TRADITIONAL farming might be in decline but many rural businesses are thriving and there are pockets of quite fervent economic activity in Worcestershire.

Now, in a unique move, a consortium of agencies have come together and pooled the many different support services available to rural business in a single source.

Rural Business Connect, as the consortium is called, launched the source in the form of an innovative on-line directory to accountants, solicitors, financial advisers and banks in the hope the business professionals will be able to disseminate the information to rural companies.

Chris Milne, rural business project manager at Business Link West Mercia, said business support professionals were the quickest and most direct route-to-market for the unique directory.

"There is an awful lot of help out there for rural businesses but it is not always easy to match the help with the business because all companies are different," he said. "Support agencies such as Advantage West Midlands, the Chamber of Commerce and Business Link, local councils and the Rural Hubs have recognised this and pooled all their services into one unique on-line resource for rural businesses."

Mr Milne explained: "Initially we launched it to business support professionals as we find most rural businesses tend to go to at least one for help and advice. We are hoping they will be able to cascade the information through the business community."

The next Rural Business Connect meetings are due to take place next Wednesday at the Northwick Hotel, Evesham, and on Wednesday, February 1, at The Fownes, Worcester. More information is available from Business Link on 0800 104010.