24 Mar 2026
Plunkett UK is now welcoming entries for its 2026 awards, sponsored by Lands Improvement, celebrating the best of community-owned businesses across the country.
This year’s Rural Community Business Awards will take place on Thursday 2 July at the Royal Society of Chemistry in London, bringing together community groups and partners from across the sector.
Plunkett UK is inviting its community business members to nominate their organisation for seven awards categories, including Connecting the Community, Going Green and Keeping it Local. This year’s Horace Plunkett Award will honour community businesses’ longevity and impact.
There are also two categories of award aimed at individuals in community businesses: Community Contribution and Young Person. Entries close on Monday 27 April.
Plunkett currently represents more than 850 community-owned businesses all over the UK. As well as saving much-loved and much-needed local services, they also address a variety of issues facing rural communities including isolation and loneliness and the lack of access to employment and training opportunities.
Sarah Benn from Plunkett UK, says, “Each year, the Rural Community Business Awards remind us just how much passion and innovation exist within rural communities. The stories we hear are a powerful testament to what can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose.”
“Our members form a remarkable network of people dedicated to improving the places they call home. This celebration is for them, and we look forward to honouring their impact and their unwavering commitment to their communities.”
Plunkett is delighted that the strategic land master developer, Lands Improvement, is the headline sponsor of the Rural Community Business Awards for a second consecutive year.
Lands Improvement cares about improving the communities they impact through increasing supply of land for new homes and driving the highest standards in placemaking and design. Through thoughtful investment, planning and placemaking they leave a positive, enduring legacy across the UK.
James Stone, Managing Director at Lands Improvement, says, “Having seen first-hand the work done in supporting rural communities through fostering stewardship of important community assets, we are once again delighted to be supporting Plunkett UK at their Rural Community Business Awards.
“The activities really resonate with us and our placemaking goals, and we can’t wait to hear more inspiring stories through meeting the people positively impacting their communities and celebrating their impressive achievements.”
The winner of last year’s prestigious Community Contribution Award, chosen by a public vote, was Celia Collett, the driving force behind the success of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Community Village Stores in Oxfordshire.
As she collected the award, Celia said, “I am speechless and for me that’s quite unusual! The community shop has been running for 15 years and the team at Plunkett has been with us every step of the way. I’m quite emotional because they’ve helped me through lots of difficult times, and I don’t know what I would have done without them.”
Plunkett community business members can nominate themselves and a local community champion by submitting an online nomination before 27 April here: https://plunkett.co.uk/rural-community-business-awards
Community businesses who wish to be nominated, but are not yet members, can join Plunkett’s network before the deadline.
