Conference to champion rural entrepreneurship

Posted 11 April 2014

Championing the growing entrepreneurial strength of rural areas is the aim of a unique academic conference to be held at Harper Adams University.

This year, the annual conference is entitled ‘Rural Entrepreneurship: Farm Festival, Food or Fibre Optics’ and is taking place on June 18 and 19 at the university in Shropshire.

It aims to bring together academics, policy-makers, researchers, rural leaders and farmers to discuss innovative businesses and practices that are transforming the countryside, generating economic growth and encouraging entrepreneurship.

Academics from across the globe will present papers on their area of expertise, key-note speakers will address delegates, and the event will conclude with a gala dinner.

Event organiser and Principal Lecturer, Dr Izzy Warren-Smith, said: “Rural entrepreneurship as an academic discipline has been developing year-on-year with the Rural Enterprise Conference at the forefront of this advance.

“During the last 11 years, the debate and the focus of the conference has broadened to include papers contributing to the debate around rural entrepreneurship; ranging from the conceptual to descriptive and empirical papers in addition to generating knowledge transfer and best practise case studies.

“There has been a significant growth in the debate on a global scale, positioning this conference as a truly international platform for rural enterprise debate.”

Amongst the academics are representatives from Israel, Sweden, Italy and France as well as a range of UK universities including Harper Adams.

Topics range from ‘Should we treat opium growers as entrepreneurs’, ‘The Bee that Shouldn’t Fly: a case study of rural, funeral and crematorium business’, and ‘Crime prevention as part of the business plan for rural start ups’.

Event organiser and business support for Women in Rural Enterprise (WiRE), Fiona Davies, said: “We hope that those presenting papers and any additional delegates will find this an insightful conference and networking opportunity.

“Rural entrepreneurs and their businesses contribute enormously to the rural economy and community. This conference will give them a platform for debate and to explore ways to improve productivity and reach; whilst praising their tenacity.”

For more information click here.