Andrew Ingram
Chairman of the Oxfordshire branch of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA)

Oxfordshire was recently identified as one of the best counties in the country to run a rural business in a league table published by the CLA.

As well as taking equal second place nationally, after Cheshire, it also topped the league for counties in the south east.

The table was based on some of the criteria which can support or challenge rural firms, including the extent of broadband and mobile coverage; adoption of local plans by planning authorities; opportunities for development of rural skills; and entrepreneurial dynamism.

There are a number of other factors that influence how hospitable or challenging a county is for rural businesses, such as its geography and infrastructure, flood risk, soil type and levels of rural crime.

However, while our league table does not set out to be a comprehensive analysis, it highlights the degree to which a supportive environment can help rural businesses.

In Oxfordshire we rated highly for aspects of the planning environment, particularly approvals for converting agricultural buildings and for investment in rural skills development and research.

There is much that can be done to help businesses succeed.

Top of the list is connectivity; almost any type of business can operate from a rural area if they have good quality mobile and internet connection.

In Oxfordshire, superfast broadband coverage is rated at 10.2 out of 15 and for 3G coverage, 8 out of 10, across the county as a whole.

However, getting the coverage that a business needs remains a postcode lottery and too many businesses are losing out. We need government, councils and network providers to focus on delivery.

A growing business often needs space or to update existing buildings and facilities.

The league table therefore scored the performance of planning authorities on whether they have local plans in place and whether they are permitting or refusing applications to convert and change buildings.

Our league table also took into account the results of a survey commissioned on preferences for using rural businesses.

Loyalty towards producers of food, drink and other items and a preference for using locally-based cafes, farm shops and leisure activities can play a big part in the success of rural firms.

In the south east, including Oxfordshire, there is significant room for improvement, with a preference rating for using local products of 5.6 out of 10, compared to 9.2 in the south west.

In Oxfordshire we have a wide range of rural businesses starting up, making investments, creating jobs and contributing to a rural economy which is worth £210 billion nationally. The CLA is committed to providing support for the countryside economy.

We have been calling on the government to encourage investment by ending discrimination in the tax system against unincorporated family businesses and ensuring all business policies support rural economic growth.

Our continuing campaign for a universal service obligation for fast, reliable and affordable broadband is also an essential building block in our support for rural businesses.

The new £24 million growth programme announced by the government, which is aimed at benefiting rural communities, offers a welcome boost for many rural businesses. Funding is being rolled out through local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) and we are hopeful the Oxfordshire LEP will join other south east LEPs in receiving grants.

The initial focus of the grants is on tourism, small business development and food processing, with funding support in the range of £35,000-£140,000 typically on offer. Among the projects likely to receive assistance are investments in visitor attractions, farm diversification activities and adding value to locally produced food products.

The CLA works closely with LEPs and other business organisations to help ensure rural businesses receive the support they deserve.

We also provide a wide range of advice and guidance to farmers and landowners looking to diversify, whether through the setting up of farm shops and small scale tourism businesses or conversion of empty agricultural buildings to offices for rural entrepreneurs.

Oxfordshire has a wide-based economy, but rural businesses make a significant contribution to its success and it is time that they are valued more highly and given the investment and support that will encourage them to grow.