Co-operative Business ConsultantsJo Bird
Jo Birdemail: jo[at]cbc.coop
phone: 0797 007 5704 skype: jobird07
website and client testimonials: www.jobird.net
PROFILE
Jo has been a practical and successful co-operator since 1993 when she co-founded Equinox housing co-operative. As Business Manager and founder of Olive Co-operative, Jo promoted responsible tourism and fair trade with the Middle East. She led 200 clients in small study groups to Israel/Palestine, brought fairly traded Palestinian olive oil and other products to the UK market, and raised £30,000 from 400 donors to plant new olive trees in Palestine. At the Co-operative Group, as Head of Co-operative Action (now the Co-operative Enterprise Hub), Jo promoted co-operative solutions in every sector - from care co-ops to car clubs.
Jo now specialises in co-operative enterprise advice, business planning, income generation, event organisation, finance and Fair Trade.
As a member of Co-operative Business Consultants, Jo is frequently asked to assess and deliver co-operative development through the Advice & Training program. Jo is Business Development Manager for Co-operatives North West, delivering high quality member services to over 400 co-operative enterprises in the region. In addition, Jo serves on the Council of Shared Interest Society - providing finance for Fair Trade.
Recent comissioners include: the Co-operative Enterprise Hub Advice & Training, Co-operative & Mutual Solutions, Co-operative Development Scotland, Co-operatives UK, Co-operatives North West and Co-operatives Yorkshire & the Humber.
Recent clients include: Unicorn Grocery, Ex-cell Solutions, Sail Boat Project, Hungry Snail, Manchester Social Centre, Pearls (art and craft shop in Rochdale), Lakamka, Social Enterprise Lancashire, Together Works CIC (Social Enterprise Manchester), Recycle IT, One Planet Trading, Co-operative Education Trust Scotland, Shared Interest, Zaytoun CIC, Sindyanna of Galilee, Palestine Fair Trade Association and Windows for Peace UK.
CONSULTANCY CLIENTS
Jo BirdClients from 2003 to date include:
- One Planet Trading, Manchester Social Centre, Ex-cell Solutions, Lakamka, Sail Boat Project, Hungry Snail, Recycle IT, Preston Green Centre, Ex-cell Designs, and Northmoor Community Association: Business advice and mentoring to increase clients' income from trading, grants and improved performance.
- Co-operatives Yorkshire & the Humber: Guided organisation through incorporation, provided secretariate to Board, project managed new website, events, e-newsletters and promotion of co-operatives.
- Shared Interest IPS: Council member of Shared Interest Society, providing £26m of share capital in loans to hundreds of fair trade producers.
- Unicorn Grocery: Training and resources for improved performance management within this award winning workers coop.
- Co-operatives North West, Co-operatives Yorkshire & the Humber, Development Education Project and Social Enterprise Lancashire: All aspects of client's major conferences and events.
- the Co-operative Group, United Co-operatives, Co-operative Education Trust Scotland, Young Co-operatives and Co-operatives North West: Face to face interactive promotion of Fair Trade and co-operatives to young people, teachers, co-op members and social enterprises.
- Together Works: Researched and wrote business plan and funding bids for 'Together Works CIC: Social Enterprise Manchester'. Delivered training, advice and best practice in co-operative values and principles.
- the Co-operative College: Development and delivery of 'Co-ops and the Community' and 'Co-ops and Sustainability' training courses to elected co-op members.
- Co-operatives UK: Represented worker co-op interests on national committee, the Employee Co-operatives Council.
- Zaytoun CIC, Sindyanna and Palestine Fair Trade Association: Expanding the market for fairly traded Palestinian olive oil and food products. Organising fair trade producer visits to UK.
- Shared Interest and Equal Exchange: In-country reports and photo-journalism on Fair Trade producers.
WORK HISTORY
Jo BirdBusiness Development Manager, Co-operatives North West, 2008 - current Part time role delivering high quality member services to over 400 co-operatives in the region. Same role for Co-operatives Yorkshire & the Humber from 9/08 - 12/09.
Business Manager, Olive Co-operative Ltd, 2003 - 2007 Walked the talk of co-operative values and principles. Founder member and Director of co-op business. Managed 200 clients in small study groups to Israel/Palestine. Raised £30,000 from 400 donors to plant 7,500 new olive trees in Palestine. Import, wholesale and retail of 100+ fairly traded Palestinian products. Ongoing development of all systems for growing business.
Co-op Strategy Manager & Head of Co-operative Action, the Co-operative Group, 2001 - 2003 Built and delivered Co-operative Action partnerships. Managed £2m+ grant program plus £1m+ Community Dividend scheme. Pioneered Group-wide community investment strategy - benchmarking business in top six most generous UK businesses. Forged strong relationships within UK, Israeli, Palestinian and Swedish co-operatives, and across the political spectrum. Drove Social Goals agenda with the Head of Co-op Strategy, Iain Macdonald.
Membership Resources Manager, Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd., 1999 - 2001 Championed Co-operative Commission findings on social goals, co-operative advantage and commercial success. Developed twenty seven tangible member benefits - generating £74,000 sales within six months. Built strong working relationships within merged co-operative businesses at all levels and in all UK Regions.
Project Co-ordinator, Bully Free Zone, 1996 - 1999 Line manager of five-strong staff team with 200+ volunteers. Forged borough-wide stakeholder partnerships with sixteen schools to reduce bullying. Secured draw-down of £1/2m Dept for Education & Employment funding to combat social exclusion and expand the organisation. Devised and delivered training to 200+ teachers and pupils pa.
Founder Member and Treasurer, Equinox Housing Co-operative Ltd., 1993 - 1996 Raised £100,000 investment and loans from Co-op Bank, Radical Routes and private investors to buy 8 bed property. Ensured best practice and compliance with IPS legislation.
Co-ordinator, Underground Power, 1990 - 1995 Founder and activist in young people's rights voluntary organisation. Led residential and weekly activities with teenagers and young adults. Forged partnerships with others to campaign for UN Convention on Rights of the Child, particularly Article 12 - young people's right to have their opinion counted on matters that affect them.
Academic Affairs Officer, Manchester University Student Union, 1992 - 1993 Won contested election to sabbatical position. Represented student body to politicians, media and university. Collective accountability for all aspects of Student Union, including income generation.
QUALIFICATIONS
Sociology Degree, Manchester University, 1992.
LANGUAGES
Good everyday understanding of Arabic, French and Spanish.
REFERENCES
Client testimonials may be viewed at http://www.jobird.net/?page_id=8. Further references are available on request.
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Testimonials
“Jo worked as Business Development Manager for Co-operatives Yorkshire and Humber from September 08 to December 09. She set an exemplory standard during this period and laid a solid foundation for the organisation to build on. Her organisational and administration skills are both of a high standard. We are sorry that we had to lose her from the position as Business Development Manager”
Jean Miller, Chair of Co-operatives Yorkshire & the Humber
“I was really impressed by the quality and speed of the work you did for us, and coming at this vital early stage in our business it feels like it will make a significant difference to the Hungry Snail Co-op’s ability to do business sustainably over the coming months and years - more than I ever hoped for! Thank you.”
Henry Fisher, Hungry Snail Co-operative Limited
“Thanks for sending the business plan and working hard to help us! I have been inspired when you came to visit us and always did lots after your visits. It was helpful for our group as you kept us focused, and put things in perspective, I felt a bit lonely when you left! Now I feel positive because we have all got jobs to do and that is helping keep members focused and involved and help us learn together.”
Kath Baron, Lakamka, a new workers co-operative
“Jo Bird completed an extremely professional piece of work on behalf of Co-operative Business Consultants in preparing and submitting a bid to the Co-operative Fund for a project grant to develop the Code of Governance. I have no hesitation in recommending her for such future work, which was characterised by clarity of expression, well thought out concepts, good networking and efficient communication in her research, timely delivery, value for money for the work she did and conscientious follow-up after completion, leading to very constructive feedback on the whole process.”
David Dean, Co-operative Business Consultants Limited
“I read your bespoke report ‘Feedback from Fair Trade wholesalers’. I must admit that I am impressed by the volume of your contacts and by the tremendous work you have done for us. I liked the way you presented Sindyanna’s advantages and defended our cause. I think this is the right approach. In addition, your report gives us a good background for our meetings. Thank you for your good work.”
Hadas Lahav, Sindyanna of Galilee
“Thank you very much for the time and effort you have put into our Away Day. I would also like to thank you for the observations you have made and wrote down. I will pass them on to everyone and hopefully from this and our notes and thoughts, we will be able to draw conclusions which will help the business.”
Britta Werner, Unicorn Grocery
“Jo came very quickly to a comprehensive and accurate understanding of our problems.”
Brett Lund, Preston Green Centre
“Wow, what an excellent presentation to Bolton Third Sector Forum. In 20 minutes, Jo covered what has taken me 3 years to learn.”
Grant Wolstoncroft, Bolton Co-operative Party
“Excellent, Jo. As the co-op needs around £6-10k, then your fundraising work and advice gives them a range of options to pursue. If some are not successful this will not stop the show. Thanks.”
Dave Hollings, Co-operative and Mutual Solutions
“Thank you for your contributions to the Employee Co-operative Council. They always make me think about what it is I’m doing.”
John Atherton, Worker Co-operative Development Officer, Co-operatives UK
“Jo - you are the best chair of a meeting!”
Scott Muir, Infinity Wholefoods Co-op
“Thanks for coming to do the talk on co-operative enterprise the other day. The cafe group enjoyed it, every bit of information about co-ops helps them gain confidence and the handouts you brought were useful to us also.”
Kath Baron, Lakamka cafe co-op, Bolton
“Jo Bird delivered valuable pieces of work for the new start Together Works CIC, as a freelance consultant in 2007. Together Works is an organisation of social enterprises in Greater Manchester. Jo wrote our business plan and key funding applications. She provided valuable advice on all aspects of our enterprise including on incorporation as a Community Interest Company. She conducted research amongst our social enterprise members and organised a well attended networking event for social enterprises in Manchester. Jo delivered her work to standard, on time and within budget. I would have no hesitation in recommending her for similar work.”
Caroline Downey, Director of Together Works CIC, Bridge 5 Mill, Manchester M4 7HR
“I have known Jo Bird for 10 years and was her line manager as Head of Co-operative Strategy at the Co-operative Group in Manchester up until I moved to Geneva in September 2002. As Co-operative Strategy Manager, Jo was an enthusiastic and capable colleague. Her commitment to the co-operative form of business was unquestioned as was her ability to perform. Her previous work had been with young people and she came with very good recommendations. She had very good communication and presentation skills and a clear understanding of database and financial management. I would say however that her best qualities are self motivation and personal drive.”
Iain Macdonald, Director General of the International Co-operative Alliance
“Just wanted to say thanks again for all your hard work in making yesterdays conference such a success. I hope we get chance to work together again, as long as I don’t end up having to do a presentation on a very dull subject, especially straight after lunch! Anyhow thanks very much, you did a great job.”
Graham Jones, Bootstrap Enterprises and Chair of Selnet - Social Enterprise Lancashire
“Our thanks are due to you. You pulled together an excellent event in a very short time and how smoothly it went. Thank you.”
Ann Marie Wrigley, New Era Enterprises and Board member of Selnet