Local Resources

Community-led housing and regeneration are reshaping rural town centres—revitalising high streets, repurposing vacant buildings, and creating lasting local assets. This resource showcases case studies from Northumberland, where development trusts in places

Community engagement is driving new forms of collaboration, policy development, and local innovation in rural areas. This resource draws on insights from ‘Community Visioning’ events held in Hexham and Wooler, where

Rural Enterprise Hubs (REHs) are creating new spaces for business collaboration, innovation, and peer learning in rural areas. By bringing businesses together under one roof, these hubs support knowledge exchange, face-to-face

Small and medium-sized businesses often face significant barriers when it comes to planning for future risks—primarily due to limited time and capacity. Research by the Enterprise Research Centre shows that many

Electric cargo (e-cargo) bikes are emerging as a practical and sustainable option for last-mile delivery in rural areas—offering a low-emission alternative to vans, particularly for smaller-scale logistics. This resource explores how

This submission to the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee by the Rural Services Network (RSN) highlights the persistent digital exclusion challenges faced by rural communities in England. The evidence

The Shared Rural Network (SRN) will deliver reliable mobile broadband to 95% of the UK, addressing the digital divide by improving 4G coverage in the areas that need it most. Author(s):

Agglomeration-oriented theories have grown significantly in the past decade in the explanation and promotion of entrepreneurship. Theoretical frameworks and normative models such as entrepreneurial ecosystems are insufficient to observe, explain, and

The National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) reports that rural businesses in the North East, South West, and West Midlands face growth challenges from labor shortages and skills gaps. Over

This research explores the experiences of people living in rural and remote areas across the UK using communications services – including mobile, broadband, landline and postal services. Author(s): Ofcom Communications Consumer

This interactive report allows people to examine Connected Nations data at the level and locations in which they are most interested. It includes coverage and usage for both fixed and mobile

Post-COVID, rural charities are facing significant banking challenges. A survey of over 1,200 charities with NCVO found that 67% struggle with changing signatories, and 41% report unfair charges. Nearly half of