Become a member
About membership
Membership is the cornerstone of our work at Plunkett UK. The strength of our network of community business members, partners and supporters cannot be underestimated – without our members, we would not be able to represent the interests of rural communities and champion community ownership across the UK with the media, funders, policy makers, and other stakeholders.
Community Business membership
We’ve been the voice of rural community business since 1919, and we know that establishing and running a community business can bring a wide range of benefits for communities, but it can also bring challenges.
Designed specifically for community businesses, this membership ensures your business is part of a national network, providing access to enhanced information, advice and support (whether that’s from Plunkett UK’s specialist advisers or from other community businesses). It enables you to collaborate in the market place for better deals, and it helps you to reduce running costs.
We also actively encourage our members to help us develop our services to make sure we’re continuing to meet the needs of the sector.
Celebrations with the team at Invermoriston Community Shop. Photograph by Iain Ferguson, The Write Image.
As a Community Business Member you will:
- Get help when you need it: contact our Helpline for a friendly ear and free advice.
- Realise your ideas: our advisers can help with business plans and action planning.
- Raise capital: get 25% discount on Community Shares Standard Mark, explore the member-only Grant Funding Directory and receive expert advice on preparing funding applications.
- Understand your performance: book a free, annual, in-person community business health check with a community business adviser.
- Solve problems: get specialist support when you need help.
- Influence national policy: we are the only organisation that represents community-owned businesses across the whole of the UK.
- Follow best practices: we have more than 200 best practice guides, webinar recordings and template documents in our Resources Library.
- Save time and money: we have more than 40 recommended suppliers, from accountants and insurers to wholesalers and kitchen fitters.
- Invest in training: you, your staff and volunteers can attend our webinars (they’re free for members).
- Stay informed: get all the latest opportunities in our monthly member newsletter and be the first to receive our publications and reports.
- Get peer support: join a regional network or special interest group.
- Update your Model Rules: members can update to the latest version of Model Rules for free.
- Be eligible for the Rural Community Business Awards: celebrate your success and get the recognition you deserve!
All of your membership benefits are easy to access via our exclusive online Member Hub.
* Special offer! *
Join as a community business member this month and pay nothing until June!
Membership applications must be received by 30 April. Offer available by Direct Debit only.
Community Business Membership fee:
- £225 + VAT annually
OR
- £18.75 + VAT monthly
Choose to pay by Direct Debit, BACS or card
If you have any questions about membership, please call us on +44 (0)1993 630022 or email membership@plunkett.co.uk
Supporter membership
Supporter membership is for any individual or organisation that shares Plunkett’s values and wants to help us to help community businesses.
As a supporter, your membership contributes directly to the advice and practical help we have provided to rural communities for more than 100 years, as well as helping us to strengthen the rural voice in national policy.
Members like you ensure that we can continue to offer support, guidance and advocacy to communities to help them to take control of their challenges and overcome them together.
As a Supporter Member you will receive:
- Invitations to member events and networking opportunities
- Discounts on webinars and training courses
- Voting rights at our Annual General Meeting
- Regular newsletters – when something important happens that will affect our work, rural communities and the community ownership sector, you’ll be the first to know
- Plunkett’s publications, consultations and reports
- Access to a Google Map of community businesses, so you can support local businesses, wherever you are!
Supporter Membership fee:
Individual Supporters
- £22.50 per year
Supporter Organisations
- £225 + VAT per year
If you have any questions about membership, please call us on +44 (0)1993 630022 or email membership@plunkett.co.uk
