Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg have today been challenged to lay down their plans for growing the mutual sector.
In recent weeks there has been a flurry of speeches and statements by the parties about their support for co-operative and mutual initiatives.
Today the mutual sector has responded with its plans for putting people at the heart of business and society in the first ever Mutuals Manifesto.
The UK economy – as with most economies in the developed world – is largely driven by businesses that are owned by investors and for many decades, the profit motive has been its driving-force. While this ownership model provides a powerful driver, it also creates a problem. Being effective at delivering private benefit is all very well, but an economy based on the quest for the private benefit of some does not seek the common good of all.
The last ten years have seen a transformation of the UK mutual sector. Download this informative review of Mutuals in the UK.
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.
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.
Foundation trusts are not only new, but their governance arrangements are novel.
Thursday 4th December 2008 - Emirates Stadium
This was the first ever national event to bring together the different wings of the mutual sector in one forum.
Reform of the NHS is progressing rapidly, but it is difficult to discern a clear underlying theme or sense of direction of that reform.
New mutuals have been established in a range of public service areas. How do they compare with state providers and what should be done to facilitate more mutuals?
The mutual sector is a hugely important part of a vibrant, diverse economy. Mutuals offer choice to the consumer, providing competition to PLCs and giving consumers the chance to do business with an organisation they can truly feel part of.
In recent years real progress has been made in re-discovering the benefits of mutual ownership, [...]