Rural grants and funding
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) aims to improve competitiveness in the agriculture and forestry sector; safeguard and enhance the rural environment; foster competitive and sustainable rural businesses and thriving rural communities.
What do you want to do?
- Learn what RDPE is, how it is managed and delivered
- Apply for funding – learn about the grants available and how to apply for them on the RDPE Network pages
- Latest news across the Programme
- What’s on? – Find out about what events and activities are going on and how you can get involved.
Views sought on CAP proposals post 2013
Defra has asked interested parties for their views on the proposed reform package, which includes a rural development regulation. A discussion paper, questionnaire and advice on how to respond can be found at:
Defra takes the lead on RDPE delivery
Since taking over responsibility for the delivery of the RDPE socio-economic elements, through the newly established RDPE delivery teams, Defra is providing a stronger lead on the priorities for delivery. In particular, Defra has refocused remaining socio-economic resources (circa £100 million) of RDPE at meeting the priorities of the Rural Economic Growth Review.
Following the launch of the Rural Economic Growth Review (29th November 2011), the following grant schemes are or will be available.
Available NOW
Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme (up to £20 million) – small grants to help farmers, foresters and horticultural businesses improve their competitiveness. The fund was launched on 16 November 2011. The first round of the FFIS has now closed. A second round is expected to open in late April/May 2012.
Rural Community Broadband Fund (up to £20 million) – a joint fund with Broadband Delivery UK providing grants to communities to establish superfast broadband in hard-to-reach areas. The fund was launched on 29 November 2011
TO BE LAUNCHED, with information available in due course:
Rural Economy Grant (up to £60 million) – grants of up to £1 million or more for micro and SME businesses to boost farm competiveness, and support significant growth in the agri-food, rural tourism, forestry, renewable energy, and other high-potential (eg ICT and creative) sectors particularly. The fund will be launched in early 2012.
Skills and Knowledge Transfer (up to £20 million) – a flexible and locally targetable skills training programme to enable rural business growth. The fund will to be launched in the summer 2012 following completion of existing local skills programmes.
An additional £3m will support schemes to improve footpaths and access, skills training for new entrants to the forestry workforce, and developing tourism support building on those being piloted by a leading AONB in the South East. The timing of the launch of these initiatives is to be confirmed.