Developing a fairer and more resilient regional economy by supporting more worker and employee ownership through the West Midlands Ownership Hub programme (WMOH).
Find out more about the Ownership Hub programme.
Peter Lord and David Sproxton, founders of Aardman Animations, on the day it became employee-owned in 2018.
“True creative integrity and innovation are underpinned by the ability to be an independent thinker, establishing an open, honest and collaborative culture, and creating a motivated and inspired workforce – all of which are the cornerstones of being employee-owned.”
Sean Clarke, Managing Director Aardman Animations
An example of a creative co-op pooling skills, a win-win for everyone.
Ownership Hub Launch press:
Solihull Observer, Public Sector Executive and Coop News.
Co-operatives UK and Employee Ownership Association, have partnered up with the West Midlands Combined Authority to raise awareness of the benefits of worker and employee ownership to freelancers, new and existing business owners, advisors and policy makers through the West Midlands Ownership Hub (WMOH) programme.
The Ownership Hub is working to establish more worker co-operatives and employee-owned businesses, as a way to enhance business performance, boost local economies and empower people in their working lives. The focus for the West Midlands region is on supporting freelancers, creatives and businesses in the arts, culture and creative sector to explore and adopt worker employee ownership.
As part of the campaign, a video 'Be Part of It' was launched to showcase the Ownership Hub Programme. Be Par of It is a collaboration between Birmingham's renowned Poet Laureate, Jasmine Gardosi and organisations in the region that enjoy the power of shared ownership.
What the Ownership Hub does
- Help freelancers and other innovators to set up co-ops that support their creativity.
- Enable creative business owners to share ownership of their organisation with their staff.
What the Ownership Hub Offers:
- Dream Together Workshop: free half-day workshop to test your co-op dream with a skilled creative facilitator.
- Business Support for Co-ops Programme: opportunity to apply for six days free consultancy to help you set up a co-op (£100 commitment fee).
- Succession Starter Seminar: support for founders of creative organisations in thinking about who could own their business after them.
- Single Explorer Programme: opportunity to apply for six months free membership of the Employee Ownership Association, including access to other members and expertise.
- Community Shares Support: opportunity to apply for funding and free expertise for organising community buy-outs.
Coming in 2025 - Caribbean Creative Convention and Inkongbator.
On Saturday 8 February, a Caribbean Creative Convention will take place at the Legacy Centre of Excellence as part of the WMOH programme. Hosted by Nikki Tapper with keynote speaker Dr Gregory John Roberts, this event is for freelancers, entrepreneurs and business owners of Caribbean and African heritage. It’s for all types of creatives to learn about empowerment through collective ownership, seize opportunities for growth via cooperative structures, collaborate for resilience in business, access free support, and hear stories from co-operatives. There will also be music, food and entertainment!
The benefits of worker and employee ownership
There are around 1,100 worker and employee owned businesses in the UK. Together they contribute over £40 billion to the UK economy and provide more than 200k jobs. The initiative is to help creatives have more control over their work through owning the organisation in which they work. Evidence shows that;
- Organisations are more productive and resilient.
- Fosters a culture that empowers people to increase performance and impact.
- Staff are personally invested with better mental health, more confidence and a sense of purpose.
- Investment in more training and skills, pay a fairer basic wage, address inequality, diversity and inclusion.
- Provide community support, more charitable donations and work to improve environmental sustainability.
For more information on any of these opportunities above, contact Jo Ind, West Midlands Ownership Hub Co-ordinator at: jo.ind@wmca.org.uk
The Ownership Hub is delivered by Employee Ownership Association and Co-operatives UK and funded by Power to Change.