Letter to Andy Burnham: Co operatives UK at the PM’s First Business Talks

Co‑operatives UK recently joined the Prime Minister’s first business roundtable, setting out the movement’s offer for good growth. Alongside this, a letter has been sent to Andy Burnham in July, reinforcing the role co‑ops can play in fair, democratic economic development.

The letter highlights the movement’s role in building more resilient businesses, protecting essential community services, empowering local people, and contributing to reindustrialisation. It calls for modernised legislation, better access to finance, and stronger recognition of co‑ops within national economic strategy. See here Letter to the Prime Minister: Co-operatives and good growth | Co-operatives UK .

From a Northern Ireland standpoint, the themes in Co‑operatives UK’s letter land with particular force. Our economy already relies heavily on small enterprises, community organisations and locally rooted initiatives,  exactly the spaces where co‑operatives thrive. The call for better access to finance and modernised legislation is especially relevant here, where co‑ops often face structural barriers despite strong community demand. The emphasis on securing essential services and empowering communities mirrors ongoing work across NI in energy, food and housing, where co‑ops are proving they can deliver practical, democratic solutions. As the UK government sets out its agenda for good growth, NI’s co‑operative sector is well placed to demonstrate how community ownership can support resilience, fairness and long‑term economic renewal.