---
title: CoTech Conference 2026
description: "Sovereign tech, cooperative future. CoTech's first conference - Thursday 17 September 2026 at SPACE4."
layout: default
permalink: /conference-2026
---

<section class="grid grid-uneven w-full">
  <div class="stack">
    <h1>CoTech Conference 2026</h1>

    <p class="large">Sovereign tech, cooperative future.</p>

    <p class="intro">Thursday 17th September 2026 &middot; SPACE4 &middot; 9:30am - 4:30pm + drinks</p>

    <div class="switcher">
      <a class="btn" href="https://office.workers.coop/apps/forms/s/Df2nDP49pSGCe5t9kT4FiRQP">Submit a session</a>
    </div>

    <p>Ticketing information coming soon.</p>
  </div>

  <div>
    <img class="rounded rectangle" src="assets/img/richard.jpg" alt="Photo of someone giving a talk at a CoTech event" />
  </div>
</section>

<section class="stack w-full">
  <h2>About the event</h2>

  <p class="intro">CoTech is hosting its first conference - a day for the cooperative tech sector to come together, share what we know, and show the world what we can do.</p>

  <p>We're bringing together product and comms teams from co-ops, charities, not-for-profits, and the public sector for a day of short talks, honest conversation, and genuine connection. Expect twelve punchy 15-minute sessions, a keynote, a proper lunch break, and drinks afterwards.</p>

  <p>This isn't a corporate conference. It's built by and for people who believe technology should serve people not profit.</p>
</section>

<section class="stack w-full">
  <h2>Why we're doing this</h2>

  <p>The cooperative tech sector is doing brilliant work. But we don't always shout about it loudly enough, or have enough space to learn from each other. This event is about changing that.</p>

  <ul class="services">
    <li>Raise the profile of CoTech and the work our members do</li>
    <li>Share our tech knowledge across the cooperative sector and beyond</li>
    <li>Start conversations between co-ops and the organisations that could work with them</li>
    <li>Practise talking about our vision - and get better at it together</li>
  </ul>
</section>

<section class="stack w-full">
  <h2>The day</h2>

  <table class="schedule">
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>9:30-;10:00</td>
        <td>Arrivals</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>10:00-;10:30</td>
        <td>CoTech introduction</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>10:30-;12:30</td>
        <td>Six 15-minute sessions*</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>12:30-;13:30</td>
        <td>Lunch</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>13:30-;15:30</td>
        <td>Six 15-minute sessions*</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>15:30-;16:00</td>
        <td>Keynote</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>16:00 onwards</td>
        <td>Drinks</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>

  <p>*Each session is followed by an optional breakout where speakers can take interested attendees into a side room to continue the conversation.</p>
</section>

<section class="stack w-full">
  <h2>Who's it for</h2>

  <p class="intro">The event is open to around 50-60 attendees. We're particularly interested in reaching product and comms teams working in:</p>

  <ul class="services">
    <li>Co-operatives of any size</li>
    <li>Charities and not-for-profits</li>
    <li>The public sector</li>
  </ul>

  <p>Ticketing information coming soon.</p>
</section>

<section class="stack w-full" id="sessions">
  <h2>Call for sessions</h2>

  <p class="intro">We're inviting session proposals from speakers inside and outside the CoTech network.</p>

  <div class="box stack">
    <h3 class="title">Guidelines for submissions</h3>
    <ul class="services">
      <li>Sessions are strictly 15 minutes. After your session, you'll have the option to take interested attendees into a breakout room for a deeper conversation.</li>
      <li>Sessions should share knowledge and benefit the community, not promote products or services. Think: something you've learned, a problem you've solved, a way of working that others could benefit from.</li>
      <li>Speakers will be asked to attend one group planning session before the event.</li>
      <li>For CoTech members, each co-op may submit up to two proposals, but only one session per co-op will be selected in the first round.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p><strong>A note on diversity</strong> &mdash; CoTech is aware that our network is not ethnically diverse and is predominantly male. We're working to change that, and this event is part of that effort. We strongly encourage submissions from facilitators and presenters who have been marginalised due to racism, misogyny, transphobia, ableism, or other forms of discrimination.</p>

  <a class="btn" href="https://office.workers.coop/apps/forms/s/Df2nDP49pSGCe5t9kT4FiRQP">Submit your session proposal</a>

  <p>Any questions? Email <a href="mailto:natasha@outlandish.com">natasha@outlandish.com</a></p>
</section>

<section class="stack w-full">
  <h2>How we'll select sessions</h2>

  <p>If we receive more proposals than we can accommodate, or multiple proposals on similar themes, we'll use the following to guide our decisions.</p>

  <p>Across the programme as a whole, we'll aim to ensure:</p>

  <ul class="services">
    <li>Every CoTech co-op that wants a session gets one</li>
    <li>Themes are spread widely</li>
    <li>Speakers represent a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives</li>
  </ul>

  <p>Each individual proposal will be scored out of 5 on:</p>

  <div class="grid">
    <div class="box stack">
      <h3 class="title">Practical learning value</h3>
      <p>Will attendees leave with something useful?</p>
    </div>
    <div class="box stack">
      <h3 class="title">Innovation or improvement focus</h3>
      <p>Does it push things forward?</p>
    </div>
    <div class="box stack">
      <h3 class="title">Engagement potential</h3>
      <p>Will it land well with a live audience?</p>
    </div>
    <div class="box stack">
      <h3 class="title">Breadth of audience</h3>
      <p>How many people will it resonate with?</p>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>