Securing new business for the Rural Design Centre

Purpose

To develop, apply and secure a pipeline of collaborative research, consultancy and commercial projects to ensure the Rural Design Centre had external funding to meet the next 18 months of operational costs and planned business growth.  

Solution

To generate a pipeline of projects with partners and target external funders including:

• Connected Places Catapult Rural Transport Accelerator Programme (Innovate UK)

• Rural Durham Community Research Network (Innovate UK/Young Foundation)

• Enterprising Bellingham (Royal Countryside Fund)

• Northumberland Skills and Employability Jobs Platform (Northumberland County Council)

• Rural Catalyst II (North East Combined Authority)

Impact

The Rural Design Centre has a strong pipeline of projects in delivery which has secured the business for the next 18 months and allowed for additional recruitment of two staff into the not-for-profit company.