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 Form of Business.

Ahead of the Autumn Budget, Plunkett UK called on support from government to ensure that community groups are able to save and take ownership of local assets, whilst highlighting how rural communities are too often overlooked.

“One of the challenges that Plunkett and rural communities have got at the moment is making sure that our voice is heard,” said Alison Jeffers, Chair of Trustees at Plunkett, as she formally welcomed guests to the event.

Sponsored by Plunkett’s partners – Thakeham, Better Society Capital, and Access – The Foundation for Social Investment – the event offered an opportunity to explore the report’s key messages and Plunkett’s work through speeches, a panel discussion, and networking.

The Cornerstone Of Our Rural Economy

The host for the event was Robbie Moore, MP for Keighley and Ilkley in West Yorkshire and DEFRA Shadow Minister. He commended the report to MPs in the room, asking them to “sell it to others.”

Mr Moore recognised the many challenges related to finance and recruitment, especially of young people. “I would absolutely like to see community-owned businesses in our rural areas be supported both with direct support and easier access to finance. We know local communities not only make them work, but go on to make them thrive and absolutely become the cornerstone of our rural economy.”

The Report Could Be Revolutionary

Also speaking to the report was Gareth Snell, MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, and represents the Labour and the Co-operative Party. He said, “We know that community ownership gives people power over where they live. It allows people to take a stance about their own community.”

Mr Snell spoke about the need to remove “stumbling blocks and hurdles” and how he hopes the Community Right to Buy would do that, which is currently passing through Parliament as part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

“To those people that are going to lobby their MPs with this report, please make sure they read it and ask them questions about it – because genuinely what you are proposing in this report could be revolutionary for our rural communities and could be a huge boon to the cooperative movement in this country.”

A Lack Of Rural Representation

The panel discussion included Liberal Democrats MP Caroline Voaden joining James Alcock (Plunkett’s Chief Executive), Tristan Robinson (Director of External Affairs and Social Value) and James Westhead (Head of Engagement at Better Society Capital).

James Alcock shared with guests some headline statistics from the report that focused on community business’ economy and the impressive five-year and long-term survival rates. James stated: “The report showcases a mixed picture; a success story – of economic and impact growth against the odds due to the community-ownership model – but one which also highlights the case that more government resources must reach rural areas.”

James said, “Through this report and the launch event today we are representing and listening to our members, and challenging policymakers at the highest level on their behalf. We will continue to do so until we see change. Community businesses are creating growth and impact – however this is being limited by stifling National Insurance, VAT and Business Rates, and worryingly, in some cases, are threatening the survival of community-owned businesses.”

Caroline Voaden focused on the social value they bring, which she has seen first-hand in her South Devon constituency. She said, “Rural Britain is forgotten about and not a priority for government, with a lack of rural representation in the current cabinet. A community ownership fund needs reopening, which is something I have asked for.”

James Westhead acknowledged that many rural communities are not getting the funding they should be and said Better Society Capital and Access were looking at how they “could do better and could do more”. He said, “We know we need more flexibility and creativity, and could be a lot smarter about how investment is used.

Tristan Robinson spoke about Thakeham’s trailblazing partnership with Plunkett in successfully creating a community shop at the Woodgate development in West Sussex. The government has pledged to build 1.5 million new houses over the next four years and Tristan underlined the human aspect of this, saying: “It is 1.5 million homes that are needed, not just units.”

A Voice For Community Businesses

Among the people representing community businesses at the event were Melissa Cooper and Helen Seacole from Westbury Community Shop in Northamptonshire, which started almost ten years ago. They said, “We are here today because it's really important to know that there's somebody here with the voice for us. It's a struggle nowadays with costs. But knowing that other people are saying the right things in terms of support, then hopefully that will filter down to us on the ground level.”

Read the full report here