Stir to Action is a national co-operative infrastructure body that focuses on strategic economic development projects, bridging the gap between policy and practice, and ensuring the future new economy is more diverse and representative. We prioritise the role of democratic ownership in creating the conditions to transform economic inequality, the climate emergency, and our political culture. Some of our areas of work include economic development programmes, research & policy influence, and business support.
Economic development programmes
in partnership with local government, development bodies, and the community and voluntary sector, such as progressive procurement and the green economy with Islington Council, a food security challenge prize with Oldham Council, and work to increase black and minoritised involvement in Community Wealth Building with Preston City Council.
Research & policy influence
to understand the needs of particular communities or industries, including influencing the Scottish government's role in supporting democratic ownership as part of their commitments in their National Strategy for Economic Transformation, and supporting the implementation of local government ambitions into practical action.
Business & infrastructure support
that directly supports the growth of democratic business in a range of sectors, including digital tech, food security, young entrepreneurship, and community regeneration, through capacity-building programmes, and accelerators.
We also publish a quarterly magazine, and host an annual festival of new economic ideas, the next of which will take place on 10-11 July 2024 in Bristol.
Stir to Action is growing and we’re always on the lookout for people who are passionate and committed. Your experience might be just what we’re looking for!
Nicola has 10+ years of community food growing and urban farming experience in Greater Manchester. Previously, Nicola co-authored a book for Rethinking Economics about the need to diversify, decolonise, and democratise the teaching and practice of economics. She leads on our work to increase access to land for minoritised groups, and support family farm owners to transfer their land into democratic ownership. Nicola is a member and co-owner of Stir to Action.
Jonny is our Managing Director. As a co-founder of Stir to Action, he has led work on our quarterly publication, designing national programmes, and developing economic interventions that address the ‘ownership gap’. He is currently focusing on creating new democratic infrastructure, partnerships with local government, and business-led research and policy. Jonny is a director and co-owner of Stir to Action.
Abby is Communication Director at Stir to Action. Previously she held roles as Programme Manager and Head of Marketing at leading UK-based crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder.co.uk. With a background of project management and community management in digital marketing and creative agencies, she focuses on delivering our business programmes and annual festivals. She is a director and co-owner of Stir to Action.
Adam is our Creative Lead, providing digital and print design for Stir to Action’s training programmes, reports, toolkits, and events. Besides his design work, he supports delivery of our various projects. Adam has a background in alternative currencies having created a research film in Catalonia, and worked with Bristol Pound and Exeter Pound. He is a member and co-owner of Stir to Action.
Dan is our Head of Fundraising, and works across strategic partnerships, business development and fundraising, capacity building and programme design. He was previously Head of Pilot Programmes at Feedback, where he directed numerous sustainable food projects including the Gleaning Network. Having also worked as a senior project manager at ActionFunder, Dan has strong experience of collaborating with funders to co-design and deliver grant-funding programmes. He is a member and co-owner of Stir to Action.
Grace is the Sub-editor of STIR, and our Communications and Research Assistant. As well as supporting the publication of our magazine, she carries out research for reports, and supports our strategic communications. Grace is an artist and writer with a background in independent magazine production.
Daniel is a Senior Associate, providing input and consultancy on strategic communications, fundraising and organisational development. He is CEO at consultancy Cohere Partners, and Founding Associate at non-profit the Future Narratives Lab. He has a background in community organising and social psychology, and writes and lectures on framing, narrative and social change strategy. He is a director and co-owner of Stir to Action.
Guillermo is our in-house illustrator, after having collaborated with us on a freelance capacity for a good number of years. Born in Madrid, but based in London, he's been inking comic books for the US market and providing illustrations for newspapers, books and magazines ever since he completed a History degree in 2009. When he's not working you’ll most probably find him on the climbing wall, global pandemics allowing.
Suzanne is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable advocate and advisor for co-operatives. With Co-operative Development Scotland, she promotes the importance of democratic businesses to Scotland’s economy.
A creative strategist and facilitator, Kelly has spent over 13 years exploring the intersection between civil society, sustainable business and innovation. Passionate about working with organisations tackling social, economic and environmental justice issues, Kelly brings expertise in regenerative business model innovation, systems design, social impact strategy, partnership development and inclusive design.
Simon works on business & programme development having worked in the co-operative and community enterprise sector for over a decade. He led Co-operatives UK’s community shares work before setting up as a freelance consultant, researcher & practitioner where he works with both wider infrastructure bodies & co-ops, community enterprises & charities across the UK, & is a trustee of Stretford Public Hall, Manchester.
Annoushka is passionate about community-led historic buildings projects as catalysts for regeneration. She was a founder member & chair of Friends of Stretford Public Hall, has experience in a range of issues heritage community groups face, and worked for ten years with Manchester City Council as a Homeless Families Support Officer. Annoushka is the AHF Programme Officer for the North West of England.
Nicola has 10+ years of community food growing and urban farming experience in Greater Manchester. Previously, Nicola co-authored a book for Rethinking Economics about the need to diversify, decolonise, and democratise the teaching and practice of economics. She leads on our work to increase access to land for minoritised groups, and support family farm owners to transfer their land into democratic ownership. Nicola is a member and co-owner of Stir to Action.
Jonny is our Managing Director. As a co-founder of Stir to Action, he has led work on our quarterly publication, designing national programmes, and developing economic interventions that address the ‘ownership gap’. He is currently focusing on creating new democratic infrastructure, partnerships with local government, and business-led research and policy. Jonny is a director and co-owner of Stir to Action.
Abby is Communication Director at Stir to Action. Previously she held roles as Programme Manager and Head of Marketing at leading UK-based crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder.co.uk. With a background of project management and community management in digital marketing and creative agencies, she focuses on delivering our business programmes and annual festivals. She is a director and co-owner of Stir to Action.
Adam is our Creative Lead, providing digital and print design for Stir to Action’s training programmes, reports, toolkits, and events. Besides his design work, he supports delivery of our various projects. Adam has a background in alternative currencies having created a research film in Catalonia, and worked with Bristol Pound and Exeter Pound. He is a member and co-owner of Stir to Action.
Dan is our Head of Fundraising, and works across strategic partnerships, business development and fundraising, capacity building and programme design. He was previously Head of Pilot Programmes at Feedback, where he directed numerous sustainable food projects including the Gleaning Network. Having also worked as a senior project manager at ActionFunder, Dan has strong experience of collaborating with funders to co-design and deliver grant-funding programmes. He is a member and co-owner of Stir to Action.
Grace is the Sub-editor of STIR, and our Communications and Research Assistant. As well as supporting the publication of our magazine, she carries out research for reports, and supports our strategic communications. Grace is an artist and writer with a background in independent magazine production.
Daniel is a Senior Associate, providing input and consultancy on strategic communications, fundraising and organisational development. He is CEO at consultancy Cohere Partners, and Founding Associate at non-profit the Future Narratives Lab. He has a background in community organising and social psychology, and writes and lectures on framing, narrative and social change strategy. He is a director and co-owner of Stir to Action.
Guillermo is our in-house illustrator, after having collaborated with us on a freelance capacity for a good number of years. Born in Madrid, but based in London, he's been inking comic books for the US market and providing illustrations for newspapers, books and magazines ever since he completed a History degree in 2009. When he's not working you’ll most probably find him on the climbing wall, global pandemics allowing.
Suzanne is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable advocate and advisor for co-operatives. With Co-operative Development Scotland, she promotes the importance of democratic businesses to Scotland’s economy.
A creative strategist and facilitator, Kelly has spent over 13 years exploring the intersection between civil society, sustainable business and innovation. Passionate about working with organisations tackling social, economic and environmental justice issues, Kelly brings expertise in regenerative business model innovation, systems design, social impact strategy, partnership development and inclusive design.
Simon works on business & programme development having worked in the co-operative and community enterprise sector for over a decade. He led Co-operatives UK’s community shares work before setting up as a freelance consultant, researcher & practitioner where he works with both wider infrastructure bodies & co-ops, community enterprises & charities across the UK, & is a trustee of Stretford Public Hall, Manchester.
Annoushka is passionate about community-led historic buildings projects as catalysts for regeneration. She was a founder member & chair of Friends of Stretford Public Hall, has experience in a range of issues heritage community groups face, and worked for ten years with Manchester City Council as a Homeless Families Support Officer. Annoushka is the AHF Programme Officer for the North West of England.
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