Is your Worker Co-operative in perfect health?

The Government is urging small businesses to undergo a health check to ensure they're in good shape to ride out the current economic downturn.

Health checks are provided by the Government's Business Link service, to ensure firms are maximising their cash flow, marketing and business planning during the current economic climate. Qualified Business Link experts help firms draw up tailor made action plans to cope with the effects of the economic downturn.

More than 10,000 companies in England have already undergone a Business Health Check since the service was launched in October.

Has your Worker Co-operative?

If you do take up the Government's offer I would be interested in the quality and appropriateness of this service delivered to worker co-operatives. Send me feedback to my email address or post a comment here.

For more details go to http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/businesshelp or call the National Help Line 0845 600 9 006.

Train to Gain

The Co-operative College has a new initiative to deliver work based qualifications through a Government funded "Train to Gain" Programme. Giving access to free basic skills and vocational NVQ's.

Summary:
Promotes co-operative values and working practices to meet business, employee and members’ needs and provides free or subsidised:

• Advice and support in designing tailored learning programmes to improve performance.
• Professional support to manage ‘the paperwork’.
• Workplace learning activities, training and qualifications (non-disruptive to business activity).
• Assessor training for staff/members (in smaller co-operatives, an assessor is provided).
• Sector and Role specific training
  

Examples Roles:
Warehouse Operatives, Customer Services, People Management, Finance.

Examples Sector:
Retail, Wholesale, Media, design and Technology.

I am working with the college to ensure the initiative is appropriate for worker co-operatives and that members of Co-operatives UK get every opportunity to benefit.

If you are interested please visit www.traintogain.coop or have a look at this leaflet