Consultations

Our Chief Executive, James Alcock, responds to the Government's flagship Pride in Place Programme announced yesterday (25 September) National charity, Plunkett UK, has today expressed disappointment that the Government’s flagship Pride in Place programme risks overlooking rural communities, despite the pressing need for investment and support in these areas. The [...]

The English Devolution Bill, which contains proposed legislation for a Community Right to Buy, passed its second reading in the House of Commons yesterday (2 September). It will now move to committee stage, and is due to pass into law, with amendments and scrutiny in 2026. Plunkett UK is a [...]

Minety Community Shop in north Wiltshire recently received a visit from Roz Savage MP and Plunkett UK. The purpose of the visit was to discuss with the shop’s committee how a community-owned business works, and to understand the services they are offering the village and surrounding area. The shop, which [...]

Thorndon Community Shop, run by local volunteers, marked 14 years of trading with a visit from local Member of Parliament, Adrian Ramsay We were delighted to join Adrian Ramsay MP at Thorndon Community Shop to celebrate its impressive milestone of 14 years of trading. During the visit, we had the opportunity [...]

Member of Parliament for Tatton, Esther McVey, was invited to a local community-owned business in Styal, Cheshire as it celebrated its 11th anniversary since opening Earlams Community Store and Café is much more than a village café – it is owned and run by the village as community shareholders, and [...]

A community’s right to buy a local asset or business was announced in Parliament yesterday (10 July) and welcomed by rural community business charity, Plunkett UK. As part of the English Devolution Bill set out in the House of Commons, it will become easier for local ownership groups to take [...]

This month: Plunkett and Members highlighted in Parliament, the Spending Review, engaging with the Business and Trade Committee, and visits to community businesses. Rural community shops in the House of Commons Plunkett UK and member Oxton Community Shop were directly mentioned in the House of Commons last month by [...]

As Plunkett announces its search for a Head of External Affairs with a focus on representing a growing movement of rural community-owned businesses, James Alcock, Chief Executive, shares a round-up of recent external affairs activity. If the last few weeks are anything to go by, our new Head of External [...]

Chris Cowcher, Head of Policy, comments on what Wednesday's Budget means for the community business sector, and reflects that it brings mixed news covering a number of issues. The media headlines had been written before yesterday’s budget announcement with a very clear indication before the Chancellor Rachel Reeves had [...]