Using the digital key to unlock rural potential
Unlocking the digital potential of rural areas across the UK could add £12bn to £26.4bn to the rural economy and at least £15bn to rural business turnover each year, according to a new report commissioned by Amazon and published by Rural England and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).
In a statement issued today (12 March), Doug Gurr, UK Country Manager, Amazon, said: “Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen opportunities for rural entrepreneurs transformed through e-commerce, better delivery services and growing access to fast broadband. But as today’s report shows, there’s much further to go before anyone can say the rural-urban divide has closed.
“Embracing digital technology not only benefits the economy; it also allows rural communities to combine great quality of life with access to global opportunities. We are working to play our part in helping achieve the report’s ambitions through programmes such as Amazon Academy events and webinars, where last year we helped hundreds of rural businesses learn how to go digital.”
Click here to access the report.
