Who we work with

Partners

We work with our partners to build better places.

We know community business works to build stronger communities and better places to live. We back them to grow and thrive. But we don’t do it alone, we work in partnership with a range of organisations to shape the conditions for community businesses to thrive. This includes:

  • Funders and foundations
  • Investors, from social investors to private investors
  • Government at all levels, including regional and local authorities
  • Think tanks and advocacy organisations
  • Community businesses.

Partners can work with us by:

  • Supporting research and evidence on the impact of community business
  • Co-funding place-based programmes that test new models
  • Investing in community asset development and locally rooted enterprise
  • Collaborating to unlock new forms of finance for community businesses.

Want to work with us?

Contact the team

Our areas of focus

shop front with a sign outside and person walking in

Growing community-led local economies

The economy is not delivering for all. Income inequality, wealth inequality, and poverty are widespread and growing. Community businesses put economic power directly into the hands of communities. They are central to thriving local and regional economies as they create, own, share and reinvest wealth locally. We are working to make community business a common-sense approach to economic development.

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Two people in bright color jumpsuits that say 'Community Builders' talk at the Nudge Union Street block party.

Creating community-powered places and spaces

The places and spaces which enable communities to come together are disappearing. Community business brings people closer together and gives communities a real say in how their neighbourhoods, high streets and shared assets are run. We work alongside community businesses and other partners to help grow what works to revive our local spaces and reconnect our communities.

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Two people in bright color jumpsuits that say 'Community Builders' talk at the Nudge Union Street block party.

Building community-centred public services

Many public services – from homelessness to mental health and employment support – continue to be delivered without the involvement of those they are there to support.​ Real prevention and resilience start when communities are involved and have the power to lead. Community businesses are run by, and directly accountable to, local communities. We are testing and growing community-led models that work alongside public sector partners, showing how trust, local relationships and innovation can improve outcomes for everyone.

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News and views

Our thinking and latest updates on how we’re backing community business.

The missing pieces of Burnham’s place-first politics

The missing pieces of Burnham’s place-first politics

Our thinking
The first test of Burnham’s first 100 days in office will be whether his devolution agenda reaches beyond strategic authorities to give communities the rights, capital, and capacity to create good growth in every postcode.
Good growth in every postcode needs power in every community

Good growth in every postcode needs power in every community

Our thinking
Today, Andy Burnham starts his new role as Prime Minister. Community businesses offer a practical route to delivering his good growth agenda, but if devolution is to reach every postcode, power, capital and ownership must travel beyond town halls and into communities.
The future use of the Community Right to Buy Fund: insights from community businesses

The future use of the Community Right to Buy Fund: insights from community businesses

Our thinking
Community businesses say funding and support must go further.
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Learning what works

Explore our evidence and research. Our partnerships help us do, test, and learn what works for community business to thrive.

Keys to the future: How we build a new era of community ownership

Keys to the future: How we build a new era of community ownership

Community ownership is more than saving buildings and spaces at risk - it is a proven, scalable driver of socially connected communities and local economic renewal. This report provides the evidence, the framework, and the roadmap to realise a new normal of community ownership.
The new high street playbook: Community-led innovation in action

The new high street playbook: Community-led innovation in action

The 'new high street playbook' shares lessons from our Community-Led High Street Innovators programme, and why they matter now. Connecting real world practice to the current policy window, this report reflects a growing focus on the conditions needed for longer-term stewardship.
Returning power to the people: What community empowerment can do for the public and for politics

Returning power to the people: What community empowerment can do for the public and for politics

At a time when the government faces enormous pressure to mount a response to the sense of discontent and decline that the public is feeling, giving communities more local control is emerging as a solution that is both effective and popular. This research demonstrates the need to put communities at the heart of the political debate to unlock a path to national renewal.
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All our research and reports