More business support for Lancashire rural businesses

By Community & Business Partners CIC

14 Jun 2022

img-20220613-wa0001-400x346.jpg

A pioneering rural business support scheme is to be extended due to the success of its first cohort.

The Rural Peer Network group, which is funded by Lancashire County Council’s Rural Recovery Fund and delivered by Community and Business Partners, is now able to offer support to a further eleven businesses based in rural areas.  

The pilot scheme, which was launched in January of this year, offered weekly group sessions to its members where together they helped to tackle issues they faced. In addition, businesses also benefitted from three one-to-one sessions each with the groups Facilitator and Rural Enterprise specialist, Paul White, over a period of three months. 

The feedback from participants has been so positive that Lancashire County Council is running a second peer group in September 2022. 

Karen Lawrenson, senior project officer, said: "The needs of Lancashire's rural businesses are different to urban businesses and there was a lack of support specifically for rural micro businesses, which is why this programme has been so successful."

County councillor Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for economic development and growth at Lancashire County Council, said: "The feedback from those involved with the pilot have been overwhelmingly positive, so it is only right that we extend this further to allow us to support more Lancashire businesses.

"We face a difficult period ahead of us, which is why it is incumbent on the county council to provide our businesses with the support and skills they need to reach their full potential. The Rural Peer Network group is just one of a number of ways we are supporting businesses to do this."

Jaydee Davis, operations director at Community and Business Partners, said: “These peer groups have proven to be some of the best business support groups we have seen, particularly for small businesses. 

"Often, smaller business owners can feel very much on their own, and working together like this has really helped them. It’s almost as though they have their own board of directors."

Each participant will get nine weeks of two-hour group sessions, as well as three one-to-one sessions with Entrepreneur Paul White, who Founded The Modern Milkman, and who has a Degree in Rural Enterprise. 

Paul said: “It has been really incredible to see how these businesses have grown whilst we’ve been working together. I’ve seen lots of different business support through my career, and this has genuinely been some of the best I have seen.

“It’s quite inspiring to get likeminded businesspeople working together, to help grow their business and because it’s all online, it fits in well with business owners who are really busy too."

Then next Rural Peer Network will begin in September. You will need to have a business based in a rural area of Lancashire. To enquire, please email:[email protected]

You can find out what participants had to say here:

Latest news

1

Preston frozen dough brand has new celebrity shareholders Ant and Dec and Amy and Chris Cheadle

Preston frozen dough brand has new celebrity shareholders

18 Jul 2025

2

Wellbeing focused co-working space with its own pub in Burnley gets ready for launch Dave Scholes and Malcolm Ireland

Wellbeing focused co-working space with its own pub in Burnley gets ready for launch

18 Jul 2025

3

UK's pioneering Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is revealed Flying Combat Air Demonstrator

UK's pioneering Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is revealed

17 Jul 2025

4

A fresh brew for The Printed Cup Company The Printed Cup Company

A fresh brew for The Printed Cup Company

17 Jul 2025

5

Joe Diston from Beever and Struthers appointed to new Global IFRS leader for HLB International Joe Diston

Joe Diston from Beever and Struthers appointed to new Global IFRS leader for HLB International

17 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancashire Business Day 2025
241122lbvlancashiredaylhp0647web
Networking
27 Nov 2025

Lancashire Business Day 2025

Burnley FC , Burnley, BB10 4BX

12:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin