Apply Now: Rural England Prosperity Funding Programme

The REPF grant 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 is integrated into the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which supports productivity and prosperity in places that need it most. It supports activities that specifically address the particular challenges rural areas face.

Investment Priorities

• Eligible local business will be able to apply for grants under 3 key Investment Priorities therefore you project must be a fit for one of the following:
  • Funding for net zero infrastructure: Capital funding for net zero infrastructure for rural businesses e.g., energy saving equipment, energy efficiency measures and or processes (excludes electrical vehicle charging points).
  • Diversification of farm businesses outside of agriculture: Capital funding for the diversification of farm businesses outside of agriculture to encourage, expansion, or scale up of these businesses where this involves converting farm buildings into other commercial or businesses uses
  • Growing the local social economy and supporting innovation: Funding (capital grants) for growing the local social economy and supporting innovation.
  • Please note: this investment priority is only for: Community businesses or Social enterprises.
  • Developing and promoting the visitor economy: Funding (capital grants) for the development and promotion (both trade and consumer) of the visitor economy, such as:
    • local attractions
    • trails
    • tourism products more generally

Funding Information

• The minimum award for a grant is £2,500 up to a maximum of £35,000.
• There will be a requirement for all applicants to be able to provide match funding of 20-30% dependant on the total value of the items.

Outputs

• The REPF scheme is able to provide funding to assist with the purchase of capital items (e.g., equipment) that will help business to achieve one or more of the following outputs:
  • Create jobs
  • Introduce new to the firm technologies or process (with a focus on net zero)

Who can apply? 

• Any small or micro business registered within the North Devon Council area actively trading for 12 months or more, with a UK-based bank account in the name of the business and without unmanageable debt.
• Not all areas of North Devon are eligible to receive rural funding as determined by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. (DEFRA). Businesses must be located in a rural area which are defined as:
  • towns, villages, and hamlets with populations below 10,000 and the wider countryside
  • market or ‘hub towns’ with populations of up to 30,000 that serve their surrounding rural areas as centres of employment and in providing services
• Area-based grants eligibility will be determined by the address where the business is registered e.g., address on business bank statement and which local authority the business pays rates to.
• You can apply if you are a Sole Trader, Partnership, Limited Business, Community Interest Company or Registered Charity, Social Enterprise, or Parish Council (where these engage in economic activity). Providing you have under 50 employees and a turnover less than €10m and are not part of a wider national organisation or group). You must be actively trading, not in administration or insolvent. Please note if your status changes during the application process you must advise us immediately.
• Please note this grant is not for start-up businesses, you need to have been actively trading for 12 months or more and have a Unique Tax Reference, Companies House, or Charity Commission Registration.

For more information, visit North Devon Council.