OurCoop shortlisted for two UK Social Enterprise Awards
OurCoop has been shortlisted for two UK Social Enterprise Awards 2026, recognising the Society’s work to create positive change through co-operation, ethical trade and innovation.
We are finalists in the International Impact Award and Social Enterprise Technology/Innovation of the Year category, highlighting two very different ways OurCoop is putting its purpose into action - from strengthening farming communities in Malawi to rethinking what co-operative membership can look like through technology.
The UK Social Enterprise Awards celebrate organisations across the country that are using business to create positive social and environmental impact. This year’s Awards will take place in Manchester on 12 November, with the theme ‘All Together Now’, celebrating unity, co-operation and community.
Creating international impact through co-operation
OurCoop’s International Impact Award nomination recognises the work of the Our Malawi Partnership, a long-term collaboration that demonstrates how ethical trade can create sustainable change.
Launched in 2022, the partnership brings together OurCoop, the Malawi Federation of Co-operatives (MAFECO), the Co-operative College and Malawian producer co-operatives to strengthen businesses, create trading opportunities and support farming communities.
At its heart is Co-operative Principle 6 – Co-operation among Co-operatives. Rather than treating international development as a short-term charitable intervention, the partnership uses trade, rather than aid, to create lasting value for producers and communities.
More than £1 million of Our Malawi Partnership products have been sold, generating sustainable income for farmers. Coffee production has grown from 300,000kg to 500,000kg, more than 1,000 macadamia seedlings have been distributed and Malawi’s first tea co-operative union has been established.
The partnership’s impact extends beyond trade. More than 37,000 people have gained access to clean water, while the Planting Promise is supporting the planting of nearly 20,000 trees each year, helping restore biodiversity, improve food security and build resilience to climate change.
Using technology to put Members at the heart of co-operation
Our second nomination recognises a different kind of innovation: Reward ££s, which is transforming the way Members experience co-operative membership.
Developed following feedback from more than 20,000 Members, Reward ££s was created to offer a simpler and more flexible alternative to traditional member-only pricing.
Instead of different prices for Members and non-Members, everyone pays the same price while Members earn Reward ££s when they shop. Their rewards are held in a digital Member Pot, where they can see what they have earned and choose when to spend it. The pot also brings together their annual Share of Profits, connecting everyday rewards with the wider value of co-operative ownership.
Technology has made it possible to create a more engaging and personalised experience, including real-time reward tracking, personalised offers, games and challenges.
Importantly, inclusion has been built into the innovation from the start. Members without smartphones can still participate using a physical membership card, receipts and the online membership portal.
And the results are already showing the value of the approach. More than £4.8 million in Reward ££s has been issued and £3.9 million spent, alongside 294,000 app downloads and 13,500 weekly game users.
Following its launch at Central Co-op, Reward ££s will be rolled out as part of the wider OurCoop membership proposition, creating the opportunity to bring this approach to more than one million Members.
A different way of doing business
While the two nominations recognise different projects, they share the same foundation: using the scale and strength of a co-operative business to create lasting value for people and communities.
From supporting farmers thousands of miles away to giving Members greater control over the value they receive from their membership, OurCoop is continuing to show what can happen when commercial success and social purpose work together.
We’re looking forward to celebrating alongside fellow finalists in Manchester in November.