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Qualifying for the Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES)

By: Jennifer Lowe - Updated: 20 Apr 2023 | comments*Discuss
 
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The Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES) which was designed to provide assistance for sustainable development projects within communities.

There is a wide range of projects covered by the scheme, but the primary aim is to help farmers adapt to the changes in the market and develop their business by investigating new opportunities.

Other types of projects would include those that have the potential to produce a commercial return, or those that will provide communities with social or environmental benefits.

It can be argued that one of the main aims of RES is to promote and encourage innovation within individual communities, and as a result of this there is no specific list of projects that would be eligible. But, this doesn't mean that just any old project can benefit from this scheme.

The list of things that the scheme will look at, although somewhat vague, includes things like, financial help towards the marketing of agricultural products,set-up costs for basic community services, such as transport schemes for those that are classed as being isolated, or the conversion of old out-buildings to create small businesses like tea shops or farm shops.

The Qualification Procedure

Now although this scheme covers a potentially large array of projects, the amount of funding available is not unlimited. This means that the grants are awarded on a selective, and regional, basis.

The eligibility process is tough and all applicants have to undergo technical analysis and are compared to other projects that are similar in design and structure to ensure that the one that will provide the most benefits to the community is selected.

It is important that you remember that this scheme is only applicable to those projects in England and also excludes those people who work in areas including Cornwall, the Scilly Isles and parts of Merseyside and South Yorkshire. This is because there are other schemes in these areas that provide funding for these types of projects.

The Application Process

Although there is no restrictions in place that determine when you should apply by, there is a limited budget so it is important that you submit your application as soon as possible.

Regional boards assess applications £15,000 in funding from the scheme can be fast-tracked.There are also separate procedures in place for those applications that are national and act as a mirror of projects based in single locations.

Show Me The Money

The RES fund doesn't limit the amount available to each project because it is actually intended to fill the gap between the true cost of the project and what you can realistically afford.However, the guidelines show that there are three bands for funding through RES.

Firstly, for those projects that have no, or a minimal amount of economic return the funding awarded will be between 50 per cent and 100 per cent. Projects like these, for example, would include those that are specifically designed as an aid to the community or local environment and don't necessarily provide a substantial amount of profit for the applicant.

Those projects where the return is the main objective, the amount of funding available is reduced to 30 per cent to 50 per cent. And finally, the projects that have the potential to return in excess of 25 per cent of the initial investment, then the funding is between 15 per cent to 30 per cent.

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Hi we are looking to convert an old farm building into a small holiday let /retreat on our small holding with emphasising the importance of the countryside / animals and mental health . Would this be something that would be looked at in this scheme ?
Ruralbird - 20-Apr-23 @ 9:21 AM
Hi There, My Father has planning permission to covert his Derelict Farm buildings into 4 dwellings. Now we have the planning permission it isn't viable for us to go ahead with converting these as the costs to do so is unrealistic in our position. Is there any grants to subsides the cost to do these buildings up?It would be such a shame to sell these on to a developer when they have been in the family for so long.
Rachel - 7-Feb-23 @ 1:35 PM
Hello. I am looking to convert an old farm barn into a village shop/restaurant. I am under the age of 30 and would like some funding for a new business idea. This shop will have access to a super charge unit for electric cars in the car park and I would like the barn to simply be a cafe/restaurant for customers to wait the car charge. Look forward to your reply. Thank you
Jas - 3-Jan-23 @ 3:00 PM
Can you please email me a link to more application details for the Rural Enterprise Scheme. Many thanks
X - 5-Dec-22 @ 9:26 PM
We are looking for grant or loan funding to support the purchase and conversion of redundant farm buildings on the Isle of Wight into a sustainable bespoke manufacturing facility for our business.
MikeD - 29-Nov-22 @ 12:43 PM
Good afternoon, I am hoping to find grants for the conversion of outbuildings into holiday lets. There is scope in the local authority’s development framework for this type of rural conversion. I look forward to hearing from you.
Jonas - 2-Sep-22 @ 3:14 PM
Hi. I'm looking for any grants to help with converting a farm building to therapy space. Used to promote mental health and wellbeing.
Fidget13 - 16-Aug-22 @ 6:44 PM
Complete waste of time. No-one contacted or advised me about anything. DONT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS...!
davec - 14-Jul-22 @ 9:56 PM
Hi, I am looking to convert an old grain store into a house/living accommodation. I waswondering if there is any grants available?
lucy - 13-Jun-22 @ 1:16 PM
Hi there. I’m looking for any grants to help pay for renovation of listed old cow sheds into holiday cottages. Based in Peak District. Thanks
Ed - 2-May-22 @ 3:47 PM
Hi I am interested in grants for conversion of old stone wall farm buildings to living accomodation
jimmy - 31-Mar-22 @ 5:40 PM
Hi.I have a farm in West Yorkshire which has some semi-derelict buildings and a farm house in need of renovation. I would like to renovate for either a rental or holiday let business and if possible convert some outbuildings for a holiday overnight walkers stop over.Are there any grants for this sort of project?
AliGeeGee - 25-Sep-21 @ 9:22 AM
Are there grants to convert a stable into an air b n b?
CurlyB - 17-Jul-21 @ 7:29 PM
Hi I've old stone buildings in my yard. I live in a tourist area of Northern Ireland and was wondering If there grants to help convert them to holiday self contained rentals. My funds are low and limited access to funds.
Wayne - 10-May-21 @ 7:20 PM
We have an old cottage on our land that is in need of restoration and possible rebuild.Is there any grants available for this and how do we go about applying.
mark - 4-May-21 @ 7:10 PM
I have some old outbuildings I would like to convert into storage and a kitchen to run a baking/ catering business from, is there any way of helping with this? Thanks
J.bakes - 16-Apr-21 @ 5:29 PM
I have outgrown my existing port-a-cabin and sheds.Living on an old farm that is no longer a working farm, I have a number of redundant but substantial sandstone outbuildings. I would like a change-of-use to one of these to convert it to an office, warehouse and workshop.The timing is terrible just coming out of Brexit and hopefully at the tail end of the Covid-19 Pandemic.My available speculation pot has been severely curtailed just trying to survive with domestic and ongoing business expenses.I am looking for grants and financial assistance to convert the outbuilding and to relocate to such larger premises
Davec - 4-Apr-21 @ 8:20 PM
Hi, We are the new owners of a run down farm, we are wondering how we would go about getting a grant to help us save the old cobb and stone barns for use? Many thanks Ben
Ben - 2-Apr-21 @ 5:51 AM
Hi, we have inherited an old farm which has a few brick out buildings, they are all in need of serious tlc! Some may even need to rebuild. Is there any grants out there to fund the renovation/rebuild for diversification? We were thinking cafe/tea room for walkers and passing trade as there is a lot of both? Thank you and look forward to hearing from you. Niall
Niall - 26-Feb-21 @ 6:11 AM
We are planning to create 30 acres into woods and wildflower meadow with lake and island to encourage birds. Dogs will be banned in the nature reserve. Funding help needed.
Evie - 16-Feb-21 @ 3:23 PM
Are there any grants for glamping pods in the Yorkshire dale national park
Charlie - 27-Jan-21 @ 3:12 PM
Hello I am looking for a grant for beekeeping. To be used for equipment and storage. Thanks.
Oliver - 14-Jan-21 @ 3:11 PM
Would like to create walkway/cycle paths, build tree house bring back natural water wildlife opening ponds, while small damping waterways. This is to improve overall outlook and appearance for tourists on outstanding beauty for insects and fauna, grants required to achieve this goal
Gazz - 9-Jan-21 @ 7:00 PM
Hi I’m looking at a site in Dorset with the aim to set up a community small holding that would double in providing courses on all the basics people would need to start a small holding of their own. Part of this would be the conversion of barns to onsite accommodation. We would hope to heat/power most of the site with a combination of GSHP and solar PV. What aspects of this could potentially be aided with grants.
Joel Carter - 31-Dec-20 @ 12:55 PM
Hi I'm a Beekeeper looking to expand. I have the spaces across multiple farms in Nottinghamshire. I would like to turn this into a large scale commercial operation that also links community and schools in NottinghamshireWould the grants be available to a project like this? Needs are Equipment, more storage facilities, resources for teaching programs.
Jen - 25-Dec-20 @ 11:03 PM
We have 3 acres of spare grass land running alongside a tree lined stream which we would like to turn into a wild flower meadow and another 6 acres the other side of the stream where we could do the same.Also there is a 2 acre hillside field which could benefit from tree planting.All of these projects would benefit the environment and any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.Many thanks.
Eric - 22-Nov-20 @ 11:07 AM
Hi, as new regulation have set in and no longer able to gas stored potatoes, we are looking to convert it too a refrigerated system. This will keep the potatoes stored for a long period as we sell them to the community from our shop. Regards Luke
Luke - 11-Nov-20 @ 2:01 PM
Are there grants available to convert old farm buildings to holiday let’s?
Rambo - 21-Oct-20 @ 7:52 PM
STV are wanting to hear from Farmers who are diversifying their farms for a brand new Channel 5 TV series - please email farming@stv.tv for more information!
Bradley - 29-Sep-20 @ 10:12 AM
We would like to convert an old stable block into two holiday cottages the building will retain all its features is there grants available to do this we are in a rural area of Norfolk.
Lenny - 17-Sep-20 @ 11:27 AM
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