Co-op and Cobbetts JV launches Mutual Business Detector

PUBLIC Service Mutuals, a joint venture between The Co-operative Group and law firm Cobbetts, has launched  a web tool to help local authorities decide if a service can be delivered by a mutual or co-operative organisation.

The Mutual Business Detector asks a series of questions to enable directors of services and public sector bodies to assess whether the creation of a mutual structure might be successful in a particular situation.

The Detector looks at three aspects of a service: suitability; deliverability and scale and depending on the answers produces a visual indication of the viability of setting up a mutual organisation to deliver it.

Public Service Mutuals was established earlier this year by the Co-operative Group in conjunction with Cobbetts as a consultancy to promote a better understanding of co-operatives.

Russell Gill, head of membership at The Co-operative, said: “We believe that in many cases co-operatives and mutuals offer a viable alternative to conventional approaches by offering employees and local communities a stake in the delivery of key services. 

“However, many local authority officials are looking for support and guidance to identify which of their services are suitable. That is why we have designed the mutual Business Detector to help them decide if it is worth going to the next stage and considering setting up a mutual operation.”