Gloucestershire tops South West rural business league table

Gloucestershire has topped The Country Land and Business Association’s Rural Business County League Table, charting the best location to run a rural business in the South West.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, conducted the research to determine which counties are best for rural businesses; using criteria that can either support or challenge rural businesses, including the extent of broadband and mobile coverage; adoption of local plans by planning authorities; opportunities for development of rural skills; and entrepreneurial dynamism.

As well as topping the South West table, Gloucestershire ranks fourth nationally; appearing after Cheshire, Cumbria and Oxfordshire.

Simon King, ‎Director of Business Development at the Royal Agricultural University, commented: “It’s fantastic to see Gloucestershire ranking so highly. At the Royal Agricultural University, our undergraduate and postgraduate courses help our students to achieve their future dreams in the agricultural, land, business management, food, equine and property industries – all making a positive contribution to success in rural business.”

David Owen, Chief Executive of GFirst LEP added: “I’m pleased to see Gloucestershire recognised at a national level as a great setting for rural businesses.  

As a predominantly rural county with existing expertise in agri-technology from the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, GFirst LEP fully supports the government’s vision that the UK becomes a world leader in agricultural technology, innovation and sustainability, and has allocated £3 million through the Gloucestershire Growth Deal for a new agri-tech start-up spaces at the University’s Cirencester campus and Rural Innovation Centre at Harnhill Farm.

The new centre will enable local businesses to capitalise on the knowledge base of the Royal Agricultural University, and bring innovation to farming by giving technology businesses the space and support to learn, innovate and grow faster.”

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Notes to editors

GFirst LEP, Gloucestershire’s Local Enterprise Partnership, brings together businesses to make the county successful and create jobs. It is led by the business community in partnership with the education and public sectors to help Gloucestershire realise its economic potential.

Established in 1845, the Royal Agricultural University is recognised nationally and internationally as a leader in the delivery of education, research and consultancy, in and relating to, agriculture and the rural environment. The RAU offers a portfolio of more than 30 different degrees, at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and achieves high graduate employability rates year on year.

The Country Land and Business Association in the South West not only represents the interests of the people who own, farm and manage the land, but it also campaigns for the kind of vibrant and healthy rural economy which supports the beauty of the landscape, the diversity of the environment and the populations of our villages and market towns.

For more information visit www.gfirstlep.com or contact Katy McCarthy, Marketing Manager, on 01242 715494 or katy.mccarthy@gfirstlep.com.