Founding Cooperative Development Organiser

Purpose of the role The Founding Cooperative Development Organiser will help establish FCCC's economic programme in practice, with the long-term objective of developing a federation of worker-owned enterprises. This role is not primarily about researching cooperatives. Research will be necessary, but the objective is to move from research to identifying, developing and launching real cooperative enterprises. Key responsibilities

• Help establish FCCC's approach to worker cooperative development.
• Identify sectors and businesses where worker ownership could realistically be established.
• Identify potential founding members and prospective worker-owners.
• Research appropriate legal and organisational structures.
• Develop practical cooperative business models.
• Investigate sources of cooperative finance, grants and investment.
• Establish relationships with existing worker cooperatives and cooperative organisations.
• Identify potential premises, suppliers, customers and commercial partners.
• Develop business plans and financial models for prospective cooperatives.
• Help develop FCCC's proposed Workers Cooperative Federation.
• Establish practical procedures for supporting new cooperatives.
• Help identify opportunities for cooperation between future FCCC-affiliated enterprises.
• Contribute to proposals for cooperative housing, land ownership and cooperative finance where appropriate.
• Report progress to the wider founding organisation. First 3–6 month objectives The successful volunteer would be expected to work towards: Mapping existing cooperative resources and organisations in the relevant area. Identifying several realistic opportunities for a first cooperative project. Establishing contact with existing cooperatives and potential partners. Developing an initial cooperative-development framework. Producing a feasibility assessment for at least one potential enterprise. Identifying potential founding workers or collaborators. Presenting a concrete proposal for FCCC's first cooperative project. Useful skills and experience
• Cooperative development.
• Business development.
• Entrepreneurship.
• Finance or accounting.
• Economics.
• Project management.
• Commercial experience.
• Community organising.
• Experience working within a cooperative is particularly valuable. Formal qualifications are not essential. What we are looking for Someone who sees a problem and asks: "How do we actually build this?" rather than stopping at: "Has anyone written about this before?" Time commitment Approximately 3–6 hours per week initially, with flexibility around other commitments. As projects develop, greater involvement may become possible or necessary.