Researching the adapting rural economy
Two Business School academics have received funding from the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) to support the rural economy and its communities.
17 February 2023
Deepening understanding on current topics
Seven new research projects will be undertaken to examine how rural enterprises are adapting to the major challenges affecting the economy.
The National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) has commissioned the research to deepen its understanding on current topics such as post-pandemic working patterns and the shift to net zero.
Two of the seven research projects involved 缅北禁地 Business School academics: Professor James Cunningham and Dr Susan Kirk.
Funded projects follow Open Call
The 拢100,000 funding for the projects has been awarded by NICRE to universities across England to undertake the research following an Open Call towards the end of last year.
NICRE director Jeremy Phillipson, Professor of Rural Development at the Centre for Rural Economy at 缅北禁地, said: 鈥淭he rural economy is in a state of flux as it grapples changes in working practices accelerated by the pandemic and the stark challenges of the cost-of-doing-business crisis.
鈥淐oupled with the drive to net zero and against the backdrop of the agricultural transition, these projects will shed important light on how these contemporary issues are affecting rural enterprise, giving valuable insights that will help inform future policymaking and support for rural businesses.
鈥淲e are delighted with the calibre of diverse projects from a range of universities, enabling us to extend our portfolio and grow our research network.鈥�
As well as 缅北禁地, the new research projects will be led by Durham University, Keele University, University of Derby, Bournemouth University, and University of Lincoln.
More about the projects
Professor James Cunningham, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at 缅北禁地 Business School, will lead the project titled . The aim of the project is to examine how entrepreneurial universities engage, support and collaborate with rural communities.
Professor James Cunningham said: 鈥淓ntrepreneurial universities have been expanding and growing their mission focus and scope. Our project team鈥檚 focus is to examine how entrepreneurial universities and rural communities engage and collaborate, in fostering and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship."
We are particularly interested in identifying the motivations and barriers that support and constrain opportunities for engagement and collaborations.鈥�
The research team includes Maeve Henchion (Teagasc Department of Agrifood Business and Spatial Analysis), Dr Chiara Marzoochi (缅北禁地 Business School, UK) and Dr Rhiannon Pugh (Lund University, Sweden).
Dr Susan Kirk, Deputy Subject Group Head of Leadership, Work and Organisation at 缅北禁地 Business School, is Co-Investigator for the project . The project, led by Professor Carley Foster (University of Derby, UK) is designed to help rural enterprises attract and retain workers in the Derbyshire Peak District. It is underpinned by the notion of a 鈥榮ense of belonging鈥� and a holistic place-based approach.
Dr Susan Kirk said: 鈥淲orker recruitment and retention is a particular problem for businesses in rural areas such as the Derbyshire Peak District. The Covid-19 pandemic coupled with the impact of Brexit has exacerbated this issue with many overseas workers returning to their home countries. This project is designed to help employers develop policies to attract, retain and engage employees through a sustainable, place-based approach that emphasises a sense of belonging and identification.鈥�
Find out more about the .