Voneus signed up by community-owned business champion Plunkett UK

Rural connectivity specialists Voneus, who are committed to bringing ultrafast broadband to the country’s hardest to reach communities, has teamed up with national community business champion Plunkett UK.

Voneus has become a Plunkett UK recommended supplier, a group of like-minded companies actively supporting Plunkett’s rural community-owned business membership.

And in a continued show of support for the charity, Voneus will once again sponsor one of the categories in the annual Rural Community Business Awards that are due to take place in London in October.

When Sir Horace Plunkett founded the charity in 1919 he did so with the vision that in order to be successful, co-operatives needed to continue to be owned and controlled by the communities in which they were set to benefit.

Today, Plunkett UK remains committed to providing practical advice, support and training to help communities establish and run innovative and inclusive local businesses that make a positive impact for local people.

Plunkett UK currently represents 800 trading community-owned businesses, and a further 300 in the process of setting up, supporting them with specialist business advice, training, toolkits and networking opportunities. It raises awareness of the community business model through advocating with government, think tanks and funders.

Laura Olver, Membership and Training Manager at Plunkett UK, said: “We’re so pleased to welcome Voneus as one of our Recommended Suppliers, selected based on the value they can offer to members, their commitment to customer service, and their alignment with the values and ethos of both Plunkett and the community business sector.

“Our strong relationships with all of our suppliers ensure they understand the needs of our members and can deliver the right products and services to meet those needs.”

Voneus specialises is bringing ultrafast fibre broadband to communities across the UK, connecting homes and businesses in even the hardest to reach areas.

Natalie Ward, head of strategic partnerships at Voneus said: “We are extremely proud to be working with Plunkett UK, whose vision for resilient, thriving and inclusive rural communities across the UK fully mirrors our own.   

“It was wonderfully inspiring to be involved as both a sponsor and a judge in last year’s Rural Community Business Awards, and see so many amazing community-owned businesses being recognised for their outstanding contribution to vital, local services.

“Taking the next step to begin working with Plunkett made perfect sense, and we very much look forward to supporting them and all of their community-owned businesses.”

This year’s awards will be launched next month.