The Future of Rural Communities Report

We have launched a Future of Rural Communities Report, commissioned by Fibrus and authored by applied futurist Tom Cheesewright. The report challenges long-held assumptions about rural decline and highlights the extraordinary potential of the UK’s rural communities as engines of growth.

Using scenario planning and the latest data projections, the report looks ahead to 2050, exploring how rural areas can lead the way in economic, environmental, and social transformation.

Download the full report here.

A word from our CEO, Dominic Kearns:

For too long, rural UK has been seen through a lens of decline, with rural areas portrayed as places left behind, living in the shadow of our cities. That story is outdated. The truth is, rural communities are not relics of the past – they are redefining the future. They are evolving, innovating, and leading in ways too many still fail to see.

At Fibrus, we know what real change looks like. As a driving force in full fibre broadband across rural Northern Ireland and Cumbria, we’ve seen firsthand how high-quality connectivity can ignite transformation. This isn’t just about faster streaming – it’s about powering entrepreneurship, connecting communities, and unlocking new opportunities for growth.

Rural communities deserve the same digital foundations as any city, and Project Stratum has proven that with the right support and investment, these areas can thrive. This report is living proof: rural communities aren’t waiting for progress – they are already engines of growth.

 

 

A word from Applied Futurist Tom Cheesewright:

The scale of the opportunity in front of the UK’s rural communities is truly striking. They are perhaps one of our most underappreciated resources. Not just beautiful but increasingly populous, and packed with assets that our scenarios show could be of rising importance to the country in the years ahead.

Unlocking this opportunity does require investment, from both the public and private sectors. But with increasing connectivity, more control is put in the hands of communities to be the architects of their own futures. High speed digital channels are foundational to making the most of opportunities in remote work, tourism, energy and automation.

This report explores the trends, forecasts, and transformative initiatives that could redefine rural communities over the coming decades. Take a look at the findings yourself and see how these findings are already impacting rural communities across the UK.