Business & governance
A community energy organisation is both a company and a business, which brings both obligations and opportunities. Thankfully there are some great resources out there to help you navigate the world of governance and business management.
Business, Governance and Financial Management
The Energy Learning Network hosted an introduction to community energy governance in June 2025 which will be useful to new and emerging community organisations, looking at governance for the first time or developing governance for their organisation. The slides of the webinar are here and you can find the recording here.
- An introduction to community energy governance, hosted by the Energy Learning Network looks at how to create governance models that align with your day to day approach, and strike the balance of maintaining your grassroots voice, while putting you in a position to attract funding and deliver projects.
- How to Build Good Community Energy Governance: This helpful guide, developed in partnership by CAG Consultants and the Centre for Sustainable Energy, supports new and developing community energy organisations in establishing strong governance practices.
- Power to Change - community business resources, inc. practical guides for energy projects
- Wrigleys Solicitors - host regular webinars on various aspects of employment law. They also offer employment law services
- Co-operatives UK - resource bank on governance and finance resources for co-ops, inc. HR video (below)
- Cooperative Assistance Network - wide range of template policies you can use for your own organisations
- NCVO - guidance on financial management (all organisations) and governance (charity specific)
- Air Register - An airtable app which will help you mange your society's community shares register. Designed by leading community shares practitioners with support from Co-operatives UK, Air Register will help societies meet best practice around their ongoing administration and management of their share register.
- Information Commissioners Office (ICO) - guidance and template to create a privacy notice for your organisation
