rural business

The decision to move away from milking cows was not an easy one for Tim and Marnie Dobson. However, the change in direction has initiated a ‘brakes-off’ approach and allowed the family to embrace new opportunities. Having been involved in the dairy industry for 50 years as tenant farmers, it...

Farm diversification to find new income streams should be an important consideration amid the uncertainties of Brexit was the key message from The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) Diversification Demystified seminar. More than 100 landowners and rural businesses across East Anglia...

The Business Barn has teamed up with NatWest to bring a cohesive offering to users of the rural business advice website. As one of the leading agricultural banks operating within the UK, helping to finance projects of all sizes, the partnership will help cement the bank’s commitment to the...

Farm Business Innovation Show Dates - 7th & 8th November Location - NEC, Birmingham The FREE event for farmers, landowners, rural businesses, entrepreneurs, estate, and country house owners to find the inspiration, resources and advice they need to diversify, innovate and make more from their...

Bruce's Doggy Day Care is searching for land to rent within close proximity to affluent areas in the South East of England. They offer an opportunity for landowners to generate a good return from land and buildings, particularly underutilised assets. The ideal site will be between 1 and 25...

The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) has teamed up with NatWest to encourage young farmers across the country to promote their clubs to new members. A cash prize of £350 is up for grabs as the federation launches a video competition open to all young farmer clubs. The aim...

The creators of The Energy Now Expo have launched a new pioneering event – The Energy and Rural Business Show. Taking place next February at the Telford International Centre, the event plans to showcase the latest opportunities for farms in the immediate sense and in the future and will be...

The NFU is encouraging the agricultural and rural sectors to take part in their annual broadband and mobile survey to help build a true picture of connectivity in the countryside. The NFU continues to engage with the government about the need for fast, affordable and reliable broadband and...

Whether you are thinking of rearing your own game birds or starting your own game rearing business, this guide has been designed to highlight some of the major thought processes and physical requirements needed. There are several different ways in which to rear game birds, and the system you...

Rural businesses and communities are set to benefit from improved broadband access as part of a £45 million boost by the government. The new funding for the government’s Rural Broadband Infrastructure Scheme adds to the £30 million investment announced last year, increasing the total pot of...

The opportunity for rental income is often forgotten but could be one of the easiest ways to draw a revenue from your own assets. Here are some ideas to get you thinking. Remember you may have the buildings and facilities but you don’t have to run the business yourself. Caravan storage Vintage...

Rural businesses which run furnished holiday lets or livery stables could now benefit from Inheritance Tax relief following two favourable court cases. Previously, neither holiday lets or DIY liveries qualified for Business Property Relief (BPR), as HMRC views them as investment activities...

Branch closures and poor connectivity are leaving people in rural areas with problems accessing banking services. The charity, Scottish Rural Action, has called for a ‘universal service obligation’ (USO) for banking services after a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) survey revealed people in...

The desire to start an organic business drove Jan Billington to move her young family from London to South West England in 2002. But needless to say, what they were going to do when they got there and how they were going to make it work were unknown factors at the time. However, their flexible...

An idyllic spot on the English Welsh border now plays home to the glamping, camping and event business, Barnutopia after Steve and Katrina Boydon took on the full-time project in 2015. Having worked abroad for 20 years, and most recently lived in the USA working and raising their family of...

Kelly Chandler, business owner and experienced wedding consultant, advises that engaged couples are turning away from perceived traditional wedding formula and instead are looking for something unique and fitting with their personalities... If you're looking for inspiration to start a new...

The purchase of 28 acres by Jules and Sandra Sayer in 2002 now sees over 16,000 campers visit Petruth Paddocks each year. Located at the foot of the Mendip Hills in north Somerset the ‘free-range,’ family-run campsite Jules and his team has created provides the perfect opportunity to get away...

The Business Barn is a free, online resource providing expertly written advice and guidance for diversifying farmers, rural business owners and landowners. If you’re looking for ideas and inspiration for a new business venture, guidance on how to start a business or support with developing your...

If you'd like to start-up your own rural business, The Business Barn can help! Click here to get over 101 rural business ideas at your fingertips. Have you considered becoming a Virtual Assistant? Having worked in several industries in various roles, the exposure and knowledge gained during...

Introducing... The Business Barn QuickQuote Tool If you're searching for suppliers of specific products or services, look no further. The Business Barn QuickQuote tool allows you to submit individual requests directly to relevant and suitable suppliers listed on our MarketPlace in one simple...