Let’s Own It! An Introduction to Community-Owned and Worker-Owned Businesses

Event information

17th September from 10am-12pm

Have you got an idea for a business that’s owned and run for the benefit of your community? Or one that’s owned collectively by its workers, where every worker has a say in how it’s run and where profits are shared fairly?

Oxfordshire is home to many community- and worker-owned enterprises that centre people and social purpose at the heart of what they do, retain wealth and power locally and reinvest profits for shared benefits.

This workshop is for: Anyone with a business idea, in the early stages of development, who is interested in exploring community- or worker-owned models.

By the end of this session, you will:

Understand what community- and worker-owned businesses are, and how they contribute to community wealth building.
Have started developing a business model for your enterprise, identifying its purpose, trading activities, customers, members, and use of profits.
Be aware of the different legal structures available for your business
Be aware of the other workshops and 1:1 support available via the OSEP programme and know how to sign up to the programme.
This workshop is co-hosted by:

Owned by Oxford, a partnership working to create a fair, democratic, and sustainable economy that is owned and controlled by its communities, where people, planet, and well-being are prioritised over profit.

Damascus Rose Kitchen, a community business set up by refugee women based in Oxford, who decided to unite and share their culture by preparing Middle Eastern dishes for their community. In doing so, they were able to preserve a part of the story and identity that they had to leave behind. Damascus Rose Kitchen is a member of the Owned by Oxford partnership.

African Families in the UK (AFiUK), a Community Interest Company that was formed to support African diaspora families in the UK to get the best outcomes for their children through training and information on education, health and social care. AFiUK supports people in their network to set up their own community businesses and initiatives, and is a member of the Owned by Oxford partnership.