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

18 Dec 2023

RSN welcomes NICRE report – Rural SMEs and the environment

Pic: Greg and Jade Pilley of Stroud Brewery in Gloucestershire The Rural Services Network (RSN) has welcomed the latest report from the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) which...

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11 Dec 2023

Step change in rural enterprise evidence base

Pictured left to right are: Jason Beedell, Strutt and Parker, Jeremy Phillipson, NICRE Director, Lord Curry of Kirkharle, Ulrike Hotopp, NICRE Policy Advisor, and Lee Davies, Department for Environment, Food...

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04 Dec 2023

Over 15,000 Free to Use ATMs Lost Since 2018

The number of free to use cash machines available in the UK has fallen by almost 30% in the last five years, according to new figures from the Association of...

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27 Nov 2023

Rural businesses show resilience, but investment curtailed by rising costs

Rising costs are causing serious and widespread problems for rural businesses in parts of England which is curtailing their ability to invest and grow, according to a major new survey...

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13 Nov 2023

Digital divide between rural and urban area is growing

A new study has been published by the mobile operator, Vodaphone UK, which reveals the gap between urban and rural areas is growing when it comes to reliable connectivity. The...

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06 Nov 2023

Community businesses are committed to social and environmental action

New research by Plunkett Foundation has shown that community businesses are committed to social and environmental action despite facing multiple challenges which are threatening the economic viability of many businesses...

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06 Nov 2023

Join NICRE to explore the state of rural enterprise

The National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) will shine a spotlight on how businesses in rural areas are responding to the major challenges affecting the UK economy and the...

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24 Oct 2023

New research shows how community-owned businesses are committed to social and environmental action

Plunkett Foundation’s annual state of the sector report ‘Community Ownership: A Better Form of Business’ shows that despite facing significant challenges because of the cost-of-living and energy price crises, the...

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23 Oct 2023

Proposals unveiled for positive change in the rural economy

A series of policy recommendations to advocate for positive change in the rural economy, has been published by the Centre for Rural Economy (CRE) at Newcastle University. To mark three...

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11 Sep 2023

Barclays becomes the latest bank to close rural branches

Barclays has announced it is to close at least 180 of its branches in the next 2 years, more than a third of its entire UK networks. The news comes...

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