Rural Asset Multiplier Pilot (RAMP)

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

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.

The RAMP Programme is delivered by Northumberland County Council and runs from September 2023 until 31 March 2026. The project is part funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority Investment Fund and by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund with the North of Tyne Combined Authority as the lead authority.

The RAMP Programme will prioritise investment in strategic activities which will bring lasting, positive change to identified rural areas, piloted in two areas. Activity will be driven by local need, demonstrating a bottom-up approach targeted directly at tackling local, rural issues. All investments in project activities and pilots will be made through the RAMP Grant Investment Fund.

In this initial phase, activities will be concentrated in two defined pilot geographic areas of rural Northumberland, which are:

• the Northumberland Coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and
• the southern part of the Northumberland National Park,

each presenting distinct opportunities and challenges relating to environmental stewardship and rural growth.

NCC will also consider funding a small number of projects that fall outside of these two primary target areas, but which are located in rural areas of Northumberland and meet the other eligibility criteria set out the Call Specification.

Who can apply?

The RAMP programme will support community led projects that bring forward new, innovative, locally-based approaches to addressing economic, environmental, or community challenges and opportunities in rural Northumberland. Projects must demonstrate that they will make a clear and positive impact in their local area.

Call for Projects in Rural Northumberland – RAMP Grant Investment Fund

Growing the economy, enhancing the environment, and supporting communities in local rural areas.

RAMP Call Specification and Guidance
RAMP Grant Application Form
RAMP Expenditure, Funding & Output Tables

We expect and encourage all potential applicants to discuss their project ideas with Northumberland County Council, and depending on project location, with Northumberland Coast AONB, and Northumberland National Park Authority, as appropriate.

For further information please contact:
ruralassetmultiplierpilotprogramme@northumberland.gov.uk