The National Rural Conference 2025

Bookings are now officially open for the National Rural Conference 2025, which will take place online from Monday 15 to Thursday 18 September.
This is the Rural Services Network’s flagship event of the year, bringing together rural decision-makers, practitioners, and advocates for four days of live, interactive sessions focused on the future of rural communities.
Click here to book!

Rural businesses close as they struggle to find staff

The Yorkshire Post reports on comments made by Susan Briggs, director of The Tourism Network, in which she said Brexit, a lack of public transport, a shortage of trained staff and the industry’s poor reputation were causing rural firms to close.

David Kerfoot, the chairman of York, North Yorkshire & East Riding Enterprise Partnership,  added that ‘with large businesses leaving small towns in droves, we need to support small businesses with the people and infrastructure they need to thrive’.

He added: ‘That means investing at a local level to meet the specific needs of our distinctive places.’

Full article:

→ Yorkshire Post - Rural firms are facing closure as they struggle to find staff, says leading businesswoman