Partner Article

Award for co-operative

TYNESIDE-based ethical investment co-operative, Shared Interest, has been awarded national recognition for its work.

The company, based at the Groat Market, Newcastle, has won a Co-operative Award.

From its base in the Groat Market, the co-operative lending society aims to reduce poverty in the world by providing fair and just financial services.

The business, set up in 1990, annually lends over £33m and works in 36 countries around the globe. And as the world’s only 100% fair trade lender, Shared Interest received a Co-operative Award 2010 in recognition of its innovation and excellent work.

David Button, Chair of Co-operatives UK, which organised the awards, said: “Shared Interest has shown how co-operation can be used to help tackle some of the world’s big issues.

“Their excellent work in promoting the cause of co-operation and supporting co-operatives around the world makes them worthy recipients of a Co-operative Award.”

Commenting on the co-operative’s success, Patricia Alexander of Shared Interest, said: “We are delighted to have been given this award.

“Every member of the co-operative has worked hard to get us to where we are and we all share in its success. Shared Interest is 20 years old this year and this award gives us even more determination to continue our vital work in supporting fair trade.”

Shared Interest and five other co-operatives received their award at a special Gala Dinner in Plymouth recently – part of Co-operatives Fortnight.

Shared Interest is part of a thriving co-operative economy. Latest figures from Co-operatives UK reveal that there are some 4,992 co-operative businesses in the UK with a combined turnover of some £34 billion.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .