What is a co-operative?
Co-ops are a unique way of doing business
The word 'co-operative' describes a method of business and there are many different co-ops across the world.
A co-op is owned and democratically controlled by its members. The members are the main people who benefit from the business.
Co-ops vary in size, structure and even what type of work they carry out.
Co-ops with retail at their heart are probably the best known, but you can also find co-ops specialising in housing, farming, utilities and much more.
We support other organisations which spread the co-operative message such as the Lincolnshire Co-op Development Agency, which helps people set up their own co-ops or social enterprises. We also work with the county's credit unions and run a credit union for employees.
![Lincoln Amm 2018 78](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/lincolnshire-coop/images/page/_700x500_fit_center-center_80_none/Lincoln-AMM-2018-78.jpg)