About

---

SCS is a development agency that supports the formation and growth of co-operatives, social enterprises and community businesses. We are passionate about making positive change in the social economy and for the environment and offer a variety of services to individuals and groups who feel the same. We have helped both individuals and groups to gain assets, finance and sustainable trade; as well as initiated new projects to address the needs and concerns in the community.

We offer a number of services to enterprises including consultancy, office support, raising finance and registering new societies.

We’re part of a wider network of Co-operative development Bodies (CDBs) around the UK, supported by Co-operatives UK. We are active members of a consortium of CDBs called the TheDevelopment Co-operative which seeks to raise standards, extend the reach of specialist support, and secure funding for projects across the UK.

Our mission

SCS’s mission is to promote the application of international co-operative principles; to help establish new social enterprises and support existing ones, by building financial, environmental and social sustainability.

We practice and promote equal opportunities, and aim to include and empower the vulnerable and disadvantaged. We help our clients succeed by involving multiple stakeholder groups, enhancing the security, capacity and well-being of participants and bringing assets into common ownership. We do this whilst ensuring that SCS cares for all of its workers and enables the development of careers in co-operative development.

Membership

We are a co-operative of service users. If you are a client of ours or a co-op based in the South West, you are welcome to join us as a member. We have members from many different sectors. Click below to find out who supports SCS.