New Countryside Code launched to help people enjoy the outdoors
A new, refreshed Countryside Code has been launched by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the creation of the founding booklet. With more people enjoying the outdoors than ever before, the code has been revised to help...
Defra announces funding boost and new partnership with Forest for Cornwall
Defra and Forest for Cornwall have today [19 March] joined forces to form an innovative new National Woodland Creation Partnership pilot to drive regional tree planting. This new partnership will be supported through an initial £120,000 uplift from the Nature for...
RPA opens window for farm payments for 2021
Farmers and land managers have until 17 May to apply for BPS; and claim for CS revenue and ES payments The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application window has opened today (18 March) for farmers to claim for their 2021 payments. The claim window for customers with...
2020/21 Rural Business Awards Winners Announced
Rural businesses from across Britain are celebrating remotely following last week’s Rural Business Awards ceremony, held online for the first time reflecting the locked-down conditions that rural businesses have been battling through the past year. Jules Hudson, the...
Exciting News: The Rural Business Group and BBC Countryfile Live!
We are incredibly excited to finally announce that we are working on something very special for BBC Countryfile Live! BBC Countryfile Live embodies all the very best bits of the television show - it’s a great day out for anyone who loves the countryside, and promises...
Networking through the RBAs: Harper Adams and Amazon
One of the key benefits of being a part of the Rural Business Awards is the networking opportunities it creates. In this blog series, we’ll see the results of some of those opportunities. Each year, we draw our judges from a selection of our sponsors and associates,...
House Nouse: Effective Ways to Promote Your Destination
This blog has been written by Nick House of the Rural Business Group Partner, House Nouse. It looks at how holiday lets can stand out from their competition and increase their occupancy rates. Achieving high and sustainable occupancy levels for a holiday let is...
Copyright Infringement and Your Business
Receiving press coverage can be really exciting, and your first reaction is often to want to spread the news far and wide. However, news articles are protected under copyright laws, and if you’re not careful, sharing them incorrectly could cost you hundreds, or even...
Rural Business Awards National Winners Announced!
South West England and West Wales top the leader-board as successful rural business hubs. Winners include cheese-purveyors to royalty; a metal mine turned world-class in-land surf lagoon; one of the UK’s last remaining hand-print studios; and a business supplying...
Appetite Me: Setting Up Your Own Gin Business
Fancy setting up your own gin empire? This week on the blog, Becka from Appetite Me talks us through the process of setting up your very own distillery. Like most things there are many ways to set up a gin business, there is no right or wrong way, and there's...
What’s the Best Advice? Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Diversification Planning
There is a plethora of so called “experts” offering landowners professional and well intentioned advice on how to diversify. A fair proportion of advisers have, however, a vested interest for you to spend your hard earned cash on an exciting new project....
Heaton House: Do Rural Businesses Do Enough For the Environment?
Climate Change and the future of the environment are an ever-pressing issue, and we can all do our bit to help the planet. But should rural businesses be taking a more active role in championing a greener future? In this article, Heaton House Farm explores the methods...
How to Achieve Your Goals in 2019
In today's blog, The Rural Business Awards break down how to make 2019 your most successful year yet, and why entering the RBAs will help you reach your goals.Welcome to 2019!The start of a new year is always an exciting time. It feels like a fresh start,...
The Forge: Mental Health and the ‘Digital Detox’ Retreat
In this article, Sheena Corry, co-owner of The Forge, a glamping retreat, discusses the links between our use of technology and mental health. She suggests that by taking a break and surrounding yourself in nature, you can become happier, healthier, and more prepared...
Celebrating Our Heritage: the Ginger and Spice Festival
In this blog Julia Roberts, the Festival Director, talks about the Ginger & Spice Festival, an initiative which brings the community together to celebrate the heritage of Market Drayton, and to create a brighter future for the town’s high-street and independent...
RBA Survey Results Are ‘a Fascinating Snapshot of Rural Business Life’
In this article, Anna and Jemma share the results of The Rural Business Awards' recent survey, created in partnership with Amazon. Getting rural businesses’ voices heard The Rural Business Group is officially launching in February 2019. We are on a mission to help...
Look Before You Leap on the Glamping Bandwagon
This week's blog has been contributed by one of the Rural Business Group's partners: House Nouse. Nick House shares some of his expertise in the Holiday Letting Field, providing some insight into the process of establishing your own glamping business. There is no...
Anna at the House of Lords Rural Economy Committee
On Tuesday 13th November, Anna Price, co-founder of the Rural Business Group, gave evidence before the House of Lords Select Committee on the Rural Economy. Anna was a witness alongside Ruby Peacock of the Federation of Small Businesses, and James Alcock...
Pinstone: A meaningful career – in the countryside?
The ‘brain drain’ from the countryside has been gathering pace for decades – but it’s a needless hangover from the pre-digital era, says Catherine Linch of rurally based PR and communications business Pinstone. Laying out the gauntlet to businesses, she urges...
William’s Den: Old-Fashioned Ideas into an Innovative Business
In this week’s blog, Christian Carver from William’s Den describes the ethos behind the business and the journey they have taken, from an initial concept to a successful business. Owned by Tor & Christian Carver, William’s Den is an exciting, rural and natural...
Appetite Me: How Could You Diversify?
Diversification is a key rural issue, in uncertain times, creating a diverse, resilient business is the best thing you can do to ensure long term success, no matter the challenges you face. In this weeks blog, one of our finalists, Appetite Me, takes us through some...
Combermere Abbey: Connectivity & its Cost to Business
Rural Connectivity is perhaps the biggest challenge to today’s rural economy. Whatever kind of business you run, limited internet speeds have a huge impact, turning simple, everyday tasks into lengthy ordeals. In this blog, Sarah Callander Beckett, owner and manager...
Baa Stool’s Founder on Style, Sheepskin and Starting a Business
Baa Stool produce a range of luxury British sheepskin furniture and accessories with removable covers lovingly created in Denbigh, North Wales. Their aim is to make quality pieces of furniture that can fit in anywhere but still have a real wow factor. Before founding...
Rural Business Group to Visit Downing Street!
One of the fundamental aims of the Rural Business Group is to champion rural businesses on a national stage, to create a platform which will enable the voices of even the smallest businesses to be heard. The rural sector is a very special place to work. In every...
Hillsgreen: Don’t Be Afraid to Shout About Your Business
In this week’s blog, Andy Venables from Hillsgreen Marketing Consultants gets to the heart of what Marketing is, and why it is an essential tool for even the smallest businesses. One of the best things about being nominated for a Rural Business Award is the...
Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery: Innovating from Grain to Glass
Scotch is renowned across the world for its rich heritage and exceptional quality. Many distillers seek to emulate Scotch, but one distillery wants to take all the best parts of traditional whisky distilling and add an innovative approach to create a whisky with its...
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