The Great Western Society (GWS) has been successful in securing a Heritage Grant award (Development Phase) from The National Lottery Heritage Fund (Heritage Fund) to enable the development of a project which will reinvigorate the heart of the Didcot Railway Centre(DRC) site though conservation repairs to the Historic Engine Shed and associated programme of heritage activity and interpretation, thus making Didcot Railway Centre a more sustainable business. The project will enable DRC to make a step change in its offer to ensure its long-term sustainability as a living museum fit for the 21st century.

GWS wish to commission an experienced Business Plan Consultant to review and update the outline Business Plan included in the successful Development Phase submission to the Heritage Fund. This initial version, available by request, was produced in-house and needs to be updated to meet with the Heritage Fund’s requirements for a Delivery Phase submission. The successful consultant will work closely with the project team, in particular Didcot Railway Centre’s Chief Executive to produce the revised plan. DRC holds extensive information and data relating to audiences and visitors to support this work.

The appointed Consultant is required to produce a Business Plan that meets the Heritage Fund requirements for a Delivery Phase submission under the Heritage Grants scheme. The Business Plan Consultant should be available to start work on the commission from the end of January 2026 with the final complete by no later than mid July 2026. It is anticipated that the Delivery Phase of the project will last 3 years.

How to apply

Click here to download the full brief (opens in a new tab)

Tenders must be submitted by no later than 30 January 2026 via email or file sharing system to Jason Lowe,  jason.l@conservationplus.org and the email subject title to state “DRC: Business Planning”.