Economy Minister Dr Is Inviting Proposals to
Support the Growth and Development of Co-operatives Across the
North.
The £30,000 Open Call for Proposals Aims to Unlock the Potential
of the Wider Social Economy to Deliver Good Jobs, Strengthen
Regional Balance, and Support More Resilient Local Communities.
The Minister Said: Co-operatives Offer a Powerful Way for People
to Take Collective Ownership of Local Economic Activity, Creating
Good Jobs, Keeping Wealth Within Communities, and Helping Build a
Fairer and More Regionally Balanced Economy.
Co-operatives Have Demonstrated Resilience, Innovation and Real
Social Value, Often Succeeding in Places Where Traditional
Business Models Struggle. This Call Is About Recognising
That Potential and Supporting More Groups to Develop, Grow and
Lead Positive Change in Their Local Areas.”
The New Open Call Invites Proposals That Will:
- Increase Awareness and Understanding of the Co-operative
Model;
- Provide Practical Support and Infrastructure to Help New and
Existing Co-operatives Grow;
- Support Co-operatives to Develop New Opportunities or Enter
New Markets, Helping Them Play a Larger Role in Local Economic
Development, Decarbonisation Activity, and Community-led
Regeneration.
Full Details on How to Apply, Including Eligibility Criteria and
Supporting Documents, Are Available on the Department for the
Economy Website at Www.Economy-ni.Gov.Uk/publications/co-operative-support-open-call.
Notes to Editors:
- Co-operatives Are Businesses That Are Owned and Run by Their
Members, They Operate on the Principles of Democratic Control,
Shared Benefit, and Reinvestment into Local Places, Meaning That
Decisions Are Made Collectively, and Profits Are Used to
Strengthen the Organisation or the Community It Serves.
- In September 2025, the Minister Announced £55,000 Funding for
a Programme That Included Gathering Essential Data on Existing
and Emerging Co-operatives and Producing Targeted Research to
Inform Future Policy Development. This Latest Funding
Builds on That Work and Demonstrates the Minister's Commitment to
Harnessing the Potential of the Social Economy.
