On 19th June Alicia Walker and Becky Crosweller, two graduates off the Business Management Graduate Programme, were given the fantastic opportunity to take some time out of their placements for the first ever attempt at a "Seven Day Co-operative Challenge". Could they really visit seven unique Co-operatives in seven different regions over just seven days?! Discover what they got up to on their adventure in the exciting travel diary below...
Day 1 (Saturday 19th June) – Loch Fyne Oysters
Took off early this morning on a short flight to Glasgow then drove up through the breathtaking Scottish highlands to Cairndow in Argyll. Upon our arrival we met the niece of the organisation’s founder, who explained how Loch Fyne Oysters is now entirely owned by its employees – they’ve had a hands-on role in running the company since it became a co-operative seven years ago. Had a tour of the shop, the restaurant and the oyster farm then sampled some of Loch Fyne’s delicious seafood at a nearby village festival. Alicia had never tried an oyster before, and was surprised by how much she enjoyed it!
Day 2 (Sunday 20th June) – Wool Clip
Started off the day with a scenic drive through Cumbria to Caldbeck, the home of Wool Clip. This Co-operative couldn’t exist if its members didn’t take it in turns to work shifts in the shop, promoting and selling each other’s woollen goods with a strong sense of shared purpose. Everyone was excitedly preparing for Woolfest, a huge arts and crafts festival organised every summer in the Lake District, and Becky helped one busy member weigh out some skeins of wool with a device called an ‘umbrella swift’. Spent the afternoon in the hills overlooking Ullswater lake, where we were lucky enough to spot some Herdwick sheep, a breed highly praised by wool-enthusiasts.
Day 3 (Monday 21st June) – Star Inn
This evening we popped along to a Co-operatively owned pub in Salford; the Star Inn. Some of the regulars shared their story of how they kept their beloved pub alive by buying it at auction just in time for Christmas last year. Since then, the members have been using their invested money to renovate the building, moving the ladies toilets indoors and refurbishing the games room. Today the Star Inn feels like the heart of a close-knit community; a shared space bringing all sorts of people together for a pint of locally brewed real-ale or a game of darts.
Day 4 (Tuesday 22nd June) – Daily Bread
Spent today at Daily Bread; a workers’ Co-operative in Northampton that sells a large range of wholesome foods and specialises in gluten-free, organic and diabetic-friendly ranges. We were shown round the warren of rooms, all buzzing with activity, and then helped some of the workers stack shelves on the shop floor and weigh out hazelnuts in the packing room. Our new colleagues talked to us about the strong social objectives of sharing and mutual support which have always defined the way their co-operative does business. Later on we bought some delicious ingredients from the shop and had a picnic in the park – the olives were particularly delicious!
Day 5 (Wednesday 23rd June) – Clissold Leisure Centre
Down to London today for a visit to Clissold Leisure Centre, part of a social enterprise that exists for the benefit of the communities it operates in. The manager explained to us how the centre promotes social inclusion by encouraging more people to lead fit and healthy lifestyles regardless of their ethnicity, gender, disability or financial background. It was great to talk to some Clissold locals who used the gym facilities regularly and it became clear to us what an important role the centre plays in Clissold community. Later on in the afternoon we met Ed Mayo, Secretaty General of Co-operatives UK, to update him our challenge so far and ask him a few questions about his own role in the Co-operative movement.
Day 6 (Thursday 24th June) – Westmill Wind Farm
The sixth day of the challenge saw us in a more rural setting; out in the fields of Wiltshire, at Westmill wind farm. 2,500 people in the local area hold shares in this investor’s Co-operative, making it the largest 100% community owned wind farm in the UK. Together, these members decided that a percentage of the profits made would go towards funding community projects with the view to making people more aware of green energy. Recently, school children from the local area helped to give new and exciting names to the five turbines at the farm.
Day 7 (Friday 25th June) – Dulas
Last stop on the challenge and the longest journey yet, into mid-Wales. Arrived in Machynlleth for midday and headed straight to Dulas, where the focus is on providing solutions for renewable energy sources like solar power and hydroelectricity. Everyone at this Co-operative takes a break at 1pm to eat a home-cooked lunch together and we were invited to join the group, giving an immediate sense of warmth and togetherness. We had a chat with some workers about their roles and it was clear that everyone was passionate about what their business stands for as well as the environment in which they work. Late afternoon saw us return to Aberystwyth for the night for a long walk along the coast and a hearty Welsh dinner – the perfect end to a fantastic week!
Questions to Alicia and Becky:
Q: Why did you get involved in the Seven Day Co-operative Challenge?
A: We both love getting out and about, so when the Group's Membership Department was looking for enthusiastic volunteers to travel around the country visiting different Co-operatives we jumped at the chance! One of the best things about the Management Scheme is the variety of opportunities that come up; you really never know what you'll be getting involved with next.
Q: What was the purpose of the project?
A: It was part of Co-operatives Fortnight; a celebration of the strength of Co-operation across the UK. Our aim was to raise awareness of the huge variety of unique, independent Co-operatives that exist today by visiting them and documenting our experiences along the way.
A: How did you publicise your journey?
A: We communicated with a wide audience of followers through various social media channels such as Twitter, Facebook and the Co-operative Group's very own networking site, The Hive. We also shared our travel journal and photos on the business's Intranet, meaning over 6000 colleagues could follow our journey every step of the way.
A: What did you learn from the experience?
As well as learning loads about different co-operative businesses we also picked up plenty of new skills. For example, we learnt how to use digital film production equipment effectively and how to then edit and produce the footage with specialist software. One of the most difficult obstacles we faced was trying to get shy people to relax and open up in front of the camera, a skill we got much better at as the week progressed!
Q: What was the highlight of the week?
A: In London we were lucky enough to meet Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK (the umbrella organisation that represents all co-operative enterprises across the country.) It was so interesting talking to him about his own perspective on the strength of Co-operation in the UK, and he was very friendly and personable. He even invited us to Co-operatives UK’s next group meeting to talk about our experience – an opportunity for us to find out more about the organization, and great exposure as graduates, too!
Q: Where can we see some of the footage from the Challenge?
You can look on our Facebook group (Co-operative Challenge) or visit the Membership Website to see us being interviewed by Paul Hendy for a Co-operatives Live, a webcast broadcast on 28th June and available to watch on-demand now.