Dr Tom Woodroof has a PhD in applied nuclear physics and radioecology. He is currently a Director of Mutual Credit Services (MCS), where he does R&D, strategy, project management, and general consulting. He also runs the Circular Trade Analytics group, a global forum for practitioners and academics interested in how circular financial flows can underpin a material circular economy.
MCS is a fintech startup that – on the understanding that the systems society uses to account for and exchange value strongly condition emergent economic, social, and ecological outcomes – designs and implements easy-to-adopt packages that enable SME networks, municipalities, and community groups to coordinate in service of their aims, even in times of financial crisis. Tools include obligation clearing, mutual credit, use-credit obligations, federation through recursive protocols, and commons-governance frameworks. MCS has ongoing projects in the UK, India, and Sweden, and are in active conversation with partners in many other countries.
This talk will introduce some of these tools, and set them in the context of MCS’ pilot project in Lancaster, where we are working with accountants and business network conveners to recruit around 100 SMEs into a ‘Trade Credit Club’ (TCC). The TCC model seamlessly integrates two liquidity-saving mechanisms (which reduce SME working capital requirements, late payment risk, and administrative burden) into standard invoicing and accounting practises, translating into immediate adopter benefit with minimal disruption to business-as-usual. Emergent outcomes and a ‘scaling out’ strategy will then be explored.
The talk is aimed at students, academics, SMEs (individual and networks), local government, community activists, and anyone else with an interest in the interconnections between business finance, economics, community wealth-building, and the climate and ecological crises.
Tom’s webinar was held on Wednesday 16th March 1pm.