The UK’s Royal Mail wants to set up as many as 50 drone routes over the next three years to make deliveries to remote communities. The plan, which requires approval from the Civil Aviation Authority, would see the service secure up to 200 of the autonomous devices from logistics drone company Windracers.

The Royal Mail said the first communities to benefit would be the Isles of Scilly (off the coast of Cornwall in south-west England) and the Scottish islands of Shetland, Orkney and the Hebrides.

Test flights started last year. In the most recent one, held in April, the service was able to use a UAV to deliver mail to Unst, Britain’s most northerly inhabited island, from Tingwall Airport on Shetland’s largest island. That’s a 50-mile flight each way.

The twin-engine drone used in the tests can carry a payload of up to 100 kg of mail and take two return flights each day. The Royal Mail said the device has a wingspan of 10 meters and can withstand difficult weather conditions with the help of its autopilot system. After the drone arrives at its destination, a postal worker will retrieve the mail and parcels and deliver them.

The Royal Mail claimed the drones would help it reduce carbon emissions and provide a more reliable delivery service to islands. It eventually hopes to have a fleet of more than 500 drones that will operate across the UK.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has said that the lack of rural connectivity is holding UK farming back.

This is a conclusion it has drawn based on the findings from its recently published Digital Technology Survey, which heard from 846 NFU farmer members between December 9, 2021 and March 13, 2022.

It found that only 38% of respondents said their broadband speed is sufficient for the needs of their business – which is 2% worse than the NFU’s corresponding 2021 survey.

“This survey makes for very disappointing reading,” said NFU vice president David Exwood.

“It shows that very little progress has been made over the past year to increase levels of broadband and mobile access in rural areas despite government promises to level up the country.

“This lack of digital connectivity puts a huge drain on time and efficiency as we’re effectively working with one arm tied behind our backs.”

The survey also found that 83% of respondents are unable to get reliable mobile signal in all outdoor locations on their farm and only 44% said their phone signal is sufficient for the needs of their business.

Newcastle University and its partners are to lead a new National Centre that will support enterprise, resilience and innovation among rural firms and unlock the untapped potential of rural economies across the UK.

Led by experts from Newcastle, Warwick, Gloucestershire and the Royal Agricultural Universities, and working with businesses, policy makers, enterprise agencies and communities, the centre has been awarded £3.8 million of funding by Research England.

In England alone, rural businesses comprise over half a million enterprises, 3.6 million employees and contribute over £260 billion to GDP.

Through the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE), the aim is to help build the capabilities of policy makers, support agencies, rural businesses and their advisers to create resilient and sustainable economies fit for the 21^stcentury.

Centre director Jeremy Phillipson, professor of rural development at Newcastle University (pictured), said: “A thriving rural economy is crucial to the future prosperity, well-being and resilience of communities across the UK.

“The need to encourage and release the dynamism and untapped potential of rural areas is even greater now with the combined uncertainty of Brexit and impacts of COVID-19 and what the implications will be, not just for rural areas, but for the UK economy as a whole.”

“All the company’s 400 manufacturing and office staff are based in the Devon town of Axminster, where Thomas Whitty began making carpets in 1755.

The original Axminster carpet was laid in Brighton Pavilion as well as bought by King George III and Queen Charlotte, who visited the factory. After a fire halted production, carpet manufacturing did not return to the town until 1937.

A statement from Axminster today confirmed the notice of intention to appoint Duff & Phelps as administrators.

It said: “The notice was filed in order to provide the company and its creditors with a moratorium period during which the various rescue options being explored can continue.”