Grants/Funding

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CASE STUDY: Rural Enterprise Grant (REG) - 24th February
Warwickshire entrepreneur calls for rural businesses to make the most of funding boost:

A Stratford-upon-Avon entrepreneur is urging rural businesses to make the most of the Rural Enterprise Grant (REG) scheme after her company benefitted from investment that will help it nearly double its turnover in 2010.

Olivia Hatch, who runs the 20-acre Talton Lodge in Newbold-on-Stour, has used a £7,000 funding boost to develop the existing woodland, orchards and parklands into an experienced based tourism operation that is looking to offer a sustainable venue for meetings, team building and entertainment.

As part of a £20,000 project, she has developed a new car park, increased the range of leisure activities and turned a refurbished barn into a state-of-the-art meeting/conference room with upstairs accommodation.

The improvements are the latest part of Olivia’s plans to transform the family home into one of the West Midlands’ most attractive corporate venues and this has already resulted in new clients and four part-time jobs.

“Our vision is to provide a completely sustainable experience, with the refurbished barn part of a small complex of farm buildings, tipis, bell tents and yurts – all created to have minimal impact on the land. Most of the food we serve to guests has been grown or reared in the onsite smallholding, not to mention the range of activities we offer, such as canoeing, bicycling, bushcraft and archery.”

Olivia, who used to work as a chef in London with Gary Rhodes and Fergus Henderson, continued:

“The Rural Enterprise Grant has really made a difference to completing the latest part of our growth and has given us the additional capital to complete the car park and install the level of audio visual facilities we must have, in order to compete with our rivals and attract clients from SMEs through to big multi-nationals.

“Pleasingly, the administrative process was very easy to complete and the grants team were brilliant in making sure they assisted us on every stage of the application.

She added: “REG can have a real impact on your company so I urge all rural businesses to see what it can do for them.”

Funded under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) which is managed by Advantage West Midlands and administered by Herefordshire Council, Rural Enterprise Grants are available for farmers and micro businesses developing and diversifying into food and drink, environmental technologies and tourism improvements.

Funding of up to 40% (or £62,500) can be secured towards projects that range from new processing machinery and supply chain equipment to energy installations and improvements to tourism experiences.

Four companies in Coventry and Warwickshire have so far benefitted from the scheme, with nearly £60,000 awarded towards the development of these rural businesses which will create 18 new jobs, enhance the tourism offer in the county and allow the expansion of local food & drink production facilities.

Olivia picked up the story: “The fact that we can combine unique settings with the best facilities is already paying dividends for our business, with Sky Television hosting two meetings here and more blue chip clients in the pipeline. I genuinely expect us to double turnover this year and come close to £80,000.”

Dorothy Coleman, Rural Enterprise Grants Manager, is also keen for like-minded companies to come forward.

“REG is all about giving rural businesses access to additional funding to help them evolve with the current economy and embark on projects that will identify new revenue streams and safeguard jobs.

“Talton Lodge is a perfect example of the difference it can make and I’m delighted we’ve been able to support such an exciting and unique venture through both our programme and a £10,000 Redundant Building Grant.”

For further information, please contact Dorothy Coleman or Caroline Cattle

For more details on Talton Lodge visit www.taltonlodge.co.uk

Contact: Dorothy Coleman / Caroline Cattle
Contact number: 01432 383616
Email: dmc@herefordshire.gov.uk/ccattle@herefordshire.gov.uk
Website: www.advantagewm.co.uk/working-with-us/rdpe/default.aspx

Poultry Products must act now for Funding
With new rules and regulations affecting broiler chicken producers, Lantra Sector Skills Council today (5 July) advised those in the West Midlands to act now and get funded training before it’s too late.
Under the new ‘broiler welfare directive’ training will be legally required for all staff working with poultry raised for meat. To prepare broiler producers for the changes LandSkills West Midlands, managed by Lantra on behalf of the West Midlands Development Agency, is providing 80% funding towards progressive poultry courses delivered by MVP training.
LandSkills West Midlands Programme Manager, Emma Tregear, said: “We want poultry producers to take advantage of LandSkills and start the training now, because once the directive comes into place we will not be able to fund it.”

Available in autumn 2010 in various locations across the West Midlands, the progressive poultry courses will look at areas such as veterinary health including bird anatomy, disease recognition, biosecurity, welfare, vaccination and medication, post mortems, housing and the environment, food and supply chain, insect and pest control, vermin control, fire awareness and health and safety.
Director of MVP Training, Alastair Johnston, said: “The training available will ensure that poultry staff attending these courses will gain the required standard of knowledge under the new broiler welfare directive.”

To register your interest or for more information please see contact details below.
Contact: MVP Training/ Landskills West Midlands
Contact number: 01904 709007
Email: admin@mvptraining.co.uk
Website: www.lantra.co.uk/LandSkillsWestMidlands

Renewable Heat Incentive
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is the proposed mechanism for supporting the generation of heat energy from renewable sources, such as logs, wood pellets and wood chips used to fuel modern boilers. The consultation process, which included some detail of the workings of the scheme, was opened in February and closed in April this year. In essence, the RHI is a financial incentive to install heat generating low carbon technologies, and is based upon a rebate for every kilowatt hour of energy produced. Anyone with a wood boiler installed since June 2009 will be able to benefit from the scheme. The very generous levels which have been indicated for wood fuelled boilers will transform the economics, and that will dramatically increase demand for wood boilers and wood fuel, a very exciting prospect for everyone involved in the industry, and individuals, organisations and businesses interested in moving towards a low carbon economy. The scheme is due for launch in April 2011.

Contact: Hub Office
Contact number: 02476 858242
Email: jennyg@rase.org.uk

Rural Enterprise Grant
The Rural Enterprise Grant (REG) is funded by the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and is available to farmers and specific rural micro-businesses in the West Midlands.
REG is managed on behalf of Advantage West Midlands, the Regional Development Agency for the region, by Herefordshire Council.

Who Can Apply?
Funding is targeted at:-
• farm businesses and
• members of farming households and
• new or existing businesses of less than 10 employees, known as micro enterprises, whose turnover is equivalent to less than €2m and are located in eligible rural areas whose core and planned activities meet REG eligibility criteria.

What Will The REG Grant Fund?
The following activities are eligible for support under the REG programme:-

1. Farmers /members of Farming Households:
Food And Drink Enterprise Development:
- Small scale processing and manufacturing activities
- Supply chain equipment (processing, storage, specialised equipment/facilities)
- Farm shops, ideally based on farm, but other locations may be considered

Environmental Technologies:
- Renewable Energy installations as part of a wider project
- Waste Recycling linked to supporting Land Based sector

Tourism:
- Tourist attractions, recreation and facilities which add value to the “visitor experience”
- Improvements to existing Tourism businesses to improve quality and provide facilities to extend the appeal of the business.

Other Farm Diversification Activities that will be considered:-
- On farm retailing
- Care-farming
- Educational activity
- Non food processing
- Pre-let office developments
- Manufacturing activity linked to agriculture

2. Micro-enterprises:-
Food And Drink Enterprise Development:
- Small scale processing and manufacturing activities
- Supply chain equipment (processing, storage, specialised equipment/facilities)

Environmental Technologies:
- Renewable energy installations as part of a wider project
- Waste Recycling linked to supporting Land Based sector
- Manufacture of renewables

Tourism:
- Rural tourist attractions, recreation and facilities which add value to the “visitor experience”
- Improvements to existing Tourism enterprises to improve quality and provide facilities to extend appeal of business.

Other Activities
- Eligible activities which are based on farm and directly support the land-based /farming industry may be considered.

How Much Can I Apply For?
• 40% of eligible costs up to a maximum of £62,500. The remainder of the funding must be from non-public sources.

What isn’t eligible?
The following activities will not be supported:
Creation of tourism accommodation
Speculative developments
Purchase of livestock
Investment in normal agricultural operations
Vehicles
Equine activities linked to riding schools and Livery

How Do I Apply?
If you think you are eligible:
• First contact the REG Management Team at Herefordshire Council to discuss your proposal and confirm that you, where you live and your project are eligible for funding.
• If you are eligible the REG Management Team will ask you to complete a Stage 1 Enquiry Form, which can be downloaded in Word or PDF format. You may also need to complete a State Aid declaration to let us know if you have received public funding over the last 3 years.
• If the details of your project meet the initial criteria and priorities of the scheme, the Scheme Manager will invite you to complete a full application.
• If you have not already done so, the REG Management Team will also put you in touch with Business Link West Midlands who will help you assess any need for training or business advice. Funding is conditional on this.

For more information on REG Funding please contact Dorothy Coleman:


Contact number: 01432 383616
Email: dmc@herefordshire.gov.uk
Website: www.advantagewm.co.uk/working-with-us/rdpe/default.aspx

Succesful Funding for Warwickshire Farm Park (REG)
Umberslade Farm Park in Tanworth-in-Arden is one of Warwickshires top farm attractions which re-opened in Februray. With the aid of funding through the Rural Enterprise Grant Scheme from Advantage West Midlands, Matt Porter and Oliver Muntz have renovated the existing working farm to incorperate new facilities and more activites for children.

Fo rmore information regarding the farm park, please visit the website: http://www.umberslade.com/
Contact: Dorothy Coleman / Caroline Cattle
Contact number: 01432 383616
Email: dmc@herefordshire.gov.uk/ccattle@herefordshire.gov.uk
Website: www.advantagewm.co.uk/working-with-us/rdpe/default.aspx

Woodland Funding and Support for the West Midlands
If you are in forestry as an employee, business, group of businesses or woodland owner that improves the economic value of forests or forest products you may be eligible for support.

Heartwoods is a project of Small Woods funded by Advantage West Midlands through the Rural Development Programme for England to support the woodland and forestry industries in the West Midlands.

Heartwoods can offer advice and support through applications for funding and general advice:

• Woodland Enterprise Grant (WEG)
• RE: Think Energy: Rachel Strivens – 01743 252599
• Strategic Investment Grants (SIG)
• The English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS): www.forestry.gov.uk/england -01905 532200
• Funding for Skills & Training: Cindy Joule – 01939 262154
• Regulations: http://www.forestry.gov.uk – 01905 532200

Heartwoods is your first port of call and can provide guidence on where to find more help. For more information on any Woodland Funding please contact Heartwoods.

Contact: Heartwoods
Contact number: 01952 435858
Email: info@heartwoods.co.uk
Website: www.heartwoods.co.uk