Yorkshire Forward’s Rural Skills Programme Launches £1m Training Grant Scheme at Great Yorkshire Show

08/07/2010

Yorkshire Forward’s rural skills programme, LandSkills, will announce its £1million winter training programme at the Great Yorkshire Show (13-15 July 2010).

Managed by Lantra the Sector Skills Council, and funded through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), LandSkills delivers subsidised training and learning activities for the region’s agricultural, horticultural and forestry industries.
 
Support and advice will be available everyday of the show at stand 617 from LandSkills and other RDPE supported programmes including;
• Share to Farm - Provides support and mentoring to farm businesses wishing to collaborate through Joint Ventures.  
• BPEX - The British Pig Executive works with the regions’ pig farmers to control and reduce disease levels in Yorkshire and Humber’s pig herds.
• Growing Routes - Provides pre-start business support and training to individuals wanting to establish new farm based enterprises.
• Farexchange - A supply chain development programme, which connects the food trade and farmers across the region. 
• Business Link – Will be advising individuals on starting up businesses and providing information on the RDPE Rural Business Start Up grant scheme which offers grants up to £25k.
• CO2Sense - Helps businesses across the region cut waste, cut emissions and prosper in the new Low Carbon Economy.

Chocolates, bread, cheese, and wine will be on sale at the stand from regional businesses which have received RDPE funding and will be happy to discuss the process of applying for a grant and the benefits of the support.

Andy Tordoff, Assistant Director of Environment (Rural Renaissance and Tourism) at Yorkshire Forward commented; “There’s so much more to RDPE than giving businesses funding – we provide a number of rural support programmes which can offer support and guidance on a range of rural business needs and requirements. The overall aim of RDPE is to ensure rural areas remain vibrant and diverse and improve the quality of life and environment.”

RDPE is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union and managed by Yorkshire Forward.

Notes to editors:

Yorkshire Forward
• Yorkshire Forward is the Regional Development Agency behind the economic regeneration of Yorkshire and Humber. It aims to make a positive difference by investing in jobs, improving towns and cities, and in supporting businesses throughout the region.
• RDPE is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union (The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas) and managed by Yorkshire Forward.
• For further information, images or to arrange an interview, please contact Laura Scholey, Press Manager on 0113 3949540 or email laura.scholey@yorkshire-forward.com