The event hosted by the John Clare Environment and Education Trust, will bring together partners including Government Office for the East of England (GoEast), The Association for Sustainable Communities and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) to discuss the future of rural communities, sustainability, farming and skills in the region.
The Minister will open the conference with a presentation, which outlines work carried out by the John Clare Environmental Trust and will then go on to stress the importance of investing in rural skills in the region.
Following this presentation representatives from The Association for Sustainable Communities and other regional partners will discuss findings in the recently published report by Urban Mines, 'Skills for a Sustainable Rural Community' and skills challenges facing the region.
Speaking at the end of the conference Barbara Follett said: "Lifelong learning and improvement in skills is critical for the success of rural areas and the whole of the East of England. I recognise that remote rural areas face particular challenges when it comes to skills.
"Excellent work is already underway to improve rural skills in the region. European funding has helped to establish a range of training facilities in rural areas including the Poultec Training Centre in the heart of rural Norfolk.
"Today has provided an excellent opportunity for partners to help inform ongoing discussions to ensure that rural learners are properly supported and resources are utilised to improve skill levels throughout the region."
