Networks

Networks

The success of our work depends on Plunkett collaborating with national, regional and local organisations to reach more communities and make the best use of shared skills and resources.

At a national level, we work closely with infrastructure organisations who share our concern for supporting community businesses including Locality, Co-operatives UK, Social Enterprise UK, ACRE  (and the ACRE Network) and NALC.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland we work with organisations such as Community Shares Scotland, Cwmpas and Co-operative Alternatives to ensure our services are relevant in different nations and as far as possible complement, rather than duplicate, other services. We also sometimes subcontract our services to local organisations where they are better placed to deliver locally, or have more relevant skills.

We are always open to working in partnership and if you have an idea on collaborating, please do get in touch.

Co-operative Retail Society Network

The Co-operative Retail Society Network (CRSN) is a unique collaboration of a growing number of Co-operative Retail Societies and Plunkett UK. The CRSN was established with the aim of growing the size and impact of the rural community-owned business sector, enabling the co-operative model to flourish in areas where it would not be viable for Co-operative Retail Societies to trade directly.

Inspired by Principles 5 & 6 of the International Co-operative Alliance, the CRSN works to grow the size and impact of the rural community ownership movement by:

  • Making an annual financial contribution towards Plunkett UK’s free community business service which supports start-up and existing community-owned businesses.
  • Sharing co-operative and retail knowledge, expertise and networks for the benefit of community-owned businesses.
  • Raising the profile of the community business and co-operative model by promoting the impactful work the CRSN is doing to society members, Boards, partners and local communities
  • Convening as a collective to explore practical and innovative ways of supporting community-owned businesses, together as one Network, or independently with Plunkett UK.