FC United
In 2005, FC United was launched as a reaction to the debt-laden takeover culture of modern football, with the aim of changing the face of the sport by doing things differently. A club owned by its fans and run with the community’s interests at heart certainly embraces the spirit of the beautiful game. And at Cobbetts, we’ve supported FC United every step of the way - from advising on the club’s democratic
structure and constitution to supporting the reforms needed to fund its new ground. We developed a workable model through which co-operative organisations like FC United can raise finance from their communities, fans and supporters who are not investors in the traditional sense, but who are allowing their share capital to be used for a cause they believe in.

Through the Community Share Scheme and additional grants and donations, FC United is now aiming to raise £3.5 million to develop a state-of-the-art football ground and community facility in Newton Heath, Manchester - a project that will not only benefit the club, but also help to support and regenerate the local area. Within the first two months the share issue raised over half a million pounds.

Salford City Council
The former leisure services department of Salford City Council became one of the generation of new mutual organisations in 2003, when it became a society owned by its local community (residents, users of the service, and staff). Having previously been a cost-funded service, struggling to compete for attention amongst other pressing priorities for local government, it has become a thriving, self-confident and expanding business. The board comprises representatives of the users, local residents, staff, the council, as well as one representative from each of health, education, community safety and local employers. The professional management team remains accountable through this board to the local community which it serves. 

Cobbetts was able not just to support the transition from local authority ownership to community ownership, but also to provide a robust structure and substantial support to the management in establishing the business. In particular, our experience of employee buyouts enable the incumbent managers to grow into the job, showing that local government officers can move into a trading scenario and manage a competitive business in a way sensitive to the demands of customers and local community needs.