Defra awards £19 million to help rural businesses
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has announced more than 2,500 rural businesses will receive a share of £19 million of government funding via the Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme (FFIS), part of the Rural Development Programme for England. Mr Paterson described how “Small businesses are the cornerstone of the rural economy, supporting local jobs, people and entire communities. That’s why the government is awarding [funding to] farming and forestry businesses to enable them to thrive as part of our long-term economic plan”. The piece contains regional case studies taken from Yorkshire, East of England, North East, North West, Midlands, South East and South West.