UK: Scottish Rural Network – status up to 31/01/2020

We support and promote rural development in Scotland*. We collaborate with partners to highlight funding opportunities, showcase projects, encourage innovation and bring people and organisations together.

*: Please read the content disclaimer on UK data.

Contacts

Scottish Rural Network Support Unit, Scottish Government

B1 Spur, Saughton House

Broomhouse Drive

Edinburgh, Scotland

EH11 3XD

United Kingdom

Telephone number:

0044 131 244 9326

Email address:

Contact persons:

Alan Robertson

(Network Manager)

Lorraine Lowrie

(Rural Network Officer)

Hannah Downey

(Communications and Content Officer)

Katharine Johnston

(Stakeholder Engagement and Business Officer)

Links

Official NRN website

NSU operation

Objectives

The key purpose of the Scottish Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 is to help achieve sustainable economic growth in Scotland’s rural areas.
Objective 1
increase the involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of rural development
Objective 2
improve the quality of implementation of the rural development programme
Objective 3
inform the broader public and potential beneficiaries on rural development policy and funding opportunities
Objective 4
foster innovation in agriculture, food production, forestry and rural areas

Membership

Who can join the network?
There is no formal membership, the Network is open to all parties with an interest in rural development. The Network Support Unit has undertaken a stakeholder mapping process, which identified key internal and external stakeholders who they consult as part of our annual work programme planning cycle.

NSU & RDP management

The NSU and the Managing Authority
The NSU is established within government department/ministry (but not in the MA or PA).
The Scottish NSU sits as a ring-fenced team within the Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities Directorate of Scottish Government.
The Rural Development Programme Team within Scottish Government act as the MA.
The NSU has close links with MA who approve the SRN annual work programme.
The NSU and the Managing Authority
The Rural Development Operational Committee (RDOC) reviews the progress of the SRDP and advises the Joint Programme Monitoring Committee (JPMC).
The JPMC monitors the overall strategic direction of the European Structural and Investment Funds.
It is the role of the RDOC to provide expert advice on fund-specific technical and operational issues to the JPMC.
The RDOC meets twice a year in the spring and autumn.
The SRN Action Plan is approved by the RDOC who also input into the annual work programme.

Regional representation

The Scottish Rural Network forms part of the UKNRN. However, there is no overall UK RDP and each region (Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland) has their own Programme and NSU.
Scotland currently has secretariat of the UKNRN and share best practice and develop joint approaches with the other NSUs where appropriate.

Governance

The NSU develops the annual work programme with input from a wide range of stakeholders. The work programme is signed-off by the Managing Authority and shared with the RDOC.
+ 1 figure downloaded!

Financial resources

Budget
Total NRN public funds: £4,000,000
Out of which national co-financing: £2.548.000
Out of which EAFRD: £1.452.000

Image / Photo