History of the Co-operative Movement
A worldwide movement starts in Scotland
1761
The Fenwick Weavers Society in Fenwick, East Ayrshire, is founded on co-operative principles to promote and maintain high standards in the weaving craft and provide benefits to its members.
1810
Robert Owen takes ownership of the cotton mills of New Lanark in South Lanarkshire and launches a new era of co-operative working.
1844
The Rochdale Pioneers establish the first modern consumer co-operative by selling basic provisions to workers at affordable prices.
1850
Other co-operatives start out as small grassroots organisations in Western Europe, North America and Japan.
1863
Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS), forerunner of the Co-operative Group, is established, followed by the Scottish CWS in 1868.
1871
Co-operative News, the world's longest established co-operative newspaper, is founded.
1872
The UK's Co-operative Bank is founded as the Loan and Deposit Department of the CWS.
1895
The global organisation for co-operatives, the International Co-operative Alliance, is founded in London.
1919
The Co-operative College is established in Manchester to promote co-operative learning across the UK and globally.
2003
Co-operatives UK, the co-operative membership organisation, is formed from the merger of three UK co-operative bodies.
2006
Co-operative Development Scotland is launched by the then Scottish Executive to promote the development of successful co-operative enterprise across Scotland.
Now
Co-operatives and co-owned businesses have grown into a global force, supporting the livelihood of nearly 3 billion people - half of the world's population.