Rock stars of the new Economy

Rock stars of the new economy (I None come close to The Co-operative for clarity and ambition. I Ethical Consumer, Special Report on Banking 2012 Whilst the UK economy struggles through waves of austerity, there is some good news. Amidst the confusion of the old, a new co-operative economy is emerging. The rock stars of this new economy are co-operative businesses that are not just restarting the same economy but creating a new one that gives people an equal say and a share of the profits. (I I changed to Co-operative Energy as I liked their ethos. Their approach is about simplicity and honesty. I particularly like how they don't promise to be the cheapest supplier and that they have just one, simple tariff ... you know where you are with them. Robert Madeira, Co-operative Energy customer Co-operative Energy Just two years old, Co-operative Energy has already seen over 25,000 people move to it from other energy providers. With one clear, well publicised tariff, it's not surprising that Co-operative Energy won the Consumer Action Award at the Which? Awards 2011 and more recently the Big Switch auction, when 40,000 more people committed to ditch their providers and move to Co-operative Energy. The Co-operative Bank It sounds too good to be true. A bank that shares its profits with its customers. A bank that invests ethically rather than speculates recklessly on complex financial instruments. Yet The Co-operative Bank is exactly this - a bank owned by its customers that for 20 years has refused to finance business activities that its members deem unethical. Whilst other banks in the UK were being rescued by taxpayers' money, The Co-operative Bank's customers nearly doubled and the Financial Times named it the world's most sustainable bank. The Wine Society.. delivers on all the features you could want from a dynamic wine merchant: consistent quality, great value, adventurous range and unparalleled service. Anthony Rose, wine writer, The Independent The Wine Society One of the UK's leading wine merchants, the Wine Society runs a top quality online store for wine lovers across the country. Over 130 years old, The Wine Society keeps on developing its services by putting its members, not profit, first. It's not surprising that in 2011 The Wine Society won two of the year's most prestigious wine awards – Merchant of the Year in both the Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wine Challenge. CO-OPERATIVES UK