Farmers' Business Development Grant

The principal objective of the Farmers Development Grant is to help farm-based businesses, achieve proposals for development, diversification and income generation, with new or existing enterprises.

Aims of the grant are:

Assist farmers to act upon ideas to diversify, add value or develop environmental schemes (including responses to regulations and best practise)
Help with identification of training needs and skills development for themselves and employees.
Assist farmers in purchasing processing and packaging equipment for direct sales activity, security equipment for diversification activities such as farm based livery yard, machinery and equipment improvements, workspace improvements.
Assisting advertising, communications and PR,
Assist environmental diversification e.g. fishing lakes, renewable energy sources.

Applicants are eligible up to 50% of costs to a maximum of £5,000. Applicants may apply to the grant scheme more than once but the maximum grant available to any one applicant is limited to £5,000 for farmers over the life of the grant scheme. The award of grants is discretionary and any offer may be at a lower level than applied for, subject to the merits of the application and the availability of funds.

Grants will be payable upon satisfactory completion of the works and production of paid invoices relevant to the claim. Grants will be reclaimed if there is a voluntary cessation of business activity supported by the grant scheme, or if any item purchased is sold within a three year period following funding.

The applicant must demonstrate that the funding will support business development through improvements to productivity, profitability, and the knowledge / skills of employees. Greater priority will be given to applications from businesses in the following categories:

Businesses exploiting Tourism potential
Food & Drink related businesses.
Business affected by the Hunting ban
Social enterprises including co-operatives
Knowledge based businesses
Creative businesses

Eligible capital costs might include:

Acquisition of new or used production machinery, purchase of equipment needed for new products / services, purchase of specialist equipment, introduction of a computer or improved communication technology, fixtures or fittings, infrastructure to improve visitor attractions such as farm trails or equestrian activities.

Eligible revenue costs might include:

Marketing and promotional activity, training in specific employee skills or management development.

Eligible consultancy costs could cover areas such as:

Farm diversification, health and safety, business planning and management, market research, personnel management, environmental practices. (Choice of appropriate consultant rests with the applicant but should be acceptable to the funding authority, costs of exhibiting at food festivals, markets and other events in addition to up to 50% of the costs of preparing marketing display material for such events.

Download Farmers' Business Development Grant Application Form

Farmers' Business Development Grant

further information