Two design clusters have been awarded grants by the Design Council to help them promote design in the South West. A £100,000 fund was launched earlier this year to get the message about the value of design across to business.

The two South West bids, from the Somerset Design Enterprise Network and the West of England Design Forum were backed by the South West Design Forum, the voice of design in the region. The bids beat off strong competition from organisations around the UK and will be allocated grants to take forward their projects.

Somerset Design Enterprise Network will be running a Sustainable Design Symposium in 2011. Sustainability is great for business growth but what does it mean? Can we see beyond the ‘green wash’? What steps can we take to use design thinking creatively and effectively? Uniting designers and other sectors, the Design Symposium will explore, inspire and inform with sessions to discuss issues and solutions for business. Find out more at www.sustainable-design-uk.com

West of England Design Forum have been awarded funding to run an event on Design Impact for Environmental Technology Companies. The West of England Design Forum will be engaging with environmental technology businesses to encourage them to use design more effectively. This panel-based event will present case studies and discuss the barriers these companies face to working successfully with design professionals. Clinics will also be available for one-to-one advice and encouragement. Find out more at www.wedesignforum.co.uk

Karen Stockdale, Manager of the South West Design Forum, said: “The grants will help us promote the value of design to industry in the UK and beyond, and enable us to celebrate the innovative design sector in the South West region.”