AN ONLINE village shop that was setup by the local community to provide for residents in lockdown has been nominated for a national business award.

Community initiative May Hill Hub, which provides a ’Click and Collect’ food, drink and arts & crafts service for local residents, has been chosen as one of three finalists in the Rural Vision Technology category of the Plunkett Foundation’s Rural Community Business Awards for 2021.

The local residents who run the business, which came into being in early 2020 to provide for people during the pandemic, will now attend an awards ceremony at St Martin in the Fields in London on November 25, which this year will be hosted by TV chef and ’The Great British Bake Off’ judge Prue Leith.

National charity the Plunkett Foundation supports hundreds of community-owned businesses in the UK and holds the annual awards to highlight those which have gone "above and beyond for their communities" over the last year.

The business was established by May Hill residents when pandemic restrictions limited access to fresh produce locally.

The community responded by creating a delivery round of locally-sourced goods, and as orders "flooded in", it became apparent that something more permanent was needed.

The hub was soon created and continues to expand, with a range of local foods, drinks and arts & crafts available.

All orders are placed online, which customers can then collect from May Hill Village Hall on Friday afternoons.

Staff at the hub, which is run as a not-for-profit charity, say their aim is to support local businesses and residents "in a sustainable, ethical and responsible way."

Following the nomination, a spokesperson for the hub said: "The May Hill Hub would like to take this opportunity to thank the local businesses they support at the Hub for trading with them, their loyal customers and especially their volunteers who are the heart of the operation.

"They could not serve the community as well as they do without them."

The finalists will now be judged against three criteria, innovation, connectivity and longevity, before the final winner is selected.

For more information, go to www.mayhillhub.com/shop.

Anyone interested in volunteering with the hub should email [email protected].