David Lydiat has been appointed as Head of External Affairs at Plunkett UK, the national charity that supports rural community businesses.
David begins in post on 5th June in this new role which brings together membership, communications and policy activities to grow the awareness of the rural community business sector and represent this growing movement.
He will be responsible for advocating for a supportive policy, legislative and funding environment in which the community-owned business sector can flourish and oversee Plunkett’s membership and communications activities.
David joins Plunkett after working as Public Affairs and Policy Manager at the Horticultural Trades Association – a role that spanned the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, the Department for Business & Trade and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
Through this, he was instrumental in supporting members with navigating regulation, as well as connecting them to decision-makers.
He also developed a brand-new growth strategy for the horticulture industry in Scotland, with hugely successful results in the Scottish Parliament.
David has previous parliamentary experience as a Senior Researcher for an MP and Parliamentary Private Secretary in Westminster and was an award-winning manager at the large UK corporate; Unipart Logistics.
David already knows first-hand about the community ownership movement, having been part of ‘Back the White Horse’ campaign in Stonesfield, Oxfordshire, which saw successful community ownership of the last pub in the village in 2024.
David Lydiat
James Alcock
James Alcock, Plunkett’s CEO, says, “We’re thrilled to welcome David to Plunkett at such a pivotal time for the rural community business movement.
“His experience and passion for championing grassroots change will be instrumental as we push for essential policy reforms – from seeking funding and advice to replace the Community Ownership Fund, to strengthening community rights legislation and achieving fairer treatment on business rates.
“David will play a key role in growing our membership and raising the visibility of the rural community business movement – ensuring it is better recognised and understood by government, funders and the general public alike.”
Talking about the opportunity, David says, “I am very much looking forward to contributing to Plunkett’s mission of supporting rural communities to take ownership of, and to successfully run, businesses that are the heartbeat of villages and towns. I have witnessed the impact of this on people in my own village where we became community owners of the last remaining pub.
“Having several years’ experience in Westminster and the devolved parliaments, as well as working for a member trade association and various businesses, I believe that I can support the high-performing Plunkett team and partners in several areas, on behalf of members.”
Plunkett is the only organisation dedicated to supporting rural community-owned businesses across the UK. It raises awareness of the community business model, provides practical community business support, and represents members’ interests through policy, research and advocacy.
Plunkett’s core policy ambitions are:
- Continuation of a ‘Community Ownership Fund’ – supporting more community businesses to open via funding and business support
- Introduction of a Community Right to Buy – giving communities first right of refusal to purchase assets they value
- A review of Business Rates – providing consistent levels of rate relief for rural community businesses
Plunkett supports over 800 community businesses to open and – with almost another 800 in the pipeline, and 30 opening each year – the sector is growing.
Few rural community businesses cease to trade when they open – the success rate is 94% over 20 years, whilst the 99% success rate over five years is more than double that of small and medium-sized enterprises (which sits at 39%).
