Developing Members

DEVELOPING MEMBERS

Members are the driving force in any co-operative and it is essential that they work effectively, both as individuals and collectively, to take the business forward. Underpinned by co-operative values and principles, the Intermediate Certificate and Advanced Diploma programmes in Co-operation and Mutuality equip members with the knowledge and skills required to fulfil their roles in their organisation. Learning takes place through attendance at workshops and assessment is assignment based. Individual ‘units’ from both these awards can be delivered in-house by arrangement.  There are no external examinations. The college works in partnership with BTEC/ EDEXCEL, the qualification awarding body, to quality assure the assessment process. The Co-operative Learning and Development’s Member and Director Training Framework is designed to develop knowledge, understanding and skills to achieve effective co-operation. The framework consists of four programmes:

Co-operative College Intermediate Certificate in Co-operation and Mutuality

Co-operative College Advanced Diploma in Co-operation and Mutual Directorship

Co-operative College Specialist Units
Co-operative College Housing Governance

The programmes can be tailored to meet the needs of individual societies and delivered “in-house”. The feedback from the courses has been excellent but don’t take out word for it – this is what they say. For more information please contact us by phone on 0161 246 2926 or by email.

To book a course, please fill in this form.

Key – (C) = Core unit; (O) = Optional unit.

Intermediate Certificate in Co-operation and Mutuality
(8 Units: 6 Core, 2 Optional)

This certificate equips members and directors with essential skills and knowledge for their role. It is delivered as a series of individual units with assessment during the workshops.

• Values and Principles (C)
• Developing Active Members (C)
• Understanding Financial Accounts(C)
• Working Together Effectively (C)
• Ethical Co-operative, Mutual and Social Enterprise (C)
• Good Governance(C)
• A Director’s Legal Responsibilities (O)
• Presentation Skills 1 (O)
• Chairing Skills 1 (O)
• Building Better Links in the Community (O)
• Improving Personal Performance 1 (O)
• Functions, Roles and Responsibilities (O)
• Evaluating Organisational Performance (O)
• Understanding Management Accounts (O)
• Introduction to Computers (O)
• The Challenges to Co-operative and Mutual Enterprise in the 21st Century (O)
• International Co-operation and Mutuality (O)
• Climate Change (O)

Co-operative College Intermediate Certificate in Co-operation and Mutuality

Advanced Diploma in Co-operative and Mutual Directorship
(9 Units: 6 Core, 3 Optional)

The Diploma is aimed at co-operative, mutual and social enterprise directors who wish to extend their skills and knowledge of the broader context of the movement. It is delivered as a series of individual 1 and 2 day units. Assessment occurs both in each workshop and one post-course assignment or project.

• Values and Principles (C)
• Developing Active Members (C)
• Effective Governance (C)
• Creating Effective Boards (C)
• Financial Decision Making (C)
• Evaluating the Co-operative, Mutual and Social Enterprise Advantage (C)
• Legal Functions, Roles and Responsibilities (O)
• Enabling Effective Participation (O)
• Social Responsibility in Co-operatives, Mutuals and Social Enterprises (O)
• Successful Co-operative, Mutual and Social Enterprise (O)
• Presentation Skills 2 (O)
• Chairing Skills 2 (O)
• Improving Personal Performance 2 (O)
• Understanding the Importance of Diversity (O)
• Developing a Strategic Approach (O)
• Strategy and the Wider Social Agenda (O)
• European Co-operatives and Mutuals (O)
• The Environmental Challenge for Co-operatives (O)

Co-operative College Advanced Diploma in Co-operation and Mutual Directorship

Specialist Units

We also offer specialist units that do not count towards the qualifications in the Member and director Framework as they are not currently accredited by the awarding body. However, they can be taken as part of a Continued Professional Development Programme.

• Climate Change
• Understanding Co-operative Financial Services
• Understanding the Funeral Business
• Understanding the Travel Business
• Understanding Food Retail

Co-operative College Specialist Units

Housing Governance

Co-operative learning is widely used across the world. Our approach embeds and promotes co-operative values and principles into our learning programmes. We also believe that learning should be enjoyable, stimulating and motivating. We respect people’s prior experience and their different backgrounds and work hard with them to ensure that every workshop meets their needs. The Co-operative College offers a range of inspiring, interactive one and two day courses for housing co-operative directors. The courses are grouped under two headings, Governance in Co-operatives and Making Meetings Work.

Aims and Objectives for each course are available here: Governance Courses Co-operative College Housing Governance