About Jo

Jo has been an active co-operator since 1993 when she co-founded Equinox housing co-operative. As Business Manager and founder of Olive Co-operative, Jo promoted responsible tourism and fair trade with the Middle East. She took 200 clients in small study groups to Israel/Palestine, brought fairly traded Palestinian olive oil and other products to the UK market, and raised £30,000 from 400 donors to plant new olive trees in Palestine. At the Co-operative Group, as Head of Co-operative Action (now the Enterprise Hub), Jo promoted co-operative solutions in every sector - from care co-ops to car clubs.

Jo now specialises in co-op business advice, income generation, event organisation, Fair Trade and international co-operative solutions - linking the UK and international co-operative movements. Jo promotes co-operative values and principles with a wide range of people - young people in schools, third sector and social enterprise fora, co-operative businesses, and study visits to Mondragon co-operative federation in Spain.

As a member of Co-operative Business Consultants, Jo is frequently asked to deliver co-operative development through the Advice & Training program. Jo is Business Development Manager for both Co-operatives North West and Co-operatives Yorkshire & the Humber, delivering high quality member services to over 600 co-operatives in these two regions.

Recent clients include the Co-operative Group, Advice & Training, Unicorn Grocery, Lakamka, Sail Boat Project, Hungry Snail, Social Enterprise Lancashire, Together Works CIC (Social Enterprise Manchester), Recycle IT, Co-operatives UK, Co-operatives North West, Co-operative & Mutual Solutions, Co-operative Education Trust Scotland, Zaytoun CIC, Sindyanna of Galilee, and Palestine Fair Trade Association.

Experience

2003 - current: International Co-operative Solutions
Lead Consultant

Clients from 2003 to date include:

• Lakamka, Sail Boat Project, Hungry Snail, Recycle IT, Preston Green Centre, Ex-cell Designs, and Northmoor Community Association: Business advice and mentoring to increase clients’ income from trading, grants and improved performance.
• Co-operatives North West and Co-operatives Yorkshire & the Humber: Business Development Manager for both regional co-operative councils, delivering high quality member services to over 600 co-operatives across two regions.
• Unicorn Grocery: Training and resources for improved performance management within this award winning workers coop.
• Co-operatives North West, Development Education Project and Social Enterprise Lancashire: All aspects of client’s major conferences and events.
• the Co-operative Group, United Co-operatives, Co-operative Education Trust Scotland, Young Co-operatives and Co-operatives North West: Face to face interactive promotion of Fair Trade and co-operatives to young people, teachers, co-op members and social enterprises.
• Together Works: Researched and wrote business plan and funding bids for ‘Together Works CIC: Social Enterprise Manchester’. Delivered training, advice and best practice in co-operative values and principles.
• the Co-operative College: Development and delivery of ‘Co-ops and the Community’ and ‘Co-ops and Sustainability’ training courses to elected co-op members.
  Co-operatives UK: Represent worker co-op interests on national committee, the Employee Co-operatives Council.
• Zaytoun CIC, Sindyanna and Palestine Fair Trade Association: Expanding the market for fairly traded Palestinian olive oil and food products. Organising fair trade producer visits to UK.
• Shared Interest and Equal Exchange: In-country reports and photo-journalism on Fair Trade producers.

2003 - 2007: Olive Co-operative Ltd
Business Manager

• Walked the talk of co-operative values and principles.
• Founder member and Director of co-op business.
• Managed 200 clients in small study groups to Israel/Palestine.
• Raised £30,000 from 400 donors to plant 7,500 new olive trees
  in Palestine.
• Import, wholesale and retail of 100+ fairly traded Palestinian products.
• Ongoing development of all systems for growing business.

2001 - 2003: the Co-operative Group (CWS) Ltd Co-op
Strategy Manager & Head of Co-operative Action

• Built and delivered Co-operative Action partnerships. Managed £2m+ grant program plus £1m+ Community Dividend scheme.
• Pioneered Group-wide community investment strategy - benchmarking business in top six most generous UK businesses.
• Forged strong relationships within UK, Israeli, Palestinian and Swedish co-operatives, and across the political spectrum.
• Drove Social Goals agenda with the Head of Co-op Strategy.

1999 - 2001: Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd Membership
Resources Manager

• Championed Co-operative Commission findings on social goals, co-operative
  advantage and commercial success.
• Developed twenty seven tangible member benefits - generating £74,000
  sales within six months.
• Built strong working relationships within merged co-operative businesses
  at all levels and in all UK Regions.

1996 - 1999: Bully Free Zone
Project Co-ordinator

• Line manager of five-strong staff team with 200+ volunteers.
• Forged borough-wide stakeholder partnerships with sixteen schools
  to reduce bullying.
• Secured draw-down of £1/2m Dept for Education & Employment
  funding to combat social exclusion and expand the organisation.
• Devised and delivered training to 200+ teachers and pupils pa.

1993 - 1996: Equinox Housing Co-operative Ltd
Founder Member and Treasurer

• Raised £100,000 investment and loans from Co-op Bank, Radical
  Routes and private investors to buy 8 bed property.
• Ensured best practice and compliance with IPS legislation.

1990 - 2005: Re-evaluation Co-Counselling
Approved teacher

• Taught peer counselling courses and self development through paired
  listening and group work.
• Organised and took part in local play days, family workshops, national
  weekend retreats and international conferences.

1990 - 1995: Underground Power Co-ordinator

• Founder and activist in young people’s rights voluntary organisation.
• Led residential and weekly activities with teenagers and young adults.
• Forged partnerships with others to campaign for UN Convention on Rights
  of the Child, particularly Article 12 - young people’s right to have
  their opinion counted on matters that affect them.

1992 - 1993: Manchester University Student Union
Academic Affairs Officer, Executive Committee

• Won contested election to sabbatical position.
• Represented student body to politicians, media and university.
• Collective accountability for all aspects of Student Union, including
  income generation.

Qualifications

1989 - 1992: Manchester University: B.Soc.Sci. Sociology Degree IIi

Training

Recent training courses and conferences have included small business
management, co-operative governance, money laundering law, the international
co-op movement, project management, strategies for impact and influence,
media, performance review, employment law, fostering, first aid, fire
marshal training.

Languages

Good everyday understanding of Arabic, French and Spanish.

References

• 
• Iain Macdonald, former Head of Co-operative Strategy, the Co-operative
  Group. Now Director General, International Co-operative Alliance, 15
  Route des Morillons, 1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland. Fax:
  +41 (0)22 798 4122. Iain.Macdonald[at]ica.coop
• Helen Seymour, former chair of Co-operative Action management
  group, Co-operatives UK, Holyoake House, Hanover Street, Manchester
  M60 0AS. helen.seymour[at]cooperatives-uk.coop
• See Client Testimonials