LONDON CO-OPERATIVE SKILLS SEMINAR PROGRAMME UPDATE

On 12^th March 2015 Kate Whittle delivered an excellent seminar on Being a Good Co-op Member where we explored co-operative attitudes, behaviour, culture and values.  We assessed aspects of rank and power in a group context with regard to contextual, spiritual and psychological issues.  We examined the blocks to co-operative culture and tensions within the work force and practical ways of dealing with these through role play. The feedback demonstrated that all the attendees felt that they had a very productive day and they would be taking away actions to deal with at their place of work at both an individual and co-operative level.

We thoroughly recommend others sign up to the rest of these in this series.

All of the seminars are to develop co-operative skills and improve the performance.  This programme has been developed in partnership with members and responds to a survey conducted last year. All the seminars are from 9.30 am – 5.00 pm and include materials, refreshments and lunch.

Venue

Business Development Centre, 7-15 Greatorex Street, London E1 5NF.

The venue is a short walk from Aldgate East, Aldgate and Whitechapel tube stations.

Buses 25 / 205 / 254 and alight at “Fieldgate Street” bus stop.

Greatorex Street is almost opposite the Whitechapel Mosque in Whitechapel Road.

Effective meetings and decision making – Phil Burton

This seminar will help you improve how to participate in or facilitate effective meetings and decision making within your co-operative. The seminar covers: roles in meetings, basic facilitation techniques for idea generation, decision making tools with an emphasis on reaching consensus.

How to manage without a manager – Rebecca Smith

This seminar will help you improve how you manage your business collectively. It will look at how a business can be organised so that management tasks can be carried out effectively in a group where no-one is boss. For example: keeping an oversight of the business as a whole, creating a workplace culture where all members get engaged with running the business, making sure everyone works to a high standard, supporting members, distributing tasks and managing workloads. The seminar will provide tips, practical techniques and chances to reflect on what you are doing and learn from people in other co-operatives.

Strategic planning and managing change – Kate Whittle

This seminar will help you improve participation in strategic planning, helping your co-operative to develop or cope with change. The seminar covers: exploring shared goals and what motivates your members, participative approaches to strategic planning, typical challenges and managing change.

Communication and working with conflict – Carl, Rhizome

This seminar will help you explore, understand and build the attitudes and skills needed to work with conflict & difference within your co-operative. This seminar covers: learning to listen and communicate more effectively to move conflict forward, share experience with other co-operatives and learn from their best practice as well as from their mistakes.

 Fees

The standard price for the full day training is £75.

Co-operatives UK ask those who afford to pay £100 to help some who cannot afford the full fee to enable them to attend at £50. Sign up via clicking this link.