A conference which aims to explore the diverse rural economy of Northumberland is set to go ahead in October.
The Rural Catalyst Conference will go ahead on Thursday October 6 2022 at Charlton Hall, near Alnwick, with attendants able to do so both in-person and online. Organised by the Rural Design Centre Innovation Project (RDCIP) and the National Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE), based at Newcastle University, the conference is expected to showcase national-leading innovation in rural enterprise and debate the future of the rural North East.
The conference is part of the Rural Catalyst initiative, which aims to tackle the challenges facing rural areas through research, innovation, design and community engagement. With a mixture of workshops and national speakers; including Margaret Clark, chair of the Rural Coalition; Professor Stephen Roper, director of the Enterprise Research Centre, and Mike Pratt, CEO of Northumberland Wildlife Trust; there are hopes it will contribute towards solving challenges experienced by rural communities.
Simon Green, CEO at the RDC, summarised the thinking behind the conference and why it matters to the North East. He said: " Our region has a large rural population but it’s spread across an enormous area.
"Sometimes this means that the contribution of this population is missed or assumed to be all about farming, which is actually only a small part of the truth. Rural areas like Northumberland present different opportunities for economic, environmental and social development to urban areas but it’s vital we don’t lose sight of the differences from one village to another, from coast to countryside and from ex-mining villages to affluent commuter towns."
" The Rural Catalyst initiative works with communities across the North East to understand these differences. In doing so, the work leads to new ways to tackle rural challenges and new ways to unlock rural potential."
Melanie Thompson-Glen, NICRE business development manager said: " The rural economy is diverse, varied and, above all, innovative. We have many businesses based in the rural North East which are breaking new ground at the forefront of their industries, while at the same time being at the heart of and supporting their local communities."
" The conference will showcase these businesses while also debate the topics which are set to play a part in the future of our rural areas. We’d encourage businesses and community groups to come along and help shape that future and celebrate innovation in rural enterprise."
For more information and to register for the Rural Catalyst Conference 2022, click here.
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