We want you to join community businesses, industry experts, specialist business advisers and sector partners for a lively day of inspiring talks and workshops.
Facing the Future: Together boasts a packed programme of high profile speakers, interactive workshops and one-to-one advice surgeries covering the topics that we need to explore. You’ll get up-to-date on best practices and new approaches to help your community business increase volunteer engagement, improve your finances and maximise your social impact.
Most importantly, you’ll meet, share experiences with and learn from other community business leaders from across the UK.
With a full programme on offer, you could bring your fellow committee members, business manager, tenant or keen volunteers and make it a team away day.
“I’m really excited to be able to bring community businesses together to learn from each other and share experiences, after such a prolonged period of change and challenge, for the first Plunkett conference since 2019. While we understand that the communities we work with are still navigating a challenging operating environment, we know that community businesses up and down the UK are pulling together to make a genuine, positive impact for local people – and we want to share these stories and inspire those involved in community business to see the opportunities they have to make a difference” – Claire Spendley, Head of Community Business at Plunkett Foundation
“Plunkett plays an important role in encouraging community businesses to run as thriving, sustainable businesses, to ensure they are competitive, and invest in their people. There is no substitute for coming face-to-face to discuss these issues” – Sam Ross, Plunkett Member and Secretary at Farmborough Community Shop
All Plunkett members get at least 20% off.
Community Business Members save even more on group bookings; pay less than half the standard price for every additional ticket you book!
Programme and Event Information
Arrive, register and meet exhibitors from 09:30
10.15 – Opening Panel: Facing the Future: Together
The opening session will set the scene for the day – acknowledging the prolonged period of challenge community businesses have weathered, through the pandemic, cost of living and energy crisis, and reflect on the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and rural communities across the UK.
10.45 – Break
11:00 – Panel 2: Creating Inclusive Community Business: A Rural Perspective
During this session, panellists will consider how community businesses can create innovative, inclusive and impactful spaces for local people – exploring what community businesses are currently doing to promote diversity and inclusion, by creating safe and welcoming spaces for all, and what more they can do to benefit those who are most disadvantaged and excluded in today’s society. We’ll also reflect on the challenges of operating in rural areas that impact on diversity, such as the ongoing migration of young people out of the countryside and the lack of affordable rural housing.
11.45 – Social Impact Stories: An interview with…Jodie Barwick-Bell, Chair, The Bank @ Chopwell
During this interview, we’ll hear how Chopwell Regeneration Group successfully transformed a former bank into a thriving community hub; and the wide range of activities and services now offered, that are really making a difference in their local community.
12:00 – Panel 3: The Road to Net Zero: Community Businesses as Climate Champions
This panel session will explore how community businesses can make a positive impact in the midst of a climate emergency, both by improving their own operations and by encouraging their communities to take climate action.
12:45 – Lunch: network and meet the marketplace exhibitors
13.30 – Social Impact Stories: An interview with… Lenny Watson, Sister Midnight
During this interview, we’ll hear about Sister Midnight’s campaign to create the first community-owned music venue in Lewisham, including the ups and downs of a two-year journey to secure premises, raise funds and make their vision a reality.
13:45 – Plenary: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities: Retail and Hospitality
This plenary session will feature two keynote speakers, who will provide a state of the nation update and share the current trends, challenges and opportunities for community businesses operating in the retail and hospitality sectors. Following the presentations, delegates will have the opportunity to ask questions of speakers.
14:30 – Break
14:45 – Panel 4: Ask the Funder: How to Successfully Attract Grant Funding
During this session, panellists will explore the common pitfalls that community organisations should try to avoid when applying for funding, as well as sharing top tips to give community businesses the best chance of success
15.30 – Social Impact Stories: An interview with…Neil Truphet, Amberley Shop on the Common
During this interview, we’ll hear the story of Amberley Shop on the Common – a brand new community-owned shop and cafe co-located in Trinity Church.
15:45 to 16.15 – Closing keynote: Adam Henson
We have created two workshop streams with eight interactive sessions that will get to the heart of the issues that community businesses say they’re most concerned about: People and Finances.
The 45-minute workshops are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day and you can pick and choose the sessions you want to attend from either stream. If you’re attending as a group, you might like to split up to cover the different themes.
Alongside the main programme, community businesses can also take part in one-to-one adviser surgeries, to address issues you might be facing such as governance and volunteers, finance and fundraising, or the early stages of setting up.
This page will be updated as speakers are confirmed:
Opening panel: Facing the Future: Together
- James Alcock, Chief Executive, Plunkett Foundation (Panel chair)
- Dame Caroline Mason, Chief Executive, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
- Rose Marley, Chief Executive, Cooperatives UK
- Mark Purvis, Deputy Director, England, National Lottery Community Fund
- Tim Davies-Pugh, Chief Executive, Power to Change
Panel 2: Creating Inclusive Community Business: A Rural Perspective
- Claire Spendley, Head of Community Business, Plunkett Foundation (Panel chair)
- Woosh Raza, Director of People, Culture and Inclusion, NCVO
- Imandeep Kaur, Co-founder and Director, CIVIC SQUARE
- Richard Allen, Director of The Swan Clewer CIC and CEO of the Green Room Foundation
- Tilly Goodwin, The Auctioneers Arms, Caverswall
Panel 3: The Road to Net Zero: Community Businesses as Climate Champions
- Helen Aldis, Chief Executive of Moor Trees and Plunkett Foundation Trustee (Session chair)
- Graham Duxbury, Chief Executive, Groundwork UK
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Janine Michael, Director of Development and Communications and Interim Deputy Chief Executive, Centre for Sustainable Energy
- Josie Cadwallader-Hughes, Sustainability Director, Thakeham
- Sam Ross, Farmborough Community Shop
Plenary: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities: Retail and Hospitality
- Harriet English, Head of Engagement, Plunkett Foundation (Session chair)
- James Lowman, Chief Executive, Association of Convenience Stores
- Emma McClarkin OBE, Chief Executive, British Beer and Pub Association
Panel 4: Ask the Funder: How to Successfully Attract Grant Funding
- Lewis Bowman, Head of Finance, Plunkett Foundation (Panel chair)
- Mark Purvis, Deputy Director, England, National Lottery Community Fund
- Kelcey Wilson-Lee, Director of Programmes, Architectural Heritage Fund
- Maddy Taylor, Head of Operations, The Princes Countryside Fund
- Helen Bridge, Social Action Programmes Senior Manager, Aviva Community Fund
- John Dawson, Head of Market Development and Investment, Community Shares Unit (Booster Fund)
Closing Keynote: Adam Henson, Farmer, Countryfile Presenter and Author
The marketplace is a bustling gathering of Plunkett-recommended suppliers. They offer products and services that can help you save time and money, so that you can run your community business more efficiently and effectively. We work hard to build meaningful relationships with all of our suppliers, who in turn support Plunkett and the sector as supporter members. Each supplier has committed to deliver consistent value for money, excellent customer service, respect confidentiality, adhere to GDPR, and endeavour to meet ethical standards.
Venue
IET Birmingham: Austin Court
80 Cambridge Street
Birmingham
B1 2NP
Located in Birmingham city centre, close to main transport links, the venue has been chosen for its accessibility and sustainability credentials.
Accessibility
Accessibility is well-considered at Austin Court with lifts, ramps, hearing and visual assistance, and limited disabled parking, as well as provision for different cultural and dietary needs – please tell us your requirements when you register.
We are committed to making the conference inclusive for everyone. There are free tickets for carers and discounted tickets for young community business members aged 25 and under. Contact us on membership@plunkett.co.uk if you need help to make your booking, or if there are any barriers to you attending, including ticket or travel costs.
Tickets
Savings for Plunkett Members
- General Admission – £120
- Community Business Member Pass – £95 (20% off!)
- Community Business Member Additional Pass: £50 (less than half the standard price)
- Young Community Business Member (U25) Pass: £25
- Plunkett Supporter Members – £95
- Individual Supporter Annual Membership: £20
Accommodation
There are lots of options available within the immediate area to suit a wide range of budgets, here are some suggestions:
- Hampton by Hilton Birmingham Broad Street
- Travelodge Birmingham Central
- Hotel Ibis Styles Birmingham Centre
- Leonardo Royal Hotel – has confirmed a 15% discount for Plunkett conference attendees, when booking a room using code Plunkett23.
The conference marketplace is sponsored by Bestway Wholesale
With thanks to all our marketplace exhibitors
With over 200 years’ experience serving drinks to people, LTC can help you get back to your best, whatever you’re going through.Whether you’re a server or sous-chef, bartender or brewer, The Licensed Trade Charity is always here when you need a little TLC, be it emotional support, specialist guidance or financial grants. With over 200 years’ experience serving drinks people, LTC can help you get back to your best, whatever you’re going through. Call our free 24/7 helpline on 0808 801 0550.
Clear Brew provides a fully managed beer line cleaning service to thousands of premises nationwide. Our experienced technicians maintain dispense quality across keg and cask lines on an extended frequency. During each visit, your Clear Brew technician will carry out a line clean and cellar check to ensure your products and equipment are kept in top condition.
The Clear Brew system comprises of a water-fed mixing unit that uses no electricity or propellant gas, combined with inhibitor technology and market-leading chemicals. This labour inclusive service is guaranteed to save you money, reduce waste and improve the quality of draught products.
Image Retail Solutions Ltd is a long established supplier of EPOS solutions to the retail and hospitality marketplace. Our flagship ProEPOS system is used in over 500 stores across the UK and benefits from over 20 years of development and user feedback.
Our new POS Core EPOS system utilises cutting-edge cloud technology to provide a low cost, scalable solution based on the robust & lightweight Android platform.
Our systems are used in a range of sectors including convenience stores, charity shops, off licences, fashion boutiques, specialist goods shops, garden centres and many more besides.
Our flexible commercial model provides for no/low upfront cost to suit almost any budget and size of business.
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David Cadwallader & Co are the chosen membership partners of The Plunkett Foundation for all accountancy and bookeeping requirements. We assist over a 100 community businesses with their year-end accounting and corporation tax compliance responsibilities as well as carrying out payroll services, VAT compliance and planning work and software support services. We are fully conversant with the requirements of both Companies House and the FCA and have worked with the sector for over a decade.
We only have one planet, and Splosh is on a mission to find innovative ways to protect it – finding better ways of living everyday life with their great range of vegan, cruelty-free home, health, and beauty products. Every bottle sold is refillable with concentrated refill pouches, meaning customers can reduce their single use plastic. Customers can also go that one step further and return their empty pouches in store. Splosh upcycles them into new products, meaning nothing gets wasted, which is a huge win for the planet and a great example of the circular economy in action. Our range includes home essentials like laundry liquid, washing up liquid, surface cleaners, hand wash and shower gel. All Splosh products are cruelty free, mainly plant derived and septic tank friendly.
MCFT food equipment service specialists maintain commercial kitchens around England and Wales, offering preventative, reactive and remedial response and equipment replacement where appropriate.MCFT service and maintain commercial kitchens around the UK, the core areas of our business are Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM), Callouts, Remedial works and equipment supply.We have worked with a number of Plunkett Members throughout the UK donating Kitchen equipment and making repairs.Pre-loved equipment scheme, where good condition kitchen equipment is donated to Plunkett members, often at no cost, with 3 months parts warranty and 12 months labourPreferential rates on kitchen maintenance servicing.
Co-operative & Community Finance is the Lender for Social Purpose, and have been lending to ethical businesses since 1973. As long time partners of the Plunkett Foundation, they have acted as lending partner to the current More than a Pub Programme and the previous Village CORE scheme. They provide loan finance to a range of organisations and community businesses that are democratically owned controlled by their members. Over the years they have provided hundreds of loans to community businesses and co-operatives of all shapes and sizes, and have become a specialist lender to Community Shops, Pubs, Hubs and Community Food and Farming in particular.
WALX is an award-winning organisation that has worked with over 200 community projects across the UK. We provide a bespoke, full turnkey programme that gets results – for physical health and fitness, for mental wellbeing and for social interaction. WALX empowers communities to set up and run low-cost fitness walking clubs for community health and wellbeing. With 20 years’ experience providing training, support and the tools to run a successful fitness walking club, we can help you set up a local club to bring health and fitness to your community. Don’t think Ramblers; picture bringing an outdoor health club to your community, providing all the health and fitness benefits and more but without requiring the cost or space of a gym. With national partnerships, we can support your WALX venture and assist in accessing funding.
Monopoly Insurance Services Ltd are one of the UK’s fasted growing leisure and hospitality insurance brokers insuring over 4,000 licensed premises with A rated capacity. Our experience is not only in insurance but also in running licensed establishments – three members of the Monopoly team have previously run their own pubs. We have also had an input into the development of our insurance packages to ensure maximum cover at the best possible premium. We’re able to accommodate all types of business insurance requirements that you may have.
Charity Bank is the loans and savings bank for charities, social enterprises and people who want to make the world a better place. It uses its savers’ money to provide much needed loans to UK organisations working to drive positive social change – bringing benefits for people, communities and the environment.Since 2002, Charity Bank has made more than 1100 loans totalling over £400m to housing, education, social care, community and other social purpose organisations. Charity Bank is owned by social purpose organisations and aims to use its expertise, commitment and flexible approach to lending, to help charities and social enterprises get the support and funding they need.
Holleys are a national premium grocery wholesaler serving the community retail sector since 1970.Holleys provide access to a complete range of premium groceries, and often fit in as second-main supplier after your mainstream wholesaler.Our range is unique – you’ll find complete ranges of well-known brands, local producers and hard-to-find products too. We operate our own transport fleet across England and Wales which enables us to provide a weekly, handball delivery service into your storeroom. Let us be your stock room! Everything in our catalogue is a stocked product and our availability is excellent – 98%.Being a family-owned business we understand the importance of a reliable, personal service, often lost in this age. Call our friendly sales team to open an account on 0117 938 0084.
Suma is a wholefood collective founded in 1977 by a liberally-minded group of people who believed there was a better way, and actively set out to create it. Today we are stronger than ever. As a wholesaler we deliver over 7,000 vegetarian, natural, responsibly sourced products to businesses and communities across the UK and internationally. And our much-loved Suma food, body care and home cleaning products number over 1,000, so you can easily choose delicious and sustainable products from people you can trust. We’re also happy to say we’re Europe’s largest equal pay co-op. You can’t say fairer than that!
Zero Waste Refill Hub is a one-step solution for plastic free shopping installation. At Zero Waste Refill Hub, we provide you with guidance in setting up a package free bulk food and liquid refill departments. Our goal is to encourage people to avoid food waste, recycle more and raise awareness of environmental waste issues and behavioural changes. This can also benefit your customers as it saves money by buying products in bulk. This will be a great business opportunity with healthy margins!
The Co-operative Party is the party of the UK co-operative movement. Founded in 1917, we’re working to create a society and economy where power and wealth are more equally shared. Since 1927, we’ve had an electoral agreement with the Labour Party to stand joint candidates – there are 26 joint Labour & Co-operative MPs and over joint 1,500 Labour & Co-operative councillors across The Co-operative Party is the party of the UK co-operative movement. the UK. Our representatives work to promote co-operative and community ownership in every corner of the UK.
