Book your place on a three-part online course about alternative business models – £300

The sessions are at 10am to 1pm on 27th March, 3rd April, and 10th April 2025. Spaces limited.

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From co-operatives to community businesses, expand your knowledge to include less common, more innovative approaches to business ownership and governance.
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When it comes to setting up a new organisation, or supporting others to do so, all legal frameworks, whether private, mutualistic, or charitable, are a response to some simple questions: Who should own it? Who should benefit from its value? And who should make the decisions? This Alternative Business Models short course will enable you to understand and recommend the most appropriate models based on how you or those you're supporting answer those questions.

Delivered in partnership with Co-op Culture’s team of experienced advisors, this short course is designed to increase your knowledge of alternative business models to provide more options when you're in the process of setting up a new organisation, or advising others through third sector bodies, local councils, or business support services.

Short course programme

This training is delivered online over three x 3-hour sessions:
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Session #1: Introduction to Alternative Business Models – 27th March

An introduction to alternative business models and how they can be supported. You'll leave with:

Knowledge of alternative business models proven to work in the UK economy
An understanding of the similarities to, and differences from, more conventional business models
A knowledge of the support landscape available to alternative business models
An understanding of approaches that are effective when supporting groups adopting alternative business models

Session #2: Deep dive: Governance & Legal Models – 3rd April

Delve into the legal structures and governance used by organisations with alternative business models. You'll leave with:

A knowledge of the range of governance models used by organisations with alternative business models
An understanding of the difference between legal form and organisational type
An understanding of the factors affecting the choice of legal form

Session #3: Deep dive: Finance – 10th April

Explore the novel and innovative finance available to organisations with alternative business models.

A knowledge of the types and sources of capital are available to businesses in the UK
A knowledge of the different business finance options available to organisations using alternative business models
An understanding of how the legal form of an organisation can affect the finance options available
An understanding around how to chose the best types and sources of finance when using an alternative business model

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Who is it for?

Anyone involved in business advice and coaching support
Anyone supporting organisations in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector
Anyone working for a charitable foundation or local government body that is focused on inclusive economies, economic justice, community wealth building, or similar.

Speaker(s)

Mark Simmonds

Mark is an experienced co-operative and community business entrepreneur. As well as supporting hundreds of co-operatives and community businesses down the years, Mark is also a founder of many such enterprises, including Co-op Culture, the Fox and Goose Co-operative Pub, Pennine Community Power, Platform 6 Development Co-operative, and Heptonstall Community Assets. As an advisor, he delivers support through Power to Change, Plunkett Foundation, Co-operative Development Scotland, Loans for Enlightened Agriculture, Shares Assets, and Co-operatives UK. Co-op Culture is a co-operative consortium of co-operative and community advisors, entrepreneurs, and enterprises.

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Refunds

Refunds will only be made if a written refund request is received no less than four weeks before the session starts. Send your written request via email to workshops@stirtoaction.com. If you cancel your booking less than four weeks before the session starts, no refund will be made other than in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the organisers. No refund will be made for non-attendance.

Cancellations

In the event we have to cancel the session before it starts, we will endeavour to inform all participants at least two weeks before the it is due to start, although please be aware that this is not always possible. In such an event, all session fees paid to date will be reimbursed in full. We are unable to reimburse any other costs that may be incurred (i.e. travel, accommodation).

In the event that we have to change session dates before the start of the session, participants may request a full refund if the new date is not convenient.

Should you have any questions regarding these terms and conditions, please contact the Stir to Action team via workshops@stirtoaction.com.

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