The spirit of community was celebrated in abundance at our 2024 Rural Community Business Awards last night (Wednesday 23 October).

Eight community businesses or individuals from across the UK were crowned winners during the event held at Coin Street Conference Centre in London, sponsored by Bestway Wholesale. The winners in each category were as follows:

  • Connecting the Community Award, sponsored by Voneus – CWMDU INN in Carmarthenshire, a pub, shop and post office that offers a safe and welcoming space, allowing people of similar interests an opportunity to meet up.

  • Going Green Award, sponsored by Suma – CHOPWELL REGENERATION GROUP in Gateshead, with its shop for residents to bring electrical, digital, mechanical and clothing items for repair, and buy low-cost repaired items and pre-loved clothes.

  • Keeping it Local Award, sponsored by Co-op – BLEDINGTON COMMUNITY SHOP & CAFE in Gloucestershire, which utilises local trades and craftspeople, and currently has 76% of suppliers from the local area, including bread, eggs, meat, honey, chocolates and coffee.

  • The ‘More Than’ Award – BATHFORD VILLAGE SHOP & CAFE, near Bath, which has much more than the typical convenience store including wi-fi, a drinking water station for both humans and dogs, an ATM, and a library of board games, jigsaw puzzles and books. It doubles as a tourist information centre.

  • Investing in Local People Award, sponsored by Anthony Collins – OASIS COMMUNITY CENTRE AND GARDEN in the East Midlands, which has 35 projects with skills-based activities and courses including gardening, cooking, floristry, and music making, and projects which give childcare, health and wellbeing support, care of the elderly, and working directly with children with mental health and disability.

  • The One to Watch Award – ASHTON HAYES COMMUNITY HUB, near Chester, which has taken ownership of the only village pub, The Golden Lion, raising £215,000 in Community Shares. The ethos is to create not only a pub but also a multi-purpose hub with accessibility to all.

  • Young Person, sponsored by Bestway Wholesale – NAOMI DUNBAR from Newton Stewart Initiative in Galloway, an 18-year-old who has organised and ran weekly youth sessions and developed Happy Daze, a fortnightly drop-in for older residents to reminisce together.

  • Community Contribution Award, sponsored by Thakeham – REBECCA GABZDYL from East Boldre Community Stores in Hampshire, who has worked tirelessly on planning applications and project management to get the store open, and invested huge amounts of research, time and networking into product and supplier selection.

This year, almost 70 individuals nominated their community business and individual champions for the eight award categories.

Three businesses or people were shortlisted as finalists in each category, and representatives attended the ceremony in London, along with Plunkett UK staff, category sponsors and others from the sector.

Gemma Sills, Plunkett UK’s Engagement 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 of this year’s winners – their award is very much deserved!”

Thank you to our sponsors of this year’s Rural Community Business Awards

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