Plunkett UK, the charity representing rural community businesses, has launched a five-year strategy setting out its ambitions to grow the size, reach and impact of the sector.
The 2026–2031 strategy sets out three priorities – Stronger Community Business, Stronger Movement and Stronger Plunkett – underpinned by its belief in community ownership as “one of the most powerful ways to create thriving, inclusive and resilient rural communities”.
At its heart, says Plunkett, is its mission to “deliver better business for people, the economy and the environment”.
Over the next five years, the charity says it will balance growth with long-term sustainability to “create a stronger and more resilient rural community business sector”. Its ambition is for more than 1,000 community-owned businesses to be operating across the UK by 2031, while maintaining one of the highest business survival rates of any business model.
Alongside supporting new start-ups, Plunkett promises to place equal emphasis on helping established community businesses thrive, with a focus on growing the sector, strengthening resilience and maximising impact. It says this will include a stronger membership offer, providing business support, trusted suppliers, member benefits and opportunities to connect and collaborate.
Through Stronger Movement, Plunkett wants to “build a more connected, visible and influential rural community business movement – connecting community businesses, championing community ownership and representing the movement”.
This, it adds, will include a shared national identity and a stronger voice for rural community businesses with government, funders and other decision-makers.
A Stronger Plunkett will focus on building a financially sustainable, modern and capable organisation that can lead the movement for the long term, including diversifying income and expanding Plunkett’s placemaking work to embed community ownership into the planning and development of new places.
The strategy comes as rural communities face growing social and economic pressures, including rising living costs, housing affordability challenges, increasing unemployment and pressure on public services. These challenges can be amplified in rural areas by greater distances, fewer local services and limited transport options.
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Community-owned businesses are also facing significant pressures from rising costs, reduced consumer spending, volunteer fatigue and increased taxation.
Plunkett’s latest sector survey found that 34% of community businesses were only just surviving and a further 2% believed they were at risk of closure – the lowest levels of business confidence Plunkett has recorded.
In light of this, it says its strategy focuses not simply on helping communities establish community-owned businesses, but ensuring they remain resilient, relevant and recognised as part of the solution to the challenges facing rural Britain.
“Rural communities have always demonstrated remarkable resilience, determination and ingenuity,” said Plunkett CEO James Alcock. “Yet resilience should never mean being expected to cope alone.
“Over the next five years, Plunkett will work alongside communities across the UK to ensure that community ownership continues to provide practical solutions to the challenges facing rural places. By strengthening community businesses, building a stronger movement and continuing to evolve as an organisation, we believe rural communities are most likely to thrive, be more inclusive and resilient.
“We believe that when local people are given the opportunity to take ownership of the issues that matter to them, they can shape stronger futures for themselves and for generations to come.”
