Bringing rural innovation to life: New resources from NICRE’s Innovation Portal

The National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) has launched new resources on its open-access Innovation Portal to help rural businesses, communities, policymakers and practitioners tackle key challenges.

The three updated modules focus on maximising the impact of community spaces, rural energy, and climate action.  They capture learning from NICRE’s work with partners to shape place-based solutions that are evidence-based and community-led. They also share other practical tools, research insights and real-world examples from across the country. 

NICRE welcomes contributions to the Innovation Portal from all organisations to help showcase the creativity and resilience of rural communities and spread innovative practice.

NICRE supports rural businesses, communities, policymakers and practitioners to shape and implement solutions that are rooted in evidence and led by local insight.  A crucial part of that mission is capturing learning and impact from real-world projects and sharing it nationally, so others can benefit and build on what works.

Its Innovation Portal is designed to do just that.  It’s a free, open-access hub offering tools, evidence reviews and inspiring case studies to tackle challenges and unlock opportunities in rural places. 

Three key modules have recently been launched or refreshed:

Community Spaces Partnership
This refreshed module dives into how village halls and community spaces are delivering long-term sustainability and net zero improvements, and how this can be supported by infrastructure organisations.  The module features evaluation insights from a partnership funded by the National Lottery Community Fund across Northumberland, Durham and Cumbria, county-level case studies, and a video overview to help other communities replicate different elements of the approach.
Explore the module

'Partners at the launch of the Community Spaces Partnership held at Allendale Village Hall'

Rural Community Energy
This updated module shares the latest evidence and practical advice for communities developing local renewable energy projects, including solar and heat networks. It covers funding, planning and partnership tips.
Explore the module

Rural Climathons
Climathons bring people together to develop local solutions to climate challenges and mobilise community action.  The methodology was originally developed in urban settings, and NICRE has worked with partners to adapt the approach to the rural context.  Our toolkit, now available on the portal, draws on events in the North East and South West.
Explore the module

NICRE is always looking to add more examples and topics to the Innovation Portal.  If you have a case study, challenge or project idea you’d like to share with others nationally, you can get in touch via [email protected].