Croydon Council is up for another national accolade after making it as a finalist in the Co-Op of the Year Awards 2019.
Croydon is vying for the Co-operative Council of the Year 2019 prize with five other local authorities. The other five categories are for Leading Co-operative of the Year, Inspiring Co-operative of the Year, Breakthrough Co-operative of the Year, Co-operator of the Year and the lifetime achievement award.
Run by Co-operatives UK, the network for Britain’s thousands of co-operative businesses, the annual ceremony celebrates the best organisations in the country that are run by their employees or members.
Croydon Council’s recent co-operative achievements include:
• Bringing both its libraries and parks services back in-house
• Requiring providers to pay the London Living Wage
• Encouraging Croydon businesses to buy locally and employ local people through its Good Employer Charter
• Developing the Value Croydon initiative helping local businesses bid for council and contractor work
• Supporting social enterprises through loans, guidance and networking opportunities
• Adopting a voluntary and community strategy that recognises the sector as an equal partner
Online public voting for the awards runs until 13 June, with individuals able to submit one vote per category. Winners will be announced and awarded their prizes at the Co-operative Congress in Manchester on Friday 21 June.
The Co-Op Awards shortlisting comes after the council won two categories at the LGC Awards in March. It is also up for two MJ Achievement Awards in June.
“The council’s co-operative initiatives are all about working in partnership with Croydon communities to make the borough a better place to live and work. This shortlisting is a real feather in our cap, and I hope as many as people as possible cast their vote for our nomination.”
Councillor Tony Newman, leader of the council
Andrew Bester, Chief Executive of event sponsors The Co-operative Bank, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the UK’s most innovative and successful co-ops through our support of the Co-operative of the Year Awards, and to recognise the inspiring achievements of those who have been shortlisted.”
