The Rural Enterprise Gateway (REG) provides support to groups of agricultural and rural land-based businesses in the SW network. The project model is innovative and flexible. Driven by the member businesses, it provides the infrastructure and financial support to enable businesses to adapt to change in the technical and business environments in which they operate. The main objective is to improve competitiveness, profitability and sustainability.

the four interactive components of the project are: the use of information and communications technologies, provision of a training bursary, a Research and Information Service and the promotion of collaboration and co-operation amongst the membership. The REG project is managed by Business Link and the Research and Information Service available to members is provided by the University of Plymouth.

The project started in 1999 and has since supported 100 groups comprising over 1,000 individuals.

This unique project facilitates development of agricultural and other rural land-based industries and is an example of best practice in business support.

Click here for access to the REG website .....

Rural Futures is a ‘community of practice’ within the University of Plymouth, linking academics with each other and with practitioners, to the benefit of those living and working in rural areas. Rural Futures does this by producing newsletters, holding events, seminars and disseminating information.

The concentration of all University staff and students on to one main campus in Plymouth gives valuable opportunity for widening and strengthening the rural agenda. Specialists in agriculture and food science, agricultural economics and rural land use are now working alongside a host of other disciplines ranging from the arts to medicine, from genetics to business, from engineering to law. In most of these disciplines are academics with special interest and expertise in rural issues.

Aim

The aim of Rural Futures is to act as a catalyst to using this expertise by:

• giving the university a single point of reference in the field of rural economy, society and environment;
• helping to provide a credible and coherent external face for the University to rural communities, industries, government departments , and other agencies;
• encouraging effective development and coordination of undergraduate and post graduate courses with a specific rural focus.

If you are interested in the Rural Futures Unit, or if you would like to be added to our mailing list to be kept up to date on activities occurring within and outside the university please contact Martyn Warren or Susie Bissell in the Rural Futures Unit on:

Tel +44 (0) 1752 238462

Email ruralfutures@plymouth.ac.uk

Address     Rural Futures Unit
c/o School of Geography
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth
PL4 8AA