Places are still available for a free event later this month which details how rural businesses in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire can access funding to help them grow.
The D2N2 Rural Means Business conference will run from 10am to 3pm on Thursday March 26, at the RCAN (Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire) Newstead Centre in Tilford Road, Newstead Village, Nottinghamshire (NG15 0BS).
It has been organised by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP); a private sector led partnership between businesses, local authorities and higher education institutions. It plays a central role in deciding economic priorities – by undertaking activities driving economic growth and creating local jobs – in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
A key initiative to be discussed at the conference is the LEADER funding programme for specific rural areas in the D2N2 catchment. This comes after the recent announcement by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) of a £3.4m LEADER funding boost for rural Nottinghamshire.
Rob Crowder, Chair of D2N2’s Rural Reference Group and Chief Executive of RCAN
Commenting on the £3.4m funding, Rob Crowder, Chair of D2N2’s Rural Reference Group and Chief Executive of RCAN (pictured), said:
“I hope that this will inject much needed support to our rural areas and encourage new jobs and sustainable economic development.”
Mr Crowder will be speaking alongside other authority figures in the area of rural funding on the morning of the event (10am to 12noon). These are:
- Rob Crowder, Chair of the D2N2 Rural Reference Group, and Board Member and Chief Executive for Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire.
- Mike Stubbs, of DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs), which works to make England’s agriculture and forestry sectors more competitive, improve the quality of life in rural areas and diversify rural economies. He will give an overview of the rural programmes.
- Amanda Brown, LEADER Co-ordinator for the Peak District Programme.
- Lindsay Allen – Senior Programme Manager for the D2N2 Growth Hub.
- Matthew Wheatley – D2N2 Growth Plan Manager for its European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme.
There will also be a chance to hear from rural business owners who are already benefiting from the funds’ help.
The speakers will be followed by a networking lunch from 12noon to 1pm, and then the chance to take part in themed workshops from 1pm-3pm on developing business proposals for rural enterprises based on:
- Tourism
- Food and drink
- Renewables (low carbon and sustainable energy generation)
Lindsay Allen – Senior Programme Manager for the D2N2 Growth Hub and one of the conference organisers – said: “Rural businesses are a key part of the life of the countryside and a major contributor to the economy of the D2N2 area.
“We hope that these business owners will come along to our D2N2 Rural Means Business conference, to take advantage of some expert advice and hear about the help and funding that is out there for them.”
To book online to attend the conference and choose which workshops you wish to attend, click here
For more information on this media release or D2N2’s work contact Sean Kirby, D2N2 Communications Officer, on 0115 9578749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
