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Scottish Enterprise is a committed and active partner in the sustainable development of rural communities.
We undertake a wide range of activities across rural parts of Scotland to encourage enterprise, improve skills and infrastructure and develop business.
Around 16 per cent of our budget is spent on projects in rural locations, and 95 per cent of our geographic area is officially classed as rural.
Generally, rural economies face the same economic challenges in today’s global knowledge economy as the rest of Scotland. However, there are a number of circumstances particular to rural areas – sparsity of population, access to markets, limited job opportunities, and availability of development sites – that need to be taken into account when supporting rural economies.
Scotland’s rural communities are also diverse, ranging from remote island areas to those near urban communities in regions such as Lanarkshire and Forth Valley. This presents particular challenges and local enterprise companies are working hard to address local conditions.
At the same time, the Rural Group oversees the development of general policy and shares best practice to ensure a cohesive response to new initiatives. The Rural Group was formed in 1999 and also involves representatives from the Scottish Executive (both the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and Environment and Rural Affairs Departments.
This section includes further details of the Group’s Role and Remit, our Initiatives and Facts and Figures relating to rural Scotland.
For more information about the work of the Rural Policy Group, contact: Julia.latto@scotent.co.uk
Images courtesy of VisitScotland.
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