Nominations are now open for the 2026 Rural Community Business Awards, sponsored by Lands Improvement, celebrating the best of our community business members across the country.
One of the year’s most anticipated events for Plunkett UK is back!
This year’s Rural Community Business Awards will take place on Thursday 2 July at the Royal Society of Chemistry in London, bringing together community groups and partners from across the sector.
We’re inviting our community business members to nominate their organisation across seven award categories, including Connecting the Community, Going Green, and Keeping it Local. This year also marks the return of the Horace Plunkett Award, celebrating community businesses with a lasting legacy and significant impact.
You can find out more and how to nominate by clicking the button below – entries close on Monday 27 April.
Winners at the 2025 awards…
Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum (Highlands), winners of the Investing in Local People Award in 2025
Plunkett currently represents more than 850 community-owned businesses all over the UK. As well as saving much-loved and much-needed local services, they also address a variety of issues facing rural communities including isolation and loneliness and the lack of access to employment and training opportunities.
Reflecting on this, Sarah Benn, Membership Manager at Plunkett, says, “Each year, the Rural Community Business Awards remind us just how much passion and innovation exist within rural communities. The stories we hear are a powerful testament to what can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose.”
“Our members form a remarkable network of people dedicated to improving the places they call home. This celebration is for them, and we look forward to honouring their impact and their unwavering commitment to their communities.”
Plunkett is delighted that the strategic land master developer, Lands Improvement, is the headline sponsor of the Rural Community Business Awards for a second consecutive year.
Lands Improvement cares about improving the communities they impact through increasing supply of land for new homes and driving the highest standards in placemaking and design. Through thoughtful investment, planning and placemaking they leave a positive, enduring legacy across the UK.
James Stone, Managing Director at Lands Improvement, says,
“Having seen first-hand the work done in supporting rural communities through fostering stewardship of important community assets, we are once again delighted to be supporting Plunkett UK at their Rural Community Business Awards.
“The activities really resonate with us and our placemaking goals, and we can’t wait to hear more inspiring stories through meeting the people positively impacting their communities and celebrating their impressive achievements.”
There are also two categories of award aimed at individuals in community businesses: Community Contribution and Young Person.
Last year, the winner of the prestigious Community Contribution Award, chosen by a public vote, was Celia Collett, the driving force behind the success of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Community Village Stores in Oxfordshire.
As she collected the award, Celia said, “I am speechless and for me that’s quite unusual! The community shop has been running for 15 years and the team at Plunkett has been with us every step of the way. I’m quite emotional because they’ve helped me through lots of difficult times, and I don’t know what I would have done without them.”
Celia on stage with her award
Nominate today!
Plunkett community business members can nominate their own organisation, as well as a local community champion, by submitting an online nomination before 27 April.
Not yet a Plunkett member? If your community business shines in one (or several) of our nine award categories, you can still take part. Simply become a member before the deadline and submit your nomination. For more information contact membership@plunkett.co.uk
