Thirty-four new community-owned businesses opened in 2025, taking the sector to 869 trading businesses across the UK, according to Plunkett UK's latest Impact Report, launched at The Shard in London yesterday (10 June). Community ownership continues to gather momentum across the UK, with 34 new community-owned businesses opening during 2025 despite [...]
Community-owned pubs, cafés and restaurants are a proven part of the solution to rising youth unemployment, particularly in rural areas where opportunities are most limited. The call comes as national coverage today highlights growing concern over young people’s access to work. The latest Office for National Statistics figures show nearly [...]
Meet the judges! Meet our panel of judges who will carefully consider the nominations for the 2026 Rural Community Business Awards On Thursday 14 May, our judges will come together to consider the shortlisted entries and select the finalists, who will be revealed at the start [...]
As rising costs and the loss of local services continue to challenge rural and island Scotland, communities are finding practical ways to protect the places that matter most. Plunkett UK has secured a further year of funding from the Scottish Government’s Scottish Rural Network, enabling us to continue supporting rural [...]
Plunkett UK and local campaigners in Cornwall called on the government to provide even stronger support for rural communities during an event at The Eden Project today. Speaking at Anthropy 2026’s session, “How to build happier, healthier and wealthier places”, Miatta Fahnbulleh MP – Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry [...]
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 [...]
Gordon Hector, a Trustee of Plunkett UK, gave evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Rural Business and the Rural Powerhouse on Tuesday for their inquiry: ‘How does rural fit into the devolution agenda?’ Rural communities risk being overlooked under devolution if new authorities prioritise urban areas. Many lack [...]
Plunkett UK has responded to the Government’s recent announcement on the future of the Post Office, acknowledging several positive commitments – but warning that the framework still lacks a full understanding of how rural communities sustain their local branches. As the national charity supporting over 850 community-owned businesses, Plunkett sees [...]
The significant social benefits of rural community-owned businesses shone through during a joint visit by Plunkett UK and Southern Co-op to Hampshire earlier this month. At a challenging time for the retail and hospitality sectors – with rising costs, staffing issues and changing consumer trends – The Boundary Shop and [...]
Plunkett UK has used insight from members to frame its response to an important statutory consultation launched by the UK Government on business support for co-operatives and non-financial mutuals – which includes rural community-owned businesses. Thank you to all Plunkett members who provided such positive and constructive feedback to inform [...]
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