A charity that supports rural community businesses, Plunkett UK is dedicated to supporting rural community-owned businesses across the UK, raising awareness of the community business model, providing practical community business support, and representing member interests through policy, research and advocacy.
Starting in his new post on the 5th of June 2025, David Lydiat, previously the Public Affairs and Policy Manager at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), he will responsible to bring together membership, communications and policy activities to grow the awareness of the rural community business sector.Lydiat will be advocating for a supportive policy, legislative and funding environment in which the community-owned business sector can flourish and oversee Plunkett’s membership and communications activities.
At the HTA, Lydiat’s role spanned the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, the Department for Business & Trade and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. Through this, he supported HTA members with navigating regulation, as well as connecting them to decision-makers. He also developed a the growth strategy for the horticulture industry in Scotland, with successful results in the Scottish Parliament.
Previously, Lydiat had parliamentary experience as a Senior Researcher for an MP and Parliamentary Private Secretary in Westminster and was an award-winning manager at the large UK corporate; Unipart Logistics.
James Alcock, Plunkett’s CEO, says, “We’re thrilled to welcome David to Plunkett at such a pivotal time for the rural community business movement. His experience and passion for championing grassroots change will be instrumental as we push for essential policy reforms – from seeking funding and advice to replace the Community Ownership Fund, to strengthening community rights legislation and achieving fairer treatment on business rates. David will play a key role in growing our membership and raising the visibility of the rural community business movement – ensuring it is better recognised and understood by government, funders and the general public alike.”
Lydiat said: “I am very much looking forward to contributing to Plunkett’s mission of supporting rural communities to take ownership of, and to successfully run, businesses that are the heartbeat of villages and towns. I have witnessed the impact of this on people in my own village where we became community owners of the last remaining pub. Having several years’ experience in Westminster and the devolved parliaments, as well as working for a member trade association and various businesses, I believe that I can support the high-performing Plunkett team and partners in several areas, on behalf of members.”
