S, T and U

SCEC
Scottish Co-operative Education Centre. Former outpost of the Co-operative College. Current equivalent is the Co-operative Education Trust for Scotland (CETS).

'Scotmid'
The Scottish Midland Co-operative Society operates in central Scotland from a base in Edinburgh. It turns c.£380M per annum and includes discount toiletry chain 'Semi-Chem' and the convenience store chain 'Morning, Noon and Night'. See www.scotmid.coop

SCWS
Former Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society. Merged with CWS in 1971.

Social Economy
Term used to describe Co-operatives, mutuals and voluntary organisations. Widely used in continental Europe. In the UK now being replaced with the language of the Third Sector.

Social Enterprise
A term describing a range of businesses which trade to provide services for people rather than to maximise profits for shareholders. Includes Co-ops, the trading operations of Charities and some philanthropic employers.

Social Enterprise Coalition
National representative body for all forms of Social Enterprise. See www.sec.org.uk

'Southern'
Southern Co-operatives has a turnover of c£200M and trades in southern England around Portsmouth. Formerly known as Port sea Island. See www.southern.coop

Southern Section
The Southern Section of the Co-operative Union brings together representatives of Consumer Co-op Societies in a geographical area stretching from Penzance to Sheringham (!).

Suma
Suma Whole foods are a Worker Co-op wholesaler of whole foods and associated products throughout Britain from a base near Huddersfield. See www.suma.coop

Third Sector
Umbrella term referring to organisations that aren't part of the public or private sectors of the economy - i.e. Co-operatives, Mutuals, Charities and Voluntary organisations, Social Enterprises.

UKCC
United Kingdom Co-operative Council. Formed after the demise of the old national CDA to bring together representatives of all the different kinds of Co-op in the UK. Merged with the Co-operative Union in 2002 and became the UKCF.

UKCF
United Kingdom Co-operative Forum. Brings together representatives of the federal bodies representing various forms of Co-operative in the UK plus other national bodies such as the Co-operative Party, Co-operative College and UK SCS. Organises annual conference in December aimed at policy-makers and opinion-formers nationally.

uk.coop
Portal web-site giving access to Co-operatives UK's records of every known Co-operative Enterprise in Britain.

UK SCS
UK Society for Co-operative Studies. Publishes the Journal of Co-operative Studies and organises an Annual Conference. See www.co-opstudies.org

United Co-op
The largest independent Consumer Co-op formed in 2002 by the merger of United Norwest and Yorkshire Co-ops. Annual turnover in excess of £1.5Bn. Merged with the Co-operative Group in 2007.

USDAW
The Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers. Trade Union representing most Co-operative staff. See www.usdaw.org.uk