Rural Economies
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.
27 Apr 2026
New Queen Elizabeth Trust To Support Communities
A new UK-wide charity, The Queen Elizabeth Trust, has been established to honour the life and service of Queen Elizabeth II, marking the centenary of her birth.
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27 Apr 2026
Leaders Highlight Rural Role in National Resilience
A coalition of rural local authorities has written to ministers, setting out the critical role that rural and peripheral areas can play in strengthening the UK’s resilience and prosperity.
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13 Apr 2026
Shropshire Funding Set To Fall 29% Below National Average
The Rural Services Network (RSN) has recently provided individual funding analysis to its SPARSE local authority members, examining the implications of the final Local Government Finance Settlement over the multi-year...
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13 Apr 2026
Meet the Voices Shaping Our Rural Economy Seminar
We’re looking forward to welcoming a strong line-up of expert speakers to our upcoming RSN Member Exclusive Seminar on the Rural Economy taking place in just two weeks.
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13 Apr 2026
Call for Evidence on the Future of the Rural Economy
The Labour Rural Research Group (LRRG) has launched a new call for evidence to inform its upcoming report on the future of the rural economy, taking a forward-looking view to...
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13 Apr 2026
The Human Impact Of Rural Crime
Stakeholders, policymakers, law enforcement leaders, and rural community representatives came together at the 2026 annual conference hosted by the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN). This formal discussion around the growing challenges of...
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13 Apr 2026
Faster Approvals For Clean Energy Projects
The Government has announced measures to accelerate planning and regulatory approvals for two major clean energy projects - Sizewell C and Lighthouse Green Fuels - by appointing the Environment Agency...
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07 Apr 2026
Integrated Transport Strategy Published
The Department for Transport has published Better Connected: A Strategy for Integrated Transport, setting out a long-term vision for a transport system that is “safe, reliable, affordable and accessible” across...
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07 Apr 2026
Pub is the Hub Support Helps Community Venue Grow
A Llandwrog pub is enhancing its support for local residents by expanding its community facilities to support social connection and accessibility.
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30 Mar 2026
Rural Communities In Focus
Last week we held another highly engaging RSN member-exclusive seminar, this time focused on rural communities. The session brought together a strong mix of national insight and local experience, with...
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