Overview

Farming in Protected Landscapes is a funding programme for farmers, landowners and land managers. Administered by the Kent Downs National Landscape, they have about £500,000 worth of grants available for spending in the next financial year (April 2024 to March 2025).

Although it’s mostly farmers who have received the main grants, they also accept applications from organisations and individuals carried out in collaboration with a farmer, landowner or land manager.

One example is North West Kent Countryside Partnership, who received FiPL funding to install and monitor Barn Owl boxes in the Darent Valley (with permission given from local landowners and farmers).

A second example is Wild With Wheels who provide guided interactive nature walks for adults and children with disabilities and impairments along the east Kent coastal paths (on land owned or managed by Network Rail, Kent County Council and a local farmer).

If you have an idea for funding you’d like to discuss, please get in touch. They have case officers on hand to help you apply now for FiPL spending in the next financial year (April 2024 to March 2025).

Projects need to contribute to at least one of the four key themes: Nature (biodiversity and wildlife), Climate (projects that help mitigate climate change), People (access, engagement, volunteering and learning about the Chilterns) or Place (landscape character, historical features and archaeology).

You can also find further details by clicking on this link

The Royal Countryside Fund new UK-wide Supporting Rural Communities grant programme is now open for expressions of interest. This new differentiated funding will support transformative, community-led initiatives across the UK, unlocking the huge potential for positive change in rural communities. The aim is to support innovative solutions that will “power up, not prop up” communities, inspiring change and encouraging economic vibrancy.

Organisations can apply for grants of up to£25,000 over a period of 24 months to deliver activities along the themes of:

• Keeping young people in the countryside
• Powering up rural communities
• Increasing environmental sustainability
• Building emergency resilience in rural areas.

The deadline to submit an expression of interest is 21st February 2025.

Click here for full details and to submit an expression of interest

Are you interested in a financial contribution to help boost your business?

Growth grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available exclusively for small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) or start-ups based in the South East (SELEP) area – with under 250 staff and a turn over under €50m. The grant can fund up to 30% of the total cost of eligible goods or services.

Spend must be on up to three Capital purchases.

Must have received a grant offer letter from South East Business Boost before starting the project.

Learn about Grants and Finance

If you are a business in the rural community of Folkestone, Hythe, Romney Marsh and North Downs, grants are readily available. Funding is available under LEADER specifically orientated to rural businesses and farmers, foresters and growers, landowners and environmental organisations.

It is also available to cultural, heritage and community providers. It can also be used by voluntary and charitable organisations to develop projects that will strengthen the local economy and deliver jobs, growth and community benefits in rural Kent.

Guidance for business and academic organisations on what funding is available to test ideas and develop innovative products and services.

• Variety of schemes via funding competitions throughout the year
• From £25,000 to £10,000,000

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/innovation-apply-for-a-funding-award

New grant scheme for Businesses, Organisations, Schools & Local Groups within the Folkestone & Hythe Council District. PLEASE NOTE: The scheme has been suspended to further applications. The decision panels for applications received by the 21st April 2025 deadline will determine whether we will be able to reopen the scheme to invite further applications. If any funding remains unallocated, this may be possible. 

As part of our wider 2030 net zero aims, Folkestone & Hythe District Council has allocated £250,000 to a new Green Grants Programme. We invite applications from businesses, organisations, Community groups, schools, town & parish councils to take the lead in carbon reduction efforts across our district. Grants can be applied for across a variety of environmentally focused projects.

Click here for full details and to submit an application

Kent Community Foundation connects people who care about local causes that matter.

• Start-up or existing incorporated organisations
• Borrow £10,000 – £100,000 up to five years
• Potential of grant assistance
• Unsecured
• Flat interest rate of 5% pa.

http://www.kentcf.org.uk/

A Start-Up Loan is a government-backed personal loan for business purposes. Start-Up Loans are available to individuals over the age of 18 who are eligible to start a business in the UK.

Individuals can only receive one Start-Up Loan however, more than one partner in a business can be eligible to apply for a loan.

startuploans.co.uk

If you’re a business located in Kent and Medway in the early stages of growth and are looking to create jobs, then a 0% interest loan from Small Business Boost could provide the financial support to help achieve your goals.

Small Business Boost is part of the Kent and Medway Business Fund, managed by Kent County Council. It seeks to support those businesses that can power the region’s economy.

Small Business Boost provides financial support of between £26,000 and £99,000 to small and medium sized businesses, repayable over a period of 5 years following a six-month repayment holiday.

You can apply for funding for:

• tangible assets such as land, buildings, software, machinery and equipment
• intangible assets acquired from third parties by the transfer of knowledge or technology
• employment costs, for new employees only.

Click here for further details 

Are you looking to grow your business but need capital to do it? Interest Free loans available 

An opportunity has arisen for Kent and Medway businesses to apply for an Innovation Loan of between £26,000 and £500,000.  Currently two schemes are available and open to application to business in Kent and Medway:

Innovation Loan – Small Business Boost 

Loans available from £26,000 to £99,000 with 20% – 30% matching funding.

Click here for further details and to submit an application

Innovation Loan – KMBF Standard Loan Scheme

Loans available from £101,000 – £500,000 with 50% fund matching. Security will be required.

Click here for further details and to submit an application

Funding is provided to either affect some change in the economy such as create more jobs, innovation, green working, etc. or to address a market failure such as a lack of social enterprises. For this reason, criteria and eligibility is often very specific and funding may often take the form of paid for advice, zero interest loans or small grants that require a match contribution from the business. See if you qualify for any of the current schemes here http://www.kentandmedwaygrowthhub.org.uk/learn-about-grants-and-finance/

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KIP) scheme helps businesses to innovate and grow. It does this by linking them with a university and a graduate to work on a specific project.

Each KIP is a three-way partnership between a business, an academic institution and a graduate. The academic institution employs the recently-qualified graduate who works at the company. The graduate, known as the ‘associate’, brings new skills and knowledge to the business.

A KIP can last between 12 and 36 months depending on the project and the needs of the business. It is part-funded by a grant. The amount businesses need to contribute is different for SMEs and larger companies.

gov.uk/guidance/knowledge-transfer-partnerships-what-they-are-and-how-to-apply

R&D is a Corporation Tax (CT) tax relief that may reduce your company’s tax bill. This tax relief can only be claimed if your company is liable for CT.

gov.uk/guidance/corporation-tax-research-and-development-rd-relief

This legislation will make changes to the design of the UK Patent Box to comply with a new international framework for preferential tax regimes for intellectual property set out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

gov.uk/government/publications/corporation-tax-patent-box-compliance-with-new-international-rules