£15,000 grants for young farming entrepreneurs in Wales
Young farming entrepreneurs in Wales looking to set up on their own for the first time could be able to claim a grant of up to £15,000 through the Young Entrants Support Scheme (YESS).
Young farming entrepreneurs in Wales looking to set up on their own for the first time could be able to claim a grant of up to £15,000 through the Young Entrants Support Scheme (YESS).
Alun Davies, the Minister for Natural Resources and Food, has just approved almost £1.8 million to extend the scheme to support young farmers in Wales for another year
Since the scheme began in 2010 it has helped over 520 young people enter the farming industry, providing grants totalling £7.1 million.
To apply for support, farmers must be based in Wales, be under the age of 40 and must either be setting up as head of the holding for the first time, or have set-up as head of holding within the previous 12 months.
Welcoming the scheme Philip Meade of Davis Meade Property Consultants (DMPC)said it is extremely timely: “With a proposed review of the County Council farms estate in Wales also under way, this is an excellent step forward in ensuring that there are good opportunities for the next generation of farmers,” said Mr Meade who operates from the Oswestry office of DMPC
Young farmers can express interest in the scheme now and applications will be accepted from September 1 until November 30, 2014.
Successful applicants will get a one-off grant payment for capital expenses incurred in setting-up as head of holding, access to a dedicated Young Entrants’ Business Enabler Service, for advice on training, knowledge transfer and joint venture opportunities and access to funded mentoring services from established farmers.
“Anyone interested in applying should bear in mind that if any of the farmland they are applying with includes rented or tenanted land, make sure they have it for at least five years and check for break clauses as a key requisite of the scheme is that applicants must have the land available for five years,” Mr Meade said.
“This is an extremely valuable scheme offering a welcome input of capital onto farms and we want to see as many people as possible in a position to benefit from the funding.”
Details of YESS are available at http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/farmingandcountryside/farming/schemes/youngentrantsupportschemeyess/?lang=en
For help with completing the forms and ensuring the necessary tenancy agreements are in place contact Davis Meade Property Consultants on 01691 659658 or email philipmeade@dmpcuk.com
