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

23 Nov 2020

Fibre broadband: The cost of delivering in rural areas

News outlets including the BBC and telecommunications company Ericsson’s blog, have reported that despite the fact that improving digital connectivity in rural areas would be ‘a lifeline for isolated communities’,...

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23 Nov 2020

Royal Mail study finds robust growth in new UK businesses amid COVID-19 lockdowns

eCommerce trade publications eSellerCafe and Apex Insight have reported on research published by Royal Mail which found a seven per cent increase in companies being incorporated during the lockdown period...

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23 Nov 2020

Rural relevance to economic levelling up

Open Access Government has published an opinion piece on the ‘rural relevance’ to economic levelling up across the country The report argues that current economic strategies lean towards an urban...

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09 Nov 2020

New Rural Economy Toolkit to support “missed opportunity” around rural relevance to UK productivity and prosperity

The Institute of Economic Development (IED) and the Rural Services Network (RSN) have devised a new practitioner-focused toolkit which is intended as a guide for “anyone seeking to raise rural...

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09 Nov 2020

New village shop comes to the aid of customers

An enterprising Devon pub that supported its local community during the pandemic has opened a new village shop with the support of Pub is The Hub, the not-for-profit organisation that...

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02 Nov 2020

Rural Toolkit Launch

The Institute of Economic Development (IED) and the Rural Services Network (RSN) have devised a new practitioner-focused toolkit which is intended as a guide for “anyone seeking to raise rural...

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02 Nov 2020

Plunkett releases key reports into community pubs and shops

The Plunkett Foundation has recently released its flagship reports into community pubs and community shops – showing both sectors to be in robust health as the country was plunged into...

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02 Nov 2020

Pub converts shipping container into shop for Longburton residents

Left to right: Becky Gibbons, son Kai Gibbons and John Gibbons outside The Larder A shipping container converted into a village shop in a Dorset pub has come to the...

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02 Nov 2020

Despair of young over life and work in countryside is risk to rural communities – The Yorkshire Post says

The Yorkshire Post reports on fears that young demographics are ‘pessimistic’ about their prospects in rural communities, seeing both the effects of the pandemic and Brexit as likely to compromise...

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26 Oct 2020

The Economic and Social Impact of the Post Office

The Post Office have launched a new report, The Economic and Social Impact of the Post Office, which has been compiled by Public First. The report finds that Post Office...

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