Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) Business Grant Scheme

Find the guidance and eligibility criteria here.

Download the REPF application form here [107KB] .

About the REPF Business Grant Scheme

The REPF Business Grant Scheme is a capital grants programme for small rural businesses funded through the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) by DEFRA (the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs). The REPF falls under the governments Levelling Up Campaign, which aims to create opportunities across the UK by investing in a lot of initiatives.

The Rural Fund supports the aims of the government's Levelling Up White Paper and Future Farming Programme. It funds capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure. This will help to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.

The Rural Fund sits alongside existing DEFRA schemes, including:

• The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme
• The Farming Investment Fund
• The Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund

However, the Rural Fund cannot support projects that have received funding from any of the DEFRA schemes listed above. See the guidance and eligibility page for further details.
 

Eligibility and criteria

See our guidance and eligibility page for full details.

It is essential you read through these guidance notes to ensure your business and project are eligible to submit an application for the REPF business grant.
 

Applying for funding

Please apply using the  REPF application form [107KB] .

The application form will outline the details of your project. Once you've completed the application, please email it to economicdevelopment@westberks.gov.uk.

Applications will be reviewed and, if the project is eligible for funding, it will be assessed, scored, and funding allocated.

Support for completing applications will be provided through the Economic Development Team.
 

Example projects

The following three examples are the type of projects the REPF Business Grant scheme is aiming to support.
 

1. Equestrian and animal related diversification

West Berkshire has a long and proud history of equestrian and horse racing activities across the district. As such, we'll be looking to support small businesses who are seeking to support the Equestrian industry. Examples include provision of facilities for pet and equines such as kennels, livery, and pet health venues.
 

2. Farm diversification - development of glamping site on farm

A former LEADER farm diversification project received £15,500 for glamping facilities. This capitalised on the growing demand for tourism in natural locations. It led to extra business for local pubs, restaurants, and rural tourist attractions. It also had positive environmental impacts, showing visitors the local wildlife. The accommodation was low impact, using renewable energy and tents made from natural materials. The new stream of income meant the farm employed seasonal workers, supporting the local economy.
 

3. Expanding furniture making business

A former Growth Programme project received funding of £40,000. This funded new machinery to meet increasing demand. The furniture making business increased in-house manufacturing and gained new contracts. This led to the creation of 2 to 3 full-time equivalent jobs.
 

Further details on the types of projects that are eligible for funding will be available in the guidance note, due to be published in the new year. If you're still unsure about the eligibility of your scheme after reading the guidance notes, please contact the Economic Development Team.

 

Funding allocation

Our funding allocation over the two-year period is as follows:

2023 to 2024 capital	2024 to 2025 capital	Total
£99,498	£198,495	£297,994

 

Applicants can apply for grants ranging between £10,000 to £40,000 and will be awarded to businesses on a rolling basis over the lifetime of the scheme.