How can rural communities and firms harness their assets to weather the recession?

To create a platform for future growth, rural economies should seek to build on and encourage thought provoking and innovative enterprise which encourages diversity and creates a sustainable rural economy. This joint conference by CCH and the Commission for Rural Communities aims to give delegates the knowledge of how to weather the current economic climate and key tools to develop a strategy beyond the downturn.

The advance of globalisation, agricultural commercialisation, greater interdependencies between rural and urban places and market forces are changing the very profiles of rural economies and the definition of what constitutes a rural business. More than 4 million people are currently in rural employment and most jobs are not directly dependent on land management. So what are the challenges facing this important and growing segment of our national economy and how can you best position your services for business start ups or add value to existing rural entrepreneurs? How can rural communities and firms harness their assets to weather the recession? Focusing on the new opportunities for rural England and how to capitalise on them, this one day conference will look specifically at issues relating to taxation, property, sourcing finance and employment. Aimed at those advising the SME sector, the event will identify the opportunities for rurally located businesses and offer practical solutions to the day to day and longer term challenges.

The course in detail

09:30 – 09:35 Welcome Address by Chair Roger Turner, Head of Rural Economies, CRC

09:35 – 10:00 Overview of UK Rural Business in 2009 including recession challenges Roger Turner, Head of Rural Economies, CRC

10:00 – 10:45 Current taxation issues and identifying opportunities to rural businesses Caroline D’Cruz, SME Strategy and Delivery Team, HMRC

10:45 – 11:00 Refreshments

11:00 – 11:45 Unlocking the value held within property and how to make assets work harde Ian Butter, Head of consultancy, Rural Solutions

11:45 – 12:30 Current challenges to sourcing finance and the new options available Colin Fenwick, Senior Agriculture Manager, Lloyds TSB Agriculture

12:30 – 13:15 Current challenges to rural employment Roger Turner, Head of Rural Economies, CRC

13:15 – 14:15 Lunch

14:15 – 14:45 Taxation - Tourism and Accommodation – Tax tips and traps Julie Butler, FCA, Founder, Butler & Co

14:45 – 15:15 Business or recreation * the economic contribution of shooting to the UK economy Simon Hamlyn, Director of Operations, BASC

15:15 – 15:30 Refreshments

15:30 – 16:00 Property Development – unlocking the potential of underused land or redundant estate buildings Richard Benson BSc (Hons) MRICS, Partner, Fisher German LLP

16:00 – 16:30 Accessing advice and action for improving recruitment, training and development of your employees and businesses Graham Hasting-Evans, UK Commission for Employment and Skills

16:30 Round up and close Roger Turner, Head of Rural Economies, CRC

What are the benefits of attending?

    * Identify opportunities & practical solutions

    * Take part in a dynamic interactive workshop

    * Take away leading edge recession strategies

Who should attend?

All professionals advising rural businesses – accountants, solicitors, chartered surveyors, land agents, trade associations