Malvern Hills Rural Fund
Can you see a great opportunity to start or grow your business? If so, then we may be able to help turn your vision into reality.
Round Four of the Malvern Hills Rural Fund is now open and encouraging applications for up to £25,000 from businesses throughout rural Malvern Hills. We also welcome applications from organisations from outside Malvern Hills but delivering projects to benefit the rural parts of our 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 facilitate businesses to address issues and barriers to growth, particularly those associated with being in a rural area.
The funding comes from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Who can apply?
Any organisation 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
Please note we cannot support projects that have received funding from other Defra schemes, including:
- The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme
- The Farming Investment Fund
- The Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund
What types of projects does the fund support?
We are looking to support new capital projects that bring something new to your business. They must represent good value for money. 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 (522 KB) to determine where your project sits regarding the Malvern Hills Rural Fund.
Due the large supply of self-catering units in the Malvern Hills district, support for new units will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where proposals would significantly improve a visitor experience or attraction. Any applications for tourism will also be assessed against the objectives of the Malvern Hills Visitor Economy Action Plan.
Supporting Rural Business
The Rural Fund welcomes projects that will deliver ideas that are new to the business and that will assist start-up, growth, development and job creation.
The following types of project 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:
- Purchase and fit out of a community shop.
- Creation of a community space that will generate income and create paid jobs.
- Development and promotion of the visitor economy, for example:
- Updating a visitor attraction to make it more accessible to a wider audience.
- Creation of visitor accommodation, as part of a wider attraction or with a unique selling point.
Projects should not have already started before being approved for funding.
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 the project delivery postcode.
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?
This link will take you to information on the Rural Fund Application Process.
What are the timescales?
Round Four – now open!
- Expression of Interest deadline – 8 April 2024
- Full application deadline – 13 May 2024
- Appraisal Panel – 18 July 2024
- Economy Panel – 18 July 2024
- Projects must be ready to go and be completed by December 2024
Round Three – closed to new applications
- Expression of Interest deadline – 23 February 2024
- Full application deadline – 15 March 2024
- Appraisal Panel – 8 May 2024
- Economy Panel – 29 May 2024
- Projects must be ready to go and be completed by December 2024
Round Three – closed to new applications
- Expression of Interest deadline – 23 February 2024
- Full application deadline – 15 March 2024
- Appraisal Panel – May 2024
- Economy Panel – May 2024 (projects requesting £2,500 - £10,000 Rural Grant will receive a final decision after this date)
- Executive Committee – 18 June 2024 (projects requesting £10,001 - £25,000 Rural Grant will receive a final decision after this date)
- Projects must be ready to go and be completed by December 2024
Round Two – closed to new applications
- Expression of Interest deadline – 13 November 2023
- Full application deadline – 9 January 2024
- Appraisal Panel – 22 February 2024
- Economy Panel – 7 March 2024 (projects requesting £2,500 - £10,000 Rural Grant will receive a final decision after this date)
- Executive Committee – 19 March 2024 (projects requesting £10,001 - £25,000 Rural Grant will receive a final decision after this date)
- Projects must be ready to go and be completed by December 2024
Round One – closed to new applications
- Expression of Interest deadline – 14 August 2023
- Full application deadline – 11 September 2023
- Appraisal Panel – 26 October 2023
- Economy Panel – 9 November 2023 (projects requesting £2,500 - £10,000 Rural Grant will receive a final decision after this date)
- Executive Committee – 21 November 2023 (projects requesting £10,001 - £25,000 Rural Grant will receive a final decision after this date)
- Projects must be ready to go and be completed by December 2024
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. If you are unable to provide the required documents by the application deadlines for Round Two it is unlikely that your project will receive a final decision until June 2024.
Please contact us if you would like to discuss your project.
Future Rounds
Future rounds may be opened up depending on available funding levels.
Contact
UKSPF Programme Support Officer:
Georgie Muckle: