Project Partners

	Co‑operativesUK is the Lead Body co-ordinating and managing the project and reporting to the Small Business Service. Co‑operativesUK is the apex body for co‑operative organisations in the UK.
	The Plunkett Foundation is an educational charity which supports the development of rural group enterprise worldwide. It draws on 80 years' practical experience of working with partners from the public and private sectors to promote and implement self help solutions to rural problems. The Foundation is providing the research resources for the project and drawing together the findings to produce the tools and materials for use in the dissemination and mainstreaming processes.
	Co-active Limited is the partner working in the Devon region. Founded sixteen years ago, Co-active has a long and successful record developing social enterprises (e.g. co‑operatives, community businesses and community development trusts) in the South West.
	Economic Partnerships Limited are based in Northumberland and are a team of specialist advisors in social enterprise development. The team has a long experience of most aspects of social enterprise. They have been involved in government policy development, planned and managed multi-million pound projects, helped establish some of the most successful social enterprises around, written books and much else besides.
	Voluntary Action Cumbria (VAC) is the Rural Community Council for the County of Cumbria. A company limited by guarantee, it is a registered charity, responsible for the delivery of a wide range of advice, information and support services to rural communities. Established over 50 years ago, it is part of a national network of Rural Community Councils across England.
	Co‑operative and Mutual Solutions Ltd (CMS) CMS is an employee-owned business providing specialist consultancy to co‑operatives and social enterprises. CMS's three consultant Directors have a proven track record in developing co‑operatives and social enterprises (worker co‑operatives and employee owned businesses, community businesses, social firms, credit unions and other community finance initiatives). CMS is working with VAC in the Cumbria region.