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 speakers
Keynote speakers
Keynote speakers
Kirsty McNeill
Kirsty McNeill
Kirsty McNeill
Member of Parliament for Midlothian since 2024 and a member of the Labour and Co-operative Party, she also serves as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.
Member of Parliament for Midlothian since 2024 and a member of the Labour and Co-operative Party, she also serves as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.
Member of Parliament for Midlothian since 2024 and a member of the Labour and Co-operative Party, she also serves as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.
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.
Tom Arthur
Tom Arthur
Tom Arthur
Appointed Minister for Employment and Investment in 2024, he has represented Renfrewshire South as its Member of the Scottish Parliament since 2016.
Appointed Minister for Employment and Investment in 2024, he has represented Renfrewshire South as its Member of the Scottish Parliament since 2016.
Appointed Minister for Employment and Investment in 2024, he has represented Renfrewshire South as its Member of the Scottish Parliament since 2016.
Panelists
Panelists
Panelists
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.
Rose Marley
Rose Marley
Rose Marley
Chief Executive of Co-operatives UK since 2021, where she has spearheaded an ambitious strategy to grow the co-operative economy, targeting youth engagement and tech-driven innovation.
Chief Executive of Co-operatives UK since 2021, where she has spearheaded an ambitious strategy to grow the co-operative economy, targeting youth engagement and tech-driven innovation.
Chief Executive of Co-operatives UK since 2021, where she has spearheaded an ambitious strategy to grow the co-operative economy, targeting youth engagement and tech-driven innovation.
Stephen White
Stephen White
Stephen White
Head of Community Wealth Building Unit at The Scottish Government since 2021.
Head of Community Wealth Building Unit at The Scottish Government since 2021.
Head of Community Wealth Building Unit at The Scottish Government since 2021.
Isla McCulloch
Isla McCulloch
Isla McCulloch
Democratic Finance Development Officer at Development Trusts Association Scotland.
Democratic Finance Development Officer at Development Trusts Association Scotland.
Democratic Finance Development Officer at Development Trusts Association Scotland.
Sarah Deas
Sarah Deas
Sarah Deas
Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde, chair of North Ayrshire’s Community Wealth Building expert advisory group, and a member of the Institute of Directors' Sustainability Taskforce.
Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde, chair of North Ayrshire’s Community Wealth Building expert advisory group, and a member of the Institute of Directors' Sustainability Taskforce.
Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde, chair of North Ayrshire’s Community Wealth Building expert advisory group, and a member of the Institute of Directors' Sustainability Taskforce.
Margarett Scott
Margarett Scott
Margarett Scott
CWB - Officer/lead North Ayrshire
CWB - Officer/lead North Ayrshire
CWB - Officer/lead North Ayrshire
Yvone McBride
Yvone McBride
Yvone McBride
Development OfficerJu South Lanarkshire
Development OfficerJu South Lanarkshire
Development OfficerJu South Lanarkshire
James de le Vingne
James de le Vingne
James de le Vingne
Chief Executive at the Employee Ownership Association since 2022. Before that he led the Co-operatives UK Development Team for eight years and was a director of the Coop Loan Fund.
Chief Executive at the Employee Ownership Association since 2022. Before that he led the Co-operatives UK Development Team for eight years and was a director of the Coop Loan Fund.
Chief Executive at the Employee Ownership Association since 2022. Before that he led the Co-operatives UK Development Team for eight years and was a director of the Coop Loan Fund.
Participants in conversation during the first two roundtables at the 2024 Democratic Business Summit in Cardiff.
Roundtables
Roundtables
Roundtables
Like in past editions, we’ll be hosting 45-minute-roundtables to ask key questions about how to grow our business movement:
Like in past editions, we’ll be hosting 45-minute-roundtables to ask key questions about how to grow our business movement:
Like in past editions, we’ll be hosting 45-minute-roundtables to ask key questions about how to grow our business movement:
Roundtable One:
Roundtable One:
Roundtable One:
How can we secure the investment we need to grow the sector?
How can we secure the investment we need to grow the sector?
How can we secure the investment we need to grow the sector?
Roundtable Two:
Roundtable Two:
Roundtable Two:
What would a strong ecosystem of democratic business support look like?
What would a strong ecosystem of democratic business support look like?
What would a strong ecosystem of democratic business support look like?
Roundtable Three:
Roundtable Three:
Roundtable Three:
What kinds of evidence and research can most effectively make the case for democratic business ownership?
What kinds of evidence and research can most effectively make the case for democratic business ownership?
What kinds of evidence and research can most effectively make the case for democratic business ownership?
Roundtable Four:
Roundtable Four:
Roundtable Four:
What does our business movement want from the new government?
What does our business movement want from the new government?
What does our business movement want from the new government?
Meetups
Meetups
Meetups
This year we’re creating more opportunities for you to connect with others at the conference through our 30-minute mini-meetups:
This year we’re creating more opportunities for you to connect with others at the conference through our 30-minute mini-meetups:
This year we’re creating more opportunities for you to connect with others at the conference through our 30-minute mini-meetups:
▸ 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
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