About

I’m Rachel Farrer, a consultant working across the creative and cultural economy, higher education and the public sector. I specialise in helping organisations make sense of complexity — shaping strategy, insight and narrative that supports growth, investment and long-term value.

My work sits at the intersection of creativity, innovation and place. I’m particularly interested in how creative organisations grow and scale within wider ecosystems, and how insight from real-world delivery can inform strategy, policy and funding decisions.

How I work

I bring a combination of strategic thinking, sector knowledge and practical experience. Clients often work with me when they need an independent, trusted perspective — someone who can ask the right questions, synthesise diverse viewpoints and turn insight into clear direction.

I’m known for working collaboratively, but with clarity and purpose. Whether writing an insight paper, advising senior leaders or convening a group of stakeholders, my role is to help people see the bigger picture and make confident decisions.

Background and experience

My background spans the creative industries, higher education and public policy. I hold a PhD and an MBA, and have held senior roles within universities, leading work across cultural engagement, innovation and place-based partnerships. I have played a senior strategic role in the development and delivery of several multi-million-pound creative and creative-technology programmes and clusters, working with combined authorities, universities and industry partners across the UK. Much of my work involves shaping strategic narratives — from investment frameworks and major funding proposals to insight reports and learning evaluations — helping organisations articulate what they are doing, why it matters and what comes next.

My work has been recognised through national sector awards, including Best Use of Tech in a Project at the Women in Tech Awards (2025), and short-listings for the Innovation Awards and the Guardian Community Impact Awards.

Alongside my independent practice, I also work part-time with DCA Consultants, contributing strategic and engagement expertise to complex cultural, heritage and regeneration projects.