What is CAN?

CAN provides specialist development services and training to co-operatives and community enterprises through business advice, training design and delivery, group facilitation, feasibility studies, development planning support and accessing appropriate funding.

CAN delivers these services direct to co-operatives and community groups, through contracts with Co-operative Development Bodies(CDBs), local authorites, government or European funded projects and other organisations concerned with local regeneration and care.

Meet the team! [Link to info about CAN team]

Our Mission Statement combines our commercial and social objectives:

"TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CO-OPERATIVES AND OTHER SOCIAL ENTERPRISES" and "TO BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A WORKER CO-OPERATIVE"

In pursuance of this mission CAN has the following aims:

• To be a good employer.
• To be an active democracy.
• To be an active part of the co-operative movement.
• To be socially responsible.
• To identify the development needs of co-operative enterprises.
• To develop training and development tools and methodologies to meet these needs.
• To deliver services sensitively and economically.

Do you support our mission? We have a loanstock offer that enables people to support our mission and work financially. See "Invest in CAN" below.

Don't take our word for it! What people have said about CAN's training and consultancy services.

"Interesting and informative - A well run and well presented course that provided specialist information that met both general and individual needs. Highly recommended for anyone looking at starting a social enterprise."

"We wouldn't be where we stand today without CAN's help. They saved us a chunk of money, and allowed us to go forward without much of the stress of the traditional business start up. They are user-friendly, supportive, effective and knowledgeable. I especially valued the internet contact and support."

"We have found the programme very useful in formulating our plans for future development, in particular the creation of a community interest company."

"Very helpful in giving clarity to the most appropriate structure for the development of new premises for the provision of healthcare. Helpful contacts list and ethos development"

"In an area of my life, where I have been taking small and tentative steps, I've just been given the chance to take a huge world record leap. My dream to become a documentary maker for social causes has been ignited, inspired and invigorated. "

"The training and support from CAN has been of great use and help in assisting with the development of our project."

"Gave clear, usable answers to all the questions we had, that had been bugging us for ages."

"I have found the training very useful and enjoyable. Having previously worked in commercial environments it's great to see potential social enterprises and other voluntary and community sector organisations receiving this very important training. What's very special is that whilst developing good business skills to help us survive, CAN ensure their message is delivered in such a way that encourages this sector to continue to operate in partnership and full collaboration with each other without competing against each other, in order to strengthen the entire sector and make it sustainable."

"I enjoy getting information on how to carry out pricing and valuing the time I spend on each task. Information about credible referral gave me trust to smoothly confirm developing our work."

"This consultancy time has helped me develop a much clearer picture of what we need to be doing over the next year to establish our work and our client-base. I feel really encouraged and excited about our prospects, and energised to get on with it."

"Support from CAN has been a life-line, and has helped keep my ideas moving forward to a point where we can trade as a business. The ongoing support after receiving training has really made a difference."

"Very helpful. Put clarity on even the most basic things I hadn't thought of. Feel supported."

"Invaluable one to one sessions full of knowledge and past cases. A great source for business set up to progression routes. A positive can do attitude."

" Made to think for oneself. Discussions well thought out, so we had to work, not sit and listen. Recommend your service to all"

"The course was delivered in a very user-friendly way, and the trainer took care to answer every question in detail. His answers and observations were well considered and encouraged creative thinking. I think all attendees gained a lot of confidence to pursue their aims"

"This has been an invaluable training service. It has given me far more confidence to move ahead, and raised numerous issues I would not have thought of. It has enabled me to think 'What do I need to do?' Instead of ' What can I / can't I do?' and made it more approachable."

"I found the Social Enterprise Start Up Training Programme service very valuable for developing my fledging ideas into something with weight, potential and possibilities. I found the CAN team to be very well informed, exceedingly knowledgeable and very helpful"

"I have really enjoyed the training. I now feel empowered to take the first steps towards setting up a small business. Thanks to everyone!"

"We found the course to be exactly what we needed to assess and develop our business. All the training was very clearly and professionally delivered."

"Most effective training ever attended. Training delivery was excellent as trainer really delivered what the group wanted."

" I found that the assistance our organisation received from CAN was important for two main reasons. Firstly, we were able to identify areas in our project that would determine our success; and secondly, we were given guidance in the methods of running our enterprise, including business planning; and most importantly not losing the factors that make our organization improve."

"Has helped enormously to form a social enterprise. The structure of the enterprise; the social aims of the enterprise; how to get funding. And help finding the way forward."

"The training and guidance for CAN has increased my knowledge and confidence immensely for setting up a social enterprise. Without it I would not have been aware of the many implications, despite having read reams of information from other sources. Meeting others who share common aims, and having advisors who have been so helpful have been the greatest contribution to an ambitious idea becoming a viable venture."

"This has been a very positive and informative training course. The individual day courses were very pertinent, and balanced between business and ethos. The one-to-one session focus on specifics was excellent. Business consultant / advisor invaluable. Thank you so much."

"Very good - took me from little knowledge base to an understanding to be able to start working in the social enterprise area. I would recommend the programme to anyone who wants to go into social enterprise"

CAN has assembled a team of skilled specialists (see CAN team page [LINK NEEDED]) and resources to provide a full development service for the social economy.

To ensure quality of delivery CAN works to a Professional Code of Conduct (PDF) and Equal Opportunities Policy (PDF) so you can be certain that whoever CAN provides, they will do the work to the CAN standard.

Meet the team! [Link to info about CAN team]

We invite you to support the work of CAN by purchasing loanstock. This will help us to address investment issues that commonly affect common ownership co-operative enterprises, we have decided to operate a loanstock scheme.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a public offer. The investment is only open to people, societies and companies who are actively part of the community of interest supporting co-operative principles, common ownership and the CAN mission.

Further information and an application form can be obtained by using the links below:
CAN Loanstock Information sheet including terms and conditions. [PDF file]
CAN Loanstock application form. [PDF file]

These documents should be read in conjunction with annual accounts and social performance reports available on this website or by contacting us.

Social Accounts and Financial statements can be viewed in PDF format by following the links below.

Financial Statements for 2007-8. [Link to PDF]

Social Accounts report for 2006-7. [Link to PDF]

Financial Statements for 2006-7. [Link to PDF]

Social Accounts report for 2005-6. [Link to PDF]

Financial Statements for 2005-6. [Link to PDF]

Social Accounts report for 2004-5. [Link to PDF]

Financial Statements for 2004-5. [Link to PDF]

Financial statements 2003-4. [Link to PDF]

CAN's policy framework reflects our commitment to the Co-operative Values and Principles and our own mission (see above). In the interests of openness and to give you some insight into the way that CAN operates we have made some available to view here.

Competition with CDBs (Co-operative Development Bodies) [Link]

Disclosure of Company Information [Link]

Environmental Policy [PDF file]

Equal Opportunities Policy [PDF file]

Fairtrade Policy [Link]

Ethical Procurement Policy [PDF file]

Loanstock - see above

Work-Life Balance Policy [Link]