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.

Hot Topics

16 Aug 2021

Rewilding 5% of England could create 20,000 rural jobs

The Guardian reports the rewilding 5 per cent of England could create nearly 20,000 jobs in rural communities and increase employment by 50 per cent compared with intensive farming, according...

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09 Aug 2021

Cultivating rural growth

Recognising and addressing the post-pandemic rural productivity challenge Recognising rural communities’ specific needs Over the past year, Rural Services Network and its partners have commissioned three studies from Pragmatix Advisory...

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09 Aug 2021

Six ‘must haves’ for Boris’ levelling up vision

This article (written by Nigel Wilcock, executive director of the Institute of Economic Development) appeared in LocalGov Whilst attention this week is on so-called ‘Freedom Day’, those of us working in...

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09 Aug 2021

Project launched to look at running broadband through water pipes

The Government has launched a pilot project exploring the efficacy of fibre optic broadband cables through water pipes to help connect hard-to-reach homes, including those in rural areas The £4m...

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02 Aug 2021

Two million rural homes and businesses to benefit in £5 billion broadband upgrade

The Government has previously announced Project Gigabit, where millions of people in rural England will get access to the fastest broadband speeds on the market as part of a £5billion...

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26 Jul 2021

Cross-Party UK MPs Consult on ECC Changes to Boost Fibre Rollout

The upcoming Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill (TIB) has motivated the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Broadband and Digital Communication to launch a new inquiry examining how reforms to the Electronic Communications...

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26 Jul 2021

Ian Botham highlights the importance of shooting to the environment and economy

The Daily Mail reports that England cricket legend Lord Botham has backed a rural partnership of nine organisations, including the Countryside Alliance, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and...

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12 Jul 2021

RSN praised for raising coverage of connectivity issues

The Rural Services Network has received a letter from the Minister for Digital Infrastructure Matt Warman MP, praising the organisation for its work sharing the Government Consultation on Improving Consultation...

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12 Jul 2021

Rural Commission sets out radical actions for rural North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire’s Rural Commission, the first of its kind nationally, has set far-reaching recommendations in a report published last week by North Yorkshire Council The report calls for the levelling...

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05 Jul 2021

Shared Rural Network to boost coverage across the United Kingdom

People in rural Scotland, Wales and the North East of England will enjoy huge improvements in their mobile coverage thanks to the Shared Rural Network, a £1 billion mobile connectivity...

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