For the first twenty years of its life Ethical Consumer Research Association (ECRA) was managed by its staff as a workers' co-operative.

In October 2008 ECRA converted into a multi-stakeholder co-operative with

• worker members, and

• investor members.

Both classes of member are involved in decision-making and the election of Directors onto the Board.

The conversion was designed to give ECRA better access to external capital and skills – whilst retaining the not-for-profit and co-operative principles at its core.

Because of the principle of open membership, any consumer able to make the minimum investment (currently £200) and who supports the objects of ECRA, can now become a member of the co-operative.

This members area of the website is designed to explain the benefits of membership and to help new and existing members in making investments and withdrawals.

ECRA is now formally structured as a not-for-profit Industrial and Provident Society and is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

You can download the Ethical Consumer Research Association Rules 2009 as a PDF file (for which you will need Acrobat Reader).

ECRA’s conversion to a multistakeholder co-operative was generously supported by a grant made by the Co-operative Fund in 2008.

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