Why Keeping it Local Matters

Volunteers outside the shop!

As well as sharing statistics that demonstrate impact, our Impact Report also highlights examples from our community business members that are putting these principles into practice every day.

One such example is Bishop Wilton Community Shop in Yorkshire. The community-owned shop and café prioritises ‘keeping it local’ wherever possible, from daily essentials and gifts to produce sold in its café. By actively seeking local alternatives, it has helped several village-based businesses grow, with home bakers and growers expanding into larger kitchens and reaching wider markets.

Strong relationships with local suppliers also help keep core food items affordable, ensuring the shop supports both local livelihoods and household budgets.

At Plunkett UK, we celebrate this area of impact at our annual Rural Community Business Awards through the Keeping it Local Award, sponsored by Co-op – a key partner of ours through the Co-operative Retail Society Network. Bishop Wilton’s dedication to supporting local suppliers and producers saw it crowned the winner of this award in 2025.

Shop volunteer with Trawden Forest Primary School children

This year, the award was presented to Trawden Community Shop in Lancashire.

Run by around 90 volunteers, the shop works with more than 20 local suppliers, providing reliable income streams that help sustain nearby businesses while also supporting smaller producers and individuals selling handmade goods. Its commitment to sustainability includes refill options, additional recycling facilities and milk sold in returnable glass bottles.

Alongside its retail role, the shop has become an important community hub, creating inclusive volunteering opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Volunteers with additional needs are actively supported, including a wheelchair user who contributes to food preparation, while an 82-year-old volunteer creates fabric bags that are sold in the shop. The business also hosts Duke of Edinburgh participants and work experience placements, helping these young people build skills, confidence and a sense of belonging.

Working with a local school, volunteers helped children learn about the role the community business plays in village life and introduced them to the wide range of locally-produced items available to buy, including jams, butter, milk, honey and crisps. The children then purchased sausages sourced from local farms (and then sold in the shop) and cooked them at school – a farm to fork journey!

Through dedicated events, webinars and peer-learning opportunities, Plunkett helps community businesses explore ways to increase their impact across all five areas highlighted in our report.

Earlier this year, for example, we hosted a webinar focused on Boosting the Local Economy. Members heard from Nick Weir of the Open Food Network and learned directly from Bishop Wilton Community Shop, which shared practical examples of how sourcing locally and building relationships with local producers can strengthen both businesses and communities.

Whether it is employing local people, partnering with nearby suppliers, supporting local producers or helping volunteers develop new skills, community-owned businesses have many ways to contribute to local economic growth. Plunkett’s role is to ensure they have access to the knowledge, networks and expertise needed to maximise that impact.