Co-operative Business Consultants

CBC are pleased to announce that Mondragon study visit is open for bookings. There is a special discount of £370 for members of worker coops, thanks to Mondragon. Hence the Mondragon study visit fee starts at only £849.

About Mondragon 

Mondragon Co-operative Corporation is a federation of retail, finance and manufacturing businesses based in the Basque Country with operations in 20 countries. Founded in 1956, Mondragon continues to experience rapid growth, achieving turnover in 2007 of 16 billion euros, with 98,000 employees in 180 enterprises. 

Half of these enterprises are employee owned co-operatives - these are the members of the MCC federation, which owns the other factories as subsidiaries. Wikipedia cites Mondragon as one of the largest worker co-operatives in the world. Further information on Mondragon's Co-operative Experience can be found at www.mcc.es/ing/cooperativismo/experiencia.html

Benefits of learning from Mondragon

Participants in this study visit are welcome from all sectors and countries. We hope the visit will inspire participants to further Principle Six: Co-operation between Co-operatives, and to grow and improve co-operative movements. The benefits of this study tour include:

• learning first hand from a large scale and growing workers co-operative federation,
• learning about issues of current concern including democratic management, participative governance, new ventures and financing growth;
• gaining a much deeper understanding of the history and achievements of the Mondragon co-operatives;
• inspiration and ideas about how this can help to extend co-operation, employee ownership and social enterprise in the UK;
• strengthening relationships within the UK co-operative and social enterprise movements;
• strengthening co-op to co-op links between the UK and Basque country.

Mondragon study visit itinerary

The final itinerary will take into account the wishes of participants who have paid a deposit. A draft itinerary can be viewed on www.jobird.net/mondragon.html . Highlights include:

• visits to key Mondragon enterprises including primary co-op factories, finance institutions, and Eroski food stores;
• meetings with key Mondragon people - to explore issues such as controversies and future developments - including Fred Freundlich (International Relations), Mikel Lezamiz (Director of Co-operative Dissemination) and member representatives on workplace councils;
• learning at 13th century Otalora study centre;
• time to meet corresponding contacts working in specific sectors.

A unique opportunity

Group visits happen rarely as they are complicated and expensive to organise. Mondragon only accepts visitors in groups of at least 10 people. The maximum size is 25 people.  The next open group visit to Mondragon may not happen for some years. To guarantee your place on the next visit, please return an expression of interest plus a refundable deposit of £90.

This visit will happen when at least 10 people have paid a deposit of £90. Payments may be made by instalments and/or in euros. Please make cheques payable to "Co-operative Business Consultants". All those that have paid a deposit will be consulted about potential dates for the visit - perhaps Spring 2009. Your deposit will be returned in full if you are no longer able to take part in the visit for whatever reason.

The study visit fee is expected to be between £900 and £1,300. The final fee will depend on factors including the number of participants, and the euro exchange rate.  

The study visit fee includes: all itinerary arrangements, airport taxis, local transport within the Basque Country, tour guides Jo Bird and Kate Whittle, three nights hotel accommodation, breakfast and lunch, pre-tour advice and information. A free pre-tour meeting will be offered to all those who express an interest - the pre-tour meeting will be held in Manchester, one or two months before departure.

Optional tour extras include: extra day tour to Bilbao and Guggenheim Museum, arrive early or stay extra nights, upgrade from twin to single room, downgrade to hostel accommodation (saving c£80), climate care contribution.

Tour price excludes: cost of boat or flights (£70 to £200 return), dinners (approx £10 per meal) and other personal expenditure.

Tailor made visits for individuals or groups can be arranged upon request.

Suggestions to help with study visit fees

Many people fund their participation in study visits through a combination of methods.

1. Budgets at work such as training, conference, learning and professional development
2. Contribution from wages or salary
3. Savings
4. Paying by monthly instalments
5. Asking family, friends and colleagues for support
6. Writing proposals or letters to organisations to ask for support
7. Providing photos, short video or written reports for magazines, journals and/or websites
8. Presenting photos and reporting back at meetings, events or conferences

Organisations that may be interested in the latter 3 points could include:

1. Your workplace
2. Associations you, or your employer, are a member of
3. Regional co-operative or social enterprise networks
4. Co-operatives you are a member of, such as the Co-operative Group

Why visit Mondragon with Co-operative Business Consultants? 

Co-operative Business Consultants (CBC) promotes participative and co-operative management. www.cbc.coop .  CBC is a co-operative Industrial and Provident Society, established in 2003 with 4 Director-members.

Jo Bird has many years experience in managing study visits, including guiding over 200 people on study tours to Israel/Palestine, as founder of Olive Co-operative.

Bob Cannell is a long time member of Suma - one of the UK's largest worker co-operatives. He sits on Co-operative UK's Employee Co-operatives Committee and represents UK worker co-ops at the European level through Confederation of Employee Owned Co-operatives, CECOP.

Kate Whittle has many years experience working in co-operative development in the UK and abroad, including 3 years in the Dominican Republic. Her fluent Spanish and translating abilities are significant assets to this visit. 

David Dean is experienced in co-operative learning (formerly working at the Co-op College) and financial aspects of co-operative growth and development.

Jo gathered lots of useful information on her fact finding visit in February 2008.

"One day in Mondragon just wasn't enough. I left with many answers but just as many new questions about this large federation of workers co-ops. Such as how does dividend work? I would also like to know more about many issues such as the conversion of acquisitions into worker co-ops."