Co-operatives – making a difference to business

Northern Ireland Co-op, in association with the Co-operative Forum NI and the Social Economy Network, is hosting a conference on 22 February 2008 in the Baby Grand, Grand Opera House, Belfast.

The focus will be on social enterprise with an emphasis on the co-operative sector, which is highly distinctive not only in historical provenance and statutory recognition but how it actively trades.

The co-operative difference and the global co-operative model will be at the heart of the conference.

Participants will be invited to look at opportunities for the transfer of expertise and inter-sectoral collaboration in relation to policy development.

The afternoon session will outline how to access support mechanisms available.

Among the guest speakers are representatives from the Co-operative Group, Co-operatives UK, Co-operative Development Scotland, Ulster Community Investment Trust (UCIT), Irish League of Credit Unions, Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), the National Association of Building Co-operatives (NABCO) and Fane Valley Co-operative. In addition the conference will have input from both DETI and Invest NI.

To register, please email: Gillian.hannah@coop.co.uk, call 028 9335 7509 or write to: Membership Department, Northern Ireland Co-op, 75 Belfast Road, Carrickfergus, BT38 8PH.