The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) grants are funded by both North Devon Council and Torridge District Council through the central governments wider UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKPSF) as part of the levelling up agenda. 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.
The scheme is for small and micro businesses, with up to 50 employees with a turnover of less than £10m.
Eligible local business will be able to apply for grants under 3 key Investment Priorities which include:
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Intervention 1.1: capital grant funding for small scale investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas This includes capital funding for net zero infrastructure for rural businesses, and diversification of farm businesses outside of agriculture to encourage, expanding, or scaling those businesses where this involves converting farm buildings to other commercial or business uses. |
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Investment Priority Intervention |
Grants Amount |
Objective |
Outputs Required |
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1.1a). 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).
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Min grant £2,500 up to £10,000 (20% match funding required)
or Grants of between £10,001 and £25,000 (30% match funding required)
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Create jobs and increase private sector investment in growth-enhancing activities, through targeted support for small businesses to: - undertake innovation - adopt productivity enhancing, energy efficient and low carbon technologies and techniques - meeting a local demand for a product or service that is not currently being met.
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Your project must contribute towards one or more of the following (please see what is eligible section in the guidance notes for the definition of the output and the evidence required) · Jobs created. · Number of businesses adopting new to the firm technologies or processes |
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Investment Priority Intervention |
Grants Amount |
Objective |
Outputs Required |
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1.1b). 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
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Grants of between £2,500 and £10,000 (20% match funding required)
or
Grants of between £10,001 and £25,000 (30% match funding required)
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Create jobs and increase private sector investment in growth-enhancing activities, through targeted support for small businesses to: - undertake innovation - adopt productivity enhancing, energy efficient and low carbon technologies and techniques - meeting a local demand for a product or service that is not currently being met.
Project examples could include tourism provision development, projects that will increase the ability to sell locally such as equipment, fridge units and vending machines, event venues, food & drink tours and tasting and tourism experiences.
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Your project must contribute towards one or more of the following (please see what is eligible section in the guidance notes for the definition of the output and the evidence required) · Jobs created. · Number of businesses adopting new to the firm technologies or processes
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Intervention 1.2: capital grant funding for growing the local social economy and supporting innovation. |
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Investment Priority Intervention |
Grants Amount |
Objective |
Outputs Required |
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1.2). Growing the local social economy and supporting innovation Funding (capital grants) for growing the local social economy and supporting innovation.
This call is only for: Community businesses (Community businesses can be any type of business that trades products and services such as shops, transport, farms, hubs, pubs, gardens, or leisure centres, run by local people for the benefit of the local community.)
Social enterprises (Social enterprises are businesses that have a social or environmental purpose and reinvest or donate at least 50% of the profits they make to help achieve their stated mission and so create positive social change. Unlike other businesses social enterprises have their mission irrevocably embedded in their business model and governing documents). |
Grants of between £2,500 and £10,000 (20% match funding required)
or
Grants of between £10,001 and £25,000 (30% match funding required)
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Create jobs and provide capital grant support for improvements to local retail, hospitality, and leisure sector facilities. To enhance rural visitor economy and rural leisure opportunities.
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Your project must contribute towards one or more of the following (please see what is eligible section in the guidance notes for the definition of the output and the evidence required) · Jobs created. · Number of businesses adopting new to the firm technologies or processes
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Intervention 1.3: capital grant funding for developing and promoting the visitor economy. |
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Investment Priority Intervention |
Grants Amount |
Objective |
Outputs Required |
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1.3). 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
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Grants of between £2,500 and £10,000 (20% match funding required)
or
Grants of between £10,001 and £25,000 (30% match funding required)
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Create jobs and enhance rural visitor economy and rural leisure opportunities.
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Your project must contribute towards one or more of the following: · Jobs created.
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The minimum award for a grant is £2,500 up to a maximum of £25,000. There will be a requirement for all applicants to be able to provide match funding of 20-30% dependant on value of the items. It may help your application score if you can offer above the compulsory match requirements.
The principal objective of the REPF scheme is 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)
The grant programme will be run in application rounds for each investment theme during 2023-2024 so please ensure that you check the funding round timetables within the North Devon and Torridge dedicated grant pages for information before you apply. Please note if we are oversubscribed, then we reserve the right to close the application window early, however we will publish a notification in advance on this webpage before doing so. There is no guarantee of a grant, and the application process will be competitive.
Grant 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. Please ensure that you click through to the correct page for where your business is registered under either the pages for North Devon Council or Torridge District Council.
For North Devon Council based businesses please click on the NDC button on the top right of the page for Application timetables, Application Forms and Application Guidance.
For Torridge District Council based businessesplease click on the TDC button on the top right of the page for Application timetables, Application Forms and Application Guidance.
Please ensure that you read the Application Guidance in full before contacting us regarding eligibility queries. Please ensure that you read in full the Application Guidance and complete the Application Form in full along with all of the required supporting documents. Please ensure that you submit these electronically to REPF@northdevonplus.co.uk by the deadlines published. We cannot accept applications or supporting documents by post. When submitting your application please ensure you submit this along with your contact details and ensure all documents are sent within the one submission email.