About Irish co-operative organisation society
The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) is a leading co-operative umbrella organisation that has been serving and promoting commercial co-operative businesses and enterprise across multiple sections of the Irish economy for many years. ICOS is committed to supporting the growth and development of co-operatives in Ireland, providing them with the necessary resources, expertise, and guidance to succeed.
ICOS was established in 1894 as a national federation of agricultural co-operatives. Since then, it has grown into a diverse organisation that represents over 130 individual co-operatives across various sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, credit unions, energy, housing, retailing and more. The society's primary objective is to promote the principles of cooperation among its members while also advocating for their interests at both national and international levels.
One of ICOS's key strengths lies in its ability to provide tailored support services to its members. These services include training programmes on governance structures and best practices for running successful cooperatives; access to funding opportunities through partnerships with financial institutions; legal advice on regulatory compliance issues; marketing support through joint promotional campaigns; networking events that facilitate knowledge sharing among members.
The society also plays an important role in representing the interests of its members at government level by lobbying policymakers on issues affecting their businesses. This advocacy work has led to significant policy changes over the years that have benefited not only ICOS's member organisations but also Ireland's wider cooperative sector.
In recent years ICOS has been actively involved in promoting sustainable development goals (SDGs) within Ireland’s cooperative sector. The society recognises that cooperatives can play an essential role in achieving these goals by contributing towards economic growth while also addressing social inequalities such as poverty reduction or gender equality.
ICOS is committed to ensuring that all its member organisations operate according to high ethical standards based on transparency accountability fairness respect for human rights environmental sustainability etc.. This commitment reflects not only ICOS’s values but also those shared by the wider cooperative movement.
In conclusion, ICOS is a vital organisation that has been instrumental in promoting and supporting the growth of co-operatives across multiple sectors of the Irish economy. Its commitment to providing tailored support services to its members, advocating for their interests at government level, and promoting sustainable development goals makes it an essential partner for any co-operative business looking to succeed in Ireland.