Media reports have shown a recent surge in interest providing public services through mutuals. This article outlines the opportunity for policy makers.
A report published for the Building Societies Association (BSA) reveals a strong case for converting failed banks into mutual organisations and urges the Government to consider seriously returning Northern Rock to the mutual sector.
The report, written by the Centre for Mutual and Employee-owned Business at the University of Oxford, concludes that there are three economic arguments for a mutual sector of critical mass as part of a mixed financial system: bio-diversity, risk appetite and competition.
Debates and Questions - News - All Party Parliamentary Groups
Peter Hunt of Mutuo and Chris Ham of the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham, were commissioned to review the membership governance of NHS Foundation Trusts. Their report, published in July 2008 gives an interesting insight into how membership is beginning to influence NHS Foundation Trusts.
Mutuals are organisations that are owned by, and run for the benefit of, their current and future members.
Mutuals take many forms and operate in a wide range of business and social environments. Most people recognise mutuals through one or more of the long established building societies, co-operatives, friendly societies and mutual insurers. But the sector encompasses many more types of organisations – some large and well established like housing associations, clubs and employee owned businesses to smaller, specialist bodies such as credit unions, football supporter trusts and community mutuals.
Chief Executive
Peter has been Chief Executive of Mutuo since 2001, which he founded as the first cross mutual sector body to promote mutual governance to opinion formers and decision makers.
Head of Public Affairs
For the last ten years, Matthew has worked as a public affairs specialist. He provides advice and support to mutual sector trade associations and works with Government to seek to influence the public policy agenda to expand the mutual sector.
Principal Associate and constitutional expert
As well as working as a consultant with Mutuo, Cliff Mills is a consultant at Cobbetts, solicitors in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. He is a leading expert in corporate governance and the law of mutual and co-operative organisations.
On 2nd March 2009, Parliament passed the first enabling Order to permit the creation of ’super-mutuals’ under Sir John Butterfill’s Private Members Bill - The Building Societies (Funding) Mutual Societies (Transfers) Act 2007.
Mutuo is governed by a Board of experts and practitioners from the mutual sector, representing a combined vast experience in working with complex member owned organisations.