Contribution
It is an honour to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton (Jim McMahon) for bringing this really important debate to the House.
I am immensely proud to represent the communities of Leigh and Atherton—towns that embody the very best of Britain, built on pride, kindness and hard work. They show what can be achieved when people pull together. We talk about co-operatives, but I also want to talk about social enterprise. Together, they form a broader movement of collective ownership, where people have a direct stake in the success of their community.
These models share the same DNA: accountability, reinvestment and a belief that decisions should be made for people, not just for profit. They are vital to building fair, resilient economies from the ground up. Time and again, I have seen that spirit in Leigh and Atherton—people rallying on Facebook groups to help neighbours; volunteers restoring heritage sites; and grassroots projects breathing life back into our town centres. That is why I stand here today championing the co-operative and social enterprise sector. This is not just about business; it is about community pride, regeneration and empowerment. Town regeneration is happening right now. The Government are making real progress through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, the pride in place programme and the Crime and Policing Bill, all of which were designed to revitalise our high streets and restore confidence in our towns.
However, none of that will succeed without local people leading the charge. In our area, we have seen exactly what that leadership looks like. In Tyldesley, For Tyldesley has helped attract investment and given local people ownership of their town centre. In Atherton, the Snug—a Music Venue Trust asset, led by grassroots music champion Rachael McEntee—is building a vibrant cultural scene from the ground up. In Leigh, Leigh Works is creating space for small businesses and digital innovation to thrive. These are not isolated examples; they are part of a growing movement of local ownership and community-driven success.
Co-operatives reflect the values that we hold dear: self-help, democratic ownership and giving back. Across housing, agriculture, energy and retail, co-ops provide long-term stability, inclusive employment and ethical business practice. They fill the gaps that the traditional models often leave behind. I have seen that first hand; it will be no surprise to anybody that I am going to mention Leigh Spinners Mill—I mention it often. During my sabbatical years, in between being elected, the once-disused red-brick giant has become a thriving hub of creativity and enterprise. Leigh Film Factory, which is based inside, born from an empty space, shows what happens when working class towns back creativity and reclaim their stories. That is community wealth in action.
Nationally, there are 131,000 social enterprises in the UK, with a turnover of £78 billion and a workforce of 2.3 million. They outperform traditional businesses in growth, innovation, job creation and reducing inequality. They also better reflect the country that they serve: they are in our communities, with more women and diverse leaders at the helm. These organisations align perfectly with the Government’s vision of local empowerment, encouraging communities to take ownership of their spaces and their futures.
However, as we have heard from my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, for many navigating the world of finance business advice and investment remain a challenge. We all recognise that these are complex areas, and progress requires co-ordination across Departments and sectors. That is why I welcome the manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-op and mutual sector and the forthcoming call for future evidence on co-operative growth. That is an opportunity to shape a joined-up approach that helps co-operatives, social enterprises and community interest companies to thrive. Supporting them means supporting our communities from the ground up, rebuilding pride, creating opportunity and putting ownership back where it belongs: in the hands of local people.