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.

Hot Topics

27 Aug 2024

HMRC Seeks Insights from Self-Employed Individuals in Rural Areas: Help Spread the Word

HMRC is conducting important research to better understand the challenges faced by self-employed individuals in rural areas who may have limited internet access or lack confidence in using computers for...

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27 Aug 2024

Stafford Borough Council Launches Business Innovation Grants for Local SMEs

Stafford Borough Council is pleased to announce the launch of the Business Innovation Grants, a new initiative funded by the UK Government to support small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within...

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19 Aug 2024

Government Announces £800 Million Plan to Deliver High-Speed Broadband to 312,000 Rural Homes and Businesses

Last week, The UK Government announced significant investment aimed at improving digital infrastructure in rural areas, with plans to provide faster broadband to approximately 312,000 homes and businesses across Great...

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08 Jul 2024

Toolkit Supports Rural Businesses to Recruit and Retain Staff

A toolkit has been produced to help businesses and organisations in rural areas recruit and retain staff and become employers of choice. Developed from research in the Derbyshire Peak District...

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17 Jun 2024

Joint Appeal to Protect Rural Postal Services

ACRE, Plunkett UK, and the Rural Services Network (RSN) have jointly signed an open letter addressing significant concerns regarding Royal Mail. The letter is directed to the Secretary of State...

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10 Jun 2024

Rural Services Network Urges Action on 4G Connectivity Challenges in Rural Areas

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee’s recent publication has raised serious concerns about the UK’s ability to meet its 2025 target of extending 4G coverage to 95% of the...

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10 Jun 2024

Digital Poverty Alliance: National Digital Poverty Overview 2024

The Rural Services Network is pleased to share the 2024 National Digital Poverty Overview, a pivotal report by the Digital Poverty Alliance. This comprehensive document addresses the ongoing issue of...

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28 May 2024

Join Our Digital Telephone Line Switchover Awareness Event

The Rural Services Network, in partnership with BT, is pleased to announce an important event designed specifically for Local Authority Councillors to raise awareness about the upcoming digital telephone line...

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20 May 2024

BT’s Digital Switchover Programme Adjustments: A Rural Perspective

BT Group has announced significant adjustments to its digital switchover programme, which aims to transition the UK’s traditional analogue landlines to digital Voice over IP (VoIP) technology by January 2027....

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20 May 2024

Empowering Rural Communities with Digital Connectivity

In the tranquil settings of rural Britain, there exists a significant challenge that often goes unnoticed—digital connectivity. Ensuring equitable digital access across all areas is a pressing issue, affecting the...

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