Local councils supporting rural community businesses

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has welcomed recognition by the Plunkett Foundation that local (parish and town) councils can play an important role in supporting the creation of community businesses.

Local councils can drum up interest in the initiative and they can also help lever in much-needed funding to help them succeed.

NALC works closely with the Plunkett Foundation to promote the concept of rural community business and encourage local councils to support the creation of more community businesses in their rural areas.   

One scheme supported by Thorncombe Parish Council in Dorset is a village shop and café, which has celebrated its 10th birthday showing that these solutions are sustainable.

Cllr Sue Baxter, chairman of NALC, said: “NALC has been delighted to work with the Plunkett Foundation over the last three years to promote the concept of community businesses in rural areas. Many local councils are based in rural areas and have a huge role to play in supporting, initiating and sustaining community businesses in their areas. We are delighted that the Thorncombe Village shop is alive and kicking ten years after it opened. This is a real testament to what a local council can achieve when it steps in to help a community business in a rural area. More local councils need to follow this brilliant example.”

Read more about how your local council can get behind rural community business