Reflecting on a jam-packed and rewarding 2025 at Plunkett UK
Looking back at 2025, we are immensely proud of the impact that community businesses – and especially our members – are making across the country.
Yet our work is far from finished. As more rural communities face the loss of vital services, increasing numbers are turning to Plunkett for support in safeguarding essential assets through community ownership.
When communities succeed in saving these assets, the positive impact on local people is profound. We’ve shared many inspiring blogs and case studies throughout 2025 that highlight these stories, and we recently produced a video that brings this to life. In the meantime, we invite you to keep reading and enjoy a look back at Plunkett’s 12 months of 2025.
January – Representing our members
We began the year as we would continue it. Our Chief Executive, James Alcock, headed to Number 10 for a series of external affairs meetings. His message was clear: the rural community business movement is thriving but faces real challenges. Stronger, more effective government support is essential for trading businesses and communities seeking ownership. This call for action set the tone for our advocacy throughout 2025.
Growth was already on display with the opening of The Ickleton Lion in Cambridgeshire, a proud Plunkett member. We also launched two new special interest groups – one dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion, and another focused on the environment. These events are continuing into 2026…
James outside Number 10 Downing Street
Itteringham Community Shop
February & March – Turning ideas into a reality
The early months of the year were packed with visits to community groups, story-gathering, and partner meetings.
At Plunkett UK, we take pride in our work, but we can’t do it alone. That’s why we value our corporate partners. In February, our Head of Partnerships, Gemma Sills, met with Charlotte Jenkins, Digital Strategist at Webmart, to explore the impact of our work and future opportunities for partnership. If your company shares our belief in the power of communities, we’d love to hear from you.
In March, we celebrated a fantastic achievement for one of our long-standing members: Itteringham Community Shop in Norfolk marked 30 years of community ownership. In our interview-style case study, we highlighted how this shop continues to be a vital lifeline for its community.
April – Capturing the spirit of community-owned businesses
As Spring bloomed, we travelled down to Essex for an in person networking event with East of England Community Pubs, hosted at The Maybush Community Pub. The central theme was clear: being “more than a pub” is what makes community owned businesses truly special. To bring this to life, we partnered with the Suffolk Community Foundation and the East of England Co op Community Cares Fund to produce a film showcasing the people of The Maybush Inn, who share how their pub goes far beyond traditional service.
Later in the month, we attended Anthropy 2025, a cross sector gathering of responsible leaders and organisations working to make the UK better for people, places, and the planet. Our team made new connections, rekindled old ones, and proudly championed rural community owned businesses as practical solutions to many of the challenges Anthropy seeks to address. You can read James Alcock’s full summary here.
(From left to right) Harriet English (Deputy CEO), Angela Rippon, James Alcock (CEO), and Charlotte Hollins
Volunteers at Westbury Community Shop
May – Being inspired by impact
In May, we proudly launched our 2025 Impact Report, showcasing the powerful, life changing difference Plunkett makes across the sector. The report highlights how community businesses create local impact through five measurable themes, illustrated with facts and case studies.
This focus on impact continued with the appointment of our former Project Support Officer, George Ogier, as Plunkett’s first Impact Officer. This new role ensures we stay centred on what truly matters – capturing the values at the heart of our work and sharing them with both the groups we support and our external partners. You can read George’s piece to learn more about the role.
June – Shaping the future of community businesses
We began the month with the launch of The Future of Rural Retail Report – a must read for community shops and anyone seeking to strengthen their core business. Alongside the report, we released a short film featuring two inspiring community shops, showcasing both the challenges they face and the innovative solutions they’re finding.
Our Communications Officer, Michael Wolverson, travelled to the south west of Scotland for a communications tour of community owned pubs. In his blog, he shares how these pubs are far more than places to grab a pint – they’re the beating hearts of their communities, tackling isolation and creating opportunities.
We also marked Co ops Fortnight, celebrating the incredible work of Co op heroes across the UK. With support from Co operatives UK, Plunkett is proud to collaborate with a growing network of Co op Retail Societies – including Midcounties, Radstock, the Co op Group, Southern, and Central. This partnership is helping us meet rising demand for our services and strengthen community businesses nationwide.
Winners on stage at the Awards…
July – Showing what’s possible when communities come together
July brought one of the year’s standout moments: the Rural Community Business Awards. Hosted in the spectacular surroundings of the Royal Society of Chemistry in London, the event welcomed around 100 guests to celebrate more than 20 of our inspiring community business members.
It was uplifting to hear the stories shared by winners and finalists across nine award categories. In a room filled with partners, sponsors, funders, and community members, the collective recognition of the powerful impact these businesses have in rural areas was palpable. You can read the excellent event summary from our Communications Manager, Andrew Dubock.
Beyond the celebrations, we were delighted to expand the benefits of Plunkett membership through a new partnership with Morrisons, the UK’s fifth largest supermarket. This collaboration provides our member community businesses with a free year round delivery pass – details are available in our news piece and on the member hub.
August – Making new partnerships
In August, we announced a three year strategic partnership with Wates Developments, a land, planning, and development specialist with a clear purpose: creating places where people can thrive. Over the next three years, Plunkett will help shape rural infrastructure by supporting this family owned business to embed community owned assets into new developments and create solutions for vacant spaces.
We were also delighted to receive a multi year grant from The Linbury Trust to safeguard and strengthen our community business service. This funding ensures we can continue supporting all forms of rural community owned businesses at every stage of their journey – helping more communities access advice, respond to growing demand, and ultimately increase the number of trading community businesses making a lasting impact nationwide.
In August, Almondsbury Community Shop (pictured above) and Appleton Community Shop (Plunkett Members) were awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service – find out more here.
Plunkett staff on stage at the awards…
September – A vital and inspiring mission
September carried forward the importance of our values. But what do those values truly mean in practice? Our Impact Officer, George Ogier, explored this question in his blog, reflecting on how values shape our work.
We began the month by confirming a strategic partnership with Diageo, a global leader in premium drinks, united with us in the vision of building resilient, inclusive rural communities.
Later in September, we were delighted to announce Alison Jeffers as the new Chair of Trustees at Plunkett UK. Alison described the role as “a meaningful opportunity to collaborate with our members, partners, corporate sponsors, and dedicated team as we build on Plunkett’s legacy of impact.” She succeeds Stephen Nicol, who concluded his tenure by leading our Annual General Meeting – a gathering that highlighted a sector in strong health. We thank Stephen for his dedicated commitment.
October – Collaboration at the heart
We began the month by hosting an online webinar with our members following the Government’s release of its Green Paper on The Future of the Post Office. Over 300 Post Offices operate within community businesses across the country, providing a vital lifeline for many rural areas. So, we used our role as a representative of these members to respond.
While we don’t want to see closures, we also recognise that the current model of subsidising under used branches is neither affordable nor sustainable. In our response, we have said we want to work collaboratively with the Government and the Post Office on a new hybrid contract – one that would allow community businesses to deliver a more streamlined service, with the flexibility needed to meet local needs. You can read our full response here.
Also, we celebrated our long standing relationship with Suma Wholefoods, sponsor of the ‘Going Green’ award at our summer awards, with Sophie Ziegler Jones sharing in a collaborative blog why supporting community owned businesses is a natural fit for Suma.
Finally, we announced a three year strategic partnership with Barratt Redrow, the UK’s largest homebuilder. Together, we aim to embed community at the heart of new housing developments, creating democratic, inclusive, and sustainable businesses genuinely owned by local people.
Sophie Ziegler Jones presenting the award to The Lock’s Inn Community Pub
(From left-right) – Caroline Voaden MP, Alison Jeffers (Plunkett’s Chair), Gareth Snell MP, James Alcock (Plunkett’s CEO) and Robbie Moore MP
November & December – Advocating for change
We began November in Parliament, launching our annual report Community Ownership: A Better Form of Business. The report demonstrates how rural community-owned businesses are already delivering social, economic, and environmental benefits that align with government ambitions – yet remain under recognised and under supported.
The findings were striking: the sector has grown by 59% over the past decade, defying the trend of economic decline in many rural areas. But greater support is essential. At the launch, our Chief Executive, James Alcock, urged ministers to ensure that government initiatives reach rural communities and unlock their full potential.
Later in the month, we swapped policy for celebration at our Gala Dinner and Auction. Held at the elegant Royal Society of Arts House in London, the evening brought together around 100 guests for a night where glamour met giving. Stories of community resilience were shared, friendships renewed, and vital funds raised. We were thrilled to generate over £20,000 to support our mission of helping communities save local assets.
As the year draws to a close, this event captured the essence of Plunkett’s work: combining advocacy with action and ensuring that rural community businesses not only survive but thrive. Looking ahead, continued donations and partnerships will be crucial in enabling us to help more communities safeguard the places that matter most.
Join the movement: Become a member today
It has been an incredible year, and we can’t wait to continue working with our members in 2026. So why not join us? Become a part of a strong network of over 700 individuals, community businesses and corporate partners and become a member of Plunkett UK.
Your membership, which for individuals’ costs just £22.50 per year, will support our ambition to grow the community ownership movement across the nation.
To find out more contact membership@plunkett.co.uk or click the button below.
