UK consultation: The real value of co-operatives

16 February 2026

Following the launch of the UK Government’s once‑in‑a‑generation consultation on co‑operative and mutual growth, Mutuo has now lodged a substantial submission outlining how better policy settings can unlock the full potential of member‑owned businesses. The submission reinforces the momentum behind the Starmer Government’s commitment to doubling the size of the UK co‑operative and mutual sector.

A central contribution of Mutuo’s paper is its explanation of why traditional economic measures, including GDP, do not fully represent the value created by co-operatives and non‑financial mutuals. GDP captures transaction volume rather than outcomes, meaning many of the benefits delivered by member‑owned businesses – from lower costs for members to increased local resilience and long‑term community investment – fall outside conventional economic metrics.

Mutuo argues that co-operatives frequently create value through affordability, prevention, stability and participation. These outcomes strengthen local economies even when they do not appear as increases in measured output, offering policy makers a clearer framework for understanding the distinct contribution of member‑owned enterprises.

The BCCM welcomes this analysis. It provides language and evidence that will support future advocacy in Australia, particularly as governments revisit productivity, competition and place‑based economic development. The insights also align with the broader narrative that co-operatives and mutuals are essential to building resilient, people‑centred markets.

The BCCM will continue to work closely with our UK counterparts as both countries pursue aligned reform agendas to support co-operative and mutual growth.

Read Mutuo’s full submission.