The National Rural Conference 2025

Bookings are now officially open for the National Rural Conference 2025, which will take place online from Monday 15 to Thursday 18 September.
This is the Rural Services Network’s flagship event of the year, bringing together rural decision-makers, practitioners, and advocates for four days of live, interactive sessions focused on the future of rural communities.
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Increased Government funding to protect high streets

Retail and Leisure International magazine reports that Boris Johnson has increased high streets funding from £675 million to £1 billion with the aim of helping an extra 100 towns

50 towns have already been shortlisted to receive a proportion of the extra funds, which will see bus services expanded and empty retail units transformed into homes.

The maximum award under the scheme is £25 million, but the majority of towns will receive between £5 and £10 million.

The extra money comes after 50 UK retailers including Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Boots wrote to the Chancellor to call for action on high property taxes.

Full article:

? RLI - Boris Johnson raises high street fund to £1b