Meet the Judges for the Rural Community Business Awards 2024

As we gear up to announcing our 2024 Rural Community Business Awards finalists, meet our panel of judges who will carefully consider this year’s nominations.

On 10 September, the judges will convene to assess the shortlisted nominations, and will determine the finalists, ready to be announced on Monday 30 September.

We wanted to express our gratitude to the 69 individual nominees who put forward their community business and champions. It was inspiring to see local people nominate their local community-owned businesses, truly emphasising the significant role that these businesses play in their communities.

Below we introduce each of our judges who will have the difficult task of selecting this year’s Rural Community Business Awards finalists.

David Knight

David Knight

Business Partner at Co-op

Co-op

David is a Community Business Partner at The Co-op and responsible for ensuring the operational delivery of the organisation’s community plan and initiatives across all business units. He also plays a role in developing relationships with the broader Co-operative movement.

Co-op are the kind sponsors of the Keeping it Local Award.

Mindy Mondair

Head of Marketing at Bestway Wholesale & Retail

Bestway Wholesale

A consummate marketing professional who commands wide respect across the industry with deep rooted knowledge of the Retail sector. In her role as Head of Marketing at Bestway Wholesale & Retail, Mindy has ownership of the planning and execution of all marketing and promotional activites for Bestway and its retail brands, Costcutter, Best One, Bargain Booze and Wine Rack, among others. Her role includes campaign, planning, digital marketing, customer acquisitions, media partnerships and events, whilst conceiving, creating, and executing PR and social media strategies and new store launches, with the support of her talented team. Mindy’s background includes working for some high-profile brands, including Whittard of Chelsea, Vispring Ltd, and 6 years as Head of Marketing for Triumph International Ltd working out of New York, Canada and London.

Bestway Wholesale are kind sponsors of the Young Person Award.

Natalie Ward
Head of Strategic Relationships at Voneus Broadband

Voneus Broadband

Leads all external affairs, relationships, and partnerships at Voneus Broadband to ensure rural communties can get much needed broadband connectivity.

Almost 15 years’ experience in telecommunications working to transform the UK’s connectivity. Joined Voneus Broadband, with a clear ambition to tackle the challenges to providing connectivity to rural areas and close the digital divide between rural and urban UK.

Real advocate for digital inclusion, digital skills and digital innovation and the social and economic benefits digital can realise.

A qualified Mental Health First Aider, Chartered Manager and Fitness Instructor.

Voneus Broadband are the kind sponsors of the Connecting the Community Award.

Nigel Kaye
Co-op Member at Suma Wholefoods

Suma Wholefoods

We are Suma.

Suma is a wholefood collective founded in 1977 by a liberally-minded group of people who believed there was a better way, and actively set out to create it.

Today we are stronger than ever. We deliver over 7000 vegetarian, natural, responsibly sourced products to businesses and communities across the UK and internationally. We are one of the largest equal pay co-ops in Europe, working together to improve our society and support our suppliers and customers.

We source the most delicious and sustainable products, inspiring change for good.

I have worked at Suma for over 11 years as a member and as part of being a member is to work in different areas of the business. I came into Suma with a marketing background and over the years have done a number of marketing roles including sponsorship and donations, promotions and new product development. However outside of marketing I have tried my hand at many roles I would have never considered doing in my old careers such as; warehouse roles picking, working in a freezer, checking, loading trucks and even driving fork lifts. It has been very varied and rewarding.

My role in sponsorship and donations led to the start of the relationship with Plunkett UK around 7 years ago. We are proud and fortunate to be able to support the Community Awards. The fit between the two organisations is perfect, both believe in community and the co-operative model to bring change and development. As always we are excited to be involved the awards and discover the great stories from all the nominations and celebrate the winners at the awards event in October.

Suma Wholefoods are the kind sponsors of the Going Green Award.

Sarah Crush
Social Value Manager at Thakeham

Thakeham

Established in 2003 and based in West Sussex, Thakeham delivers sustainable homes and strong communities, from providing private residential developments, high-quality, tenure-blind affordable homes and open spaces to infrastructure, facilities and strategic land services.

Thakeham’s industry-leading approach to zero carbon ready homes, biodiversity and the environment, alongside its commitment to people, communities, and creating amazing places to live, put it at the forefront of placemaking in the UK.

Sarah Crush, Social Value Manager, is experienced in community engagement and charitable works. Passionate about community creation and active living, Sarah is delighted to sit on the Rural Community Business Awards judging panel again this year.

Thakeham are the kind sponsors of the Community Contribution Award.

Sarah Patrice
Partner in governance, funding and corporate team at Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP

Anthony Collins Solicitors

Sarah started her legal career with Anthony Collins in 2001 and now heads up the firm’s governance, funding and corporate team. Specialising in all aspects of legal governance, she advises clients in the social housing, social business and charity sectors on wide-ranging contractual, governance, and Board-level issues.

Her client base is national, covering corporates, housing associations and community-based organisations, such as community-based charities, housing cooperatives, tenant and leasehold management organisations and community land trusts. She also advises several national umbrella bodies representing these smaller organisations.

As a trusted advisor who believes in standing up for and alongside her clients, Sarah employs a practical, proportionate and commercial approach, particularly when handling complex and highly contentious issues that require her to work across several disciplines. She adopts a collaborative approach when advising her clients and aims to make a real difference to the communities and beneficiaries they serve.

Anthony Collins are the kind sponsors of the Investing in Local People Award.

Thank you to our sponsors of this year’s Rural Community Business Awards

The Rural Community Business Awards wouldn’t be able to take place without the kind support of our sponsors. Thanks to their generosity, Plunkett’s annual awards campaign is able to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of community-owned businesses and the dedicated individuals involved with them.

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