March 2018

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Updates from the 6th Ways Forward conference ... Financial inclusion... The Fairtrade Shopper Report ... ISSN 0009-9821 01 9 770009 982010 sed Member Pioneers ... International credit union updates . THIS ISSUE CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT A new mustard co-op in Norwich as Colman’s leaves? (p10); Jo Bird talks about her co-operative experiences (p20-21); The Co-op Group’s Fairtrade Shopper Report shows Fairtrade is still relevant (p44-45); and our credit union special looks at how technology is changing the sector (p28-41) 4 | MARCH 2018 news Issue #7293 MARCH 2018 Connecting, championing, challenging MARCH 2018 CREDIT UNIONS Are credit unions ready to embrace new technology? Plus ... Helping £4.20 www.thenews.coop COVER: This month we speak to experts and leaders from within and outside credit unions, looking at how technology is helping – and hindering – the sector Read more: p28-41 20-21 MEET... JO BIRD The co-operative activist and local council candidate on her co-op experiences and the future of the movement 22 CO-OPS AND SOCIAL SOLIDARITY Bob Cannell introduces the upcoming CTRLshift Summit 23-27 WAYS FORWARD 6 Updates from the sixth edition of the conference, which focused on co-operative solidarity 28-41 CREDIT UNIONS 28-29 WHAT ARE CREDIT UNIONS DOING DIGITALLY? How are credit unions using the latest tech to improve services for members 30-33 Q&A WITH DIGITAL LEADERS Latest trends from industry experts 34 WHO TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER Credit union experts and organisations 35 CREDIT UNION REBRANDING Tailored advice on the dos and don’ts of rebranding 36-37 MARKETING CASE STUDIES From Clevr Money and 6 Towns 38-39 GOING DIGITAL... SLOWLY Paul Gosling’s analysis of the challenges posed by new technology 40-41 PROMOTING INCLUSION Examples of how credit unions serve the under-banked 43 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY How do co-ops perform as employers of women? Co-op women share their experiences 44-45 FAIRTRADE SHOPPER REPORT The Co-op Group launches its 2018 report with news that all its bananas, tea and coffee ingredients will be Fairtrade 46 Q&A WITH CILLA ROSS The Co-operative College vice-principal looks ahead to the 2018 Co-operative education and research conference REGULARS 5-13 UK updates 14-19: Global updates 21: Letters 48-49: Reviews 50: Diary
NEWS POLITICS Labour announces the formation of Community Wealth Unit Political support for co-operatives is continuing as John McDonnell announced Labour is setting up a Community Wealth Building Unit to support co-operatives and mutuals as a means of driving local economic growth. Speaking at an event in Preston, the shadow chancellor said Labour would work with the Co-operative Party, trade unions and think tanks to implement the community wealth building model nationwide. Over the last couple of years, Preston City Council has been pioneering the model in the UK. Inspired by the Cleveland Model in the USA, the Labour & Co-operative City Council of Preston has worked with local anchor institutions such as universities and hospitals, as well as through its own procurement practices, to ensure a greater share of the money it spends stays in the local economy. Overall, the project has seen more than £200m returned to the local economy and has supported 1,600 jobs. Since 2016, the Co-operative Party has been working with Preston Council to explore how this model could be used by other communities across the UK. Now Labour’s new Community Wealth Building Unit will work with councils to learn the lessons from Preston and provide support and advice to other councils. “The next Labour government will end austerity and properly fund local authorities, instead of cutting back and passing the buck like the Conservatives are doing. But we cannot afford to wait until we are in power nationally,” said the shadow chancellor in his speech. “There are many creative solutions being used already, like in Preston, and we need to spread this inspiring work around other Labour councils now, so we can bring services back in house, stimulate the economy and provide decent jobs, extend ownership and control, and strengthen local democracy. “By working together to share these principles where Labour is already in power locally, we can sow the seeds of a country that works for the many, not the few.” p John McDonnell, shadow chancellor, said Labour would work with the Co-op Party At a second event, Mr McDonnell said that building on his 2016 pledge to double the size of the co-operative economy, the next Labour government aimed to transform the economy and would work with the Co-operative Party to form an implementation group to test ideas and receive feedback from the co-operative movement. Speaking at the Labour Alternative Forms of Ownership Conference, he also announced that the Co-operative Party has commissioned an independent report from the New Economics Foundation on how to expand the co-operative sector Responding to Mr McDonnell’s speech, Co-operative Party general secretary, Claire McCarthy, said: “We warmly welcome Labour’s commitment to significantly expand the co-operative sector, and the central role co-operatives will play in an economy where wealth and power are more widely shared.” She added: “The Co-operative Party has commissioned an independent report to explore what action a future government could take to help double the size of the co-operative movement. “Separately, we will work closely with the Labour Party to convene an implementation group, which will ensure the voice of the co-operative movement is heard at the highest levels of the Labour Party as it plans for government. “These two initiatives, together with [the] announcement on local government, and the Co-operative Party’s own forthcoming report on democratic public ownership, demonstrate the significant opportunities for the co-op movement in the years ahead. “The Co-operative Party looks forward to working with partners in the wider labour and co-operative movements to make co-operation the template for the kind of country that together we will build.” MARCH 2018 | 5
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Page 11 and 12: Dairy co-op Arla announces massive
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Page 17 and 18: ETHIOPIA Ethiopia hosts National Co
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Page 21 and 22: YOUR VIEWS pilots, ferry boats, lei
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Page 25 and 26: PAUL BELL FROM UNISON 60 local co-o
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Page 29 and 30: credit union trade body, Abcul, Rai
Page 31 and 32: BOBBY GOULD is client services dire
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Page 41 and 42: SHEFFIELD CREDIT UNION Sheffield Cr
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March 2018

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