| Biography | Co-operatives UK is "the central membership organisation for co-operative enterprise throughout the UK", a co-operative federation founded in 1870 as the Co-operative Central Board, before changing its name to the Co-operative Union and finally becoming Co-operatives UK following its merger with the Industrial Common Ownership Movement (ICOM) in 2001. Historically associated with the consumer co-operatives, the merger broadened its scope to include worker co-operatives and it now exists to support and promote the values of the co-operative movement throughout the UK.
During its history, it has been responsible for the organisation of the Co-operative Congresses, the establishment of both Co-operative Commissions and the creation of the Co-operative College and the Co-operative Party. Its head office is Holyoake House, a Grade II listed building in Manchester built in 1911 in memory of the co-operative activist George Jacob Holyoake, and its membership includes organisations as diverse as the Woodcraft Folk, the Co-operative Group and the Oxted School Young Co-operative. It is controlled by a board elected by its membership, is a member of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the trustee of the Co-operative College, and retains a nominated seat on the National Executive Committee of the Co-operative Party. |