Reports and publications

The Future of Rural Retail 2025

Rural community shops play a critical role in safeguarding equitable access to essential retail and having broader societal impact – but more than ever, they must adapt to survive. This is the central message in the Future of Rural Retail Report, produced in partnership with a taskforce comprising 19 experts who represent supermarkets, wholesalers, local food suppliers and services. Among the group are retail consultant and broadcaster, Mary Portas, and the Earl of Devon, Charles Courtenay.

The report outlines challenges rural shops face in terms of accessing products and rising costs, and the need for them to focus on range, proposition, services and impact. It suggests key considerations for shops related to community consultation, finance and capacity, and provides practical solutions.

Impact Report 2025

As the only organisation dedicated to supporting rural community-owned businesses across the UK, Plunkett’s Impact Report 2025 showcases the widespread, life-changing impact that Plunkett makes to the sector, and how we influence community businesses to have local impact through five measurable themes. Plunkett has supported 828 community businesses to open and, with almost another 800 in our pipeline, and 30 opening each year, our movement continues to grow.

Community ownership: A Better form of Business

Our flagship state of the sector report for 2024 captures the headline trends for community-owned businesses, and reveals the scale of annual growth is at its highest since before the pandemic. Furthermore, despite facing significant challenges, the long-term survival rate of all community businesses remains remarkably high at 94%.

Community Ownership: A Way Forward for Wales

Research commissioned and funded by Building Communities Trust (BCT). The report evidences community needs and evaluates existing policies and legislation in Scotland and England, identifying strengths and weaknesses to provide lessons for future “community rights” in Wales.

Young People in Community Business. A legacy report from the #iwill programme

This report is the legacy of the #iwill project, funded by the Dulverton Trust in partnership with the #iwill Fund (a joint investment between The National Lottery Community Fund and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport), and delivered by the Plunkett Foundation from 2022 to 2023 – to help community businesses engage, involve and employ young people.

“We need a Right to Buy, not to try”: How more urban communities can take ownership of their pub

Our research report, funded by Power To Change, identifies the challenges and opportunities facing urban community-owned pubs and how more communities can take ownership of their much-loved local pub to benefit all.