"It’s been quite the year, hasn’t it? If 2023–24 was about building momentum, then 2024–25 has been about turning that momentum into meaningful change. And let’s be honest—there’s never been a better time to be part of the Cooperative Councils’ Innovation Network (CCIN).

We’ve seen the architects of our movement—Jim McMahon MP, Baroness Sharon Taylor, and Steve Reed MP—step into government roles, bringing co-operative values right into the heart of national policy. It’s like watching your favourite football team suddenly be in the Premier League. And they’ve not forgotten where they came from.

With the government’s pledge to double the size of the co-operative and mutual sector, CCIN is no longer just a network—it’s a launchpad. Our councils are leading the way in community wealth building, fair employment, and democratic innovation. We’re not just responding to change; we’re shaping it."

Jim Robbins
Chair, Cooperative Councils' Innovation Network
Leader of Swindon Council