The impacts of COVID-19 on digitalisation and social capital in crofting communities in Scotland

ABSTRACTIncreasing digitalisation and access to communication technologies has arguably never been more important to rural communities than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Digitalisation assumes a distinct character when looked at through a rural lens, reliable and accessible digital tools and infrastructure having marked implications for the future of rural communities. This was especially pertinent during COVID-19 lockdowns, when in rural (as well as urban) communities there was a push to host local activities and services online. Using reflections from both in-person and online research engagements with a crofting community in the North West Highlands of Scotland, this paper reflects on how the use of digital tools can support the development of different types of social capital. Successful rural digitalisation has the potential to benefit rural crofting communities in multiple ways: e.g. by supporting rural repopulation efforts, enabling access to new digital markets to sell produce, and supporting active participation in local decision-making through online meetings. Several barriers to realising digital benefits still exist in rural regions with specific digitalisation needs and challenges. The paper reflects on empirical findings and considers the future sustainability of rural crofting communities in the post-COVID, digital age.KEYWORDS: COVID-19crofting communitydigitalisationrural Scotlandsocial sapital AcknowledgmentsWe would like to thank all of the participants who took part in our research engagements with specific thanks to the community in North West Highlands for their hospitality and willingness to take part in our research during COVID-19. Thanks are extended to the current Scottish Government’s Strategic Research Programme 2022–2027 and project JHI-E2-2: Rural Communities, which has allowed the lead author to revisit the community and write up the findings presented in this paper.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1 This order was effective from 23 March 2020 in a televised address from Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister for Scotland https://spice-spotlight.scot/2022/12/16/timeline-of-coronavirus-COVID-19-19-in-scotland/.2 DESIRA (Digitisation: Economic and Social Impacts in Rural Areas) is a Horizon 2020 project (2019–2023) coordinated by the University of Pisa which involves 25 partner organisations (research institutes, NGOs and SMEs) in a multi-actor and inter-disciplinary Consortium.3 DESIRA used the terminology ‘Living Labs’ to denote each case study in order to highlight the interactive and participatory nature of our research engagements. The researchers used the term ‘case study’ with our research participants for ease.4 Highland Community Broadband (HCB) had begun the process of bringing high-speed broadband to the wider community in 2017, yet for many residents interviewed, the installation did not happen until early pre-pandemic 2020 and was even ongoing in some cases. Visit https://hcbroadband.co.uk/ for more information.5 https://www.womeninagriculture.scot/.6 Digital Boost: https://www.bgateway.com/resources/digitalboost via Business Gateway (delivered through local authorities). This is a Scotland-wide initiative delivered via local authorities which offers businesses a free digital health-check, access to webinars and training materials as well as up to 21 h of free advice with an adviser.7 This annual application can be completed online or by visiting a local area office to use one of their dedicated computers for this operation. Whilst staff at the office are available to offer some assistance, they cannot be held responsible for the individual application. See https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/apply-for-funding/single-application-form/ for more information.Additional informationFundingDESIRA has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 818194. Scottish Government’s Strategic Research Programme 2022-2027 and project JHI-E2-2: Rural Communities.