The euphoria of peace and hopes for a post war democracy had to be translated into practical solutions. Led by Robert Marshall, the College would enjoy a much-enlarged cohort from around the world. It embraced management education and social studies with the aid of scholarships from co-operative societies, as well as education for ‘colonial co-operators’ in a new course supported by the Colonial Office. Yet, the very forces of the labour movement, of which co-operatives formed an important part, were moving in a direction that would create dilemmas for co-operators. In fact, the end of empire, the Cold War, the introduction of the ‘welfare state’ and nationalisation of the ‘commanding heights’ of the economy gave rise to incongruous feelings in co-operative circles. At the same time as supporting emerging national ideas on education and welfare, co-operators had to adjust to a world in which centralised planning was becoming part of a new consensus. Responding actively to these changes proved to be difficult for the movement despite encouragement from the College.