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 the call for evidence, published by the Department for Business and Trade.
It is seeking input from organisations, stakeholders and individuals on how Government can better support co-operatives and non-financial mutual businesses to start, grow, sustain and transition into co-operative or mutual models.
Responding to consultations like this really does make a difference, and your insights have significantly strengthened our submission.
How you can respond to the Government’s call for evidence
If you have not done so already, we strongly encourage you to respond directly to the Government’s call for evidence with your own experiences, evidence, and recommendations.
Your input is valuable and helps ensure a broad and representative set of voices from across the sector.
You may find our response helpful if you are looking for guidance on content or structure. The deadline for submissions is 18 February.
You can respond on the UK Government website.
Our supplementary policy paper
We have also updated our supplementary policy paper, Doubling the Co-operative Movement and Contributing to the Government’s Growth Mission Together.
This sits alongside the call for evidence and sets out our proposals for what is needed to grow the rural community business sector. It outlines the key barriers that community businesses face in starting, growing and operating – including regulatory, financial, awareness and support challenges – along with recommendations for what government action is needed to overcome these barriers and unlock growth.
Thank you again for your contributions – member input has made this document considerably stronger.
Why including rural communities in the growth agenda matters
The Government’s growth mission promises to “raise living standards for everyone” and “in every part of the United Kingdom.” With nearly 10 million people – 17% of the population – living in rural England, it is essential that these communities are fully included in the national growth agenda.
Rural communities have experienced steady decline in recent years, with minimal government intervention to reverse the trend. The closures of essential services heighten the risk of isolation, especially among older people, those living in poverty, and individuals with disabilities or chronic health conditions.
Supporting the growth of rural community businesses offers a practical, cost-effective way to revitalise these areas. It allows residents to take ownership of local services and shared spaces, rebuild community ties, and drive local economic development. It also sends a clear signal that government recognises the value and potential of rural communities.
A place-based approach to growth must uncover and address these inequalities. Only by doing so can the Government deliver on its promise of inclusive economic growth and ensure that no community is left behind.
Pride in Place announcement – more is needed for rural areas
You may have seen the Prime Minister’s announcement last week of a further £800 million investment into the Pride in Place programme, extending support to an additional 40 deprived neighbourhoods with £20 million each.
While Plunkett welcomes any investment in community empowerment, we remain disappointed that rural communities continue to be overlooked.
Our proposals call for a comparatively modest investment of £10 million over ten years, which we believe could support a further 500 rural communities to establish new, sustainable community-owned businesses.
