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This sceme provides funding towards the cost of vicational training for those engaged in farming or forestry, including training needed for deversification pruposes.
What does the Grant Support?
This scheme is part of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) and provides funding towards the cost of vocational training (that is, training that relates to the performance of a person's occupation or work) for those engaged in farming or forestry, including training needed for diversification purposes (whether farming of non farming).
Eligible training courses must fall within one of the following areas:
- Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
- Business skills
- Marketing
- Conservation and environment skills
- Diversification opportunities
- Managing resources
- Managing yourself and your staff
- Looking at new ways of working
- Technical skills (forestry)
- Technical skills (agriculture and horticulture)
- On farm food production and processing skills
Funding is limited and therefore grants are awarded selectively. All applications undergo a rigorous eligibility and technical assessment and are compared with other, similar projects that are competing for the same funds so that only the projects demonstrating the most benefits are selected. It will be helpful to speak to your local Defra RDS office to find out if your application is likely to succeed before you commit time and effort to the application process.
Who is eligible to apply?
You may apply for a grant:
- As and individual seeking training
- On behalf of a small group of trainees, such as employees and family members or
- As a training organisation/provider.
To be eligible all potential trainees must fall within one of the following categories:
- Spend at least 50% of your working time on your agricultural/horticultural holding
- Spend at least 20% of your working time on your forestry holding
- Derive a direct income from farming or forestry activities
- Are involved in the conversions/diversification of farming, horticultural or forestry activities
If you are applying as an individual, in addition to the application form you will also need to complete a "training needs assessment" form which identifies the skills you wish to acquire. In addition to training needs assessments for potential students, applications from training organisations also require detailed business plans and supporting documentation.
How much is available?
The scheme can provide up to 75% of eligible costs (tuition fees, compulsory course materials and travel costs) for training.
Contact details
Defra, Rural Development Service Eastbrook, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 2DR Tel: 01223 462727 Fax: 01223 533531 General enquiries email:
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Website: www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/es/default.htm
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Grants and Advice 