Building Resilient Rural Businesses: CLA Conference Highlights
CLA Rural Business Conference November 2025
Joe recently attended the Country Land and Business Association Rural Business Conference, which focused on the secrets to building resilient rural businesses. The event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the CLA, Labour and Conservative parties, and industry leaders.
Conference Focus and Core Concerns
Throughout, it was argued that while security and stability are the foundation for business resilience and growth, rural businesses are uniquely disadvantaged by the current Labour government's abrupt policy changes. The CLA expressed significant concerns about recent inheritance tax reforms, arguing these changes undermine the next generation of farmers' ability to invest confidently in their businesses. They emphasised that farmers are integral community contributors, not absentee landlords, and that recent policy shifts have forced many to withdraw planned investments rather than strengthen their business operations. Gavin Lane, President of the CLA, drove home the message, saying,
“You cannot ask people to pay to plant an orchard they’ll never see grow, then tell them their children aren’t allowed to pick the fruit”
Political Perspectives on Rural Policy
Political perspectives diverged sharply. Labour's Emma Reynolds highlighted government investments in farming, water security, rural connectivity, and crime prevention, with a farm profitability review due before Christmas. Conversely, Victoria Atkins of the Conservative Party pledged to scrap inheritance tax changes immediately, arguing that the previous mechanisms of tax relief available to farms and rural businesses through APR and BPR were not tax ‘loopholes’ as suggested by the current government, but a deliberate relief to enable business continuity.
Industry Insights and Future Approaches
Roy Cox from Blenheim Estates offered valuable insight, noting that change must be done "with people, not to people." He observed that the next generation of land managers is increasingly focused on a more holistic approach of community and environmental contributions, alongside business performance.
The consensus was clear: rural businesses are thriving despite government policy, not because of it.
Technology in Land Management
A particularly interesting talk was given by Ian McGuinness from Knight Frank on the changing use of maps over the years in estate and land management. An example was looking at a hillside and using water and sunlight data to evaluate the feasibility of planting vines. Another one was using Strava to see where people were logging walks on land, even where there isn't a footpath.
Joe's Round-Up of the Conference
“It was an interesting day, and we heard some great speakers. Sadly, the political climate and the impact of recent policy shifts on many of the landowners and rural business leaders who were in the room made it difficult to highlight many positives. As is often the case, my best networking was done on the train journey home! I would definitely take the opportunity to attend this conference again”
