Funding for rural businesses

Yorkshire Forward has launched a major drive to encourage existing and budding rural businesses to access millions of  pounds of support to quite literally change the region’s rural economy.

Over £63m is available through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) which is jointly funded by the European Union and the UK Government, to encourage investment by the region's rural businesses to build capacity and efficiency in their businesses and to stimulate enterprise and entrepreneurship to help grow the rural economy.

The RDPE is made up of five elements:

The Rural Enterprise Investment Programme

Grants start at £25,000. They’re available to rural businesses wanting to grow and become more productive. The industries assisted include tourism, forestry and farm diversification businesses. And also those companies processing and adding value to agricultural produce.

The Rural Business Support Programme

Grants go up to £25,000. And up to 50% of a project’s costs. The industries assisted include new and existing rural micro-enterprises and farm diversification businesses. The programme is run by Business Link Yorkshire.

The Rural Retail Support Programme

This provides specialist support and advice for sole traders of both established and new businesses that provide essential retail services to rural communities. And is to help those companies expand and diversify.

The LandSkills Programme

This will increase the skills of those working in the agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors. And so improve their businesses’ efficiency and profitability.

The Farm Resource Efficiency Programme

Up to 40% of equipment costs can be funded – up to a maximum of £25,000. This will encourage farmers to invest in the new technology that will improve both their economic performance and their environmental credentials.

Rural businesses were given an introduction to the RDPE programme by Yorkshire Forward’s  rural business advisors during this year’s Great Yorkshire Show. The ever-popular event took place in Harrogate earlier this month.

For more information and to apply on line for REIP and FREP visit www.yorkshire-forward/rural-businesses.  For more information on the rural business support grants contact www.businesslinkyorkshire.co.uk