Farmers, food producers and rural businesses across the North East can now access specialist support through the North East Rural Growth Programme, backed by £8.5m of investment from Mayor Kim McGuinness.
The programme aims to help strengthen the region’s farming, food and drink sectors while supporting rural businesses to grow and diversify. The programme provides targeted support for businesses and individuals in rural areas of Northumberland, County Durham and Gateshead, helping them to start, grow, diversify and become more resilient. It also includes two specialist North East-wide offers: the North East Farm Business Support Service, providing dedicated support to farm businesses across the region, and specialist Food & Drink Support for eligible food and drink businesses across the North East.
A key part of the programme is a new farm advice service for farming, forestry and timber businesses.
The North East Farm Business Support Service, will provide access to specialist advice, training and peer-to-peer learning to help businesses respond to industry challenges and identify opportunities for growth and diversification.
The programme also includes dedicated support for the food and drink sector across the North East.
This will help connect farmers, producers, manufacturers, hospitality businesses and tourism operators, creating new opportunities for collaboration and strengthening local supply chains.
Businesses and individuals in rural parts of Northumberland, County Durham and Gateshead can now register for support through the programme. Eligible farm businesses and food and drink businesses across the wider North East can also register for the specialist regional services.
North East Mayor Kim 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.”
Alongside the specialist support for farming and food businesses, the programme will also offer wider business support for rural start-ups and small businesses, including advice and access to grants.
The programme builds on previous rural support schemes that have helped businesses modernise, diversify and create jobs across the North East.
Buston Potatoes near Warkworth on the Northumberland coast invested in new technology and developed strong relationships local and national pubs and restaurants including Michelin-starred restaurant Pine, to grow their business.
Led by David and Karen Park, the family business has combines traditional farming values with innovation and sustainability, producing high quality and heirloom potatoes alongside a range of arable crops.
The business has diversified to include a successful farm shop, supplying its own produce, including a variety of rapeseed oils pressed at the farm, alongside a carefully curated range of locally sourced food and drink from producers across Northumberland.
Karen said: “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 programme brings together three strands of support:
• Rural Business Support providing a single gateway for start-ups and small businesses, alongside specialist advice and start-up grants.
• Land-based Industries Support offering help for farming, forestry and timber businesses, including advice, training and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
• Food and Drink Sector Support designed to strengthen the regional food economy by connecting primary production, food manufacturing, hospitality and tourism.
Councillor Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council and North East Mayoral Strategic Authority cabinet member for Home to a Growing and Vibrant Economy, said: “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.”
David Renwick, Chief Executive Officer, Northumberland National Park Authority, said, “Farming plays a vital role in the economy, environment and communities of the North East, and we are proud to be delivering the North East Farm Business Support Service on behalf of the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority. Building on 70 years of working alongside and supporting the farming community in Northumberland National Park, and the success of our support programmes in Northumberland, we are delighted to bring that experience to businesses across the wider region. By connecting farmers with specialist advice and support, we can help them build resilience, seize new opportunities and build a sustainable future, creating lasting benefits for rural economies across the North East.
Chris Jewitt, CEO of Food and Drink North East, said, “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.”
Support will be available throughout the programme period, which runs until March 2029, subject to eligibility and availability.
