Diageo, a global leader in premier drinks, has been confirmed as a strategic partner of Plunkett UK – a national charity that has been supporting rural communities for over 100 years.
Plunkett UK provides help and advice to communities looking to set up and run community businesses in order to create resilient, thriving and inclusive rural communities – a vision shared by Diageo.
Diageo have made a significant donation to Plunkett to support the community hospitality sector. There are over 800 community-owned businesses open and trading in the UK, with a quarter of these are in hospitality industry, and include pubs, cafes, hotels, distilleries, breweries, cinemas and theatres.
Gemma Sills, Head of Partnerships at Plunkett UK, says,
“We are delighted to be collaborating with Diageo so that we can explore together how the community hospitality sector can be supported to become more economically sustainable, impactful, inclusive and innovative.
“Plunkett advocates for a community business model which is genuinely equal and democratic. Member control and input ensures the business is continually adapting to and serving the needs of its members and wider community. We are pleased that Diageo have committed, once again, to supporting the community hospitality sector.”
Joe Gosney, Channel Director On Trade Nationals at Diageo, said:
“At this challenging time for the hospitality industry we fully support Plunkett UK’s hospitality work and encourage other sector leaders to join us.
“Community-owned pubs have shown remarkable resilience and an impressive survival rate, but more needs to be done to ensure they continue to deliver their inspiring social, environmental, and economic impact. A community without a pub is like a party once the music has stopped – why would you bother being a part of it, it just isn’t as much fun!”
Volunteers at The Maybush Inn, Great Oakley, Essex
Community businesses are recognised for the wider social benefits they bring, including creating employment and training opportunities, improving the wellbeing of local residents, and reducing loneliness and isolation. Each year, in the region of 30 new community-owned businesses open with Plunkett support.
The five-year survival rate sits at 99%, higher than the 39% survival rate of private small and medium enterprises over the same period, which shows the resilient community businesses. Community pubs are the fastest growing form of community business, which bucks the trend of the situation for pubs generally across the UK.
Through the partnership, Plunkett and Diageo will work together to support community pubs and hospitality through areas such as communications and marketing, having a voice on policy issues, and sharing industry knowledge, skills and networks.
