Plunkett UK at Anthropy 2025

We were thrilled to host a workshop session that promoted the Taskforce we set up last year, responding to challenges our member community shops had raised in relation to the supply chain. It was a valuable opportunity to share insights and solutions that have emerged from this network so ably chaired by Mary Portas and the Earl of Devon, and gain additional input from ‘Anthropists’ on the future range of product, proposition, services, and social impact.

Big thanks to our five speakers who supported the workshop: Dame Julia Cleverdon DCVO, CBE (National Lottery Community Fund), Sarah Walker-Smith (Amper), Lord Charles Courtenay (Michelmores LLP), Edwin Booth CBE DL (Booths and Co), and Laura Olver (Plunkett UK and Appleton Community Shop).

I had the pleasure (nerve racking all the same) to chair a panel of rural MPs titled “The Future of Rural Constituencies: Growth, Sustainability, and Opportunity.” We explored the biggest issues and challenges their constituencies face and the interventions their differing political parties would make to address them. What emerged was how different the issues were in different rural areas, but I was pleased (and relieved) to see consensus on the need for ‘the rural perspective’ to be raised higher on government’s agenda – especially given the current government cabinet is made up exclusively of urban MPs.

It was reassuring to see cross party collaboration on this panel, respect and agreement of each other’s solutions, and an undeniable respect for the role community owned businesses play in the countryside, including support for initiatives which will get more community businesses open and trading!

Joining me on the panel were: Caroline Voaden (South Devon), Mark Garnier OBE (Wyre Forest and Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury), Perran Moon (Camborne and Redruth), and Roz Savage MBE (South Cotswolds).

Participating in our partner Webmart’s panel on ‘business as a force for good’ was another highlight for me and an opportunity to showcase community businesses as an exemplar model who operate responsibly for people, place and planet because it is the right thing to do – and low and behold, they also have a unbroken record for longevity with five-year survival rates of 99% and 20+-year survival rates of 94%.

Not community owned, but a BCorp led by passion, values, and rooted in ‘doing the right thing’ – Webmart made the case for the more success they create, the more they can reinvest into positive impact. As a grateful beneficiary of their charitable giving, Plunkett would not be able to deliver the impact we have without their generosity – so huge thanks to Simon Biltcliffe, Tom Maskill, Kelly O’Sullivan, Charlotte Jenkins and Alison Chapman for their ongoing belief in our work.

We also had the pleasure of meeting Angela Rippon (pictured), the renowned English broadcaster and founder of the ‘Let’s Dance’ charity which encourages everyone in the UK to embrace dance for better health, social connection, and fun. We discussed how Plunkett’s new Impact Officer can collaborate with charities like hers to help community businesses implement similar activities for the benefit of the wider community.

Concluding the event, I was delighted to attend a panel themed around rural land use – Chaired by Plunkett Fellow Charlotte Hollins from one of our members, Fordhall Community Farm. Our Deputy Chief Executive, Harriet English, spoke brilliantly (withstanding the midday heat at the top of the rainforest!) raising awareness of our place-making activities and outlining our ambitions to put community ownership of assets and services at the heart of all sustainable developments in the UK, putting communities in control of their own futures.

It was great to connect with other placemaking people and organisations throughout the conference including Emma Stratton (Homes for Cornwall), Will Bax (Duchy of Cornwall), Louise Townsend (Wood Knowledge Wales), Andrew Bridge (Fisher German Lands Agents) and Andrew Cooper (Sovereign Network Group).