OXFORDSHIRE could become a leading centre for co-operation and mutual enterprises according to new plans.

The proposals are part of a major report by the Oxford Mutuality Taskforce involving a £3m scheme to develop a "Social Enterprise Hub" to help businesses that trade for a social purpose.

The taskforce was set up by Co-operative Futures, a new co-operative policy and support agency, with the support of the Oxfordshire Economic Partnership and the Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op.

Its purpose is to put forward recommendations about how mutual solutions can be realised in Oxfordshire.

The report outlines the huge potential that mutuality offers for improving the economic performance of both Oxfordshire and the whole of the South East.

The director of Co-operative Futures, Peter Couchman, said: "By learning from mutual examples around the world, as well as in this country, we can see how mutual approaches to businesses and organisations can bring economic success and address social issues. "It is no longer the case that there is only the private sector and the public sector - there is also the 'mutual way'."

The report has already caught the attention of the South East England Development Agency (Seeda) which is working alongside Co-operative Futures to develop the Hub.

The report shows that in contrast to many other parts of the world, the South East of England lacks a strong mutual sector.

In America mutual organisations account for:

30 per cent of farm production

16 per cent of the housing market

50 per cent of life insurance and 25 per cent of property insurance.

10 per cent of electrical supply

25 per cent of population in a credit union

67 per cent of non-state hospital care, 50 per cent of daycare and 20 per cent of primary care.

Across the EU, there are a host of co-operative organisations employing around five million people.

The Emilia Romagna region of Italy, which is one of the world's wealthiest, has 4,000 co-operatives in operation with a turnover of almost 25 billion Euro.

Using these and many other examples, the new report highlights how mutual solutions can enhance business performance, addressing social exclusion and helping regeneration of both rural and urban communities.

The Taskforce report cites many examples of existing successful mutual models, including large businesses like Interflora and the Co-operative Bank. In Greenwich, following mutualisation, the Leisure Services offer improved facilities to the general public and have experienced increased usage.

Story date: Monday 21 February

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