East Hampshire District Council designated this money to help rural communities through the Grow Up! Programme - and as part of that set up the Rural Business Network.
The Rural Business Network aims to provide opportunities for rural organisations and businesses to:
- receive support and advice with running their businesses, and be signposted to the latest legislation, financial advice and training;
- discuss the issues which are affecting local rural businesses and provide opportunities for likeminded land-based professionals to meet up;
- learn about diversifying their businesses or exploring opportunities for growing new crops to be more resilient to climate change, and explore local outlets for their produce;
- support the next generation of land-based workers by offering apprenticeships and traineeships;
- support new land-based businesses;
- help to develop local solutions to issues such as rural crime;
- explore opportunities to improve digital connectivity for rural businesses;
- connect to key organisations such as South Downs National Park Authority, the National Farmers Union, and Hampshire County Council.
Events
The Rural Business Network held its inaugural event in Selborne in January 2023, and has since:
- met in March at Liss Pavilion to discuss sustainability in rural communities,
- hosted a farm walk in East Meon in June,
- discussed recruitment in rural employment at an event in Privett at the end of June, and
- discussed sustainability in rural business in Alton in July; and
- hosted the New Directions event in Alton in October
The next meeting will take place in Petersfield in early 2024.