The rural West has a major role to play in helping the region emerge from the current economic downturn it was announced on Friday at the Rural Regeneration Zone (RRZ) Annual Conference in Ludlow.

Appropriately entitled 'Catalyst for Recovery', the event saw senior figures from the Zone, Advantage West Midlands, Business Link and the Government's Rural Advocate Dr Stuart Burgess join forces to provide a united call for Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire to 'enterprise' its way out of the recession.

The business leaders urged entrepreneurs and companies to make the most of renewed support for innovative initiatives, such as the £16m Rural Enterprise Centre Network, RE:think Energy and the Redundant Building Grant Scheme , which has created more than 135 jobs in the last year.

Also high on the agenda was the continuing need to boost skills and ensure essential services are still in place, the latter receiving a welcome boost with news that the Nexus, community grant scheme will receive increased funding till March 2010.

This will mean an additional £100,000 will be available to help crucial 'local' projects that provide training opportunities, employment assistance and access to leisure, health and specialist outreach services.

Peter Pawsey, Chairman of the Rural Regeneration Zone (RRZ), explained:

"Rural areas make up 30% of the West Midlands' population and contribute 36% of the region's GVA worth an estimated £21 billion per annum - so you can see we are punching above our weight, which is good news. "We have secured notable achievements in all of our main areas; communities, environmental excellence, skills and a strong economy. 

He continued: "The Enterprise Centre Network now has its two main hubs operational at Battlefields, Shrewsbury and Rotherwas, Hereford and, when you combine these with spokes at Ludlow and Leominster, we have over 63 young businesses already established and all creating jobs.

"Equally impressive has been the impact of the Redundant Building Scheme, which offers up to 25% of costs towards converting or refurbishing underused buildings into economic use. After another successful year, we have spent £600,000 on a total of 20 projects, creating 135 new jobs. 

"There has also been significant progress in Environmental Excellence with Sharenergy engaging communities all over the Zone and RE:think awarding its first grants to companies 'greening' their operations."

Dr Stuart Burgess, Chair of the Commission for Rural Communities and the Government's Rural Advocate, made his first appearance at the Conference and was impressed at the Zone's ability to develop unique responses to major skills and access to services issues.

"All the research we have at our disposal - both anecdotal and qualitative - show that the biggest challenges facing rural areas is lack of training for people of all ages and a diminishing ability to access facilities, such as Post Offices, banks and community centres.

"From a skills point of view, I'm particularly impressed at the Zone's involvement in the flagship Royal National College for the Blind and its £3.5m investment in the Hereford Learning Village, as the rationale behind the latter was to create courses that specifically benefitted the needs of local employers with 800 so far taking part."

He added: "I also had the pleasure of visiting Shropshire in December and saw firsthand the excellent human benefits of the Craven Arms Multi-Use Facilities

"This was going to become a focal point of the community and since then facilities at Peterchurch and Wem have been started - quite simply excellent news as these are some of the best development I have seen in my travels across England."

The Rural Regeneration Zone Conference brought together the most comprehensive selection of business support professionals ever seen in the area, including Business Link West Midlands and the Manufacturing Advisory Service.

All 200 delegates were encouraged to talk to expert advisers on hand during the day and a number of more in-depth sessions were booked to tackle specific issues.

Mick Laverty, Chief Executive of AWM, wrapped up the event by outlining the importance of tapping into additional funding streams through the Rural Development Programme for England and in ensuring that all investment delivers the maximum impact.

"The RRZ has an excellent track record in delivering value for money and since its creation has assisted 1700 businesses, created or safeguarded in excess of 1900 jobs, whilst securing more than £20 million private sector investment in the process."

He concluded: "It has managed to galvanise unrivalled partnership working across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire and this, when combined with innovative solutions to local needs, will be absolutely crucial in helping the Zone and the West Midlands emerge from the downturn in a position to exploit the opportunities that will undoubtedly arise."

For further details please visit www.ruralregenerationzone.co.uk