Rural businesses benefit from grants totalling £160,000

Rural business in West Berkshire have so far received funding grants worth £160,000 from West Berkshire Council to help boost the local economy and promote sustainability.

Small rural businesses can apply for grants worth between £10,000 and £40,000 to help them to grow sustainably - for example by adopting new production methods or transforming derelict farm buildings into commercial spaces.

West Berkshire Council has a total of £297,994 to award in grants before March 2025. Since the scheme was launched in December 2023 a total of £159,846 - just over half the available funding - has been awarded to six local businesses. Successful applicants have also collectively contributed £30,495 of match funding - putting in their own funding to help the grants funding to go further and emphasising their dedication to boosting economic development and promoting sustainability in our rural areas.

Applications to the scheme remain open with the next round of funding awarded in September.

One local business to benefit from the scheme is Charlotte Manser Ceramics, a sustainable pottery studio near Lambourn. With a plan to offer pottery courses and retreats, Charlotte successfully applied to the grant to buy ten pottery wheels and a kiln to enable her to host these workshops and create a community space for the creative arts and craft industry. You can hear more about Charlotte talking about applying for the grant in this video.

Speaking about the grant, Councillor Louise Sturgess, Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration said:

"It's fantastic to see such a positive response to the grant so far. The applications we've received have really demonstrated the diversity of the rural businesses we have across West Berkshire. The projects funded so far will help strengthen our rural economy's sustainability and resilience and help keep our communities vibrant and viable for the long term. It's not too late for other businesses to get involved and with funding still available we're working hard to get it to local businesses before the scheme closes next year."

The grants are being distributed by West Berkshire Council and form part of a wider Rural England Prosperity Fund which has seen almost £600,000 allocated by central Government to support the rural economy in West Berkshire.

Guidance on applying for the Rural England Prosperity Fund business grant scheme is available on the council's website. Eligible businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and submit an expression of interest to the Economic Development Team to take advantage of this opportunity.

For more information, please visit the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) Business Grant Scheme page.