The Plunkett Foundation is urging all 303 of the UK’s community-owned shops to come forward and enter the first ever Community Shop Awards.

Stores have until April 12 to enter the awards which are designed to recognise and reward community shops for achieving excellence in community engagement, volunteer management, co-operation and sales techniques.

Entrants will be in with a chance of winning £500 for their enterprise, as well as receiving high profile exposure as part of the Plunkett Foundation’s Community Shops Fortnight campaign in June.

“The Community Shop Awards will raise awareness not only of the fantastic achievements of the community shops already trading, but also of the potential of co-operation for even more communities across the UK, hopefully inspiring them into action,” Plunkett chief executive Peter Couchman said.

The Community Shop Awards are sponsored by Hastoe Housing Association with Co-operative Enterprise Hub, CAN Invest, Triodos Bank, McVitie’s, and Wine Box Company.

More information on the Community Shop Awards, including criteria and categories, can be found at http://www.communityshops.coop/awards.