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

04 Mar 2024

Skills And Labour Shortages Hinder Rural Business Performance and Growth

Labour shortages and skills gaps are major challenges for rural businesses which are hindering their performance and growth potential, according to a major new survey from the National Innovation Centre...

Read more

19 Feb 2024

Give Feedback on Rural Business Growth Decision – Making Tool

Economic development and regeneration professionals are encouraged to participate in shaping a new practical analytics platform geared at guiding rural business policy. The Rural Enterprise Support Analytics (RESA) tool focuses...

Read more

19 Feb 2024

Ofcom Seeks Views from Rural and Remote Areas on Postal Service Modernisation

In an era where digital communication has significantly reduced the volume of letters, yet the demand for parcel delivery continues to soar, Ofcom has initiated a discussion on the future...

Read more

05 Feb 2024

Employment of people living in rural and coastal communities

The House of Commons Library recently published a report to inform Westminster Hall debate held on 1 February. The report highlighted that rural and coastal constituencies tend to have different...

Read more

05 Feb 2024

Unlocking Growth: Rural Business Grants Now Available for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Businesses

In a substantial boost to rural businesses, the Rural Business Grants scheme has been launched in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. With a commitment of £1 million, this initiative...

Read more

22 Jan 2024

Growth opportunities for rural businesses, but long-standing challenges remain

Businesses in rural areas perceive new opportunities for growth but long-standing challenges such as affordable housing, transport and broadband capacity are hampering take-up, according to a major new survey from...

Read more

18 Dec 2023

RSN welcomes NICRE report – Rural SMEs and the environment

Pic: Greg and Jade Pilley of Stroud Brewery in Gloucestershire The Rural Services Network (RSN) has welcomed the latest report from the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) which...

Read more

11 Dec 2023

Step change in rural enterprise evidence base

Pictured left to right are: Jason Beedell, Strutt and Parker, Jeremy Phillipson, NICRE Director, Lord Curry of Kirkharle, Ulrike Hotopp, NICRE Policy Advisor, and Lee Davies, Department for Environment, Food...

Read more

04 Dec 2023

Over 15,000 Free to Use ATMs Lost Since 2018

The number of free to use cash machines available in the UK has fallen by almost 30% in the last five years, according to new figures from the Association of...

Read more

27 Nov 2023

Rural businesses show resilience, but investment curtailed by rising costs

Rising costs are causing serious and widespread problems for rural businesses in parts of England which is curtailing their ability to invest and grow, according to a major new survey...

Read more