Land-based businesses in the old Eden District Council and South Lakeland District Council areas can access up to £500 to help towards the cost of working with a consultant of their choice, thanks to funding through Westmorland & Furness Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
There are just 225 advice vouchers remaining available, to be spent by the end of December this year.
Advice vouchers can be used for a range of consultancy support, including:
- Accountancy: Operating more cost effectively and/or adapting to the changes in agricultural funding
- Legal: Farm and property sales and purchase, partnership matters and disputes, landlord and tenant law, Basic Payment Scheme and other grant schemes, agricultural wills and succession planning
- Insurance: Reviews, risk assessments, valuations
- Planning: Planning advice, preparing planning applications and helping farming businesses use Agricultural Permitted Development Rights to support farm growth and diversification
- Architectural planning and design service
- Marketing: Plans, campaigns, website development, PR
- Agricultural consultancy: Specialised advice, support and guidance
No match funding is needed but businesses can choose to add more. Only work that has yet to start can be funded.
Head of business support, Lesley Robinson, said: “This is a great opportunity to support land based businesses allowing them to access the help and support they need.
“We know from past experience how valuable any sort of funding can be and we’re really pleased to be able to offer 250 vouchers in total.
“We’re encouraging businesses to apply directly and would also ask any consultants to spread the word amongst their existing clients and use the voucher as a way of attracting new ones!”
Anyone interested in applying should call 0844 2478450 or email [email protected]
