Our history

The Phone Co-op is a co-operative success story

We were founded in 1998 in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire as SETCO (Social Economy Telecommunications Co-operative), providing cheaper telephone services to the 'third sector' by purchasing collectively.

In August 1999, SETCO became The Phone Co-op and was converted to a Society incorporated under the Industrial & Provident Societies Acts.

In July 2003 the Internet Services Division was added in Manchester, taking the retail customers from the former workers co-operative Poptel. This has since been fully integrated with the rest of The Phone Co-op's activities.

In 2008 we were named Social Enterprise of the Year at the Enterprising Solutions Awards, having been shortlisted in previous years.

In September 2010 we acquired Saga Telephone Service's customer base, welcoming 8000 new customers to The Phone Co-op.

In May 2011, the Federation of Communication Services awarded us Reseller of the Year at their annual awards ceremony.

We have shown strong growth, in terms of turnover and membership, every year since we started trading. We also trade profitably, which is necessary to ensure we have the resources to expand. We have made a profit in twelve of our thirteen years of trading.