Manchester-based design and research consultancy URBED is set to cease trading next month after 47 years in business.

Principal David Rudlin – who is also a BD columnist – said the firm had struggled to overcome a range of procurement challenges in recent months and had concluded the best solution was to wind up in a controlled manner.

“We’re not going bust: we’re closing down in an orderly way,” he said. “It’s just become clear over the course of this year, in particular, that there isn’t a viable business model for small practices who are reliant on public-sector tenders.

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