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Policy Update for Plunkett UK Members – July 2025

2025-07-09T12:00:38+00:00

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 [...]

Policy Update for Plunkett UK Members – July 20252025-07-09T12:00:38+00:00

Plunkett Members Celebrated At National Awards

2025-07-04T11:14:42+00:00

The outstanding achievements of our rural community business members and the individuals that make them shine were recognised last night (Thursday 3 July). Nine community businesses or individuals were winners at the 2025 Rural Community Business Awards, sponsored by Lands Improvement and held at the Royal Society of Chemistry [...]

Plunkett Members Celebrated At National Awards2025-07-04T11:14:42+00:00

Community Business Visit with Southern Co-op Highlights the Impact of Growing Partnership with Plunkett UK

2025-07-02T15:52:51+00:00

The visit to The Green Gram in Hampshire demonstrates how this collaboration is supporting sustainable and inclusive community businesses. Plunkett’s partnership with Southern Co-op continues to go from strength to strength. In 2024 alone, we responded to more than twice as many new community business enquiries within Southern Co-op’s trading [...]

Community Business Visit with Southern Co-op Highlights the Impact of Growing Partnership with Plunkett UK2025-07-02T15:52:51+00:00

Pubs with Purpose: How community ownership is transforming rural Scotland

2025-06-30T14:03:05+00:00

A growing number of community-owned pubs are breathing new life into Scotland’s remote, rural villages, as seen in two new videos co-produced by Plunkett UK and Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS), which showcase community life on the Isle of Bute and in West Fife. Head to The Anchor Tavern in [...]

Pubs with Purpose: How community ownership is transforming rural Scotland2025-06-30T14:03:05+00:00

Rural retail faces a critical moment and, more than ever, must innovate to survive, says new report

2025-06-18T14:42:35+00:00

Rural community shops play a critical role in safeguarding equitable access to essential retail and having broader societal impact – but more than ever, they must adapt to survive. This is the key message in Plunkett UK's new Future of Rural Retail Report, produced in partnership with a taskforce comprising [...]

Rural retail faces a critical moment and, more than ever, must innovate to survive, says new report2025-06-18T14:42:35+00:00

A New Role for Plunkett – George Ogier Appointed as Impact Officer

2025-06-17T14:25:54+00:00

Formerly Plunkett's Project Support Officer, George writes about how he will work closely with colleagues, community-owned businesses, and external partners to promote and embed Plunkett’s core values and strategic objectives. After two years of working as Plunkett UK’s Project Support Officer, I have the honour of becoming our first Impact [...]

A New Role for Plunkett – George Ogier Appointed as Impact Officer2025-06-17T14:25:54+00:00

Rural Community-owned Business Response to the Spending Review

2025-06-12T09:27:18+00:00

‘This is a critical moment for the future viability of rural community businesses’ - James Alcock, Chief Executive of Plunkett UK, the rural community business charity. Responding to the Chancellor’s Spending Review announcement, James Alcock said: “Plunkett is working with over 800 rural communities who hope to take ownership and [...]

Rural Community-owned Business Response to the Spending Review2025-06-12T09:27:18+00:00

Plunkett UK and Webmart partner to continue helping community businesses thrive

2025-06-02T15:15:24+00:00

Together with Webmart we are dedicated to provide vital support to community businesses. Webmart, a sustainable marketing agency and certified B Corp, is making a significant donation to fund the support we provide groups in Oxfordshire and Yorkshire, where their two office headquarters are located. This contribution will greatly help [...]

Plunkett UK and Webmart partner to continue helping community businesses thrive2025-06-02T15:15:24+00:00

Be inspired by Plunkett UK’s Impact Report 2025

2025-05-30T08:36:34+00:00

Did you know… community businesses have, on average, a five-year survival rate of 99%? This is radically higher than the 39% survival rate of private small and medium enterprises over the same period. As the only organisation dedicated to supporting rural community-owned businesses across the UK, Plunkett's Impact Report 2025 [...]

Be inspired by Plunkett UK’s Impact Report 20252025-05-30T08:36:34+00:00

New Head of External Affairs appointed

2025-05-28T08:44:50+00:00

David Lydiat has been appointed as Head of External Affairs at Plunkett UK, the national charity that supports rural community businesses. David begins in post on 5th June in this new role which brings together membership, communications and policy activities to grow the awareness of the rural community business sector [...]

New Head of External Affairs appointed2025-05-28T08:44:50+00:00
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