Grants and funding, step by step
Interactive lesson: types of support, claiming back, following schemes, working out if it pays, applying with quotes and obligations after payment.
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The whole lesson as text
1. Types of support
Support for farming comes from several levels and in several forms.
- Area payments — An amount per hectare or for actions on the land, from the payments agency or farm department. For registered holdings with a minimum area or activity.
- Investment grants — Part of the cost of a polytunnel, equipment, a building or planting is paid back. Needs an investment plan and your own money.
- Local help — Councils, conservation districts and charities give trees, hedging, hives, advice or equipment in kind. Often to small holdings too.
- Start small — Small holdings often get most from local schemes and advisory services. Learn the procedure on a small scheme.
Why: Amounts change every year and differ between England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, US states and Canadian provinces. So learn the types of support first and check the amounts in the scheme rules.
- Scheme and agency names change. Check with the relevant authority or your adviser what is open this year.
- For almost any grant, the holding must be registered in time and owe nothing to the state (H64-03).
2. How claiming back works
Investment support usually works by paying back part of the cost.
- Apply and get approval — Apply to the scheme with your investment plan. The approval or agreement says what, how much and by when.
- You need the money up front — For a £10,000 investment with 50 % support you need £10,000, not £5,000. The rest comes back later, if everything is done by the rules.
- Date and way of paying — Costs incurred before you apply or are approved are often not eligible. Pay from the applicant's account into the seller's account, against an invoice.
- Payment comes late — The payment claim goes in with invoices and evidence. In your budget, plan as if the money arrives at the end of the year or next year.
Why: First you apply and get approval, then you pay the full cost, then you claim payment with invoices. Part of the cost comes back, often months later.
- VAT or sales tax and ineligible costs (delivery, installation, second-hand equipment, your own labour) often aren't refunded.
- Don't borrow against an expected grant if you couldn't make the repayments when the grant is late or never comes.
3. Follow the schemes · Locked
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4. Is applying worth it · Locked
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5. Application and quotes · Locked
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6. After approval · Locked
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