Challenge
The UK government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund, part of its broader levelling up agenda, aimed to regenerate 101 towns across the UK.
The challenge was to help local authorities understand the process, develop robust funding proposals and align with national priorities – all while ensuring meaningful engagement with communities, political stakeholders and delivery partners.
Approach
Copper played a central role in the national rollout of the Towns Fund by providing strategic communications, coaching, stakeholder engagement and content development across all 101 towns.
Key activities included:
- brand development for the Towns Fund
- creation of strategic content including blogs, guidance documents, animations and digital assets
- coordination and production of the weekly About Towns newsletter
- mentoring and coaching local authorities to build compelling business cases
- political liaison and stakeholder engagement with councillors, senior officers and community leaders
- strategic consultancy and advice for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
Value delivered
Copper directly supported the development of 792 project business cases, helping unlock significant investment across all 101 towns.
Outcomes included:
- empowering local authorities to articulate their visions and secure funding
- driving meaningful engagement at local and national levels
- supporting the overall delivery and success of the £3.6 billion national regeneration programme
- strengthening the Towns Fund brand and ensuring alignment with the wider Levelling Up mission.