New £60,000 Community Challenge Prize now open to applications

As new figures show that over eight million people - almost a fifth of people in the UK - buy in bulk co-operatively, a new £60k community buying innovation challenge opens to applications today.

The ‘Buy Better Together Challenge’ is encouraging more and more people to think collectively to combine their buying power.

The research, carried out by Co-operatives UK, the national trade body for co-operative enterprises, reveals that 17% of people already buy in bulk with others.

The community challenge prize, launched by Co-operatives UK and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) hopes to see this increase throughout 2012 by encouraging new models of community buying.

The ‘Buy Better Together Challenge’ is an exciting initiative to help inspire new models of community buying, stimulate enterprise and promote shared learning and both Co-operatives UK and BIS have contributed £30k to the prize fund.

Community buying, which involves groups of individuals combining their buying power to purchase goods or services together and get better deals from shops and other suppliers, can help businesses spread their overheads and in turn lowers costs for consumers. 

The challenge is now open to applications from groups and organisations within the public, voluntary or business sectors, which focus on creating new or developing existing community buying schemes. 

To give guidance to applicants there are three challenges. They are:

-       Challenge One: A project aimed at creating a platform, tool or vehicle to help individuals to come together and form a community buying group.

-       Challenge Two: A project aimed at enabling existing or new community groups to develop their purchasing power by working collectively.

-       Challenge Three: A project aimed at businesses to empower their employees or consumers to group for community buying.

ThThe ‘Buy Better Together Challenge’ £60k pot will go towards training and mentoring for stand out projects and includes £15k for the overall winner. 

Norman Lamb, recently appointed Consumer Affairs Minister, said: “The Buy Better Together Challenge is a fantastic partnership between BIS and Co-operatives UK and gives groups a great opportunity to deliver real deals and social benefits for their communities.

“I would encourage communities and businesses to get involved, read the guide on how to get started and submit an entry to the challenge on the website. Community buying has a range of uses to give consumers a bigger voice - from food co-operatives to heating oil groups – and I look forward to seeing the innovative ideas later this year.” 

Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, said: “Co-operative buying, whether informal with friends, student food co-ops or of crowd-sourcing online, is a growing trend among consumers and a good way to make your money go further. Our research shows that almost 20% of people are buying co-operatively and with household budgets under such a squeeze, we are finding more interest than ever in co-operative models of business.

 “The ‘Buy Better Together Challenge’ is intended to stimulate enterprise and promote shared learning and we look forward to receiving many innovative and inspiring ideas!” 

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2069 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th - 15th February 2012. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). 

To find out more about the ‘Buy Better Together Challenge’ and to complete an application form, please visit www.bis.gov.uk/buying/.

 You can also join the conversation on Twitter by using #communitybuy. If you would like to speak to somebody in more detail about the Challenge, please call the helpline number – 0207 215 6570.