Co-op in the spotlight

This issue � 3D logistics, a manufacturing business with a national customer base and situated on the border between Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.

Following the loss of a major contract in 2002, an industrial shelving company went into voluntary administration. It�s employees, however, decided to save the business and formed a worker co-operative to take-over and run the business.

The result was 3D logistics; having now been trading for a year, it has not only safeguarded all 20 jobs that would otherwise have been lost, but has also doubled its turnover in the last 6 months.

Contact: 3D Logistics on 01767 688300

if you�d like your co-op publicised in future editions, either to introduce it or to highlight specific issues, please let us know. 

CCDA �loses� staff

CCDA sadly sees Adrian Ashton leaving at the start of July. Adrian joined   CCDA in early 2002 and has had a huge impact on it since then, restoring its profile amongst local, regional and national agencies and projects; gaining public recognition for the work and value of the agency from the DTI and at one stage increasing its staffing contingent to three times what it was when he took up post as a part-time worker.

Steve Emerson will be continuing to work at CCDA and another worker is currently being recruited.

�Bite Back! � the return of the co-op�

The current issue of new internationalist focuses almost exclusively on the co-operative model and movement both in the UK and globally. Profiling a number of different organisations that have used the co-operative model to benefit their situation, CCDA has secured a number of copies that are available on request (NI is normally only available on subscription).

Bursary available for women in Cambridgeshire wanting to pay for training or attend courses

A number of bursaries are being made available by the �Cambridge BusinessWomen�s Network� to support women from Cambridgeshire who are seeking support for their �lifelong learning� goals.  The biggest challenges to overcome to succeed are time and money, usually around the cost of training courses, travel and childcare.

For further information and an application form (which must be completed and submitted by July 5^th 2004), please contact Sara Garnham on 01223 518851, or email [email protected]

Co-op 2 co-op international

 As some of you will be aware, the co-operative movement launched an initiative some years ago called C2C (co-operative to co-operative), aimed at encouraging inter-trading between different co-op enterprises.

This initiative has recently developed an international dimension, and currently 10 co-ops are being sought to partner with one of a variety of co-ops throughout Africa.

For more information on the co-ops and what would be involved, please contact Cambridge CDA or visit: www.cooperatives-uk.coop/c2c

AGM with rhythm!

 CCDA will be staging its AGM this with a difference!

The AGM is being held at its offices in Alex Wood Hall in Cambridge, and at 5:30pm delegates will be invited to join a Djembe drumming workshop. Following this, there will be a buffet and refreshments provided by local co-operatives and social enterprises.

There is no charge for the AGM, however, if you would like to attend, please contact us so we can ensure that we cater adequately.

New on-line forum for the co-op movement

Some readers will know of �co-opnet� an e-mail based forum set up to enable people from varying co-operatives to share ideas and knowledge with each other.

The forum has recently become so popular that it has �moved� onto a web-site to cope with the volume of users and information � to access it, and share your experiences and gain the combined knowledge and wisdom of many others throughout the �co-op world�, log on at www.co-opnet.coop

Co-operative solution to reducing your phone bills

CCDA recently became an �affinity agent� for The Phone Co-op � the only co-operative telecomms provider in the UK. As such, you can now �sign-up� as a customer of The Phone Co-op through CCDA, and save around 33% on your call charges. In return, CCDA receives a small commission payment that it uses to pay for the services it delivers to local co-ops and other social enterprises. To sign-up, or to find out more, please see our website:

www.colc.co.uk/cambridge/ccda and follow the �phone co-op� link.