Rural Asset Multiplier Pilot (RAMP)

The Rural Asset Multiplier Pilot (RAMP) is an innovative, place-based approach to investing in our unique natural, economic and cultural assets in a way that will simultaneously enhance our environment, grow our rural economy, and improve opportunity and prosperity in our communities.



New call for projects April 2025

Building on the success of RAMP funding, a new call for projects has been launched today. 
We are looking to continue to fund projects in local rural areas focused on growing the economy, enhancing the environment, and supporting communities. The aim is to develop and test new, innovative, locally based approaches to tackling economic, environmental, and community challenges and opportunities in rural Northumberland.
 
Examples of the types of projects we would like to fund are given below. This list is not exhaustive and full details of the types of projects we are seeking to fund are provided in Section 3 of the guidance document.
 

• Investment in visitor attractions and cultural and heritage assets.
• Investment in green and active travel infrastructure.
• Solutions to reducing carbon emissions in rural areas.
• Increasing the take up of physical and social activities.
• Supporting local people to develop skills, progress into work, and access better quality jobs.

 
Projects applying under this call must be able to start delivery as early as possible after April 2025.  Grants will typically range from £10,000 to £300,000. Project delivery and spend must be completed by 31 December 2025; and outputs and outcomes must be completed by 31 March 2026.
 
RAMP is delivered by Northumberland County Council and runs until 31 March 2026. It is funded by the North East Combined Authority Investment Fund and by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund with the North East Combined Authority as the lead authority.

The first phase of funding saw 14 projects as diverse as a flagship mountain bike trail for the region, through to a scheme installing new solar panels for a community centre benefit from a share of £3.5m.

Applicants to submit applications by Wednesday 5pm 7 May 2025
 
As the funding available is limited, Northumberland County Council (NCC) wants to quickly get a full picture of the projects that are likely to seek funding from the Programme so it can gauge which projects it may be able to support within the available funds.
 
Therefore, it is important that applicants contact the RAMP staff team to discuss their project ideas and suitability for funding as early as possible. The RAMP Programme Team can support you during your application development and provide follow on support where this is required.
 
RAMP – Application Form
RAMP – Call Specification
RAMP – Annex 1
 
If you have any questions about this call, or would like to request support with your application, please contact:
 
Rural Asset Multiplier Pilot Programme
 
Closing date for receipt of applications to the above email address: 5pm Wednesday 7 May 2025

On 10th July 2024, rural growth projects from across Northumberland came together at the Rothbury Jubilee Hall for their first networking event.

The projects are being supported through the Rural Asset Multiplier Pilot (RAMP) programme which is delivering funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), and the North East Combined Authority Investment Fund. RAMP is part funded by the North East Combined Authority Investment Fund and by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund with the North East Combined Authority as the Lead Authority.

The event was an opportunity for the projects to connect, consider how the pilot should develop and the long-term future for rural growth in Northumberland. It enabled the different projects, that are spread across the Northumberland National Park and the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, to connect and offer support to one another.

Maria Antoniou, Head of Economic Development at Northumberland County Council, opened the event. She highlighted the importance of connections and the unique nature of the RAMP pilot.

Alongside the projects, several members of the RAMP Investment Panel that had selected and approved funding for the projects, attended. Staff from the Council and the North East Combined Authority, who are managing and overseeing RAMP, also attended.

Various organisations leading on the projects presented and set out how they expected to deliver rural growth for their communities. These included;

• Northumberland Community Energy Ltd - installing solar panels on village community buildings for climate change resilience and to reduce energy bills.
• Northumberland National Park Authority - leading several projects including creating routes for people to be employed in green jobs; and
• Forestry England - creating one of the first all-accessible mountain bike trails in England.

Other organisations attending were Lesbury Community Hub, Green Croft Arts Ltd, and the Northumberland Wildlife Trust. RAMP is also funding projects led by the Holy Island of Lindisfarne Community Development Trust and the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, who were unable to attend.

Following presentations, the projects were able to connect with one another and discuss what support they would need. They also considered what the programme should look like for the future to continue supporting rural growth in Northumberland. There was interest in connecting more young people in rural areas to skills and training around green jobs, and better-connected promotion of tourism between the coast and the National Park.

It is expected that the projects will meet up again to continue to share ideas and support one another as they deliver their projects over the next year.

Northumberland County Council is facilitating a place-based approach to investing in Northumberland's unique natural, economic, and cultural assets that will simultaneously enhance the environment, grow the rural economy, and improve opportunity and prosperity in communities.

Stewardship & Rural Growth

Rural Northumberland is home to some of the country’s most distinctive and valuable natural and cultural assets, including our pristine coastline; one of the UK’s largest farming sectors; our leading forestry industry; plentiful renewable energy resources and carbon capture capability; productive woodlands and waterways; precious nature habitats and biodiversity; and our unique Borderlands culture and heritage.  
 
These assets offer huge potential to enhance the environment in Northumberland and to contribute to climate change goals, at the same time as boosting growth and prosperity in the local economy and communities by capitalising on these natural assets. 
 
Northumberland County Council is facilitating a place-based approach to investing in Northumberland's unique natural, economic, and cultural assets that will simultaneously enhance the environment, grow the rural economy, and improve opportunity and prosperity in communities. 

The approach aligns and balances investment in:

• Stewardship: looking after and enhancing our precious natural assets in a way that provides environmental, social, and economic benefits.
• Rural growth: developing the rural economy, and growing businesses, jobs and wealth in a way that simultaneously delivers environmental and social benefits

Northumberland County Council and the North East Combined Authority, working with a range of rural stakeholders have developed a Stewardship and Rural Growth Investment approach supported by £9m of investment until 2028. The investment is a combination of the North East Combined Authority Investment Fund, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund which the North East Combined Authority administers on behalf of the UK Government.

Two flagship programmes are enabled through this investment and include the Northumberland Rural Asset Multiplier Pilot (RAMP) Programme and the Northumberland Small Business Service.

If you would like more information, or to discuss the support available please contact us at
ruralassetmultiplierpilotprogramme@northumberland.gov.uk

For more information on support available to rural communities please visit 
Grants and Funding