CoTechOxford2025

CoTech Autumn Gathering 2025: summary and next steps

Contents Session 1: The website and beyond Session 2: Marketing and events in 2026 Users CoTech Marketing Aims 2026 1. Increase Brand Recognition & Market Presence 2. Thought Leadership 3. Movement Building 4. Confidence & Credibility Session 3: Focus on three big actions Actions Increase brand recognition Win more work!!! Movement building Thought Leadership

Session 1: The website and beyond Idea generation and focus on developing activities for Natasha for the next three months. Outputs with Richard E (Outlandish) - handed over to Natasha. Two parts: Improvements to the website Lead triaging system Natasha is working on the user journeys and the copy - will propose suggestions to a meeting on 19 Nov.

Session 2: Marketing and events in 2026 Review of Congress; review of users ideas for 2026; refinement of some of them.

Users Clients & Collaborators Worker co-ops who might hire us. Organisations that share our values and need digital, design, or strategic support. Examples: existing CoTech members’ clients, large co-ops (Coop Group), federations (CUK), and network. Ethical non-coops who might employ us. Mission-driven charities, NGOs, or B Corps that align with cooperative ethics and want to work with value-led tech providers. Public sector, government, and large organisations interested in ethical procurement. Councils, public bodies, and institutions seeking open-source, socially responsible suppliers or exploring cooperative approaches. Members and contributors Current member agencies. Co-ops who might join CoTech. Established or emerging tech co-ops looking for community, visibility, shared learning, or collaboration opportunities within the network. Individuals interested in joining or forming a co-op. Freelancers, technologists, designers, and developers who want to work in a more ethical way, whether by joining an existing co-op or starting a new one with CoTech support. Supporters and allies Potential funders and sponsors. Foundations, grantmakers, and organisations interested in supporting the cooperative tech movement, collective infrastructure, or open-source innovation. People interested in co-ops, solidarity economy, open source, or digital commons. Academics, activists, journalists, and community organisers who want to engage, learn, amplify, or advocate for co-operative tech.

CoTech Marketing Aims 2026 1. Increase Brand Recognition & Market Presence Focus on specific audiences → maximise effectiveness Get more people into tech co-ops & make tech co-ops Get more work → make more work (CUK members etc. + Workers.coop) Support new co-ops We procure from CoTech Skills-share 2. Thought Leadership Raise awareness of co-op model (incl. higher education) Raise awareness of tech alternatives Show thought leadership to big tech Getting contacts to start conversations 3. Movement Building Strengthen CoTech → strengthen co-op movement more people more power → e.g. control over A.I. Increase power + influence 4. Confidence & Credibility Keep energy high! People understand the value of being co-ops We believe in ourselves Potential clients believe in us

Session 3: Focus on three big actions Collecting and triaging leads on the site Actions with Richard E and Chris C

Ideas for funding our marketing Actions with Chris L and Mikaela

Running a CoTech “alternative trade fair” expo Actions with Simon

Actions

Increase brand recognition Mandate that all members add the CoTech logo and a link to the CoTech website in the footer of their own websites. Improve CoTech copy (form a working group to create a clear, concise document outlining the collective skills, services, and unique value proposition of the CoTech network.) Website Slides ???? Plan and budget for official CoTech stands/tables at relevant non-co-op tech conferences.

Brand recognition backlog

Create an official newsletter template and a schedule. Gather content from members for a regular mailer.

Develop a strategy for and launch a YouTube channel, podcast, blog showcasing member projects, co-operative values Plan and budget for official CoTech stands/tables at key university careers fairs, Freshers Fairs advert/call to action “Lost your job….” “Sick of ensittfication….” COTECH!

Win more work!!! Design and roll out the "Triage System for More Leads" to ensure incoming inquiries are qualified and distributed fairly and effectively among members. Plan and execute a trade fair or "solution-a-thon" event, inviting potential clients to meet member co-ops and solve specific business challenges. CoTexpo Meet with Coops UK and Workers.coop to actively ask them to "Get CUK to promote us" through their channels and policy work.

Win more work Backlog Research and successfully apply to join relevant public and private sector procurement frameworks as a single CoTech entity. Design and launch a referral programme that incentivises members and external partners to bring work into the network.

Movement building Set up a shared Kanban board (e.g., on Trello or a similar tool) with "Clear tasks that we can pick up and do" for both potential client work and internal CoTech projects. Plan the "Two CoTech events in 2026" and ensure regular attendance Have a point of contact at CUK and workers.coop Encourage people to come to the monthly calls Shared chat channel Use wiki more! Investigate a new theme? Can this be linked to SSO? Review structure?

Movement building backlog Start a pilot programme for the "deliberate peer mentoring framework" to connect new and experienced members. (talk to workers.coop Can we get/manage apprenticeship placements within member co-ops. Develop templates, guides, and other resources (as suggested in "Role/Resource to offer to members") to help members with business operations.

Thought Leadership Identify key contacts within the Co-op Party and Green Party. Arrange an initial meeting to introduce CoTech and its goals. Backlog Actively propose and facilitate sessions at non-co-op events, positioning CoTech members as experts in ethical technology, digital democracy, and alternative business models.