Why is Lafan here?

Let me acknowledge from the start that living in the countryside offers many advantages – plenty of open green spaces, fresh air, close-knit communities, peace and quiet…

That should surprise no one, look at the crowds that flock to the countryside and the coast for their holidays… back home they go though, reminding us in some indirect way that not all is well.

Economically, rural areas perform inferiorly. That in turn has an impact on the quality of public services such as our schools and hospitals, on the ability of local people to compete for homes on the open market and it poses a threat to culture and way of life.

This should also not surprise us, as a capitalist system is designed to replace the marginal and punish the ineffective.

With one of the main policies for protecting the rural economy, namely the single payments to farmers, about to be revolutionised to focus on the environment, and the expectations for more trade agreements favouring the removal of barriers for importing food from all parts of the world, the countryside has many and significant challenges to face.

Our purpose at Lafan Consulting Group is to nurture and support a team of talented people who want to see a better future for rural areas, so that the company can offer a range of services to work together with partners to make it a reality. This is what drives us forward.

We believe there are opportunities to develop creative and clever business models for the benefit of the rural economy, and we can adopt new ways of operating with the aim of strengthening our communities. Many of the solutions are within our reach, only for us to have a clear vision, the confidence, the resources and the support to make them a reality. And this is where Lafan becomes relevant.

We can offer expertise in various areas such as food and drink, education, agricultural technology, community development, sustainability and supply chains, and when discussing specialist areas with a client our consultants speak on the basis of experience.

As a team, we can mentor, facilitate, audit, evaluate and design projects. These are all services we offer. We realise that the challenges you may want our support for requires effective critical thinking and probably the design of a bespoke intervention – there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to strengthening the rural economy.

And before you ask, our suggestion is always to have a conversation (usually over coffee and cake) before starting to work together to make sure that Lafan has the ability to add value to you. Get in touch for a chat and maybe we’ll have the pleasure of working. “Together, we’ll make it happen.”

Geraint Hughes – Lead Consultant, Lafan Consulting Group