CoopConnect Workshops

The BCCM in conjunction with Professor Emmanuel Josserand at the UTS Centre for Business and Social Innovation (CBSI), have launched a research report CoopConnect: A Coop Eco-System to enhance connectivity and promote innovation in the Cooperative Enterprise sector.

This report presents CoopConnect, an initiative to transform the co-operative and mutual enterprise (CME) sector by creating an innovative environment that will leverage their distinctive capabilities. CoopConnect also proposes a branding collaboration supporting CMEs to broadcast their distinctive position as community oriented, sustainable and socially responsible enterprises.

This study identified the following common challenges and opportunities for innovation in CMEs in Australia:

• CMEs are (unfairly) perceived as lacking innovation
• A need for more awareness of CMEs by consumers and potential business partners
• A need to improve connectivity between CMEs
• The challenge of talent acquisition, both in hiring staff (who may have misconceptions about salary or working conditions) and attracting board directors
• The challenge and opportunities in starting a CME

CoopConnect Workshops

As part of the CoopConnect project, 3 focussed workshops will be run to provide industry consultation on three emerging ideas for enhanced industry collaboration and business development:

 1. Communication and branding

When: Tuesday 23 March, 9am – 12.30pm

Where: UTS CBSI-Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, 14-28 Ultimo Road, Ultimo or online

The objective is not to create a new brand for co-ops and mutuals, but rather to ensure that the millions of members that are part of the co-op/mutual movement receive a coordinated message. This message should demonstrate the importance for our society of the principles. There could be a common and coordinated communication effort across BCCM members to relay this message with a strong multiplication effect. This can be achieved through existing communication channels, without creating a new brand. We need to bring BCCM members to that level; communicating with them but also helping them through implementation. This will include websites, social media and maybe some more specific operations. A related question is that of accreditation and whether it is through a specific scheme or in relation to existing schemes, such as B-Corp.

2. Entrepreneurial and financial ecosystem

When: Wednesday 31 March, 9am – 12.30pm

Where: UTS CBSI-Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, 14-28 Ultimo Road, Ultimo or online

This topic is a priority and essential to further the benefit of a larger coop/mutual footprint in Australia. While there is a first CME ‘incubator’, more can be done to create new co-ops and mutuals and support the broader diffusion of the values that come with such enterprises. A full eco-system should be created that spans the different stages of start-up development. This aspect would include like-minded investors that are ready to support new co-ops and mutuals and potentially using the new mutual capital instruments.

3. Innovation and business market place

When: Wednesday 31 March, 1pm – 4.30pm

Where: UTS CBSI-Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, 14-28 Ultimo Road, Ultimo or online

There is a need to develop the question of joint innovation and doing business together as a first priority. Existing ‘marketplaces’ focus on joint purchases to generate economies of scale but doesn’t favour the development of business between co-ops and mutuals. A first step would be to focus the marketplace on business to business activities between co-ops and mutuals but also to develop the demand by non-coops for products coming from co-ops and mutuals. A second step could be to open for business to consumer activities. Regarding innovation, a first step is to created communities of practices around the development of joint projects. A more ambitious innovation platform, with principles of open innovation between co-ops and between co-ops and others can also be envisioned.

Please RSVP to [email protected] stating if you can attend in person or online.

We hope you can join us to share your ideas and insights.