Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF)

Breckland Council is making available funding utilising the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) to support two capital grant schemes.

New Business Start-up
Rural Business Growth Grants

The grants are to support productivity and prosperity in places that need it most and activities that specifically address the particular challenges rural areas face.

	New Business Start-up	Rural Business Grant - Medium Growth	Rural Business Grant - High Growth
Description	To support new Breckland businesses in their first year of operation by helping them purchase essential capital items required to launch or establish their operations. The grant is intended solely for capital expenditure, such as equipment, tools, or physical assets, e.g. equipment, that contributes directly to business start-up.	To support Breckland businesses that have been trading for at least 12 months to grow or diversify, through capital investment. The grants are designed to help businesses acquire physical assets that will enable them to improve productivity, efficiency, or capacity.	To support Breckland businesses that have been trading for at least 12 months to grow or diversify, through significant capital investment. The grants are designed to help businesses acquire major physical assets that will enable them to improve productivity, efficiency, capacity, and high business growth.
Eligibility	Breckland-based business not yet started or within their first year of operation.	Breckland-based business with at least 12 months trading history.	Breckland-based business with at least 12 months trading history.
Min/Max Grant Award	£500 - £1000	£500 - £2,499	£2,500 - £50,000
Match funding required	Minimum of 50%	Minimum of 50%	Minimum of 50%
Deadline for project completion	1 Dec 2025	1 Dec 2025	1 Dec 2025
Evaluation Criteria for award (must be covered in submission)	Creates a new enterprise in the Breckland District Jobs created/safeguarded Would not be achievable without the grant Able to be delivered within the timescale Sustainable Business model Growth potential Delivers economic, environmental and/or social benefits	Is an enterprise in the Breckland District Jobs created/safeguarded Would not be achievable without the grant Able to be delivered within the timescale Sustainable Business model Growth potential Grant improves productivity Grant creates a new technology or process Grant creates a new product or service in a new market Improved productivity/turnover Innovation in the sector Delivers economic, environmental, and/or social benefits	Is an enterprise in the Breckland District Jobs created/safeguarded Would not be achievable without the grant Able to be delivered within the timescale Sustainable Business model Has demonstratable High Growth potential Grant improves productivity Grant creates a new technology or process Grant creates a new product or service in a new market Improved productivity/turnover Innovation in the sector Delivers economic, environmental and/or social benefits Plans for ongoing funding or revenue after grant period. Supports a significant capital project Gives capacity to execute the growth strategy Describes how the business will thrive and continue to grow post-grant
Evidence Required (scaled depending on amount sought)	Show how you will spend the grant responsibly and how it demonstrates good value for money A Business Plan showing; what the business will do, how it will operate, who the customers are and how the business will reach them, what outcomes will be achieved and how the business will be financially viable over time 3 quotations and once grant confirmed, proof of spend (receipts)	Show how you will spend the grant responsibly and how it demonstrates good value for money A Business Plan showing; what the business will do, how it will operate, who the customers are and how the business will reach them, what outcomes will be achieved and how the business will be financially viable over time 3 quotations and once grant confirmed, proof of spend (receipts)	Show how you will spend the grant responsibly and how it demonstrates good value for money A Business Plan showing; what the business will do, how it will operate, who the customers are and how the business will reach them, what outcomes will be achieved and how the business will be financially viable over time 3 quotations and once grant confirmed, proof of spend (receipts)

Exclusions:

REPF Grants must not be used to fund farming equipment or infrastructure or to diversify within agriculture. Applicants looking for funding for this type of activity must use existing Defra grant schemes. REPF can however provide funding (capital grants) for small scale investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas where this is intended for farm business diversification projects outside of agriculture (for example, creating rural leisure and tourism facilities)
Gambling and betting establishments
Any business activity that is illegal or deemed unsuitable for public support for example by Breckland Council or MHCLG
Projects which have already received support from other Defra schemes, including The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme, The Farming Investment Fund, The Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Grant.
Retrospective purchases do not apply
Vehicles, trailers

Examples of eligible Capital Spend:

Equipment or machinery (e.g. tools, production machines, IT hardware)
Building works (e.g. renovations, extensions, shopfitting)
Technology infrastructure (e.g. servers, specialist software if it's a one-off purchase)
Fixtures and fittings (e.g. shelving, counters, lighting for a shop or office)