BUSINESS: The Design Trust to relaunch with new website

Here's a great resource we'd like to re-introduce you to for 2012. The Design Trust "helps people to start, run and grow their own design and crafts business in the UK and overseas".

You may have heard of The Design Trust before as it has a long 20 year history. Set up by the late Peta Levi MBE as a charity, the trust was designed to provide business training, support and advice specifically to designer-makers in the UK. Over the last few years, The Design Trust and Design-Nation (its sister organisation) have been managed by Rachel Moses at Metropolitan Works in London.

From 1st November 2011 The Design Trust has moved back into private hands as a social enterprise headed up by Patricia van den Akker. In the past, the organisation has produced some very useful guides such as The Design Trust Business Start-Up Guide for Designers and Makers so to continue this good work and start an exciting new chapter, The Design Trust will be launching a new website early this year.

The new website will allow designer-makers and creative business owners to access:

• information about all aspects of running a craft and design business through a variety of business blogs, tips and recordings by expert partners;
• high quality business training and advice across the UK – from workshops and networking events, to business coaching and marketing advice;
• up to date information on opportunities to sell work online, at trade shows and with retailers and galleries;
• confidential answers to your business questions and challenges through The Design Doctor;
• special deals for newsletter readers and discounts on business training, e-books and events.
• online webinar training from February 2012;
• Q&A sessions with experts; and
• interviews with successful designers

There will also be two live events per year.