The Rural Services Network is delighted to be taking bookings for our online National Rural Conference, Revitalising Rural

Taking place throughout the week from 14-18th September, with each day focusing on a different topic relevant to rural areas.  This week we are concentrating on the first conference day, Monday 14th September which is Rural Economy Day!  Kindly sponsored by Green Energy UK, the day will feature a range of sessions that all members of the Rural Services Network can access for free. Book your place here!

Throughout the course of the week, we are providing a range of sessions to make you feel like you are at our normal conference, so there will be plenary sessions in the morning and a seminar in the afternoon.

Rural Economy Day Plenary

The plenary session will feature two speakers:

Firstly, Professor Janet Dwyer, a Professor of Rural Policy and Director of the CCRI (Countryside and Community Research Institute) will talk on the subject of ‘Planning for recession and recovery: re-thinking the innovation agenda’.  Janet has often been a feature of our National Rural Conference, allowing us to jointly host the event at the University of Gloucestershire in previous years.  You can see her full biography at this link

Secondly, Nigel Wilcock, the Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Development will talk on the Launch of the Rural Opportunities Toolkit.  Nigel is also Managing Director of Micklemore Ltd, an Economic Development consultancy and has 20 years experience in regeneration and economic development.  You can see his full biography here. The Rural Opportunities Toolkit has been developed with the Rural Services Network, and aims to provide organisations and the Local Enterprise Partnership with a  framework for ensuring that rural areas can capitalse on the opportunities in their local area to best develop their rural economies. 

Rural Economy Day Seminar

The afternoon will include a seminar, that delegates can book onto with presentations from Professor Sally Shortall – Duke of Northumberland Chair of Rural Economy Professor at Newcastle University, and Alan Menzies, Director of Planning and Economic Regeneration at East Riding Council.  Following the presentations, delegates will have the opportunity to discuss the issues raised in the live seminar event with each other and pose questions of the speakers. You can see the biographies of the speakers in the seminar session here.

Feature on the Rural Economy

Also available on the day, will be a presentation by Doug Stewart, founder of Green Energy UK, our sponsor for Rural Economy Day, focusing on ‘Net Zero; A journey not a destination.’

All economic progress, even green progress, has an impact somewhere – not least in our rural communities.  So as the UK looks towards a ‘new normal’ and re-focuses on its 2050 climate objectives in a post lockdown world – Doug explores how we might leverage the benefits of a ‘green recovery’, whilst working to ensure the journey to (and beyond) net zero provides choice and is managed in a truly sustainable way.

- Click here to find out more about Green Energy UK

- Click here to read Doug’s biography

Places are only available to organisations that are members of the Rural Services Network and can be booked at this link

If you are not a member and would like to find out more, please contact [email protected]