Closed in February 2024 - Grants to support farm diversification, improve the quality of tourism provision, and food and drink processing. 

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The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest was 5pm on Monday 12 February 2024 so this scheme is now closed.

 

What are the grants for?

These capital grants are available to rural businesses, particularly farms, tourism, leisure, and food and drink producers, who are looking to develop and grow by diversifying or developing their existing products, services or facilities. Capital means you must spend grants on lasting assets such as a building or equipment.

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The scheme prioritises activity in:

  • food and drink processing for non-farmer owned businesses
  • farm diversification
  • improvements to the quality of the existing tourism offer
  • nature recovery investments
  • projects that grow the local social economy

Applicants must use their grant to create a positive outcome such as:

  • creating a job or jobs
  • safeguarding jobs
  • adopting new technologies or processes 
  • increasing turnover 
  • improving productivity 

The Minimum grant value you can apply for is £2,500 and maximum of £200,000. We anticipate the average grant value for this fund to be around £40,000.

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What could be funded? 

Examples of the types of activity that could be funded:

  • Commercial activity linked to nature recovery. For example wild seed harvesting, or the development of a nursery to supply nature recovery projects.
  • Commercial activity linked to improving the quality of existing rural tourism and leisure facilities, with priority given to projects that help to extend the peak season into the shoulder months. For example: wedding venues.
  • The provision of facilities for pet and equines such as kennels, livery and pet health venues.
  • Capital funding for converting farm buildings to other commercial or business uses.
  • Purchase of equipment for food and drink processing businesses that are non-farmer owned. For example: new process and packaging machinery such as brewing equipment and onsite vending machines; equipping development kitchens or modernising existing kitchen equipment for increased energy efficiency or increased productivity through automation.
  • The creation of multifunctional rural business hubs providing shared workspace and networking opportunities for rural businesses. For example: flexible access to commercial kitchens; co-working spaces.
 
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We cannot fund