Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced a new £30,000 funding initiative designed to stimulate the growth and development of co-operatives. The open call for proposals seeks to harness the social economy to create high-quality employment, improve regional economic balance, and bolster local community resilience.

The initiative follows a previous £55,000 investment announced in September 2025, which focused on data collection and research to inform future policy for the sector. This latest phase aims to translate that research into practical action.

Minister Archibald stated: "Co-operatives offer a powerful way for people to take collective ownership of local economic activity, creating good jobs, keeping wealth within communities, and helping build a fairer and more regionally balanced economy." She continued: "Co-operatives have demonstrated resilience, innovation and real social value, often succeeding in places where traditional business models struggle. This call is about recognising that potential and supporting more groups to develop, grow and lead positive change in their local areas."

The Department for the Economy is specifically looking for proposals that address three key areas:

• Awareness: Increasing public understanding of how the co-operative model functions.

• Infrastructure: Providing practical resources to help both new and established co-operatives scale up.

• Market Expansion: Assisting co-operatives in entering new sectors, particularly those focused on community regeneration and decarbonisation.

Co-operatives are defined as businesses owned and democratically controlled by their members—such as workers, customers, or local residents—with profits typically reinvested into the organisation or the community it serves.

Full details on how to apply, including eligibility criteria and supporting documents, are available at Co operative Support Open Call