Rural Business
Our work on Local Government Finance is split into two areas, the Fairer Funding campaign and a financial analysis of local authority budgets.
24 Mar 2026
Entries Open For 2026 Rural Community Business Awards
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...
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24 Nov 2025
Rural Taskforce Work Progresses as DEFRA Sets Out Growth Plan
Defra Secretary of State Emma Reynolds used her speech at the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) Rural Business Conference last week to set out the Government’s ambition for a...
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10 Nov 2025
Parliament Hears Rural Community Business Concerns At Report Launch
More than 70 politicians, partners and community business representatives gathered at the Houses of Parliament this week for the launch of Plunkett UK’s flagship research report, Community ownership: A Better...
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03 Nov 2025
Rural Community Businesses Hold The Key To Renewal But Remain Overlooked
New research from Plunkett UK reveals that rural community-owned businesses are already delivering social, economic and environmental benefits that align directly with government ambitions – yet they remain under-recognised and...
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13 Oct 2025
Community At The Heart Of New Plunkett UK Partnership
Community business charity Plunkett UK is delighted to announce a new three-year strategic partnership with the country’s largest homebuilder, Barratt Redrow. The partnership between the two organisations is founded on...
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01 Sep 2025
Rural Economy & Regeneration – Driving Growth And Opportunity
Monday 15 September 2025 | 13:30 – 15:30 Part of the National Rural Conference 2025 Bookings now open for RSN members: View the full programme A thriving rural economy underpins...
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11 Aug 2025
Plunkett UK and Wates Unite for Sustainable, Thriving Rural Places
Wates Developments, a land, planning and development specialist driven by the purpose of creating places people can thrive, has announced a three-year strategic partnership with Plunkett UK. The new partnership...
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28 Jul 2025
Rural Connectivity Still Falling Short As Farmers Call For Urgent Action
The latest NFU digital access survey reveals that rural broadband and mobile coverage still falls short of what British farming businesses need – with over a fifth of respondents unable...
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28 Jul 2025
High Street Boost for Staffordshire Businesses
Independent businesses in Stafford, Stone, and Eccleshall are invited to take part in the High Street Boost programme, delivered by Stafford Borough Council designed to help local traders thrive. Free...
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24 Jul 2025
Awards celebrate thriving rural communities
Rural community businesses’ extraordinary impact was honoured at Plunkett UK’s annual awards, held at the start of July. Around 100 people gathered at the Royal Society of Chemistry in London...
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