The Rural Entrepreneurship Conference

Conference Programme now available

Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Entrepreneurship in Times of Crisis

The Rural Entrepreneurship Conference (REC) gathers a range of national and international academics, practitioners, public servants and other stakeholders who, while developing networks, discuss different aspects of rural development, and share new knowledge informing research, policy and practice.

The 20th Rural Entrepreneurship Conference will be held from 17- 19 May 2023 at the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom. The event will take place in person at our Glasgow campus located in the city centre.

Conference theme

In the wake of the rapidly changing socio-economic, environmental and political circumstances influenced by consecutive events such as Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and international conflicts, the REC 2023 will focus on Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Entrepreneurship in Times of Crisis.

Indeed, soaring energy prices, growing inflation, raised borrowing costs, labour shortages, disruptions in supply chains and poor economic outlook create ‘a perfect storm’ that influences both global as well as local contexts. But what does it mean for the rural context?

In 2023, we want to reflect on this dynamic and highly unpredictable environment, and explore its impact on farmers, rural businesses, community-led social enterprises as well as wider rural communities.  Can rural entrepreneurship withstand these challenges and contribute to developing rural resilience?

To address this and other relevant questions, and to encourage debate about drivers and impacts of rural entrepreneurship, we welcome presentations that focus on, but are not limited to, the following themes:

Following REC 2023, there will be an opportunity to submit conference articles for peer review to a Special Issue in International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. A call for papers will follow and build on the conference theme of ‘Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Entrepreneurship in Times of Crisis,’ with a deadline of 30 June 2023 for submissions and an anticipated early to mid-2024 publication date. Further details can be found here : Call for papers ‘Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Entrepreneurship in Times of Crisis': The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: SAGE Journals (sagepub.com)

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Key information

Join us

REC programme and events schedule

List of events during the Rural Entrepreneurship Conference 2023

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Hotels and facilities

If you are planning on staying in Glasgow find out about the range of hotels and other facilities near the campus

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Travel directions

How to reach the Glasgow campus

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About Glasgow

Take advantage of local tourist attractions. Learn what Glasgow has to offer.

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Contact address:


Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health
Glasgow Caledonian University
Level 2, M201d
Cowcaddens Road
​Glasgow, G4 0BA

Email address: REC2023@gcu.ac.uk