Smarter ways to stop the rural brain drain
Professor Will Jennings and Ian Warren from the Centre for Towns are speaking at our conference in September. Here’s a flavor of what makes them such a refreshing addition to the rural agenda. This article tells us:
According to think tank Centre for Towns, a million young people in the UK have moved out of smaller communities over the past 30 years, in pursuit of smart living in a big city. Will smart city technology accelerate this brain drain, or could it be used by local authorities for towns and rural areas, to turn the tables and retain young talent?
When we talk about smart city concepts in the UK, we often reference large metropolitan cities such as London, Bristol or Manchester – bustling hives of innovation that are embracing technology to improve and enhance the lives of citizens. Recent government figures report that just over 45 per cent of those living in rural areas are now aged below 45 years, compared with almost 60 per cent in cities.
This represents a real challenge for the many small cities, towns and rural communities across the UK as young people continue to be lured away from their home towns for work and university. The adoption of smart technologies in these large cities adds to their appeal and is potentially accelerating the flow of younger, digitally native citizens from town to city.