Engaging Rural Micros: a new project from Devon County Council

Are you a rural micro business or sole trader? Are you interested in shaping the future of business support? Then the Engaging Rural Micros project wants to work with you. 

Engaging Rural Micros is a research trial to learn how to stimulate positive mindsets towards improving business efficiency.

Micro businesses, freelancers and sole traders (less than 10 employees) make up 90.1% of Devon’s rural economy*. Research suggests that there is a need for these rural micros to overcome their tendencies towards overworking, and increase time working on the business rather than in the business.

Are you a business owner who can relate to this? Is your dream to increase efficiency within your business, free up time, and reach that elusive ‘work-life balance’? Then get involved in this new research trial!

The trial will look at different ways of providing support to these businesses. All participating businesses will receive:

• business monitoring for up to 12 months, completing three business analysis surveys over the course of the trial
• a business insight report at the end of the project
• information on the trial outcomes and future support
• an invitation to an event at the end of the project, which will be a great networking opportunity for local businesses.

The trial will be based in rural areas of Devon (outside of settlements with a population over 10,000).

If you are a micro business owner, freelancer or sole trader, sign up online at www.engagingruralmicros.com or contact engagingruralmicros@devon.gov.uk before the end of December 2019.                                                               

*statistics excluding Exeter