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.
27 Apr 2017
Call for rural productivity evidence
Rural businesses and communities are being asked to help explore issues around rural productivity and growth in south-west England. The South West Rural Productivity Commission has been established as a...
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26 Apr 2017
‘Digital tax’ proposal ditched – for now
Rural businesses have welcomed a government decision to drop its Making Tax Digital plan from the Finance Bill. The plan would have required businesses to submit tax information online rather than...
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05 Apr 2017
Bank closures to hit rural businesses
A fresh round of bank branch closures threatens to make life difficult for rural firms, say business leaders. Some 100 branches owned by the Lloyds Banking Group are expected to...
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27 Mar 2017
Rural businesses lack reliable broadband
Rural businesses are twice as likely to have inadequate internet connections as those in cities, says a study. Companies say they lack reliable broadband connections, despite ranking fully functional broadband...
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15 Mar 2017
Rural caution over Budget U-turn
The Rural Services Network has welcomed a government decision to abandon a planned increase in national insurance payments by the self-employed. The U-turn by the government came a week after...
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08 Mar 2017
Little joy in Budget for rural business
THE government’s Budget contained little joy for businesses in the countryside, say rural leaders. The Country Land and Business Association welcomed a cap on business rates but said it was...
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21 Feb 2017
EU funding for M3 rural businesses
Rural businesses around the M3 motorway are to receive a share of £3.6m in European funding. The funding is being awarded to rural businesses across north Hampshire as well as...
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20 Feb 2017
Pressure mounts over business rate hike
PRESSURE is mounting over government reforms which threaten to drive up rural business rates. The first revaluation of business rates by the government in seven years will see many businesses...
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23 Jan 2017
Rate reform could destroy rural businesses
Rural communities will be among the biggest losers from what is described as a radical reform of business rates. Rural enterprises face some of the steepest business rate rises in...
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30 Nov 2016
£1.4m business boost for East Devon
East Devon District Council is helping local rural businesses to apply for £1.4m in EU funded grants. The council is providing specialist support to rural businesses and organisations to help...
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