International charity moves HQ to Rugby town centre - The Rugby Observer

International charity moves HQ to Rugby town centre

Rugby Editorial 24th Sep, 2018   0

AN INTERNATIONAL charity which helps millions of people unleash their potential across the world every year has moved to Rugby town centre.

Practical Action has relocated its UK Head Office to the Robbins Building in Albert Street, returning to the town after a 20 year absence.

A total of 111 staff moved to its new base from its previous location at The Schumacher Centre in Bourton-on-Dunsmore.

The move will reduce the organisation’s carbon footprint, making it easier for staff to travel to work using public transport and allowing it to operate more efficiently.




Practical Action has been located in The Schumacher Centre, locally known as Bourton Hall, since 1998. The building was officially opened by the charity’s patron HRH The Prince of Wales in 1999.

The organisation was established in 1966 and later moved to offices in Myson House on Railway Terrace, Rugby in 1984. Bourton Hall was later purchased as an opportunity to showcase technology which could be used in the developing world.


During its time in Bourton-on-Dunsmore, Practical Action changed its name from The Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) and opened offices in West Africa, Bolivia, Malawi and Rwanda.

Practical Action’s CEO Paul Smith Lomas said: “We have loved our time at The Schumacher Centre, but we are very excited about our move to Rugby which has been in the pipeline for a while now.

“Bourton Hall is a beautiful building in a fantastic location, but it is costly to heat and maintain and difficult to get to without using your own transport.

“As with many other organisations we are moving towards a more agile, flexible way of working and the new offices will allow us to be greener, so we are more in line with the philosophy of Practical Action.

“We hope the move will bring some welcome new investment and business opportunities to the town.”

Practical Action works with people in countries across Africa, South East Asia and Latin America to help them lift themselves out of poverty.

It brings renewable energy to some of the one billion people living without it, improves outputs for millions of small-holder farmers, helps vulnerable communities better prepare for natural disasters, and improves water, sanitation and waste management in urban slums and remote rural communities.

Visit www.practicalaction.org for more information.

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