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Join us for our National Community Business Conference 2024, proudly sponsored by Webmart. With an exciting and packed agenda, it promises to deliver the very best insights and practical advice for community businesses.

The day will include expert speakers, workshops facilitated by specialist advisers and a marketplace for you to meet a range of community business suppliers.

Find out more about…

Agenda

Speakers’ Profiles

Exhibitors

Accessibility & Sustainability

Videos about the day

Following the success of last year’s conference, we’ll also have more time for networking, ideas sharing and peer learning.

The conference day will run from 9.30am – 4pm, followed by a drinks reception, prior to our Rural Community Business Awards, which will take place from 5 – 7pm.

A conference ticket also secures your place at the Awards celebration, but you must register so that we can ensure your name is on the list.

Location

Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre
108 Stamford Street
London
SE1 9NH

A community-owned conference venue on London’s South Bank.

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Agenda in more depth

  • 9.00am Registration and Exhibition Open

  • 9.50am Opening Session
    Empowering Rural Communities: Our Vision for Innovation, Inclusivity and Impact

More

In our opening session, our delegates will hear exciting insights into Plunkett’s strategic ambitions and how our service is keeping pace with today’s demands and expectations of rural community businesses.

This session will illustrate our core work and commitment to our members, including how we are:

  • continually improving our business advisory service
  • taking an active role to represent our members in key political conversations such as the upcoming budget and Community Right to Buy legislation
  • building corporate partnerships to both further our strategy and secure support for community businesses

This session will set a direction for the day with a focus on enhancing innovation, inclusivity and impact within the community business sector.

Chair: Lucy Knill, Managing Director, Anthropy

Speakers:
James Alcock, Chief Executive, Plunkett UK

Harriet English, Head of Engagement, Plunkett UK

Chris Cowcher, Head of Policy, Plunkett UK

  • 10.35am Breakout Sessions 1

EXPERT PANEL: Clean up your supply chain - Local and ethical sourcing

The environmental and economic benefits of sourcing locally and ethically are indisputable – and can lead to reduced costs, customer growth and a better reputation for your business. Hear our panel of experts discuss why ethical sourcing is a must, and how community shops and pubs have taken steps to improve their own supply chains.

Chair: Laura Olver, Membership and Training Manager, Plunkett UK

Speakers:
Lauren Culf, Buying Coordinator, Suma

Sandra Ziles, Management Committee Member, Bledington Community Shop & Cafe

Mark Calver, Director, Hatch Mansfield

Sponsored by:

BEST PRACTICE PANEL: Where are you on your journey to net-zero?

Tackling climate change is high on the agenda for many community-owned businesses, but every community and business is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to climate action. Utility Aid will present practical ideas and options for making your business more environmentally sustainable, from behaviour changes that could save you money to how an energy audit could help.

Chair: Hannah Barrett, Consultancy Project Manager, Plunkett UK

Speakers:
Emily Berry, Utility Aid

Christine Pinsent, The Locks Inn Community Pub

Sponsored by:

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP: Making Community Engagement Fun!

Community ownership requires community engagement! Your community are not just customers, but partners, ensuring that your decision-making process is equitable and your business serves the community most effectively. Whether you’re starting out or looking to grow your business, this workshop will help you understand why community engagement is important and how you can increase it by making it fun.

Facilitator: Misty Bower, Community Business Adviser, Plunkett UK

  • 11.20am Break and Exhibition

  • 11.50am Breakout Sessions 2

EXPERT PANEL: Creating impact through volunteering, training and employment

Across the UK, community-owned businesses are creating valuable volunteering, training and employment opportunities for people from all walks of life. This panel discussion will explore how creating inclusive opportunities can benefit your organisation and create wider social and economic impacts beyond your own community business.

Chair: Harriet English, Head of Engagement, Plunkett UK

Speakers:
Kamran Mallick, Chief Executive, Disability Rights

Veda Harrison FRSA, Director, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation

Matt Hyde OBE, Chief Executive, Lloyds Bank Foundation and Co-Founder of The Big Help Out

Clare Thomas, Chair, Westbury Community Shop & Café

BEST PRACTICE PANEL: Financing your community business for growth and impact

Ensuring long-term success for your community business requires a growth mindset. In this workshop, we will outline how investing in activities that increase social, economic and environmental impact can support business growth – and how different forms of social investment – from loan finance to crowdfunding and community shares – can help community businesses to achieve their goals.

Chair: Nick Comley, Community Business Adviser, Plunkett UK

Speakers:

Wesley Lovett, Senior Lending Manager, Charity Bank

Annie Constable, Digital Content Manager, Good Finance

Alice Brown, Manager, Sutton Community Farm

Sponsored by:

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP: Continuity planning and making tough decisions

Running a profitable business sometimes involves making tough decisions – to protect the business in the immediate term, and to plan for its long-term future. This interactive workshop will highlight key issues that you need to consider to ensure your community-owned business continues to thrive – from opening hours and profit-margins to risk management and committee succession.

Facilitator: Hannah Nadim, Adviser, Plunkett UK

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP: Managing relationships - How to be an effective committee

Committees are the backbone of societies, they are crucial in moving tasks forward and achieving goals. They are drawn from the membership to represent the membership and to move the project forward which means there is a lot of trust given to them and a lot of pressure on them from their community.  In this session we will look at the role of the committee and how they interact and manage their roles and how they can work effectively. Many committees are small and as a result need everyone contributing their share of the work. We will explore how to work together to bring together different viewpoints and perspectives and personalities to achieve a common aim and the art of cooperation, collaboration and communication.  Effective committees don’t just happen – they are a combination of a good purpose, a good leader, and good members.

Facilitator: Alison Macklin, Community Business Manager, Plunkett UK

  • 1.00pm Lunch and Exhibition

  • 2.05pm Breakout Sessions 3

EXPERT PANEL: Creative storytelling - How to reach more people in your community and beyond

Spreading the word about your community business, and the impact it makes, is vital at all stages. Getting your story out there can help to attract funders, shareholders, volunteers, members and new customers, and can be key to the continued success of your business. During this panel discussion, you’ll hear from a range of experts across the marketing, media and PR space, as well as seeing some real life examples of community-owned businesses who’ve told their stories in creative and compelling ways.

Chair: Andrew Dubock, Communications Manager, Plunkett UK

Speakers:

Rebecca Harvey, Executive Editor, Co-operative News

Charlotte Jenkins, Digital Strategist, Webmart

James Gadsby-Peet, The Star of Greenwich Community Pub

BEST PRACTICE PANEL: Running your society well - legal and compliance issues you should know about

Are you sure your CBS is complying with governance and regulatory requirements? Come along to this intimate panel discussion and hear experts outline your responsibilities in relation to annual returns, annual accounts, governance, community shares and management of members and shareholders.

Chair: Diane Cameron, Project Manager, Plunkett UK

Speakers:
David Alcock, Partner at Anthony Collins Solicitors

Andy Freeman, Head of Department, Financial Conduct Authority

Dane Pollard, Governance Advisor, Co-operatives UK

Sponsored by:

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP: How does your community make a real difference?

This small, interactive workshop will introduce you to the concept of measuring your social return on investment (SROI), and provide a methodology for how you can quantify the difference you are making in your community.

Facilitator: Nick Comley, Community Business Adviser, Plunkett UK

  • 3.00pm Plenary session
    Community business: Picking up the pieces and building new communities

More

Community-owned businesses were once seen as a tool to respond to market failure, and a way to save village shops and pubs that would otherwise be lost. During this session, Chris Cowcher, Head of Policy & Communications at Plunkett UK, will chair a panel of expert speakers exploring the changing narrative of community ownership, and how these innovative, inclusive businesses are creating real impact as a proactive force for good.

Chair: Chris Cowcher, Head of Policy, Plunkett UK

Speakers:
Rob Boughton, Chief Executive, Thakeham Homes

Ailbhe McNabola, Deputy Chief Executive, Power to Change

Lucy Grove, Director of Communications and Engagement, Coin Street Community Builders

Anna Sabine, Liberal Democrat MP for Frome and East Somerset

  • 3.40pm Summary and Thanks

More

An opportunity to hear a summary of the key points from all sessions held across the day, and to thank our partners, speakers and sponsors.

  • 4.00pm Drinks and Networking

  • 5.00pm Rural Community Business Awards begins

  • 6.00pm Sparkling drinks and nibbles

  • 7.00pm Close

Access

Coin Street is fully accessible. Please visit the venue website for access information and let us know your access requirements at time of booking.

Please note that there is a public car park in the basement of the venue, and it may be possible to reserve disabled parking. We are committed to ensuring that the conference is accessible to all and will provide free tickets for carers/companions to those who need them.

Sustainability

Plunkett UK is committed to tackling climate change. Please visit the venue website to view its environmental credentials.

Contact

If you have a specific question about the day or need assistance with booking, please contact our Membership Team. Email membership@plunkett.co.uk or call 01993 630022.

Please note: the timetable is subject to change at Plunkett UK’s discretion. 

Thank you to our confirmed sponsors of this year’s National Community Business Conference