This year’s Democratic Business Summit – a one-day conference to advance democracy across the UK business economy – is coming to Glasgow’s Barras Art & Design on 4th November 2025.
This year’s Democratic Business Summit – a one-day conference to advance democracy across the UK business economy – is coming to Glasgow’s Barras Art & Design on 4th November 2025.
This year’s Democratic Business Summit – a one-day conference to advance democracy across the UK business economy – is coming to Glasgow’s Barras Art & Design on 4th November 2025.
Building on the success of last year’s event, we’re bringing together policy makers, businesses, federations, academics, and funders to continue to develop and promote more awareness of how democratic business can transform our broken economy.
Building on the success of last year’s event, we’re bringing together policy makers, businesses, federations, academics, and funders to continue to develop and promote more awareness of how democratic business can transform our broken economy.
Building on the success of last year’s event, we’re bringing together policy makers, businesses, federations, academics, and funders to continue to develop and promote more awareness of how democratic business can transform our broken economy.
This year's summit will be influenced by a pivotal moment in the nation’s economic future:
This year's summit will be influenced by a pivotal moment in the nation’s economic future:
This year's summit will be influenced by a pivotal moment in the nation’s economic future:
In Westminster, the commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector is a clear ambition to scale models that root economic power in the hands of workers and communities.
In Westminster, the commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector is a clear ambition to scale models that root economic power in the hands of workers and communities.
In Westminster, the commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector is a clear ambition to scale models that root economic power in the hands of workers and communities.
In Holyrood, the Community Wealth Bill, recently passed by parliament is set to mainstream a model that builds local wealth, empowers communities and supports democratic forms of ownership.
In Holyrood, the Community Wealth Bill, recently passed by parliament is set to mainstream a model that builds local wealth, empowers communities and supports democratic forms of ownership.
In Holyrood, the Community Wealth Bill, recently passed by parliament is set to mainstream a model that builds local wealth, empowers communities and supports democratic forms of ownership.
Join us for a day of panels and roundtables to build a stronger business movement over the next few years.
Join us for a day of panels and roundtables to build a stronger business movement over the next few years.
Join us for a day of panels and roundtables to build a stronger business movement over the next few years.
Keynote speaker
Keynote speaker
Keynote speaker
Paul Sweeney
Paul Sweeney
Paul Sweeney
Member of the Scottish Labour and Co-operative Party, he currently serves as Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow region.
Member of the Scottish Labour and Co-operative Party, he currently serves as Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow region.
Member of the Scottish Labour and Co-operative Party, he currently serves as Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow region.
Panelists
Panelists
Panelists
James de le Vingne
James de le Vingne
James de le Vingne
Chief Executive at the Employee Ownership Association the UK’s leading organisation championing employee ownership. He was previously Head of Development at Co-operatives UK and has a background in both international and local economic development. He also sits on the UK Government’s Mutual and Co-operative Sector Business Council and Scotland’s Economic Democracy Group.
Chief Executive at the Employee Ownership Association the UK’s leading organisation championing employee ownership. He was previously Head of Development at Co-operatives UK and has a background in both international and local economic development. He also sits on the UK Government’s Mutual and Co-operative Sector Business Council and Scotland’s Economic Democracy Group.
Chief Executive at the Employee Ownership Association the UK’s leading organisation championing employee ownership. He was previously Head of Development at Co-operatives UK and has a background in both international and local economic development. He also sits on the UK Government’s Mutual and Co-operative Sector Business Council and Scotland’s Economic Democracy Group.
Eleanor Shearer
Eleanor Shearer
Eleanor Shearer
Senior Research Fellow at Common Wealth. She focuses on democratising corporate governance, developing technology for public good and the need for reparations for historic injustice and damages from climate change.
Senior Research Fellow at Common Wealth. She focuses on democratising corporate governance, developing technology for public good and the need for reparations for historic injustice and damages from climate change.
Senior Research Fellow at Common Wealth. She focuses on democratising corporate governance, developing technology for public good and the need for reparations for historic injustice and damages from climate change.
Morven Lyon
Morven Lyon
Morven Lyon
Head of Democratic Finance at Development Trusts Association Scotland. With over 12 years of experience in the third sector, Morven is a leading expert in community-led finance models, particularly community shares.
Head of Democratic Finance at Development Trusts Association Scotland. With over 12 years of experience in the third sector, Morven is a leading expert in community-led finance models, particularly community shares.
Head of Democratic Finance at Development Trusts Association Scotland. With over 12 years of experience in the third sector, Morven is a leading expert in community-led finance models, particularly community shares.
Senior Scottish Government Official
Senior Scottish Government Official
Senior Scottish Government Official
The Scottish Government's Community Wealth Building (CWB) Unit is responsible for leading and coordinating efforts to implement the Community Wealth Building model across Scotland. This model is a transformative approach to local economic development that aims to ensure wealth generated within communities stays within those communities.
The Scottish Government's Community Wealth Building (CWB) Unit is responsible for leading and coordinating efforts to implement the Community Wealth Building model across Scotland. This model is a transformative approach to local economic development that aims to ensure wealth generated within communities stays within those communities.
The Scottish Government's Community Wealth Building (CWB) Unit is responsible for leading and coordinating efforts to implement the Community Wealth Building model across Scotland. This model is a transformative approach to local economic development that aims to ensure wealth generated within communities stays within those communities.
Participants in conversation during the first two roundtables at the 2024 Democratic Business Summit in Cardiff.
Roundtables
Roundtables
Roundtables
This year, we’re hosting four roundtables on different themes to explore the opportunities for the growth of the democratic business movement across policy, investment, research, and development.
This year, we’re hosting four roundtables on different themes to explore the opportunities for the growth of the democratic business movement across policy, investment, research, and development.
This year, we’re hosting four roundtables on different themes to explore the opportunities for the growth of the democratic business movement across policy, investment, research, and development.
— To be announced
— To be announced
— To be announced
Meetups
Meetups
Meetups
This year we’re creating more opportunities for you to connect with others at the conference through meetups:
This year we’re creating more opportunities for you to connect with others at the conference through meetups:
This year we’re creating more opportunities for you to connect with others at the conference through meetups:
▸ Business meetup
▸ Business meetup
▸ Business meetup
▸ Advisor meetup
▸ Advisor meetup
▸ Advisor meetup
▸ Local authority meetup
▸ Local authority meetup
▸ Local authority meetup
▸ Policy meetup
▸ Policy meetup
▸ Policy meetup
Tickets
Tickets
Tickets
£75.00 + VAT
£75.00 + VAT
£75.00 + VAT
Doors open at 09:15 and your ticket includes refreshments and lunch. Click below to register and buy your ticket.
Doors open at 09:15 and your ticket includes refreshments and lunch. Click below to register and buy your ticket.
Doors open at 09:15 and your ticket includes refreshments and lunch. Click below to register and buy your ticket.
Explore more
Explore more
Explore more
If you're interested in learning more about the attendees, workshops and sessions from last year’s summit, you can find them in our 2024 Summit Report.
If you're interested in learning more about the attendees, workshops and sessions from last year’s summit, you can find them in our 2024 Summit Report.
If you're interested in learning more about the attendees, workshops and sessions from last year’s summit, you can find them in our 2024 Summit Report.
Sponsors
Sponsors
Sponsors
Supported by
Supported by
Supported by
Bursaries
Bursaries
Bursaries
Co-operate Scotland is offering bursaries to support ticket and travel costs for attendees based in Scotland.
Co-operate Scotland is offering bursaries to support ticket and travel costs for attendees based in Scotland.
Co-operate Scotland is offering bursaries to support ticket and travel costs for attendees based in Scotland.
To enquire about eligibility, please contact: hello@co-operate.scot.
To enquire about eligibility, please contact: hello@co-operate.scot.
To enquire about eligibility, please contact: hello@co-operate.scot.
The CfDB is a project of Stir to Action Ltd, a worker co-operative registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Company number 07951013
Our team is based in Dorset, London, and Manchester
Designed and built by Guillermo Ortego
You can subscribe to our newsletter here
The CfDB is a project of Stir to Action Ltd, a worker co-operative registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Company number 07951013
Our team is based in Dorset, London, and Manchester
Designed and built by Guillermo Ortego
You can subscribe to our newsletter here
The CfDB is a project of Stir to Action Ltd, a worker co-operative registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Company number 07951013
Our team is based in Dorset, London, and Manchester
Designed and built by Guillermo Ortego