Rural Advocate highlights potential of rural firms to double their contribution to national economy
- Posted on:
- Thursday, 5th June 2008 at 10:52pm
Following last year's flooding and outbreaks of animal diseases, the Prime Minister asked Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, to advise on how rural economies could be strengthened.
Stuart's report 'England's rural areas: steps to release their economic potential' sets out a package of practical proposals to improve support for people and enterprises in the rural business sector to help them realise their potential.
"Rural areas host around 30% of England’s businesses. In 2005 these earned at least £325 billion. My report suggests unfulfilled potential from rural firms might be around £236-£347 billion per annum."
Download Stuart's report to the Prime Minister
Gordon Brown received a copy of the report from Stuart at a meeting earlier today:
"When I asked Stuart Burgess for advice after last year’s flooding and animal disease events, I wanted to find out how we could build on the strengths that already exist in our rural communities to enhance and diversify their economies.
"This is a thorough assessment of the economic development challenges which rural areas face - and how they can be met. I have asked Hilary Benn to take these proposals forward."
Stuart's report has also been welcomed by Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs at Defra, Matthew Taylor MP, currently leading a review on the rural economy and affordable housing, and Richard Ellis, chair of EEDA and the RDAs' lead chair on rural and sustainable development issues.
Read their messages of welcome for Stuart's report
Read some of the media coverage of the report
Nigel Evans MP has raised an early day motion calling on the government to implement the report's findings
Comments
When Gordon Brown commissioned this work, did he consider how other Govt initiatives actively destroy good rural initiatives? Rural businesses have underperformed for a number of years. A really successful pilot was launched in Lancashire establishing a one stop shop support organisation for rural business, Lancashire Rural Futures. This organisation delivered business support, development and diversification alongside environmental initiatives. It acted to encourage businesses to embrace priorities set at national, regional and local government level and assisted with diversification, business set up, environmental stewardship of the land, renewable energy initiatives, pollution control etc. The service was championed as an example of best practice, and aided Lancashire County Council acheive Beacon Status for Rural affairs. Yet the service has been told to close by the RDA, a vicitim of the "Business Support Simplification Agenda", which seeks to only have 100 organisations nationally offering business support.
This was an organisation with excellent local knowledge and networking, a proven delivery record, an ability to champion key initiatives on renewables and environmental management and reconised nationally as a excellent way to improve rural businesses. Ideally just what the government accoring to this survey would like to see, but it is forced to close by the regional RDA following a different government directive.
When will Govt thinking become joined up? If the PM commissioned this report, why is it that other Govt departments cannot support established and successful initiatives which were already working to provide the solutions the PM seeks? It is such a waste.
Andy Pickard
It's good to note the references to broadband in rural areas. 'Propserous Places' is the title of the current DCLG/BERR consultation that reviews last year's Treasury paper on sub-national economic growth and regeneration. It was an excellent and well-considered paper - but what a pity that, in all its references to infrastructure, telecoms was never specifically mentioned...and alas the same is true for the current consultation document.
High-speed broadband is like hot water - no longer a luxury, but when will policy makers understand that proper broadband is an enabler of a whole range of policy objectives - not just in employment and wealth creation but in transport, health, education and the community cohesion.
If this isn't yet obviously on the radar for busy townsfolk, what chance will rural areas ever have for catching up with the global economy ?
Thanks for your comment. It's important to ensure that rural communities have the same access to higher speed broadband as urban areas.
We were pleased to see that Ofcom has announced that it has launched a programme of independent research to identify the actual speed of broadband around the country.
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