Rural Community Business Awards 2026
Meet the finalists!
The finalists have now been announced for the Rural Community Business Awards 2026.
You can read about them, in all nine categories, by going to the sections below – and please do vote in the Community Contribution category before 12 June.
Congratulations to all of our finalists, and thank you and well done to all the individuals and community businesses who were involved in nominations this year.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you at the 2026 Awards ceremony, sponsored by Lands Improvement, taking place on Thursday 2 July at the Royal Society of Chemistry in London.
Community Contribution Award
This award celebrates the individual community champions who go above and beyond to support their community business.
Vote for the winner before midnight on Friday 12 June!
Our finalists are:
Terry plays a key role at The Auctioneers Arms, supporting both the business and the wider community, with a particular focus on developing young people. His calm, supportive and structured approach has helped create an environment where staff can build confidence and gain valuable skills.
A clear example of this is his work with a local school supporting children with special educational needs. Terry developed a structured plan to support a young autistic person, beginning with supervised volunteering and gradually building confidence and independence. Over time, this has led to part-time employment and increased participation in team and social activities.
This approach reflects Terry’s wider commitment to mentoring and supporting younger staff. The team, many of whom are in their early careers, benefit from a positive and encouraging workplace, contributing to strong retention and ongoing interest in roles at the pub.
Through his leadership, Terry continues to have a meaningful impact on staff development and community engagement.
Tina has been a central part of Chiddingly Community Shop and Café since its opening, helping to campaign for its creation and serving on the founding steering committee. A resident of the village for nearly 30 years, she has volunteered at the shop since it opened in 2012 and continues to play an active role.
At nearly 86, Tina regularly opens the shop four days a week and is always willing to step in to support others or help at events. She is known for building positive relationships with volunteers and customers, supporting a diverse team and helping create a welcoming environment for all.
Tina has contributed creatively to the shop’s development, including co-ordinating the Art Wall to showcase local artists, encouraging affordable pricing and supporting opportunities for young people to get involved.
She also works closely with local environmental initiatives, helping strengthen connections between the shop and wider community activity. Through her ongoing commitment, Tina demonstrates the value of volunteering and the difference one individual can make to a community business.
Credit: Gail Giles
Connecting the Community Award
Sponsored by:
This category celebrates how community businesses go the extra mile to create safe and welcoming spaces.
Our three finalists are:
For the past 20 years, The Great Bromley Cross has supported social connection across a rural village spread over three miles. It is run with a clear social purpose: to provide a welcoming, affordable and reliable place where people can meet, connect and support one another.
The pub offers a regular programme of activities reflecting local needs, including a weekly coffee morning, Friendship Club, craft club, live music, darts and cribbage teams, bingo and seasonal events. Young Farmers meetings are also hosted, strengthening intergenerational links in a farming community that can otherwise be isolated.
Its approach combines social activity with access to essential services. The weekly coffee morning attracts 50-60 residents, many of whom are older or living alone, and includes an outreach library, Post Office and monthly benefits advice drop-in. These services reduce the need to travel to the nearest town, particularly for those with limited mobility.
Community voices shape the pub’s activity through regular feedback, an open-door approach and ongoing local communication, ensuring it remains inclusive and community led.
The Radnor Arms was re-opened by the community nine years after its closure and is now run with the support of more than 30 local volunteers. It provides a welcoming and inclusive space where people can meet regularly, reduce isolation and rebuild community life.
A varied programme of affordable events reflects the interests of the community, including quizzes, games nights, live music, sports screenings and seasonal gatherings. The Radnor Arms has also created purposeful wellbeing initiatives, including a dementia group, community sessions with free soup and refreshments, and health checks in the pub, removing the need for a 14-mile round trip to the nearest GP surgery.
The pub works collaboratively with local groups, charities and organisations, supporting village life through fundraising and shared events. Community participation is central, with volunteering open to all and regular communication keeping people informed and involved. The Radnor Arms operates as a shared space where people can connect, take part and support one another.
Since opening in 2014, Earlams Community Store and Café has supported community cohesion within the village and across the wider area. Run with a strong community focus, it provides a welcoming and inclusive space for people seeking social connection, including those who may experience isolation or vulnerability.
Earlams operates across three areas: a gallery, café and shop. The gallery provides a route to market for over 100 local artists and craft makers, alongside subsidised courses. The café offers a space for social interaction, supported by a covered cabin for year-round use and an adjacent field with a toddlers’ play area and boules pitches.
Around 300 people use Earlams each day. Regular activities include craft fairs, Knit and Natter sessions, youth gatherings and shared community initiatives. It has also worked with the Down Syndrome Association to provide work placements, and with prison post-release services to support offenders as they reintegrate into the community.
Participation is open to all, with volunteering opportunities supporting people of different ages, abilities and backgrounds.
Investing in Local People Award
This category celebrates community businesses that are dedicated to supporting local people through employment, training, and skills development opportunities.
Our three finalists are:
The Auctioneers Arms has developed a strong focus on supporting local people by creating opportunities for those who may face barriers to employment. Early on, the pub recognised this need, with parents asking about opportunities for their children to build confidence and gain experience.
The pub has employed a neurodiverse team member, providing tailored support including a dedicated quiet space developed with their keyworker. While not a legal requirement, this demonstrates a clear commitment to supporting staff. The team member is now an active part of both the workplace and wider team activities.
The pub also provides opportunities that would not otherwise exist. Deputy Manager Tilly began in the pot wash while experiencing serious anxiety that affected her ability to attend school. With support from the team, she gradually built confidence, expanded her responsibilities and achieved qualifications in hospitality supervision. She has also spoken at Plunkett UK’s national conference, attended Anthropy UK and was awarded the Young Person prize at the Plunkett Rural Community Business Awards.
Following a fire in 2013, The George was purchased, rebuilt and reopened by the local community, and is now owned and run for the benefit of Wickham Market. A Management Committee was formed to lead the project, supported by a User Group and Fit-Out Team, with volunteers contributing over 12,000 hours to the rebuild.
As the pub transitioned into operation, the focus shifted to employment and skills development. A team of local staff was appointed, alongside volunteers supporting activities and community engagement. Staff have undertaken training in areas such as cellar management, licensing, conflict management and dementia awareness, with ongoing development supported across the team. Staff and volunteers have also been trained in working with neurodiverse people, supported by a continuing training programme overseen by the Community Engagement Coordinator.
Accessibility and inclusivity are central to the pub’s operation, with features including a wheelchair-accessible lift, step-free access and dementia-friendly design. Opportunities to get involved are open and widely promoted, ensuring The George remains a community-led space shaped by local people.
Stokeinteignhead Community Shop has served its village since 2009, supporting a population of around 700 as well as surrounding communities. Located at the centre of the village, it works alongside other local hubs and continues its legacy as a point of help and support, particularly since its role during COVID.
The shop supports local suppliers, including farms and growers, with a focus on fair pricing and encouraging local shopping. It is run by a team of around 45 volunteers and is widely regarded as a “friendship hub”, with many volunteers valuing the social connection it provides.
Volunteers play a central role in shaping the shop, with regular meetings to gather feedback and inform priorities. Opportunities are open to all, including young people completing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The rota is designed to support different abilities, and the shop takes a people-focused approach, creating an inclusive environment where volunteers feel supported and involved.
Going Green Award
Sponsored by:
This category showcases community businesses that are leading the way in sustainability and introducing environmentally friendly initiatives.
Our three finalists are:
Smarden Community Store has embedded environmental responsibility across all aspects of its operations. The store runs a solar panel installation that has generated over 60,000 kWh of renewable electricity, supported by Tesla Powerwall batteries to store surplus energy and maximise the use of clean power.
Alongside this, a range of practical initiatives are part of day-to-day operations, including recycling points for batteries and vapes, milk and beer bottle return schemes, and the reuse of egg boxes and cardboard packaging. Used coffee grounds are offered to local gardeners, plant pots are returned to suppliers, and only eco-friendly cleaning products are used. Two fast EV charging points are also available for the local community.
These initiatives deliver measurable impact, reducing carbon emissions and waste while supporting more sustainable choices. Customers can take part easily as part of their normal shopping, helping to make environmentally responsible behaviour accessible to the whole community.
For the past 20 years, Woodgreen Community Shop and Post Office has served its village, with a growing focus on strengthening its environmental performance alongside its social purpose. Its approach is practical and evidence-led, with investment in energy efficiency including LED lighting, closed-door refrigeration and a solar PV and battery storage system designed to generate around 30% of its annual electricity.
The shop takes a data-driven approach to reducing waste, using monthly reporting to refine stock levels and reduce over-ordering. Food waste has fallen significantly and is now diverted for local animal feed, reducing landfill and supporting local relationships. Decisions are made transparently and shared with the community through regular updates.
These initiatives have reduced energy use and costs while building resilience, allowing the shop to continue operating during power cuts. Volunteers and customers are actively involved, with community feedback helping to shape decisions and ensure accessibility, affordability and shared ownership of the shop’s environmental progress.
This community-owned shop, café and Post Office has been at the centre of its rural Devon village since 2002, with sustainability embedded in its purpose. Since 2012, it has operated from a unique building set into the side of a hill.
Following long-term issues with a leaking green roof, the community undertook a major project to repair the building and reduce environmental impact. With support from Plunkett, a five-point decarbonisation plan was introduced, including roof repairs, solar panel installation, LED lighting, improved ventilation and strengthened recycling systems, with food waste diverted to animal feed.
Repairing the roof secured the future of an essential village service that nearly closed. Installing solar panels at the same time has reduced energy bills by around one third, helping to stabilise finances at a critical time. Since installation, the panels have saved 1.74 tonnes of coal and avoided 2.07 tonnes of CO₂.
Delivered entirely by volunteers, the project reflects strong community involvement and shared ownership.
Keeping it Local Award
Sponsored by:
This category celebrates how community businesses strengthen their local economies by prioritising local suppliers, services, and partnerships.
Our three finalists are:
Trawden Forest Community Shop was established eight years ago by the community following the closure of the village’s last shop and Post Office. Run by around 90 volunteers, it serves a rural population of approximately 2,000 residents, combining a retail offer with a strong focus on supporting the local economy.
The shop works with over 20 local suppliers, providing reliable income streams and helping sustain nearby businesses, while also supporting smaller producers and individuals selling handmade goods. A focus on sustainability includes refill options, additional recycling facilities and milk sold in returnable glass bottles.
Alongside its retail role, the shop acts as a community hub and offers inclusive volunteering opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Volunteers with additional needs are supported, including a wheelchair user contributing to food preparation, and an 82-year-old volunteer who makes fabric bags sold in the shop. Regular Duke of Edinburgh and work experience placements also help young people build skills, confidence and a sense of belonging.
The Glenuig Community Inn was purchased by the community in 2026, raising £600,000 through grants, donations and community shares – an achievement for a remote community of just 30 people.
The Inn employs seven local people year-round and remains open through the winter to support both staff and the wider community. It buys and serves locally sourced produce, including fish, shellfish, venison and meat, and works with local breweries and distilleries, as well as local contractors for maintenance and services. Local crafts and products are also sold on site.
In its first year, the Inn is estimated to have contributed around £500,000 to the local economy. It has also invested £5,000 in upgrading local internet infrastructure through a local business, benefiting the wider village. Regular community ‘fireside chats’ have been held to gather feedback and ensure the business continues to meet local needs.
Owned by 165 shareholders and supported by volunteers, the Inn is accessible, community-led and focused on keeping benefit within the local area.
Cheriton Fitzpaine Community Shop was established by local residents to protect a vital village service when the Post Office faced closure. Since then, the community has continued to develop the business with a strong focus on supporting the local economy.
The shop sources the majority of its stock from local suppliers. In 2024, £113,000 was spent on supplies, with 94% sourced from businesses in the South West, 77% from Devon and 9% from within the EX17 postcode. A dedicated arts and crafts area promotes local makers, and seasonal products such as locally grown Christmas trees are also sold.
The community has raised over £102,000 through a community share offer to purchase a former Methodist chapel, securing a new home for the shop while preserving a local landmark building.
This work reflects a deliberate and inclusive approach, connecting local producers with customers and ensuring the shop continues to serve and strengthen the community.
The ‘One to Watch’ Award
Sponsored by:
This category celebrates community businesses that are not yet open and trading, but are on an exciting journey to create something special.
Our three finalists are:
Kirtlington Community Shop is being developed by a group of volunteers working to establish a new shop and café for the village.
With support from Plunkett, the group secured planning permission, registered as a Community Benefit Society and launched a community share offer, raising £180,000 from 220 investors. Fundraising events and local partnerships have built further support, enabling the project to move forward, with a well-attended groundbreaking event in April 2026 marking a key milestone.
Community engagement has been central throughout, with pop-up markets, public meetings and regular communication helping to shape plans and build involvement. The project is being developed with accessibility in mind, supported by specialist advice, and will continue to respond to local needs by exploring additional services and working with local organisations to support residents, including those who are older or less mobile.
Looking ahead, the shop and café aim to provide employment, volunteering and work experience opportunities, ensuring it becomes a sustainable, community-led asset.
Fadmoor Community Pub Limited was formed to bring The Plough into community ownership, which was successfully achieved in September 2024 through a combination of grant funding and a community share offer. Since then, work has focused on a full renovation of the building, outbuildings and garden, with volunteers playing a central role throughout.
Over 70 volunteers, known as the ‘Weekend Warriors’, have contributed their time and skills, supported by others providing food, materials and organising events. A programme of community activities, including pop-up bars, a beer festival, a Pumpkin Parade and a Dark Skies event, has helped bring people together while raising funds towards the renovation.
The project has also gained national attention through the Channel 4 series Our Yorkshire Pub Rescue, helping to grow wider support. Alongside this, strong engagement through social media and local partnerships has built momentum.
Through shared effort and community involvement, The Plough is being restored as a community-owned pub, due to reopen in 2026.
Curry Mallet & Beercrocombe Community Pub Limited was set up by local residents to bring The Bell Inn into community ownership and reopen it as a social hub for the village and wider Somerset area. The project has developed beyond simply reopening a pub, with a focus on creating a space that supports connection, reduces isolation and provides wider community benefit.
The benefits of reopening The Bell Inn are significant. With one in seven households in Somerset being single occupancy, the pub will provide an important space to combat rural isolation and support mental wellbeing for a range of people, including older residents, young parents and those with limited mobility. It is also intended as a safe and welcoming space for young people, neurodiverse individuals and others who may feel marginalised.
Community engagement has been central, with open meetings, surveys and regular communication shaping plans and building local support. Partnerships are also being explored, including with PROMISEworks, to use the pub as a meeting and drop-in space for mentors and young people.
The Bell Inn is being developed as a community-led space designed to meet local needs and bring people together.
The Team Spirit Award
Supported by:
This category celebrates community businesses that truly embody collaboration, teamwork, and a strong sense of community.
Our three finalists are:
Chalke Valley Community Hub is powered by a dedicated team of volunteers, supported by four part-time Team Leaders and a full-time Manager. Their shared commitment and collaboration shape the day-to-day running of the Hub, a contribution recognised nationally with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2025.
The team works closely together, supporting one another through busy periods while welcoming and mentoring new volunteers, including young people completing Duke of Edinburgh placements. This collaborative approach extends to responding to challenges, with volunteers adapting quickly during the pandemic to maintain services and organise support for residents.
A volunteer-run delivery service supports those with mobility or transport challenges, completing over 600 deliveries last year to ensure access to food, medicine and regular contact.
The Hub provides a wide range of services, including a shop, café, Post Office and social activities. Volunteers are trained to support customers with additional needs, helping to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where people feel safe, supported and connected.
Kilchoan Community Shop and Service Station has emerged from a strong collective response to an immediate local need, following the closure of the area’s only shop, Post Office and fuel station in October 2025. In this remote location, the loss of these services posed a significant challenge for residents, particularly those without transport, as the nearest alternatives require a ferry journey and onward travel.
In response, the community came together through public meetings, with volunteers forming working groups to develop a community-owned solution. A temporary provision of essential goods was quickly established, while plans for a new facility were progressed. A crowdfunding campaign raised over £150,000, supported by local businesses, residents and wider supporters, alongside the donation of land for the new site.
Plans for the new facility include a shop, fuel station and EV charging point, designed to restore essential services and provide local employment. The project aims to create a sustainable, community-led hub that supports residents, visitors and the wider local economy.
The King’s Arms is a volunteer-run community pub, supported by a team of over 40 people working together to maintain it as a vital hub in a rural and isolated area. Today, every aspect of the pub’s operation is delivered by volunteers, all united by a shared goal: to keep the hub open. With limited local services, no train links and only one bus route, the pub plays an essential role in community life.
Volunteers have expanded the offer to include a Sunday food service, alongside a fortnightly lunch club providing a two-course meal for £5 and attracting 35–40 people each time. The pub also hosts a range of events and activities, creating a welcoming space for people to meet and connect.
During the winter, the team runs a free weekly “cosy space,” offering soup, tea and coffee, often supported by volunteer contributions. In times of need, the pub has also acted as a resilience hub, supporting residents during severe weather.
The Horace Plunkett Award
This category celebrates community businesses that have made a wide-ranging impact and have been successfully trading for at least five years. With thanks to Stephen Nicol.
Our three finalists are:
Over the past decade, The Bookery has developed from an independent bookshop into a community-owned, multi-service hub, responding to local needs and delivering a wide range of social, cultural and economic benefits.
Its programme of outreach activities supports wellbeing and tackles isolation across generations. Regular sessions include Playtime for young children, Soup & Stories for older residents, and Sharing Stories, a volunteer-led programme reaching isolated individuals each month. The Bookery also delivers an extensive school’s programme, engaging over 3,000 children annually, alongside a busy calendar of author events and community activities.
The Bookery provides a co-working space and community meeting room used by local groups, while supporting the local economy by sourcing goods and services from nearby businesses and promoting local authors.
Its designated Warm Space hosts weekly Soup & Stories sessions, alongside calm reading groups for anxious or reluctant readers, free holiday craft activities and author events. Supported by a small staff team and around 50 volunteers, The Bookery continues to deliver long-term impact as a trusted and responsive community hub.
Hampstead Norreys Community Shop and Café has developed over 15 years into a multi-functional, community-owned hub serving a rural population. Combining a shop and café, it provides essential services alongside a wide range of social and community activities.
The shop offers everyday goods with a strong focus on locally sourced produce, while the café provides a social meeting space that now contributes around half of overall turnover. Additional services include a parcel holding point, prescription collection and a weekly subsidised community lunch. Regular events and free activities bring together people of all ages.
The shop actively supports local suppliers, sourcing many products from within a short distance and providing opportunities for small producers and artisan makers. A large volunteer base plays a central role, contributing thousands of hours annually and supporting skills development across all ages, including young people through Duke of Edinburgh placements.
With a strong focus on sustainability, inclusion and community participation, the shop continues to adapt to meet local needs while supporting resilience and connection.
The Dog Inn, Belthorn provides a wide range of services for its village, combining a bar and restaurant with a coffee shop, essentials shop, meeting spaces and community growing areas, including a community orchard. It also offers practical services such as parcel collection, alongside hosting regular village events and celebrations throughout the year.
The pub supports local suppliers wherever possible, sourcing produce from nearby farms, producers and breweries. Staff and volunteers are largely local, with opportunities to get involved across areas such as events, community gardening and day-to-day operations.
Sustainability is a key focus, with solar panels already installed and EV charging points available, helping reduce energy costs and environmental impact. Further plans aim to increase energy self-sufficiency.
As the only publicly accessible building in the village, the pub places strong emphasis on being a safe and welcoming space, offering accessible facilities and operating as a Warm Welcome Space in winter. A varied programme of activities ensures it remains a well-used and inclusive hub for the community.
The Young Person Award
This category celebrates young people, aged 15–25, who are making a positive difference within their community business.
Our two finalists are:
Poppy joined Semley Village Stores as a Duke of Edinburgh volunteer at the age of 13 and quickly became a confident and capable member of the team. She developed strong skills on the till, learned product knowledge and became experienced in serving customers, including preparing teas and coffees.
In 2024, she was promoted to a Paid Young Person at just 14, becoming the youngest ever to take on this role at the store. Now 15, she continues to contribute regularly and is a valued part of the team.
Poppy has also taken on responsibility for supporting and training new young volunteers. She has worked with other Duke of Edinburgh participants, showing them how to carry out tasks and helping build their confidence, approaching this with both care and good humour.
She is well-liked by customers, volunteers and fellow team members, and continues to play an important role in supporting others while developing her own skills.
Roman is a valued member of the team at the Rose and Crown in Slaley, recognised for his strong work ethic and positive approach. He is a hardworking and committed individual who consistently shows a willingness to learn and take on new responsibilities.
Roman brings a supportive attitude to the workplace, always ready to help colleagues and contribute to the team. His sense of humour and approachable manner help create a relaxed and welcoming environment for both staff and customers.
Well-respected by his peers, Roman plays an important role in fostering a positive atmosphere within the pub. His contribution supports not only the day-to-day running of the business but also the sense of community it provides.
