Embedding rural into a UK Industrial Strategy:   
A Workshop at the Rural Entrepreneurship Conference (REC), Newcastle University, June 2017

As the final event for this year's Rural Entrepreneurship Conference (REC), Newcastle University's Rural Enterprise UK initiative convened a Workshop to inform and gain participants' views about the UK Government's planned Industrial Strategy. People who attended the Conference were joined by senior academics and researchers from across Newcastle University, and representatives of rural business organisations and networks. The workshop was chaired by Roger Turner, and four short presentations were made to provide perspective from four spatial levels of how rural economies’ contribution to the aims of the Industrial Strategy could, or should, be captured:

• Dr Paul Cowie, Newcastle University (see Catapult ppt. attached), 
• Dr Gary Bosworth, Lincoln University (see Midlands Engine ppt. attached), 
• Janice Rose, Northumberland County Council, who spoke of the planned North of Tyne Combined Authority and Growth deal, and making it a rural exemplar aligned with the Industrial Strategy (see Rural Exemplar ppt. attached); and
• Andy Dean, Assistant Director, Rural Services Network and rural economy lead for Sparse.

These introductory presentations were offered to stimulate discussion and proposals from the diverse audience. Those attending the Workshop were invited to identify concerns and offer ideas by posting these on three flip charts, under headings of Problems, Solutions and Examples. A wide range of views were gathered, as recorded in the attached report, and these have been sent to both the UK Departments of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs in the hope of improving the Industrial Strategy's rural footprint and impact. The Workshop Chairman would be happy to field any questions or receive any additional comments about the report and the Industrial Strategy. The workshop report and presentations are available here.