T: 01822 851370 E: [email protected]
Rural England’s population of 9.7 million risk being left further behind after the next general election if the political system continues to ignore the systematic inequalities facing rural communities and businesses, warn leading rural organisations. The Rural Coalition, an...
The £5 billion Government commitment to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband to every corner of the United Kingdom is starting to roll out to rural areas. Project Gigabit aims to deploy gigabit-capable broadband to all parts of the UK, including...
The Rural Coalition urges political parties to address rural challenges to gain ground among countryside voters 10 July 2023: Rural England’s population of 9.7 million risk being left further behind after the next general election if the political...
The Barrow and Furness MP, Simon Fell, has been announced as the UK’s first Rural Connectivity Champion. The role was first detailed as part of the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy unveiled earlier this year and will support rural businesses to...
The Plunkett Foundation is the only organisation supporting rural community-owned businesses at every stage of their journey in all four UK nations. It recently released its Impact Report 2022, detailing its successes and achievements over the year and vision for...
The National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) explores this 'green logistics' opportunity in its latest module in its innovation portal. With an introductory blog post from NICRE Innovation Associate Steven Morrison Cairns, from...
The importance of maintaining good mental health in the workplace has been well publicised with employers increasingly investing time and money into supporting their workforce and making efforts to reduce the stigma attached to asking for help. Looking to completely...
One of the key learnings we here at the Forum have taken from the Pandemic is that it was a tipping point for many businesses in terms of their interaction with the digital world and government also seems to have...
FACING THE FUTURE TOGETHER Join Plunkett and the community business movement for a national event being held in the West Midlands this summer Date: Thursday 6 July (10.00am – 16.15pm) Location: IET Birmingham, Austin...
FSB's latest Growth Belt report highlights the way rural businesses are struggling against a backdrop of mounting energy costs, poor transport links, and unreliable broadband. Small firms in rural areas face a unique set of challenges that will...
Sign up to receive all our latest news and updates.
Amid reduced public spending, fair resource allocation across regions is crucial. Despite a population larger than Greater London, rural areas receive significantly less funding for essential services, even though delivering these services in rural areas is more expensive.
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.
Rural residents face distinct healthcare challenges, including limited access to transport, longer distances to medical facilities, an aging demographic, housing inadequacies, digital connectivity gaps, and difficulties recruiting health and care workers.
Rural communities are grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, marked by high house prices, a lack of affordable housing, elevated living costs, and lower incomes, threatening their sustainability and vitality.
Transport is vital for the quality of life and economic health of rural areas, yet it faces challenges such as infrequent public bus services and less Government funding compared to urban regions.
Rural areas, encompassing a substantial portion of England's population and land, play a pivotal role in combating climate change and achieving the net zero target.
In an increasingly digital world, the lack of robust digital infrastructure in rural areas severely limits access to crucial services and stifles economic growth.
A future-focused vision for rural communities involves not just building the right homes in the right places but also ensuring thriving, sustainable communities.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates.