The Preston Model: Economic Democracy, Cooperation, and Paradoxes in Organisational and Social Identification

The ‘Preston Model’ (PM) has substantially improved the socio-economic outlook of Preston (UK). It is a community wealth-building approach, harnessing local economic power for more resilient, environmentally sustainable, democratic economy and socially cohesive community, prioritising social value, through private public sector partnerships. This qualitative research article investigates how people in ‘anchor institutions’ (major wealth creators employers ‘anchored’ Preston) perceive PM. Focusing on democracy solidarity, building organisational identity theory, its relation with participation, identification pride processes enabling change examined. Most interviewees doubt impact; nevertheless, they exhibit sense as ‘drivers’, attributing to it ‘higher’ ethical values. While PM exerts subtle emotional, aspirational, socio-cultural influence, still represents shifting, alternative paradigm, emerging both individual collective assent, rather than specific policy directives.