Phone Co-op

The Phone Co-op Limited

Type	Consumers' cooperative
Founded	1998 (1998)
Headquarters	Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom
Industry	Telecommunications
Products	Telephone, Internet
Revenue	£7.6 million
Operating income	+ £239,000
Net income	+ £338,000 2
Employees	40
Website	phone.coop
1. Figures rounded from 2008 Annual Report 2. UK cooperative taxation means that after tax surplus is also after distributions

The Phone Co-op is a British telecommunications co-operative, which operates under self-imposed environmental and ethical guidelines. It provides telephone and internet services, including web hosting and broadband to private customers, businesses and charities. The Phone Co-op's service has been taken up by some 15,000 customers, including Christian Aid, Amnesty International, Triodos Bank, the Centre for Alternative Technology, Leeds Co-operative Society, Manchester City Council and UNISON. In October 2008 The Phone Co-op received the UK Government-sponsored Enterprising Solutions Award for Best Social Enterprise 2008.

History

The Phone Co-op was founded in 1998 as SETCO (Social Economy Telecommunications Co-operative), incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. Initially, membership of the Co-operative was reserved solely for other co-ops and charities. A rule change opened membership to the general public and in August 1999, SETCO renamed itself The Phone Co-op and converted into a co-operative society incorporated under the Industrial & Provident Societies Acts.

External links

• The Phone Co-op