Bartek Staniszewski and Thomas Nurcombe

January 2024

This report examines the nature of, history of, advantages from, problems with and policies for democratic business. It defines and describes democratic business, which includes co-operatives, employee-owned businesses and community businesses, and outlines the benefits of them – for employees, employers and the wider economy. 

The report is based on an extensive domestic and international literature review and interviews with MPs, business leaders, government advisers and former civil servants.

The report offers ten policies for increasing the presence of democratic business in the UK economy, guided by three key principles: fiscal realism; incentivising, not mandating; and the importance of communities.