A mixed methods approach was used to get at the heart of co-op specific education and training needs.

To begin, a focus group of co-operators (approximately 100) was held at the 2016 CMC Congress. The information gleaned from this activity was key to focussing the interview guide and survey tool, as well as securing participants for the study.

371 respondents filled in the survey. Among those respondents, 99 identified as being members only, 148 as being employees only, and 123 as being both member and employee. We present the results as two different samples: all those who identified as members and both (271 respondents) and all those who identified as employees and both (222 respondents).

28 interviews were conducted with those who identified as managers (21) and directors (12) from all industries, types and sizes of co-operatives, as well as regions across Canada. Special attention was paid to where the interviewees are in terms of their career. This provided insight into the similarities and differences for managers and directors, including the multiple hats people wear as managers and directors as is the case for many who work in worker co-ops, as well as the interviewees who have both roles in different co-operatives.