are many exciting opportunities to create a different way of doing business. New start-ups are forming all the time, and there is an increasing number of micro-businesses and self-employed working in the creative-digital-tech sector. This sector already sees a heavy emphasis on collaboration as a way to accelerate innovation and to try and match the scale of larger businesses. There is an opportunity to take a lead in Greater Manchester on the use of the co-operative business model to accelerate and give structure to that collaboration.
At the same time, there is a need and opportunity for groups of businesses and citizens in Greater Manchester to co-operate in the ownership, development and operation of an inclusive and enabling digital layer everywhere in the city-region, including through shared passive (fibre and hubs) and active (cloud and bandwidth) digital infrastructure.
We want to gain a better understanding of how co-operative models could benefit Greater Manchester’s digital economy. We would particularly welcome evidence that can support the following questions:
- What is the potential for digital, tech and creative businesses, freelancers and co-operatives to use co-operative models for collaboration - for example to achieve scale, win new opportunities, or support product development?
Good fit
.
2. What is the potential for innovation using co-operative business models in new areas of the digital value chain, for example platform co-operatives or infrastructure sharing?
Self-employment, short-term contracting and agency work
.
SECTION 5. Business development
Co-operatives and mutuals of any kind across all sectors could have a role to play in helping to achieve Greater Manchester’s aspirations of developing good jobs and growth. In light of this, the Comission will consider how to support co-operative development on a less sector-specific basis. The Commission will focus on two broad areas:
Creating a supportive environment for the development of new co-operatives - exploring the opportunities and the pathways for co-operative founders (entrepreneurs),within existing organisations or setting up new ones, including increasing awareness and understanding of the role co-operative ideas can have, access to advice and financing options.
Market opportunity development - exploring how current programmes, strategies and charters create market opportunities for co-operatives.
We want to gain a better understanding of how co-operative business development could be supported locally.
- How do we encourage and support the growth of new cooperatives? Particularly in relation to: • Awareness raising • Finance • Practical advice for business formation, setup and development
.
2. If you are a cooperative, what is your experience of accessing support services for your business? What best practice or experiences can we share or learn from?
.
SECTION 6. Anything else?
- Is there anything else that you wish to tell the Commission, or that you feel would be beneficial to the Commission’s work?
.
SECTION 7. About you and your organisation
These questions help us understand who is submitting evidence to the Commission so we can ensure we hear from a broad range of sectors and industries.
-
Are you responding on behalf of yourself or an organisation?
Responding for myself (please go to Q7)
Responding on behalf of an organisation
Prefer not to say
What is the name of your organisation?
-
Which sector does your organisation operate in?
Academic sector
Not-for-profit sector
Private sector
Public sector
Other
Prefer not to say
-
Which industry does your organisation operate in?
Accountancy, banking and finance
Agriculture, farming, fishing and forestry
Business, consulting and management
Charity
Creative arts and design
Energy and utilities
Engineering and manufacturing
Health and social care
Hospitality and events management
Information technology
Law
Law enforcements and security
Leisure, sport and tourism
Marketing, advertising and PR
Media and internet
Property and construction
Public services and administration
Recruitment and HR
Retail
Sales
Science and pharmaceuticals
Teacher training and education
Transport and logistics
Other
Prefer not to say
-
Which geographical area does your organisation mainly cover?
A local town
Borough-wide (e.g. Bury, Bolton, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan)
Greater Manchester
North West
England
Great Britain
World-wide
Prefer not to say
-
Approximately how many employees does your organisation have?
Fewer than 10 employees
10-49 employees
50-250 employees
251-1000 employees
More than 1000 employees
Prefer not to say
-
Co-operatives are businesses that meet the needs and aspirations of their members, who work in, trade with, or otherwise participate in the business, and which contribute more broadly to the common good. Co-operatives are owned and controlled by their members. Would you say that your organisation meets this definition?
Yes
No
Don’t know
Prefer not to say
-
If you like to be kept up to date with the Commission’s findings, including publication of the final report, please provide an email address in the box below.
Email
-
Lastly, how did you hear about the Co-operative Commission and the Call for Evidence?
Local paper
Trade press
Email from Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Email from someone else - Answer: originally via email from Co-ops UK "We need to hear from creative + tech #coops"
Twitter - GMCA, Mayor Andy Burnham or Deputy Mayor Bev Hughes
Twitter - someone else
Facebook - GMCA or Mayor Andy Burnham
Facebook - someone else
Website - GMCA
Website - someone else
Other
Can’t remember
