The Plunkett Foundation has launched its seventh annual Rural Community Business Awards – and is seeking applications from inspiring enterprises owned and run by rural communities across the UK.
The awards are open to all kinds of community businesses – from shops and pubs to groups managing woodlands for the benefit of local residents.
There are seven award categories celebrating different types of achievement, including Strengthening the Community and Investing in Local People. A new category for this year is One to Watch, for community businesses that are about to start, or have recently begun, trading.
The awards recognise the work of those who ensure their communities retain vital services, which often have wide-ranging benefits such as boosting the local economy, improving wellbeing and reducing loneliness.
Related: Plunkett Foundation welcomes new funding for rural community business
Plunkett – a rural community business development body – works works with over 1,000 such enterprises, of which over 600 are currently trading. It is committed to achieving resilient, thriving and inclusive rural communities by encouraging people to work together to find solutions to their needs through community enterprise.
Partners for this year’s awards include the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Hastoe Housing Association, BCRS Business Loans, the Retail Mutual and Suma Wholefoods. The awards will be presented on Wednesday 27 November in London, during Plunkett’s centenary celebrations.
The foundation is calling on as many groups as possible to put their community business forward for this year’s awards, details of which can be found online: www.plunkett.co.uk/awards.
The deadline for applications is 18 October. Any organisation wishing to sponsor an award should email Phillip.Vincent@plunkett.co.uk.
