Fund aims to help rural firms ‘grow and thrive’

Farmers, food producers and rural businesses are being offered specialist support through an £8.5 million programme aimed at strengthening the North East’s rural economy.

The North East Rural Growth Programme, backed by North East mayor Kim McGuinness, will provide advice, training and funding to help businesses start, grow, diversify and become more resilient.

Support is available to businesses and individuals in rural areas of Northumberland, County Durham and Gateshead, alongside two specialist services covering the wider North East.

A new North East Farm Business Support Service will provide dedicated advice for farming, forestry and timber businesses, including training and peer-to-peer learning designed to help operators respond to industry challenges and identify growth and diversification opportunities.

Separate specialist support for the food and drink sector will bring together farmers, producers, manufacturers, hospitality businesses and tourism operators, with the aim of encouraging collaboration and strengthening regional supply chains.

The programme also provides a single gateway to wider business support for rural start-ups and small firms, including specialist advice and access to grants.

Mayor McGuinness said: “When I took office I promised to improve lives in every part of the North East and ensure no community was left behind.

“Our farmers, food producers and rural businesses are vital to our economy and to communities across the region. 

“Through the Rural Growth Fund we’re making sure they have access to the expertise, support and investment they need to grow and thrive.”

The programme builds on previous schemes designed to help rural businesses invest, modernise and diversify.

Among those to have benefited from earlier support is Buston Potatoes, a family-run farming business near Warkworth on the Northumberland coast.

Led by David and Karen Park, the company produces potatoes and arable crops and has invested in new technology while developing relationships with pubs and restaurants locally and nationally, including Michelin-starred restaurant Pine.

The business has also diversified through a farm shop selling its own produce, including rapeseed oils pressed on the farm, alongside food and drink sourced from producers across Northumberland.

Karen added: “This investment takes us to the next level.

“It allows us to compete and to offer our customers exactly what they want.

“It’s important for the North East and it’s important for us as a green employer, allowing us to take on new work and offer top quality food.”

The new programme brings together three main areas of support.

Rural Business Support will provide assistance for start-ups and small businesses, including specialist advice and start-up grants, while Land-based Industries Support will focus on farming, forestry and timber businesses through advice, training and opportunities to learn from other operators.

Meanwhile, Food and Drink Sector Support will seek to strengthen the regional food economy by improving connections between primary production, food manufacturing, hospitality and tourism.

Businesses and individuals in eligible rural areas of Northumberland, County Durham and Gateshead can now register for support, while eligible farming and food and drink businesses across the wider North East can access the specialist regional services.

Chris Jewitt, chief executive of Food and Drink North East, added: “This programme is a real opportunity to connect the dots across the North East’s food, drink and hospitality sector. 

“We have fantastic farmers, producers, manufacturers, hospitality businesses and tourism operators on our doorstep, but there is huge potential to create stronger links between them and keep more value within our local supply chains.

“Our role is to provide businesses with practical, specialist support, while creating the connections that can lead to new customers, new collaborations and new opportunities. “By working together, we can help businesses grow and build a stronger, more resilient North East food and drink economy.”

Councillor Glen Sanderson, leader of Northumberland County Council and North East Mayoral Strategic Authority cabinet member for home to a growing and vibrant economy, added: “Farming and the rural economy make our region look and feel the way it does – it plays a hugely important part in our lives. 

“These are unstable times in the world and it’s crucial we support our farmers and rural businesses, whether that's to modernise, diversify or grow. 

“This new fund will build on the support already available and provide targeted support to the industry across the North East.”

Applications and full eligibility criteria are available through the relevant business support services in Northumberland, County Durham and Gateshead, as well as Food and Drink North East and the North East Farm Business Support Service.

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