Rural England is leading the way to economic recovery, thanks to high levels of entrepreneurship in the countryside, a report has revealed.
The ‘State of the Countryside’ report, released this week by The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC), highlights the significant contribution that rural communities can make to help stimulate growth and provide new ‘green jobs’ for residents.
Dr. Stuart Burgess, chairman of the CRC, said: “While the recession has hit rural areas hard, with some rural areas experiencing greater increases in unemployment that urban ones, rural businesses have higher rates of survival.”
The report also revealed there continues to be proportionally fewer rural business insolvencies than in urban areas. Furthermore, people in the countryside tend to have a stronger sense of community and are more inclined to share values and pull together in times of economic uncertainty.
Burgess added: “The report shows that rural England has some huge strengths and none more relevant at this time than the enduring sense of community which enables many communities to compensate for the lack of local services.
“Indeed rural communities could provide models of how others can be empowered to do the same at a time of public sector retrenchment and austerity.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2010