Case study – Principle 6 Secondary Co-operatives

North West Housing Services Ltd

Syed Maqsood , Chief ExecutiveKevin Wan, Director of Finance

∗ Brief History of NWHS∗ Our Mission and Values∗ Our Members ∗ Our staff ∗ Recent Achievements∗ Future role of Secondary co-ops

Introduction

∗ Social Housing in the UK – Housing co-ops∗ Formed in 2006 by a consortium of 35 independent members∗ Customer-owned and controlled secondary co-operative society∗ Currently 46 full members / 30 non-members∗ £1.8 million turnover NWHS , Members cumulative turnover £12m ∗ 33 highly qualified staff∗ Manage £250 million of member assets∗ Work exclusively in the Third Sector providing a range of services∗ Members of SEN, Co-operatives UK, National Housing Fed, CCH

Brief History of NWHS

“We aim to be the chosen service provider for housing co-operatives, small housing associations, leaseholders and other community-based organisations in the North West of England”

By operating within the 7 co-operative principles to enable and support our members to achieve financial sustainability and meet their social objectives.”

Mission and values

∗Housing Co-operatives∗Small community Housing Associations∗Tenant Management Organisations∗Leasehold Management Companies – not for profitNon Housing : Diversification∗Worker co-ops∗Consortia Co-ops∗Community benefit societies∗Charities∗Community Interest Companies

Our Members

∗ Services provided on a not for Profit basis∗ Cost sharing and Mutual trading tax status∗ Share in the Surplus∗ Increased Bargaining Power / economies of scale∗ Board Membership∗ Community focus∗ Access to a large network of like minded organisations∗ Members training seminars and social events∗ Access to right expertise and better technology

Members Benefits

∗ 33 Highly Qualified and Professional staff∗ Highly Experienced in the third sector∗ Senior team members sit on other Third sector Boards∗ Low staff turnover and excellent attendance∗ Attractive terms and conditions∗ Remuneration approved by the Board ∗ Ratio of Highest paid to lowest is 5 to 1 – FTSE 100 262 to 1∗ Invest in staff – Continued Professional development

Our Staff

Recent Achievements

Social Enterprise NW Awards 2013: NWHS highly commended in the Co-operative of the Year category

Social Enterprise NW Awards 2013: NWHS highly commended in the Co-operative of the Year category

Cherryfield Co-operative relocation: 19 new homes in Kirkby to be developed in partnership with Knowsley Council and Tesco

Langrove Community Housing Co-operative: five new homes to be

developed in partnership with Riverside Housing Association

Helped set up Arts Hub Creative Community Co-operative, The only creative community co-operative in Merseyside

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Other Achievements of Note

∗ First organisation in the UK to obtain HMRC approval to use the VAT Cost Sharing Exemption

∗ First organisation in the UK to be accredited by the National trade body CCH for quality of services offered to Housing Co-operatives

∗ Nearly £20k of Surpluses given to the community via our community small grant fund

∗ First Members rebate given in 2013 : £60k rebated back to our members

∗ £250k Members loan fund set up and lending

Future Role of secondary co-ops

∗ Shared service co-operatives – enable smaller co-ops to compete

∗ Business credit union ∗ Expand the range of services and benefits offered

to members ∗ Support members to grow∗ Support and enable creation of new co-operatives∗ Question to the floor – further ideas for the use of

Federated models in the sector – what are the barriers ?