Grants on offer to rural small businesses in England

Several grant schemes providing funding to rural businesses in England are currently open for applications.

The money is from the government's Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), which is aimed at improving local infrastructure and essential services that benefit rural communities and helping businesses in rural areas to expand.

Rural areas are defined as:

• towns, villages and hamlets with populations below 10,000 and the wider countryside

• market or 'hub towns' with populations of up to 30,000 that serve their surrounding rural areas as centres of employment and in providing services

The government announced £33 million for the fund in March.

All 2025/26 local allocations of funding are here, with more details of some of the latest schemes below:

• Test Valley Borough Council in Hampshire has £154,000 of REPF money to support rural communities and businesses during 2025-2026. All funding must be claimed by 26 March 2026. More details here.

• Northumberland County Council has £1.1m in grants for micro and small rural businesses. Grants of between £10,000 and £300,000 are available for supporting capital investment in projects that lead to long-term growth, improved productivity, or market diversification. The programme runs until 31 March 2026, with all funded projects to be completed by December 2025. More details here.

• Stroud District Council in Gloucestershire has £120,261 for businesses and community groups in eligible rural areas for grants to support capital projects. There are grants of between £5,000 - £20,000 with 60% match funding, or £5,000 - £10,000 with no match funding. More details here.

• Bedford Borough Council has £165,675 of REPF money to give away. Applications close at 12pm on 30 June. More details here.

• Horsham District Council has £260,000 to invest in local rural businesses and sustainable community projects. Applications close at 12pm on 13 June. More details here.

• Uttlesford District Council in Essex has £244,000. Grants of up to £25,000 are available to support visitor economy and hospitality businesses, food producers and tourist attractions to develop new products or facilities or improve productivity. More details here.

• North Northamptonshire Council has capital grants between £5,000 and £25,000 are available to help micro and small businesses become more resilient and support growth. Applications close at 8am on 23 June. More details here.

• Chelmsford Council has £120,261 in grants. Applications close on 30 June. More details here.

• Lichfield District Council is providing grants of between £5,000 and £30,000. A minimum 30% match funding is provided. Applications close on 27 June. More details here.

• Somerset Council has grants of between £5,000 and £75,000. More details here.

• Malvern Hills has grants of between £2,500 and £250,00. More details here.

• Cotswold District Council has £229,240 in grants. More details here.

• Bassetlaw District Council has grants of up to £20,000. More details here.

• Tendring District Council has grants of between £5,000 and £20,000. More details here.

Related resources

• Small business grants: Where to find them and how to apply

• 10 small business grants you could be eligible for

• Small business funding: How to choose the right type for you

• Lunch and Learn: How to find and apply for government grants