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Results for: "Starting a Coop"

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By Co-operative Alternatives
January 29, 2026

Gathering in Dublin Shaping a New Network of Co-operators

A vibrant gathering of supporters and practitioners came together in Dublin at the beginning of January to help shape a new networ...

Starting a Coop
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By Co-operative Alternatives
September 24, 2025

Discover Learn Start Co-operatives

Funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE), ‘Discover, Learn, Start Co-operatives’ is a six-month educational and awareness-ra...

Starting a Coop
News
Training/Education
Youth
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By Co-operative Alternatives
April 29, 2025

New Co-op on the Block!

The Dialogue Practitioners Co-operative has successfully completed its FCA registration in April. Congratulations to them! This gr...

Starting a Coop
News
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By Co-operative Alternatives
December 28, 2024

Support for NI Co-ops in 2025

Great news! We’re thrilled to announce that we can continue supporting co-operative development in Northern Ireland, thanks to the...

Finances
Starting a Coop
News
Belfast City Council
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By Co-operative Alternatives
November 11, 2024

Business Support for Co-operatives

Are you planning to start a co-op? Or convert to one? Or need help with the preparation of a 'community share offer'? This program...

Finances
Starting a Coop
News
Community Shares
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By Co-operative Alternatives
October 25, 2024

Social Economy Incentive Fund 2024

Social Economy Incentive Fund 2024The Social Economy Incentive Fund is open to online applications from Belfast-based social enter...

Finances
Starting a Coop
Urban
News
Belfast City Council

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The challenges of emerging co-operatives in Northern Ireland

This research was conducted by Tebibu Solomon in 2021, while completing a Master degree at the University College Cork (UCC) and intern at Co-operative Alternatives. Quick summary:Co-operatives are business enterprises that are democratically controlled and owned by their members and which work in the interests of their members. The cooperative business model plays a significant role in the modern economy, primarily in building a strong local economy. Nonetheless, despite the advanced development of co-operatives, many emerging co-operatives fail short of their full potential and sometimes do not succeed in achieving their business objectives. Co-operatives encounter challenges down the business wire due to factors originating from both internal and external environments. Additionally, the limited availability of literature to provide adequate prior knowledge of potential barriers and challenges to emerging co-ops has also contributed to the struggle of many co-ops. To this end, this study is intended to systematically explore the challenges encountered by emerging co-operatives and draw potential strategies to tackle them. Therefore, the qualitative study was conducted involving seven emerging co-operatives operating in different sectors in Northern Ireland. These seven co- operatives are/were receiving facilitation and consultancy from Co-operative Alternatives, the leading co-operative development body in Northern Ireland.

ResearchCase StudyGrowing a Co-opStarting a Coop

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