Rural Business

Our work on Local Government Finance is split into two areas, the Fairer Funding  campaign and a financial analysis of local authority budgets.

Hot Topics

21 Jul 2025

New ACS Report Reveals Public Priorities for Local Services

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has published its Community Barometer 2025, providing fresh insight into which local services voters value most and want to see more of in their...

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14 Jul 2025

Right to Buy Reform Could Save Rural Pubs and Shops

A community’s right to buy a local asset or business was announced in Parliament last week and welcomed by rural community business charity Plunkett UK. As part of the English...

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24 Jun 2025

New NFU Mutual Report Highlights Growing Impact of Rural Crime

The latest Rural Crime Report from NFU Mutual offers a detailed picture of the financial and emotional toll rural crime continues to take on our communities. Drawing on annual claims...

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27 May 2025

Rural Community Project Fund opens for 2025/26

A project call for rural areas of West Norfolk is opening again, inviting expressions of interest for grants to support projects that create new and improved community infrastructure, providing essential...

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06 May 2025

Affordable Homes Key to Unlocking Rural Business Growth

New research commissioned by Community Action Northumberland (CAN) reveals the growing pressure rural employers face due to a shortage of affordable and suitable housing for workers across Northumberland.  Nearly one in two...

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22 Apr 2025

The Full Package on Rural Postal Services

Citizens Advice has published a new report, The Full Package: What Consumers Need from a Changing Postal Service, providing detailed insight into how people across England and Wales use letters,...

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24 Mar 2025

Plunkett UK Awards to celebrate the best in Rural Community Business

Nominations have now opened for the prestigious 2025 Rural Community Business Awards, sponsored by Lands Improvement. The awards are an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of community-owned businesses across...

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17 Mar 2025

Cabinet Agrees Investment To Continue Projects Supporting Local Job Skills, Businesses And Communities

The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk has agreed investment to continue projects supporting local people and job skills, local businesses, and communities into 2025/26. Cabinet has approved...

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03 Feb 2025

ACS Report: Urgent Support Needed for UK’s Vital Rural Convenience Stores

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has celebrated the investment, community contribution and range of services provided by the UK’s almost 19,000 rural convenience stores, despite significant challenges ahead.  The...

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27 Jan 2025

Transport East Summit Calls for Increased Investment

Transport East hosted its 2025 Transport Summit in Ipswich earlier this month, bringing together senior business leaders, MPs, government officials, and transport experts to discuss the critical role of transport...

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