Rural business support
Through Business Link the South West RDA offers advice and services
to support fledgling and established businesses:
- Business Link provided support to 39,278 established businesses
in rural areas during 2009-10
- Rural businesses received 42 per cent of the Business Link
support provided across the region from March 2009 to April
2010
- Business Link has 73 access points throughout the region to
provide local face to face business support
- Support designed to add value to manufacturing businesses,
provided through South West Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS),
is being accessed as effectively by rural businesses as by urban
ones.
- 41 per cent of businesses assisted through MAS since
January 2009 were based in rural areas.
Visit the
Business Link and SWMAS websites to find out
more.
Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)
Rural business support is also available through the Rural Development Programme for
England (RDPE). The South West RDA is responsible for investing
£157 million of European rural development funding in the South
West as part of this seven year programme. The funding provides
business support and advice to promote sustainable farming,
forestry and agri-food businesses. Support is also available to
help community and social enterprises to improve access to services
in rural areas.