Deadline Date: January 09, 2026
The Highlands and Islands Enterprise is inviting applications for its Small Producers Pilot Fund to support the small producer food and drink sector in the Highlands and Islands.
The initiative aims to strengthen local food networks by offering non-repayable capital grants to organisations that provide services or benefits to groups of small producers. Eligible projects could include food hubs, producer groups, communal infrastructure, abattoirs, or other enterprises that support multiple small producers.
The total budget available for the fund is £175,000, which will support up to 17 projects. Grants range from £10,000 to £50,000 and can cover up to 100% of total project costs. This funding provides an opportunity for organisations to invest in facilities, equipment, or services that enhance the local supply chain and improve access to markets for small-scale producers.
Eligible applicants include organisations or SMEs that serve multiple small producers. This includes food hubs that aggregate, distribute, or market products, organisations that create routes to market, representative bodies such as regional food groups or farmers’ markets, providers of shared services and facilities like storage or processing units, and abattoirs. Applicants must demonstrate that their work benefits a number of individual small producers or supports the local supply chain, for example through partnership agreements, letters of support, or evidence of a supplier or customer base. Where applicable, applicants should own or lease premises in the Highlands and Islands with at least five years remaining on the lease and have written permission to make necessary changes.
Certain organisations are not eligible to apply. These include businesses not based in the Highlands and Islands, large enterprises that exceed the SME definition, organisations primarily funded by core public sector funding, and religious or political organisations. The fund is specifically designed to target smaller, locally-focused organisations that can directly support the growth and resilience of the small producer food and drink sector.
For more information, visit Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
