Plunkett UK

📊 Research findings from a report by National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise which Plunkett and other community businesses contributed to, found that offering workspaces can help #rural pubs thrive.  As rural communities continue to transform, using pubs as workspaces aligns with the ‘More than a Pub’ model used by many community-owned pubs. By embracing innovation, challenging perceptions, and meeting the needs of remote workers, ‘work from the pub’ can help pubs thrive post-pandemic. 🍻 Plunkett was proud to contribute, representing community pubs in the findings and sample. 🙌 Our research team can collaborate with other partners to produce content showcasing the value of community businesses. ➡️ GET IN TOUCH! Email: [email protected] to speak with our team.  

This #coopfortnight, we celebrate our network partnership with co-op retail societies across the UK. 🙌 For example, with The Midcounties Co-operative generous support, Plunkett has helped more communities than ever before in that region to set up and run community-owned businesses; 165 were open and trading throughout 2023, and a similar number working towards opening. Tiberton Village Shop in Shropshire has been in community ownership since 2010. With the village having doubled in size, the shop’s committee is keen to ensure it offers services that meet the needs of everyone. In 2024, Plunkett has been pleased to support the group with community consultation, engagement and business planning.

⏳ After six weeks of #GeneralElection build up, tomorrow is polling day! It's been wonderful to see representatives of our movement making the case for our sector with prospective parliamentary candidates, from across the political spectrum. Irrespective of the outcome on Friday morning, we will need champions from all parties to keep making the case for community ownership as a innovative, inclusive and impactful way of creating connected communities UK-wide. Our ambitions for the next Government have not changed, and whoever wins the vote can expect Plunkett UK to continue championing the need for a supportive policy and funding environment, which backs the #combiz movement to continue growing in all four UK nations. You can read the full set of asks that we have been sharing with the parties, via this link - [https://lnkd.in/eUEcryyx] - but in summary, we are calling on our next Government to: 1️⃣ Back the next generation of #communityowned businesses with a Community Right to Buy, fair access to finance, and the provision of advice and support. 2️⃣ Support the existing network of trading #community businesses with fairer taxation, funding to grow their operations and impact, and energy saving incentives. 3️⃣ Recognise the value of #rural proofing all future policy and funding decisions. As our General Election page says "Trust Communities to Lead the Way".

Re-sharing this post from our Head of Policy and Communications, Chris Cowcher, for #RuralHousingWeek to make the case for utilising the #communityowned business model alongside the provision of housing in #rural areas.

Last week I had the privilege of spending an evening at The Innholders' Hall, surrounded by Plunkett UK colleagues, partners and friends, and the wonderful Tom Imison even made a guest appearance on piano! We all know that it's the people that make an organisation, but it's never been more apparent than in that room. I stood up to speak, and told a story about the wonderful people of Stoke Canon, who saved their pub and continue to put in hours of their time as volunteers, to keep it running. The brilliant Harriet English talked about the one thing everyone in the room had in common - a shared passion and understanding of the power of community. Our guests travelled far and wide to support the work of Plunkett UK - and community businesses everywhere - and pledged to continue to do so. Do good things, with good people - not just colleagues, but partners, customers, beneficiaries supporters, suppliers, friends.

🗣️ “This award is a recognition that we have been doing the right thing, sending out a strong message to the Government and sponsors that if the support is on hand you can truly build communities to sustain for future generations.”  📽️ Meirion Roberts from the Menter y Glan social enterprise talks about how they were recognised by winning the Community Food and Local Supply Award at the 2023 Rural Community Business Awards. 🏆 He explains what the award means to their community, and how their ‘farm to fork’ approach provides a positive impact socially, economically and environmentally. 🌎 🚨 Nominations are open for this year's #rcbawards, head over to the link: https://lnkd.in/e5zjBdPf

Join us for an in-person networking and discussion event for people involved with community-owned pubs across East Anglia.   Generously funded by Suffolk Community Foundation through the Co-op Community Cares Fund, this meetup provides an opportunity to network with people from community pubs who are either at an early stage or have been open and trading for years!  🗓️ Tue 23 July ➡️ The Blue Bell-Stoke Ferry  ⏰ 18:30-20:30  👉 For more on the content and how to book, go to the following link:

Kindly sponsored by Thakeham, the Community Contribution Award celebrates the individual community champions, involved in local community businesses, who go the extra mile.  🌟 Perhaps they're a volunteer who gives up their time to support they day-to-day running of the business. 🌟 Or they always go out of their way to be a support to vulnerable residents in the community.  🌟 Or maybe they were instrumental in getting the community business up and running!  Is there anything unique that an individual has done for their #combiz? 🤔 ➡️ Nominate them here: https://lnkd.in/e5zjBdPf #RCBAwards

Nominations are open for two sets of awards that celebrate #cooperative and #community #business 🏆 Plunkett UK's Rural Community Business Awards focus on the "outstanding achievements of #communityowned businesses and the dedicated and inspiring individuals who make them happen” – while the Social Enterprise UK Awards Ceremony "shines a spotlight not just on the leading lights in social enterprise, but also the organisations and individuals that have supported our incredible sector to develop and grow." 🔗 Find out more – including nomination deadlines – at https://bit.ly/3L7S4tC

We are delighted to announce the start of three years of generous core funding confirmed by the The Dulverton Trust! 🤝 This will grow Plunkett UK's support for community businesses in #Wales and #Scotland! 🙌 #combiz