Welcome to the Wales Co-operative Centre Web Site

The Wales Co-operative Centre supports the development of co-operatives and social enterprises in Wales as well as tackling social exclusion and bringing economically inactive individuals back into the world of work.

The Centre's business advisors work across Wales, empowering individuals and communities to take control of their future and establish businesses which have social and ethical goals as well as sound economic objectives.

The importance of the social economy in delivering jobs and services locally is recognised by Government at all levels. Established by the Wales TUC 1982, the Wales Co-operative Centre is a key partner in developing this sector of the Welsh economy.

The Wales Co-operative Centre manages several major initiatives in Wales:

• The Business Support and Training projects target co-operatives and social enterprises, providing them with advice, skills and knowledge to become successful trading enterprises. Since January 2004, the Centre has helped establish more than 200 businesses leading to the creation or safeguarding of over 1,000 jobs, while over 2,000 individuals have benefited from Centre training courses.
• Launched in January 2006, Communities @One is a Welsh Assembly Government initiative. The Wales Co-operative Centre runs the scheme which enables people in the most disadvantaged communities to increase their access to new technologies and develop their computer skills. The scheme enables community and voluntary groups in Communities First areas to take full advantage of information, services and opportunities new technologies offer.
• The Centre works in partnership with Credit Unions in Wales and manages several financial inclusion initiatives, such as the Department for Work and Pensions Growth Fund and the Debt Redemption and Money Advice scheme. Through this work, the Centre is at the forefront of the drive to eliminate financial exclusion in Wales.