Ashford Borough Council has great news for rural businesses! They’ve successfully secured another round of funding—£122,000 from the UK Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF)—to help local businesses thrive.
This latest funding aims to support rural businesses until March 2026 through two special grant schemes:
- Rural Green Business Grant: This grant helps businesses become more eco-friendly by funding projects that improve energy efficiency or transition to renewable energy.
- Rural Place and Provenance Grant: Designed for food and drink producers, hospitality venues, and tourist attractions, this grant helps businesses boost productivity and sustainability. It can also support new start-up spaces and improve travel routes to make it easier for visitors to explore the area.
So far, these grants have made a real impact, supporting 46 businesses and helping to save an estimated 51,000 kg of CO2 annually across the borough. They’re also expected to create 50 new jobs in rural areas!
One success story is Ashford Instrumentation, which used the funding to install a massive solar panel system on its roof. The new panels generate 18,836 kWh of electricity each year, saving the company a projected £142,000 over 25 years and preventing almost 4,000 kg of CO2 from entering the atmosphere annually—that’s the same as taking a car off the road for 14,000 miles!
The application window is now open until 11:59pm on October 31, 2025. Don’t miss this chance to grow your business and contribute to a more sustainable, prosperous community. For all the details and to check your eligibility, visit the Ashford Borough Council website.