Co-op launches £5m fund
A £5 million programme of support for co-operative businesses has been launched with the aim of rebuilding public trust in the economy.
The Co-operative Group said it wants to help new and existing co-operatives by pledging financial help over the next three years.
Michael Fairclough, the Co-operative Group's head of community and campaigns, said: ``Co-operatives provide a fair and sustainable way to do business.
"The financial crisis exposed deep flaws in economic and business practices and people have awoken to the co-operative model and its merits as a modern, effective and relevant way of doing business.
"Co-operatives could go a long way to rebuilding public trust and help create a more balanced economy.
"Highly successful co-operative businesses operate across every sector of our economy and in practically every country across the world and yet here, in the UK, they are still viewed as being outside of the business mainstream.
"The co-operative economy is vibrant and makes an invaluable contribution to our society, environment and to the wider economy.
"We, together with policy makers, have a responsibility to spread the message about co-operatives and help them realise their potential."
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 19 C
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