Harriet English has recently been announced as the new Deputy Chief Executive at Plunkett UK, the national charity that supports rural community businesses.

Harriet has worked with Plunkett for 16 years, holding the position of Head of Engagement for the past eight years. Harriet’s promotion to her new role is a recognition of her leadership skills, her knowledge of the community business sector and the charity’s current focus areas that she leads on.

James Alcock, Plunkett’s CEO, says:

“I am delighted that Harriet is stepping into this new position, and it is richly deserved for her years of dedication to our charity and the sector as a whole. Harriet has a passion for helping create thriving, inclusive and resilient rural communities through the community business model.

“Harriet is a natural at forming and maintaining relationships with like-minded funders and corporate partners, and is excellent at showcasing our impact at every opportunity. She has also led the way in setting up strategic placemaking partnerships so that community businesses and hubs are embedded in new housing developments – an area we are developing further in 2025.

“It has been such a pleasure to have worked alongside Harriet for the last 16 years, and I’m thrilled that we will continue, and take forward, this working relationship so that we can help Plunkett to have even more of an impact in communities across the UK.”

Talking about the opportunity, Harriet says:

“I am incredibly excited to be stepping into this new role and grateful for the opportunity to help continue to grow our exemplary service for community businesses of all types across the UK. During my time at Plunkett, I have seen us go from strength to strength – and that's due to its people and partners.

“I am committed to growing and broadening our stakeholder relationships so that community businesses have access to the expertise they need and also that the model has a chance to flourish in every community – even those that are yet to be built!”

Harriet’s appointment as Deputy Chief Executive comes as part of a strategic review of what is needed to effectively deliver Plunkett’s charitable objects and core operations. A new staff structure is being implemented with four clear departments created:

• Universal Community Business Service – supporting all forms of rural community business at any stage of setting up and running in any part of the UK
• External Affairs function – focused on movement-building and representing members’ interests
• Partnerships Team – deepening our relationships with corporate partners and ‘place-making’ organisations
• Operations Team – managing our finances, people, and ensuring effective governance and compliance

As part of the team re-structure, Kathryn Morrison is promoted to the role of Chief Operations Officer. Kathryn has been on Plunkett’s staff team for a total of 20 years. She, James and Harriet are the Executive Team, who, with a management level consisting of Department Heads, form a new Senior Leadership Team.

Gemma Sills is Plunkett’s new Head of Partnerships, having held the position of Engagement Manager for more than four years, and worked in the charity sector for the last 16 years.

Additionally, Plunkett is pleased to welcome Mary Boullin as its new Head of Community Business from early February. Mary is currently working at the charity, Special Effect, as Team Leader in a fundraising and communications role. She has previous managerial and fundraising experience in the charity sector.

There are several vacant positions for which Plunkett will be recruiting in the coming months, including Head of External Affairs, Head of Finance, Salesforce Manager and Impact Officer.

Plunkett has promoted the community ownership model for over 100 years because of its track record for delivering better businesses for people, communities, the economy, and the environment. Community-owned businesses are owned and controlled by community members who have an equal and democratic say in how the business is run.

Today, Plunkett represents 800 trading community-owned businesses and a further 500 in the process of setting up. Few cease to trade when they open – Plunkett’s success rate for the community businesses it supports is 94% over 20 years, whilst the 99% success rate over five years is more than double that of small and medium-sized enterprises (which sits at 44%).

Plunkett raises awareness of the community business model, provides practical community business support, and represents our members through networking, research and advocating with government, think tanks and funders.