The Cambridge Co-operative Development Agency was established in 1982 and since then it has supported co-operatives in and around Cambridge that have employed hundreds of workers and turned over millions of pounds each year. The Agency offers advice, support and guidance to co-operatives and social enterprises in the Cambridge area and also helps new groups to set up as co-ops.

The CCDA is run by a voluntary Board of Management made up of members of local co-ops. The Board is the employing body, accountable to its membership and Companies House and responsible for the effective management of direction and policy of the CCDA. It is supported by one full time and one part time member of staff.

Meet the staff

What does the CCDA do?

	Co-operative businesses
	Community businesses, such as a day nursery owned and controlled by parents and the children
	Social firms which are co-op businesses offering paid work in a supportive environment, to people with either learning or mental health disabilities
	The promotion of co-operative practice, particularly with regard to people marginalized in the labour market

The CCDA is committed to providing a service which is user-friendly to people who are disadvantaged by the labour market. This will include those who have been made redundant, people from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities or who lack the confidence to approach more formal business advice centres.

These are implemented through promotional activity, guidance, counselling and advice from first contact through to market research, start-up and co-op registration costs. This may also take the form of low cost loans which enable matched funding to be secured for business start-ups.

Our sponsors

Cambridge CDA is supported by Cambridge City Council.