AltGen is an organisation that helps young people set up workers’ co-operatives as an alternative to competitive, precarious and low-wage career paths. Recent graduates ourselves, we are well acquainted with this situation. Rather than competing with our peers for unpaid internships – a graduate race to the bottom – workers’ co-operatives are businesses built on collaboration and solidarity.
Co-operatives are making a comeback across the UK. Between 2009 and 2014, 1,331 were launched, increasing the number of co-ops by 26% to 6,323. Last March, Students for Cooperation was set up, a national organisation to help students start co-operatives to meet their basic needs – from student housing in Birmingham to food in Glasgow. In November, the Bristol Cable was launched – a co-operative newspaper and online platform.
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