Our Expert Team | Difficult Heritage

An Experienced, Expert Team

Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments

Preserving historic buildings and ruins requires a deep understanding of conservation principles, planning legislation, and adaptive reuse. Our team has worked with castles, country houses, industrial heritage sites, and scheduled monuments, advising on:

Conservation management plans and funding strategies.
Sensitive adaptation for new uses while preserving historic integrity.
Planning and listed building consent processes.
Sustainable approaches to long-term maintenance and repair.

We recognize that securing a viable future for historic buildings isn’t just about bricks and mortar—it’s about finding solutions that balance heritage value with economic reality.

Historic Gardens and Important Landscapes

From formal gardens to historic parklands and rural estates, our expertise in landscape heritage ensures that these spaces remain both beautiful and functional. We support organizations in:

Developing conservation management plans for historic gardens.
Identifying funding opportunities for landscape restoration projects.
Engaging communities and volunteers in maintaining historic green spaces.
Exploring commercial potential through visitor experiences, events, and educational programs.

Historic gardens face unique challenges, from climate change impacts to funding constraints—we help owners and managers develop strategies that ensure their long-term survival.

Heritage Marketing & Audience Engagement

Understanding how to attract and engage the right audiences is critical to the success of any historic site. We specialize in:

Developing strong, authentic narratives that connect with visitors and stakeholders.
Creating marketing and visitor engagement strategies that drive footfall and revenue.
Digital transformation for heritage sites, including social media, websites, and online ticketing.
Diversifying income through experiences, membership programs, and brand collaborations.

We help heritage organizations move beyond traditional marketing approaches to create dynamic, visitor-focused experiences that drive long-term support.

Charity Governance and Leadership

Many historic sites are run by charities or trusts, often facing governance challenges, skills gaps, and financial pressures. Our expertise in charity governance includes:

Structuring boards and leadership teams to ensure strong, effective decision-making.
Helping organizations navigate charity regulations and compliance requirements.
Building governance frameworks that support long-term sustainability.
Supporting trustee and leadership development to ensure skilled oversight of heritage assets.

Governance isn’t just about legal compliance—it’s about ensuring that heritage organizations are well-run, financially resilient, and able to deliver their missions effectively.

Volunteering & Community Engagement

Strong community engagement is at the heart of any successful heritage project. Many organizations face challenges in recruiting and retaining volunteers, particularly as traditional volunteer numbers decline. Our expertise includes:

Developing inclusive volunteering strategies that attract a diverse range of participants.
Implementing training programs to equip volunteers with essential conservation and visitor engagement skills.
Building long-term relationships with local communities through outreach and engagement initiatives.
Facilitating partnerships between heritage sites, schools, businesses, and social enterprises to expand volunteer networks.

We understand that community engagement isn’t just about numbers—it’s about building lasting relationships that ensure heritage sites remain relevant, valued, and well-supported.

Grant Applications & Fundraising

We help heritage organizations build strategic partnerships that unlock funding, expertise, and long-term resilience. Our experience includes:

Identifying and securing grants, sponsorships, and investment from public and private partnerships.
Facilitating collaborations between heritage sites, local authorities, businesses, and community groups.
Designing compelling projects that align with social, environmental, and economic priorities, making them attractive to funders.
Navigating complex funding landscapes. managing relationships with grant bodies, corporate sponsors, and philanthropic donors.
Developing heritage-led commercial opportunities, from events and exhibitions to retail and digital experiences.

Financial support for historic sites is about developing innovative, long-term solutions that attract sustainable investment and create lasting impact.

An RMA Consultancy