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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 Business
Our work on Local Government Finance is split into two areas, the Fairer Funding campaign and a financial analysis of local authority budgets.
The latest NFU digital access survey reveals that rural broadband and mobile coverage still falls short of what British farming businesses need – with over a fifth of respondents unable to access even a ‘decent’ internet...
Independent businesses in Stafford, Stone, and Eccleshall are invited to take part in the High Street Boost programme, delivered by Stafford Borough Council designed to help local traders thrive. Free launch events at The Post...
Rural community businesses’ extraordinary impact was honoured at Plunkett UK’s annual awards, held at the start of July. Around 100 people gathered at the Royal Society of Chemistry in London for the 2025 Rural Community Business Awards, sponsored...
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has published its Community Barometer 2025 , providing fresh insight into which local services voters value most and want to see more of in their communities. Based on a...
A community’s right to buy a local asset or business was announced in Parliament last week and welcomed by rural community business charity Plunkett UK . As part of the English Devolution Bill set out in the House...
The latest Rural Crime Report from NFU Mutual offers a detailed picture of the financial and emotional toll rural crime continues to take on our communities. Drawing on annual claims data, rural surveys, and insights...
A project call for rural areas of West Norfolk is opening again, inviting expressions of interest for grants to support projects that create new and improved community infrastructure, providing essential community services and assets for local people in...
New research commissioned by Community Action Northumberland (CAN) reveals the growing pressure rural employers face due to a shortage of affordable and suitable housing for workers across Northumberland. Nearly one in two businesses in rural Northumberland cited affordable local housing...
Citizens Advice has published a new report, The Full Package: What Consumers Need from a Changing Postal Service , providing detailed insight into how people across England and Wales use letters, parcels, and post offices — and what...
Nominations have now opened for the prestigious 2025 Rural Community Business Awards, sponsored by Lands Improvement . The awards are an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of community-owned businesses across the UK, and the dedicated and inspiring individuals...
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HOT TOPICS
Amid reduced public spending, fair resource allocation across regions is crucial. Despite a population larger than Greater London, rural areas receive significantly less funding for essential services, even though delivering these services in rural areas is more expensive.
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.
Rural residents face distinct healthcare challenges, including limited access to transport, longer distances to medical facilities, an aging demographic, housing inadequacies, digital connectivity gaps, and difficulties recruiting health and care workers.
Rural communities are grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, marked by high house prices, a lack of affordable housing, elevated living costs, and lower incomes, threatening their sustainability and vitality.
Transport is vital for the quality of life and economic health of rural areas, yet it faces challenges such as infrequent public bus services and less Government funding compared to urban regions.
Rural areas, encompassing a substantial portion of England's population and land, play a pivotal role in combating climate change and achieving the net zero target.
In an increasingly digital world, the lack of robust digital infrastructure in rural areas severely limits access to crucial services and stifles economic growth.
A future-focused vision for rural communities involves not just building the right homes in the right places but also ensuring thriving, sustainable communities.
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