Rural

Businesses in rural areas of Devon and Somerset face unique challenges regarding connectivity, geography and employing people with the right skills sets to help them grow.

Many of the businesses in the Heart of the South West LEP area are rurally located and as such there are often specific support schemes available for these businesses, alongside support for core agricultural businesses that are traditionally considered to be rural.

Find at the bottom of this page some business support programmes currently available to rural businesses.  If you would like help to understand the different business support options that may be available to you, Get in Touch with the Growth Hub team.

USEFUL RESOURCES & LINKS

The Growth Hub has licensed access to 1000s of free digestible reports, factsheet, toolkits and guides on relevant business support topics, such as about networking groups in the rural sector, key contacts within the rural enterprise community, important, specific HSE advice, and information about the rural development programme, amongst others resources. Request resources.

• Plunkett Foundation | Range of support and information to help people within rural communities to set up and run a community co-operative – whether it’s a shop, pub, farm, café, bookshop etc. www.plunkett.co.uk
• WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) | Works with business and local communities to improve resource efficiency in England and Wales.  Provides online resources and financial support to help farm businesses reduce their environmental impact – www.wrap.org.uk/category/role/farmer
• Lantra | The sector skills council for the environment and land-based sector.  Provides information about qualifications and apprenticeships, and is responsible for setting and promoting environmental and agricultural National Occupational Standards.  Website provides a training search directory and rural industry-specific factsheets – www.lantra.co.uk
• HSE | Farmwise – Your Essential Guide to health and safety in agriculture – http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg270.pdf