16.02.05
Two years on and industry is benefitting from Rural Progress

Anthony Gibson launched Rural Progress, an Objective One project, at the Royal Cornwall Show in 2002. Since then Rural Progress has awarded over 246 grants ranging from £40 to over £36,000 for training and skill development initiatives to individuals and businesses in the land based sector across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Invested to the tune of nearly three quarters of a million pounds for its three year life span the Rural Progress project has been responsible for several important countywide industry initiatives over the past two years including the establishment of The Cornish Arable Initiative, a Guild of Cornish Hedgers, a Beef Health Scheme and an Entrepreneurship Programme being delivered at Duchy College.

The Entrepreneurship Programme kicked off in November taking 12 of the land based industries' leading lights to train and develop their skills as future industry leaders. The establishment of a Guild of Cornish Hedgers will conserve and build new hedges that will last for future generations to enjoy and provide important habitats for fauna and flora. Supported in partnership by the Vocational Training Scheme (VTS) they are offering investment and delivery of training courses at a newly established rural crafts training centre, the Stone Academy near Camelford, run by Richard Boden Cummins.

Rural Progress scheme leader Paul Charlton explains: "Rural Progress has been investing in both individuals and industry led initiatives that reach a wide range of people involved in farming and land based businesses.” Paul continued: "For instance the Beef Health Scheme promotes new health management initiatives and has been engaging with both veterinary practitioners and beef farmers across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The arable initiative managed by the Vocational Training Scheme (VTS) has signed up over 60 members and over 300 farmers have either attended conferences on the latest agronomy advice and/or crop trial open days on the demonstration site at Bake Farm, Trerulefoot. These are industry led initiatives demonstrating tangible and practical results.”

Rural Progress aims to facilitate the implementation of new technology and provide new skills to land based businesses, individuals, groups and organisations. These beneficiaries need to be located within the Objective One area and be associated with farming, horticulture, forestry or supply services to these businesses.

Rural Progress is an industry led partnership invested in by Defra and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund for the benefit of land-based businesses in the Objective One area of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

For further information log on to www.ruralprogress.co.uk or call Paul Charlton on 01579 372112.

*Rural Progress is a gateway fund that has received investment from the Objective One European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.

Editor's notes:

Press Enquiries:

Please contact Carolyn Daw, tel: 01822 833488, email:cdaw@marketing-pr.co.uk

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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