Malvern Hills Rural Fund
If you can see a great opportunity to start or grow your business, then the Malvern Hills Rural Fund may be able to help you achieve your goal.
The Fund is now open and encouraging applications from £2,500 up to £25,000 from businesses throughout rural Malvern Hills District.
Please use the links below to find out more.
What is the Malvern Hills Rural Fund
What types of projects does the fund support?
Where should my project take place?
Who can I contact for more information?
What is the Malvern Hills Rural Fund?
The Malvern Hills Rural Fund is being delivered by Malvern Hills District Council. The aim of the fund is to help businesses address issues and overcome barriers to growth, particularly those unique to rural areas.
The funding comes from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and Malvern Hills District Council.
Who can apply?
Any organisations and businesses with legal status can receive funding, including:
- Micro enterprises should have less than 10 employees and an annual turnover under £2 million, and small enterprises should have less than 50 employees and an annual turnover under £10 million.
- Voluntary organisations
- Registered charities
- Local authorities
- Public sector organisations
- Higher and further education institutions
If there is a high demand for funding, we may give priority to organisations that have not received Rural Fund money in previous years.
Please note we cannot support projects that have received funding from other Defra schemes, including:
Malvern Hills Rural Fund is not available for purchasing additional farm equipment or increasing farm production. However, it can be used to help diversify the farm business outside of agriculture. If you are unsure whether your diversification plan is eligible, please contact us to discuss.
What types of projects does the fund support?
We are looking to support new capital projects (something physical like a new piece of equipment or machinery) that bring something new to your business. They must represent good value for money and be able to be completed by 31st January 2026. We cannot fund staff costs, general operating expenses, or services you are legally required to provide.
Please refer to our pdf Outputs and Outcomes Guidance (170 KB) to determine where your project sits regarding the Malvern Hills Rural Fund.
Supporting Rural Enterprise
We are looking for projects that can be delivered quickly and must be able to be delivered by 31st January 2026. The Rural Fund welcomes projects for purchase of capital items that will assist start-up, growth, development, and job creation.
The following types of projects will be supported:
- Purchase of capital items to start, grow, and develop the business offer of micro and small rural businesses and farm diversifications, for example:
- Gardening equipment that would increase the services offered by a business.
- A horsebox to provide catering at events selling food made using farm produce from the business.
- Community enterprises projects that will make a direct contribution to the local economy, for example:
- Fit out of a community shop.
- Development and promotion of the visitor economy, for example:
- Updating a visitor attraction to make it more accessible to a wider audience.
If your project requires planning permission, you must provide evidence that it has been granted as part of your application.
Projects must not commence until they have received funding approval.
If you need more information or would like to discuss a project that you are confident can be delivered by 31st January 2026, please use the contact details in the Contact Us section. We are happy to discuss your ideas and provide support throughout the application process.
Where should my project take place?
The project must be delivered in a rural area within the district of Malvern Hills. Please refer to Defra's Rural Map to check if your project is in a rural area.
On the left hand side you will see a menu:
- Click the + to the side of “Administrative Boundaries”.
- Click the + to the side of “Other Administrative Boundaries”.
- Select Rural England Prosperity Fund.
- Enter the project delivery postcode into the top left search box or zoom into the delivery location.
- Select the “Identify” tool from the options bar at the top (an “i” in a circle).
- Click on the delivery postcode or area.
- The box that appears will tell you if your projects is within a rural area.
How much can I apply for?
Capital grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 are available. Applicants will be expected to match fund at least 50% of the project.
How can I apply?
If you would like to submit an application please refer to the Rural Fund Application Process for guidance on what you will be asked to provide throughout the stages.
What are the timescales?
Round One – Key Dates
- Expression of Interest deadline – Midday, 5th May 2025
- Full application deadline – Midday, 16th June 2025
- Funding decision – end of July 2025
Please note that Expressions of Interests will be accepted after 5th May 2025 but may not be included in the decisions for Round One.
Round Two – Key Dates
- Expression of interest deadline – Midday, 7th July 2025
- Full Application deadline – Midday, 18th August 2025
- Funding decision – end of September 2025
Please note that all projects from both rounds must be completed by 31st January 2026.
Future Rounds
Future rounds may be opened depending on available funding levels.
Please contact us if you would like to discuss your project.
Case Studies
Read more about some of the projects the Malvern Hills Rural Fund has supported.
Utilising the power of nature in workspace design
Based in Hanley Swan, Sitemark is known for its consultancy in cleaning, security, and maintenance, has been helping businesses nationwide.
As part of the Malvern Hills Rural Fund, the business received £7,510 to transform their office space to include the development of a biophilic environment. This means combining a space with nature by using living plants, natural materials, and different textures.
The aim is to create a calming workspace to create a sense of tranquillity and improve wellbeing.
Working with local suppliers, Sitemark successfully created a space that, according to Managing Director, Mike Boxall, has “opened up the possibilities of creative and collaborative working.”
Team members echoed this sentiment, noting that the project brought everyone together.
Research into biophilic design has shown that it improves cognitive performance and reduces stress.
Cheers to J Maverick and Co
J Maverick & Co Craft Ales and Ciders started trading in July 2024, just before the return of the popular Upton Blues Festival.
Owned by a husband-and-wife duo, Hazel and Andrew Smith, the couple transformed the front room of their 18th century house into what is now known as the ‘smallest bar in Worcestershire’.
They offer a wide range of craft ales and ciders on keg cask and in cans to take away. They are also a leading supplier of low and no alcohol, vegan and gluten-free ales, ciders and lagers.
J Maverick & Co received a grant of £12k which went towards the shop fitting and other items including the fridge, radiator and the unique library ladder.
Co-Owner, Hazel Smith, praised the Malvern Hills Rural Fund, saying it helped them as a small business start-up. She said: “Converting an 18th century property, the Rural Grant allowed us to raise the specification of our project and be more confident in what we could achieve with this beautiful building”.
Read more about J Maverick & Co Craft Ales and Ciders.
Contact
UKSPF Programme Support Officer
Adrian Rosten-Smart
Email:
Phone: 01386 565453