Rural Enterprise Support

Specialist business and enterprise support for people living and trading in rural areas of Northumberland.

What is rural enterprise support?

Here at the Rural Design Centre, our speciality is supporting rural enterprise. We understand the additional challenges rural business can face, such as access to markets, digital connectivity, finding skilled labour and networking. We’re on hand to help make it easier, with our specialist rural business advisors.

Individual support

We offer a range of services, both in-person and online, to help you achieve your aims and make your new business succeed.

One-to-one support

Free, tailored and delivered within your community. Our rural start-up advisors work in towns, villages and hamlets throughout Northumberland and the rural parts of Gateshead too. If online appointments are more accessible, we offer those too.

Business planning

We’ll help you identify the needs of your customers and design the products and services that succeed. We’ll support the development of your ideas, considering what’s needed to make them a reality.

Financial support

We can help you examine your personal and business finances, to ensure your business will meet your financial needs and succeed in the future. If you need startup funding, we can help you access this.

E-learning

Access flexible, on-line business training, available 24/7. It’s packed with insights you can apply to your businesses straight away.

Drop-ins

We run regular drop-ins in the following places on the dates show from 10am until 11.30am.

They are an opportunity to discuss your business idea face to face with a trusted adviser in a confidential environment.

No need to make an appointment. However, if you’d like to speak to someone sooner get in touch with one of the team using the contact form below.

Amble, Amble Development Trust, Fourways 2, 6 Dilston Terrace Amble, NE65 0DT

  • September, Wed 2nd

  • October, Wed 7th

  • November, Wed 4th

  • December, Wed 2nd

2027

  • January, Wed 6th

  • February, Wed 3rd

  • March Wed, 3rd

Berwick, Berwick Library and Information Centre, TD15 1DB

  • September, Wed 9th

  • October, Wed 14th

  • November, Wed 11th

  • December, Wed 9th

2027

  • January, Wed 13th

  • February, Wed 10th

  • March, Wed 10th

Rothbury, Muckles Yard, Rothbury, Morpeth NE65 7SG

  • September,Wed 16th

  • October, Wed 21st

  • November, Wed 18th

  • December, Wed 16th

2027

  • January, Wed 20th

  • February, Thu 25th

  • March, Wed 17th

Wooler, The Cheviot Centre, Padgepool Pl, Wooler NE71 6BL

  • September, Wed 23rd

  • October, Wed,28th

  • November, Wed 25th

  • December, Thu 17th

2027

  • January, Wed 27th

  • February, Wed 24th

  • March, Wed 24th

The enterprise team

Matty is a graduate of Northumbria University, where he studied Business Management. He brings seven years of experience in the Northumberland tourism industry, developing strong, transferable skills. Matty supports rural businesses with a practical, client-focused approach, using his sector knowledge to help enterprises grow and succeed.

Matthew Clark

Charlotte Hope

Charlotte has over four years’ experience supporting pre-starts and start-ups across rural Northumberland. She specialises in design thinking and human-centred design, helping clients develop viable and sustainable businesses. Charlotte is passionate about enabling individuals to build enterprises that align with their goals and support their desired lifestyle.

Liz Gray

Liz is involved in a range of projects, focusing on community energy, emissions reduction, and community development. With over a decade of experience across start-ups, SMEs, and large-scale projects, she brings expertise in project, account management, and business development to support sustainable growth and innovation.

Get in touch

Get in touch with our Rural Business Advisors and we’ll go from there. It all starts with a conversation.

The programme is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and brings together business support providers from across the region to provide expert advice, guidance and exciting opportunities to help turn your business idea or early-stage venture into a reality. For more information visit the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Prospectus.