Derek Phillips

“I am proud to be Chair of the DR Management Board and to witness what a positive difference DR has made across the south west to rural businesses and communities since its start in 2005. As the small dedicated team continues to share its expertise while delivering valuable funding to businesses and individuals, the rural economy can only benefit and prosper.”

Liz Abell

“DR is all about helping businesses and communities to develop by providing them with the skills, expertise and experience to make their ideas happen. It is a great place to work as we are able to make a difference every day, enhancing and improving economic and community life for others. We deal with a wide range of people whose passion and belief in their ideas inspires us to do everything we can to help them.”

George Coles

“DR provides a really professional service to the rural community matching funding needs with the requirements of the funders. Our growing stream of successful projects is proof of our success in unlocking finance.”

Mary Talbot-Rosevear

“Since 2005, DR has helped individuals and communities across the UK through its diverse range of services and vast experience concerning project funding and management. The DR team shares the burden with the client and thereby takes the stress out of funding applications.”

Tim Jones

“DR is an organisation with a high reputation which extends well beyond the Devon border. It is proof that a team of dedicated professionals can punch well above their weight. The added value to the regional (and rural) economy is significant.”

David Incoll

“DR is a highly effective initiator for Rural Economic Activity with an impressive track record of delivering real benefit for communities, businesses and residents. We attract investment and enable businesses and communities to invest such resources in benefiting the rural economy.”

Philip Wagstaff

“Being part of DR gives the opportunity to work with colleagues in supporting rural communities across the South West through a range of diverse regeneration projects. The experience that the team at DR have gives a solid foundation for the development of community and business projects which make a real difference to the South West. As a board member I can support the team and, with other board members, can explore ways of taking DR forwards in the future.”

Pete Burgess

“Our countryside is a contested landscape and is under competing demands from all sectors. Two thirds of our wildlife that makes Devon special is experiencing declines, some severe. DR plays a key role in ensuring the right balance is struck between our environment (that underpins the health of our economy) and the needs of our communities.”

Paul Diviani

“Sometimes people expect all forms of Government to do it all. We obviously can’t and we need help from elsewhere. There are all sorts of gaps in the funding streams – especially with the European dimension. This is the niche that DR fills so admirably!”

Caroline Ayre

Caroline Ayre MICFor

Caroline Ayre MICFor is a Chartered Forester and the England National Manager for the Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor).  She started her career in forestry in 1997 with the Working Woodlands Project, one of the first “woodland initiatives”, it encouraged development in the forestry and timber sector in the south west of England by offering a support package to reconstruct the woodland supply chain and stimulate market demand for local wood products.

In 2007 Caroline secured her position with Confor, the membership organisation that represents the wood chain from nurseries and growers, through contractors and woodland managers to harvesting and wood-using businesses in the UK. Caroline is passionate about forestry and timber but is also a keen gardener and forager and has a small holding on the edge of Dartmoor.

Caroline was delighted to have been asked to join the DR Board to bring forestry expertise to the organisation. The forestry sector in the south west is made up of small businesses operating in disparate supply chains. DR is in a unique position to help businesses invest to enable efficiencies that will see the many benefits that woodland creation and good woodland management can bring to the local economy.