Rural Economies

Economic growth is widely acknowledged as essential for national wealth and prosperity, and is a priority for political parties. Rural economies, employing millions and home to a higher proportion of small businesses, have potential for growth if barriers are removed.

Hot Topics

28 Apr 2022

Businesses’ views sought on rural broadband connection

The National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) is collaborating with Building Digital UK (BDUK), part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), to seek businesses’ views...

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28 Apr 2022

RSN Economic Profiling Service – May 2022

The RSN Economic Profiling Service provides an analysis of Alternative Claimant Count with the May 2022 edition now being available. The analysis examines the ratio of claimant on flows to...

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11 Apr 2022

Committee warns of impacts to farming labour shortage

BBC reports that chronic labour shortages in the food and farming sector could lead to price rises and the UK becoming more dependent on food imports A report by the...

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11 Apr 2022

Laborious planning rules are losing support for the Tories in the countryside

The Telegraph reports that a survey commissioned by Country Land and Business Association found that laborious planning rules are losing the Conservative Party support in rural areas Around 12 million...

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04 Apr 2022

Is Government support for rural post offices enough to save them?

The below article (published by Anne Pardoe at Citizens Advice) discusses whether recently announced Government funding for rural post offices is enough to keep them operating The government has announced...

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04 Apr 2022

More people than ever before are interested in setting up a community business

The Plunkett Foundation’s 2021 Impact Report reveals that the number of community businesses has continued to rise, in spite of the disruption of the pandemic The report also shows that...

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04 Apr 2022

Rural pubs rescued with levelling up funds

The Government has announced they will use their levelling up fund to support pubs in rural communities across England Pubs serving remote communities in England saved by government intervention that...

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28 Mar 2022

Spring Statement ‘blow for rural businesses’ with calls for more support

The Yorkshire Post reports that the Spring Statement signified a “blow for rural businesses”, Ministers have been warned, with “insufficient support for the rural economy and hospitality businesses” Cuts in...

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28 Mar 2022

Government Seeks Views and Experiences of UK Rural Broadband

ISPreview reports that the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) has launched a new survey alongside the Government that seeks views and experiences of rural broadband connectivity from small...

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14 Mar 2022

Businesses’ views sought on rural broadband connection

Rural SMEs are being invited to share their views and experiences of broadband connection and the effect this has on their business by completing a short survey Research is being...

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