A quarterly bulletin facilitated by your membership of the Rural Services Network highlighting a selection of current rural economic development news, issues and opportunities

Findings on how language can influence the case for rural investment to be presented nationally

The National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) will present findings on how language can help or hinder the case for rural investment at the Rural Services Network’s (RSN) National Rural Conference 2024.

NICRE, a supporter of the conference which runs 16-19 September, will detail its ‘Framing Rural’ research which found that if the case is framed well, there is strong public support to ‘level up’ investment in rural areas, even among people living in towns and cities.

As long as the messaging is right, most people are open to the case for investing more in rural areas.

Katherine Lewis, NICRE Research Engagement Manager at the Royal Agricultural University which led the research, will present at the Rural Economy and Regeneration session on 16 September, 1.30-3.30pm. Find out more and register.

Katherine said:

“Our findings suggest that most people, even in towns and cities, are potentially supportive of rural investment when it is framed engagingly. With a new Government in place, our research should give added confidence to focus on rural issues and places and we’re pleased to have the opportunity to present it on a national stage at RSN’s conference.”

You can read more about this illuminating research at this link.

Consultation on changes to national planning policy ends soon

Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and other changes to the planning system are currently the subject of formal consultation by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.

This consultation seeks views on the government’s proposed approach to revising the NPPF “in order to achieve sustainable growth in our planning system.”

Government are also seeking views on a series of wider policy proposals in relation to increasing planning fees, local plan intervention criteria and appropriate thresholds for certain Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

This consultation closes on 24 September 2024. If you want to submit a response, you can access all the information via this link.

Energy Resilience Fund open for Community Businesses

The Energy Resilience Fund is an initiative assisting community businesses in retrofitting their buildings with energy-saving measures. The programme is funded by Power to Change and delivered by Key Fund.

Investment amounts are available from £10,000 to £150,000. Up to 40% of the total is available as grant, where justifiable to support cost stabilisation or reduction. The minimum loan term for the remainder is 12 months, with a maximum of 7 years.

Energy Audit Grants are also available between £500 and £2,500 where these have not been completed. You can find out all the details at this link.

RSN 2024 seminar programme

The RSN online seminar programme for 2024 still has two events open for booking:

• Rural planning – 23rd October
• Rural health and care – 27th November

To book a place on either of the seminars follow this link.

Cattle and trees can go really well together!

A short film was released at a recent agroforestry event for the Chartered Institute of Foresters demonstrating how the introduction of trees to the farming environment can bring benefits for everyone – including resident cows!

You can view the film at this link: Cattle and trees...they go really well together. (youtube.com)

In the film you can see happy Northumberland County Council cows are benefiting from agroforestry principles at the Druridge Bay Country Park. When the weather's wet or very hot, the cows make use of the woodland to shelter and have a good scratch.

Agroforestry is combining trees and farming systems to benefit the farm business, the livestock and the environment.  More info is available from the Great Northumberland Forest on: enquiries.forest@northumberland.gov.uk

Rural England statistical digest available

The Statistical Digest of Rural England is a collection of statistics on a range of social and economic topics and provides broad comparisons between Rural and Urban areas by settlement type.

Prepared by DEFRA, the Digest is structured into thematic reports and incorporates the previously separate publication the Rural Economic Bulletin.

The Digest consists of the following thematic reports:

• Population
• Housing
• Health and Wellbeing
• Communities and Households
• Connectivity and Accessibility
• Education, Qualifications and Training
• Rural Economic Bulletin

You can access all the contents at the following link: About the Digest and Rural Definitions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

District Council offers free carbon reduction training for local businesses

West Oxfordshire District Council is working with Eunomia Research and Consulting to offer three fully funded, interactive online training sessions to small and medium businesses in West Oxfordshire.

The sessions are designed to enhance businesses understanding of carbon accounting and equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to create a tailored and actionable carbon reduction plan.

Participating businesses will also have the opportunity to express interest in a one-on-one support session with the Eunomia team for personalised guidance on completing their action plan and beginning decarbonisation measures.

Only businesses from West Oxfordshire are invited to participate in this programme but if any other readers are interested in finding out more please contact: business@westoxon.gov.uk

Unlocking the economic potential of rural areas: recommendations for new policy approaches

A set of recommendations to modify geographically targeted initiatives such as Enterprise Zones and Investment Zones to better unlock the economic potential of rural businesses has been produced from research commissioned by the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE).

The recommendations demonstrate how Enterprise Zones and Investment Zones could be re-designed to secure greater rural reach in response to the research identifying how they were not perceived as specific economic tools for rural areas.

The study, based on the views of key players in this field, emphasises the need for the sector-based approach of Investment Zones to be considered alongside place-based thinking to enhance economic opportunities. Otherwise, Investment Zones – as currently designed and targeted – will have limited application or scope to deliver economic benefits in rural areas, according to the findings.

Simon Pemberton, Professor of Human Geography at Keele University who led the research, said:

“There is real potential for policy initiatives such as Enterprise Zones and Investment Zones to support and develop rural enterprise. However, at present, such approaches risk marginalising the needs of rural businesses . . . we need a new approach which recognises the diversity of challenges which businesses may face in different rural locations, including issues of accessibility, weaknesses in local property markets and planning complexities associated with balancing environmental and development objectives.”

The research was one of seven projects commissioned by NICRE to examine how rural enterprises are adapting to the major challenges affecting the economy. You can read more, and download the report, here.

Grants to install electric vehicle charging points at the workplace

The government’s Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme that provides support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) charge-points, for eligible businesses, charities and public sector organisations.

The grant covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV charge points (inclusive of VAT), capped at a maximum of:

• £350 per socket
• 40 sockets across all sites per applicant – for instance, if you would like to install them in 40 sites, you will have 1 socket available per site

Funding is confirmed until March 2025. More information including application forms are available via this link.

Local Net Zero Hubs support available to councils and communities

The Local Net Zero Hubs programme helps local authorities and communities in England to play a leading role in decarbonisation, supporting local authorities to develop net zero projects and attract commercial investment.

Find out more about the Local Net Zero Hub in your area follow the relevant link below:

• North East and Yorkshire Local Net Zero Hub
• North West Local Net Zero Hub
• Midlands Local Net Zero Hub
• South West Local Net Zero Hub
• South East Local Net Zero Hub

One specific grant, currently available in many areas, is the Community Energy Fund.

This fund is a grant programme for community groups and eligible third sector organisations to develop projects from feasibility to commercialisation. The funding supports eligible community groups to consider options, design schemes and overcome barriers to investment. Further information on this and other support available can be found at this link.

Local business organisations – keep calm and sign up!

RSN exists to enable the issues facing the rural areas of England to be identified, information and good practice to be shared and government to be challenged to address the needs and build on the opportunities which abound in rural areas. We have a number of Chambers of Trade, Commerce and Local Business Networks who are members of RSN and currently receive our bulletins.  If there is a business organisation in your area who you think would find our bulletins useful, please pass this bulletin onto them and ask them to contact Andy Dean with their contact details so we can ensure they are included in future distributions.

Future editions of the Rural Economy Spotlight

The next edition of this bulletin will be distributed in December 2024.  If you have any suggestions as to future content or would like to submit a short article for inclusion, please contact Andy Dean.