Some of the UK’s leading sharing economy businesses have announced a new trade body for the sector, UKShareCo.
As the sector continues its rapid growth, with the likes of Uber and AirBnb attaining household-name status, the organisation hopes to further increase its awareness.
UK startups Sooqini, GoCarShare and OpenPlay are among the founding members.
‘Best place in the world to share’
UKShareCo will initially be chaired by Sooqini’s CEO Raj Singh who claims the sharing economy is contributing £22.4bn to UK GDP.
We want to make everyone in the UK aware of what can be gained from using our members’ services.
The US marketplace is relatively fragmented. We want to make the UK the easiest and best place in the world to share.
Helping suppliers and consumers
The trade body hopes to ensure both vendors and customers can be certain of each other’s trustworthiness.
All UKShareCo members will display the UKShareCo logo on their website and the organisation is also instigating tailored insurance for its members.
The announcement comes as a government review is underway into the sharing economy.
The review will seek to define the sharing economy and understand the legal, regulatory and social barriers for businesses. It is chaired by Debbie Wosskow, the CEO of Love Home Swap, which is not a founding member of UKShareCo.
The full list of members is Sooqini, GoCarShare, RentMyItems, OpenPlay, Hire Space, StreetPin, JustPark, storenextdoor, and Rentez-vous.