Member Article

New funding for business network

A Northern England rural business network has seen its success recognised after being used as an example of best practice in the USA. The Northern Rural Network - run by the Centre for Rural Economy at Newcastle University - gives businesses in the region access to the latest research into rural and regional development, and promotes the region in the UK and abroad as a centre for excellence in the field.

The network has more than 1,000 members from the North East and neighbouring regions. It is currently being used by Cornell University as a model to inform a pilot network in New York State.

Following recent investment from One NorthEast and the Northern Rock Foundation, the network’s latest priorities will be a survey of rural businesses to inform future policy development and investment in the region, more business-related links and research on the network website, and workshops with a sharper focus on business and economic development questions.

Professor Neil Ward, Director of Newcastle University’s Centre for Rural Economy, said: “Past research at Newcastle has helped raise the profile of small rural businesses in regional economic development and in national policy. “We are delighted that One NorthEast and Northern Rock Foundation are supporting the next phase of this work, which aims to share good practice and identify and help overcome the barriers to growth among the rural business sector.”

Rob Williamson, Northern Rock Foundation’s director of policy and communications, said: “The network’s wide membership, excellent seminars and unique bringing together of research and practice mean it is well placed to address the challenges and opportunities for rural businesses in the years ahead.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .