We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Business leaders to tackle rural recession worries
RURAL and business leaders will hold talks today (Friday, September 11), on understanding the impact of the recession on Britain’s rural businesses.
Over 60 delegates will converge on the rural Investment Summit in Dunchurch, Warwickshire, organised by the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC), Advantage West Midlands and East Midlands Development Agency.
Stuart Burgess, chairman of the CRC said: “Rural businesses and employees are a vital part of the nation’s and regions’ economies yet they can be overlooked in government support packages and policies.
“We are aiming to tackle this head on by bringing together some of the most influential rural practitioners at one of four summits we are holding this year − on innovation, inspiration, investment and empowerment.
“We want these practitioners to take a key role today in developing a ‘blueprint’ for strengthening rural economies and preparing a path towards recovery from the recession by highlighting what kind of support businesses need, to grow into healthy enterprises with solid foundations offering secure employment.”
The meeting will be the third such summit this year and perhaps the most important, focusing on an area of the country worst hit by the recession.
Mark Pearce, corporate director for economic regeneration at Advantage West Midlands said: “These are tough times. The West Midlands is suffering more than any other region in this recession. In some of our market towns unemployment has risen by 50 per cent.
“The West Midlands Taskforce, chaired by regional Minister Ian Austin and co-ordinated by AWM, is focusing business support in market towns to help larger employers in market towns retain jobs and build resilience. In addition, £150,000 of extra support for advisory bodies, such as Citizens Advice, and a £250,000 package to support retailers is being rolled out.
“These measures are above and beyond Advantage West Midlands’ current rural programme - but it’s vital that we continue to listen to the businesses trading in the ‘front line’ of the recession and today’s summit will be an opportunity to do that.”
Later this year, the CRC will draw together the findings from the series of summits and examine ways of empowering rural communities to tackle environmental and economic shocks at a fourth, national, summit to be held in Somerset.
