The National Rural Conference 2024

The conference is free to attend for local authorities in membership of the Rural Services Network, and members of the Rural Services Partnership.

If you would like to check whether your organisation is a member or if you have any queries about the Conference please contact events@sparse.gov.uk

Conference Schedule:

Monday 16th September

10:00 - 11:00

Rural Fair Funding

• Kerry Booth, Chief Execuitve, The Rural Services Network
  
  
• Other exciting speakers to be announced soon!
  

13:30 - 15:30

Rural Economy & Regeneration

• Speaker from National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE)
  
  
• Till Specht, Head of Funding Design & Strategy, DHLUC
  
  
• Sarah Slaven, Managing Director of Business, Durham County Council

Tuesday 17th September

10:00 - 12:00

Rural Affordable Housing & Planning

• Martin Collett, Chief Executive, English Rural
  
  
• Robert Singleton, Head of Planning, Housing and Transport, Department for Transport (DfT)
  
  
• Other exciting speakers to be announced soon!

13:30 - 15:30

Rural Connectivity

• Nick Khan, Strategic Director, East Suffolk Council
  "Digital Towns"
  
  
• Vicky Hicks, Head of Engagement, Digital Voice Programme, BT
  "Digital Switchover"
  
  
• Richard Potts, Chief Adviser for Business and Farm Management, NFU (National Farmers' Union)
  
  
• Elizabeth Anderson, Chief Executive, Digital Poverty Alliance
  “Left behind: The digital divide in rural Britain” 

Wednesday 18th September

10:00 - 12:00

Rural Net Zero

• Exciting line up of experts and speakers to be announced soon!

13:30 - 15:30

Community Services Discussion

• Speaker from the National Association of Local Councils (NALC)
  
  
• Beth Kerwin, Rural Statistician, DEFRA
  "Rural Digest"
  
  
• Nadine Trout, Assistant Chief Executive, The Rural Services Network
  "RSN Funding Digest"

Thursday 19th September

10:00 - 12:00

Rural Health & Care

• Donna Chapman, Development Manager, NHS Cornwall & Isles of Scilly & Matt Harris, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Public Health, Imperial College London
  
  
• Other exciting speakers to be announced soon!
  
  

13.30-15.30

Rural Transport

• Tom Jarvis, Senior Evidence and Analysis Officer, Transport for the North
  "Understanding and addressing transport-related social exclusion in rural communities"
  
  
• Other exciting speakers to be announced soon!
  
  

Feedback from last year's conference:

"I found the events I attended full of really down-to-earth practical ways ahead and excellent examples to inspire us."

Joe Tristram - North Somerset Council

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"Another great conference experience - engaging speakers & content with plenty of time to give wide coverage across themes - well done team!"

Nik Harwood - Young Somerset

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"As a representative of a National Park, I find the RSN to be an invaluable resource of information, data and ideas for understanding the complexities of rural life, economy and society. As a network, it allows me to learn about work being carried out in other regions, which inspire the way I work with the communities and businesses in my area. The annual conference is always highly informative, well-organised and has a wide range of topics and expert speakers."

David Andrew Boocock - Dartmoor National Park Authority

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"Really worth taking part, got so much out of the sessions. Would highly recommend to fellow councillors."

Cllr Jill Makinson-Sanders - East Lindsey District Council

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"The RSN continues to provide an excellent service, particularly in keeping "rural" front and centre of government policy development. Its weekly news updates are worth being a member alone, never mind all the other services they provide."

Andrew Tordoff - East Riding of Yorkshire Council

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"Kerry chairs the event really well and always adds very pertinent and useful comment."
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"Very helpful and informative to assist in understanding some of the multitude of issues that make net zero a complex world"

Judy Bell - Lincolnshire County Council

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"The RSN Annual conference is excellent, it brings together a wide range of speakers focusing specifically on rural issues in a way that other conferences simply can't do."

Glenn Peacey - Hampshire County Council

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"This event was excellent with knowledgeable and importantly relatable speakers".

Cllr Mandy Ewings - West Devon Borough Council

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"The Rural Affordable Housing Session event held this morning was absolutely riveting.  It was so encouraging to hear success stories but also realities presented by hard working, experienced people who can identify opportunity where others can see none."

Cllr Julia Judd - Cotswold District Council