The New Rural Economy Project ran from 2001 to 2004

• Project Dates: 2001 - 2004
• Project Leader: Katy Bennett
• Staff: Katy Bennett, Terry Carroll, Neil Ward, Philip Lowe and Jeremy Phillipson
• Sponsors: Northern Rock Foundation, One NorthEast, Durham County Council, Northumberland County Council, the Countryside Agency, Government Office for the North East, the Forestry Commission, Northumberland National Park Authority and Northumbria Tourist Board.

The overall aim of the Project was to facilitate the regeneration of rural economies, linking the expertise of practitioners and research users with the Centre for Rural Economy to foster mutual, iterative learning, strengthen networks and enhance the capacity to act. The Project had two inter-linked components:

1. The co-ordination of the Northern Rural Network (NRN), a programme of seminars and short courses for members of the network and rural development professionals on topical issues and;
   
   
2. Support for postgraduate students undertaking one of two MSc degrees (Rural Development and Resource Management and International Agriculture and Food Marketing) in the School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development at Newcastle University. The students undertake 3-month placements in rural businesses, networks or development agencies at the end of a 9-month taught course.

Fifteen NRN seminars and five short courses were organised between 2001 and 2004 on a range of rural development themes (further information can be found here). During the course of the project, membership of the NRN grew to over 500 individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and organisations, all with a common interest in rural development.