The outstanding achievements of our rural community business members and the individuals that make them shine were recognised last night (Thursday 3 July).

Nine community businesses or individuals were winners at the 2025 Rural Community Business Awards, sponsored by Lands Improvement and held at the Royal Society of Chemistry in London.
The event shone a spotlight on the wide-ranging impact being made by community businesses in safeguarding access to a wide range of goods and services, boosting the local economy, creating employment, training and volunteering opportunities, tackling climate change, and promoting equity, diversity and inclusion by creating safe and welcoming spaces for everyone.
The winners in each category were as follows:
The Nina Foskett Award for Team Spirit – kindly supported by The Sky Wave Distilling Company
This final award is a special one, in memory of a former Plunkett staff member, Nina, who was a shining example of teamwork and encouragement, always ready to lend a hand and support others.
Our winners were Semley Village Stores, Wiltshire, which is busy, chatty and fun hub of energy – and the focal point of the village. The shop has nearly 30 volunteers plus a fabulous team of paid young people. Its loyal customer base is from surrounding villages and further afield.

Semley Village Stores with their award
This year, over 60 people nominated their community business and individual champions for the nine award categories. Three businesses or individuals were shortlisted by judges as finalists in each category, and representatives attended the ceremony in London, along with Plunkett staff, category sponsors and others from the sector.
Sarah Benn, Plunkett UK’s Membership Manager, says:
“It has been a great joy to recognise and celebrate all the finalists at this Rural Community Business Awards. Each one is truly dedicated to making a difference in their community and having a considerable impact on the lives of local people in a variety of different ways. Well done to all this year’s winners – their award is very much deserved!”

Thank you to our sponsors of this year’s Rural Community Business Awards
Join the movement: Become a member today
This year we really enjoyed celebrating the achievements of our members! So why not join over 700 individuals, community businesses and corporate partners and become a member of Plunkett UK? Your membership, which for individuals’ costs just £22.50 per year, will support our ambition to grow the community ownership movement across the nation.