Lincolnshire Co-operative Development Agency

About Lincolnshire Co-operative Development Agency

At Cooperative Development Lincolnshire we support the development of Cooperatives and Social Enterprises throughout Lincolnshire and beyond.

Whether you are already committed to a cooperative venture, interested in cooperative options, would like to learn more or simply curious about how the cooperative way can help with something you are passionate about, we’re glad you’re here.

What is a Co-operative?
Often Cooperatives can look like any other business. So what makes them different? What makes co-operatives unique is that they are run not by institutional investors or distant shareholders, but by their members. People like you and me – customers, employees, residents, farmers, artists, taxi drivers…

Whether it’s a football club like Barcelona or a large retailer, your local co-op pub or group of dairy farmers, co-operatives are successful businesses. There are nearly 7,000 independent co-operatives across the UK, working in all parts of the economy. Together they contribute more than £34 billion to the British economy.


They range from multi-billion pound businesses to small community enterprises. They work in everything from healthcare to housing, renewables to retail, sports to social care. And they operate across the country.

People of all kinds benefit through membership of their co-operative. Farmers are strengthening their position in competitive and global markets. Employees are having a say in how their organisations are run. Customers are influencing the businesses they use. Local residents are saving vital services.

As businesses owned and run by their members, co-operatives offer a solution to the growing sense of powerlessness people feel over business and the economy, giving them control of the businesses they are closest to – whether they shop at them, work at them or supply them.