The new Labour government has promised the nation that they will make some big changes to improve life in the UK. In the recent Budget, Rachel Reeves raised the minimum wage, amongst other initiatives to help working people on low incomes. Making life better is also a concept at the heart of the Co-operative Society, one of the largest consumer retail co-operatives in the world, and it’s still based in Manchester. 

Together Everyone Achieves More

No, it’s not just an empty acronym for TEAM, it’s a revolutionary concept that actually worked to alleviate poverty. It all started in 1844 when a group of 28 working class men formed a society known as the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers. Struggling to afford the high cost of living, they all paid £1 and started their own grocery shop in which food was sold at a fair price that workers on low wages could afford. By working together and pooling their resources they believed they could access goods at a lower price. They were right. The shop sold just four items at first: flour, oatmeal, sugar and butter. 

Quickly word got around and the new store began to expand. It was an innovative concept as they all had a share in the way it was run and profits were ploughed back in to improve the business. Their group was founded upon the core values of changing society and making life better for working class people, which are still held sacred by the Co-operative Society today. 

The Co-op: a Manchester institution

If you walk around the city centre in Manchester, near Victoria Station, the influence of this huge corporation is clear. There are various impressive, grade ll listed buildings, from different eras, all of which are connected to the Co-operative Society, showing their domination in the city. The CIS (Co-operative Insurance Society) Tower cannot be missed and was the first skyscraper in Manchester. 

Built in 1962 by architects Tait and Hey it stands at 118 metres high and now boasts the largest commercial solar facade in Europe, following refurbishment. The renewable energy they generate saves the equivalent 100 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Read more about it in the blog ‘Is Manchester the new Manc-hattan?’ The Co-operative have moved on but there is a great bar and gig venue at the base of the building called New Century. From humble retail beginnings, the Co-op are now involved in banking, insurance and even education and live music. There are a chain of Co-op Academies and of course the enormous Co-op Live venue dominates the skyline in east Manchester, representing the latest vision of the Co-op.

One Angel Square

The Co-operative Society now have their head office in a stunning, contemporary building, One Angel Square which resembles a vast, gleaming glasshouse. It’s the largest office building in Manchester and has been built to withstand global warming. Boasting curves, instead of the usual sharp edges that you see everywhere else, this building provides a greatly enhanced working environment with its external winter gardens on several floors and natural light throughout. As you would expect from an ethical company like the Co-operative Society, it’s really sustainable and the structure makes use of natural resources like sunlight, maximising passive solar gain for heat and using natural ventilation through its double skin façade. Read more here on greening.com/en/Projects/one-angel-square-.

From ethical business practices to quality architecture, we make a natural step to Veritas Surveying Manchester. We are construction claims consultants with expertise in quantity surveying, JCT contracts, payment notices, pay less notices and construction adjudication.



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