CoTech Autumn Gathering 2025: summary and next steps

Details

Date: 3rd October 2025

Time: 10:00-late

Venue: Oxford Friends Meeting House

Practical information: The event takes place on the ground floor, in the back building.

Lunch and drinks provided.

Tickets

Tickets are available on Luma.

Solidarity Ticket - £50
General admission (per person) - £40
Reduced rate (out of work, low income, student) - £30

Agenda


	Main Room
10:00 - 10:15	Welcome (Mikaela Raphael, Agile Collective)
10:15 - 11:30	Session 1: The website and beyond (Richard Edwards, Outlandish)
11:30 - 12:00	Break
12:00 - 14:00	Session 2: Marketing and events in 2026, Review of Congress; review of users ideas for 2026; refinement of some of them. (Richard Rowley and Simon Chapman, Agile Collective)
14:00 - 15:30	Lunch
15:30 - 17:00	Session 3: Focus on three big actions

Session 1: The Website and Beyond

Focus:

Idea generation and development of activities for Natasha over the next three months.

Outputs (with Richard E, Outlandish):

Handover completed to Natasha.
Two main areas of focus:
1. Improvements to the website
2. Lead triaging system

Next Steps:

Natasha to work on user journeys and website copy.
Proposals to be shared at the meeting on 19 November.

Session 2: Marketing and events in 2026

Focus:

Review of Congress.
Review and refinement of user ideas for 2026.

Outputs:

Target Audiences

Users, Clients & Collaborators
- Worker co-ops seeking digital, design, or strategic support. Examples: CoTech members’ clients, Co-op Group, Co-operatives UK (CUK), federations, and networks.
- Ethical non-co-ops (mission-driven charities, NGOs, B Corps) aligned with cooperative ethics.
- Public sector and large organisations interested in ethical procurement and open-source suppliers.
Members and Contributors
- Current CoTech member agencies.
- Tech co-ops (established or emerging) seeking community, visibility, or collaboration.
- Individuals (freelancers, technologists, designers, developers) interested in forming or joining co-ops.
Supporters and Allies
- Potential funders and sponsors: foundations, grantmakers, and cooperative tech supporters.
- People interested in co-ops, solidarity economy, open source, or the digital commons.
- Academics, activists, journalists, and community organisers advocating for cooperative tech.

CoTech Marketing Aims for 2026

Increase Brand Recognition & Market Presence
- Focus messaging on specific audiences for maximum impact.
- Attract more people into tech co-ops and create new co-ops.
- Generate more work and procurement opportunities (e.g. through CUK and Workers.coop).
- Support and promote new co-ops.
- Share skills and resources across the network.
Thought Leadership
- Promote awareness of the co-op model (including in higher education).
- Showcase ethical and open alternatives to big tech.
- Build relationships and start conversations with influential contacts.
Movement Building
- Strengthen CoTech to strengthen the wider co-op movement.
- Increase collective power and influence, including over technology and AI.
- Encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual support.
Confidence & Credibility
- Maintain momentum and community energy.
- Ensure members and clients understand the value of co-ops.
- Build internal confidence and external trust.

Session 3: Focus on Three Big Actions

Summary:

Collecting and Triaging Leads on the Website (Leads work with Richard E and Chris C.)
Ideas for Funding CoTech Marketing (Work with Chris L and Mikaela.)
Running a CoTech “Alternative Trade Fair” (CoTexpo, Led by Simon.)

Actions

Increase Brand Recognition

Require all members to display the CoTech logo and link in their website footer.
Form a working group to refine and improve CoTech copy, outlining collective skills, services, and unique value propositions.
Create presentation slides and other promotional materials.
Plan and budget for CoTech stands/tables at relevant non-co-op tech conferences and university careers fairs.
Develop an ad campaign (e.g., “Lost your job?” / “Sick of enshittification?” → Join CoTech!).

Backlog

Create an official newsletter template and publishing schedule.
Gather regular content from members for a mailer.
Develop and launch a YouTube channel, podcast, or blog showcasing member projects and values.

Win More Work

Design and launch a Lead Triage System to qualify and distribute inquiries fairly among members.
Plan and execute a trade fair or “solution-a-thon” where clients meet member co-ops to tackle real challenges.
Collaborate with Co-ops UK and Workers.coop to promote CoTech through their channels and policy work.

Backlog:

Research and apply for relevant public/private sector procurement frameworks.
Design a referral programme to incentivise work referrals within the network.

Movement Building

Create a shared Kanban board (e.g. Trello) with clearly defined tasks for both client work and internal projects.
Plan and host two CoTech events in 2026.
Maintain regular contact with CUK and Workers.coop.
Encourage participation in monthly calls and shared communication channels.
Increase wiki use; review structure and explore new theme/SSO options.