Design Council and British Chambers of Commerce in partnership

The partnership will work together on specific initiatives to help the 100 000 businesses in the BCC network to use design, and will also aim to promote a wider message nationally and internationally about the importance of design to businesses.

David Kester, chief executive of the Design Council, says, ‘This is all about designing out of a downturn. Companies that invested in design and R&D during the last recession reinvented themselves and came out stronger.

‘This new partnership with the BCC stands to help the thousands of UK firms that represent our economic future with the opportunity to harness the practical power of UK design.’

David Frost, director-general of the BCC, says, ‘The future of the UK economy is dependent on the dynamism and effectiveness of our private sector, and in particular small- and medium-sized firms. By helping businesses make informed decisions on the power of design and the potential competitive advantage it can bring, we will help them through the recession and gain long-term commercial benefits.’

In April the Design Council announced a partnership with the Technology Strategy Board to strengthen design’s role in innovation.