The Rural Report 2017-18: The Impact of Change on Rural Businesses 2017 – 2020 -Evidence from non-agricultural businesses in Aberdeenshire, Dumfries & Galloway, the Scottish Borders and Tayside

The role of the land-based sector within local economies is often claimed to be significant, yet it is unclear from the existing evidence how important farming, forestry and estates are as contributors, or catalysts, to rural wealth creation and employment. Alongside this, there is a lack of detailed evidence about rural businesses operating across Scotland’s rural areas relating to: the diversity and range of businesses; operating turnover; employees; planned investment; debt and credit terms given; business confidence and expectations – particularly in-light of Brexit.
This research helps to fill these evidence and knowledge gaps. In particular, the work focuses on assessing if, how and the extent to which, the wider regional business base may be reliant on the land based sector and the related challenges faced in dealing with the sector during a period of changing (and delayed) support payments. In addition, business, and business owners’ characteristics and perceptions are assessed, in particular with regard to Brexit and the challenges and opportunities it may bring. The survey focused on the South and North East regions of Scotland and is the first of three surveys that will provide a longitudinal analysis of the rural business population as we move through this period of Brexit uncertainty.