Open call for evidence

Business support for co-operatives and non-financial mutuals

• From: Department for Business and Trade
• Published: 26 November 2025

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Summary

This call for evidence invites responses on the experiences of co-operatives, non-financial mutuals and stakeholders in starting, growing and mutualising.

This call for evidence is being held on another website.

This call for evidence closes at
11:59pm on 18 February 2026

Call for evidence description

This call for evidence focuses on how the government can continue to support co-operative and non-financial mutual businesses to start, grow and sustain, as well as existing businesses to transition into a co-operative or mutual model. 

It covers:

• data and experiences of co-operatives and non-financial mutuals across sectors
• the start-up experiences of co-operatives and non-financial mutuals
• how co-operatives and non-financial mutuals grow and sustain
• the experiences of businesses that have mutualised, such as transitioned to a co-operative or mutual model
• experiences of co-operatives and non-financial mutuals in accessing business support

We want to hear from industry, academics and civil society across Great Britain (GB). It may be of relevance to:

• co-operative and non-financial mutual businesses operating in GB
• members or potential members of co-operatives and non-financial mutuals in GB
• entrepreneurs interested in establishing a co-operative or a non-financial mutual in GB
• organisations that represent co-operatives or non-financial mutuals in GB
• academics with an interest in co-operatives or non-financial mutuals, or the broader social economy in GB
• public limited companies and other businesses interested in transitioning to a co-operative or non-financial mutual model in GB

Financial mutuals are out of scope.

Documents

Call for evidence on business support for co-operatives and non-financial mutuals

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Published 26 November 2025