Staffordshire Moorlands Rural Business Development Grant (UK)

Funding is available for new capital equipment to support all areas of rural business development leading to the creation of new jobs, products, services and markets, and to help boost community cohesion.

Funding Information

• Capital Equipment Grants of up to £15,000 are offered to established Rural Businesses located within Staffordshire Moorlands who are looking to grow or diversify their businesses.
• Grants are available at a maximum of 80% of the total purchase costs i.e. to achieve a maximum £15,000 grant, purchase costs would need to be in excess of £18,750 exclusive of VAT.
• Grants of above £15,000 can be requested if the business can demonstrate significant growth potential/new jobs created. Approval must be obtained by email prior to applying.

Eligible Projects

• The objective of this grant is to support the diversification and expansion of rural businesses leading to the creation of new jobs, products, services & markets, and to help boost community cohesion.
• Funding may be used for projects looking to: undertake innovation, adopt new technologies, improve their carbon footprint, diversify into new markets, develop, and promote the visitor economy, develop local tourist attractions and/or enhance local visitor experiences.
• All Rural Growth Projects need to demonstrate how they can support/contribute to the following REPF outcomes:
• Outcomes
  • Number of jobs created.
  • Number of jobs safeguarded.
  • Number of businesses adopting new to the firm technologies or processes.
  • Number of businesses with improved productivity.
  • Number of businesses experiencing growth/increasing their turnover.
• The project must clearly demonstrate how the funded element will provide additional benefit to any previous or ongoing work/activity.

Eligible Expenditure

• Grants are available for Capital Equipment Only.
• By Capital Equipment they mean – tangible items which are expected to be used for a period of at least one year.

Ineligible Projects

• Ineligible project costs include:
  • Revenue expenditure
  • Costs incurred prior to the Grant Agreement being finalised and signed.
  • Vehicles
  • Ongoing business overheads.
  • Wage costs and related employment costs.
  • Agricultural machinery
  • Purchase of stock.
  • Costs associated with statutory obligations.
  • Land or building projects
  • Contingency costs.
  • Recoverable VAT.
  • Items that can be funded by alternative DEFRA funds including the Farming Investment Fund.

Eligibility Criteria

• Grants are available to Micro and Small enterprises located within Rural areas of the Staffordshire Moorlands who are looking to grow their businesses.
• Grants are only available to businesses who are located within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) defined Rural boundaries.
• To check if you are in an eligible area, you can search DEFRA’s MAGIC Map system
• To be defined as a micro/small business, enterprises need to meet the following criteria:
  • Turnover of less than £10m
  • Balance sheet total of less than £10m
  • Fewer than 50 employees.
• All eligible organisations need to provide evidence of not being insolvent and comply with the Minimal Financial Assistance rules of the UK Subsidy Control requirements.

Ineligible Applicants

• They cannot accept applications from:
  • Businesses based outside Staffordshire Moorlands.
  • Businesses not located within a DEFRA’s defined rural area.

Evaluation Criteria

• All Applications will be assessed on their own merit, against the key criteria below:
  • The impact this funding will have on the business.
  • The level/type of innovation to be developed.
  • The impact this funding will have on the rural community(ifapplicable)
  • The amount/number of REPF Outcomes the project will provide.
  • Value for money.

For more information, visit Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.