Rural businesses helping communities thrive receive boost through grant funding

They provide jobs, attract visitors, support local supply chains and offer valued services and experiences to residents. Many also play an important role in keeping local communities vibrant and connected.

In a challenging economic climate, Buckinghamshire Council has supported many such enterprises through its ‘Bucks Rural Business Grant programme’ which has been designed to support investment in Buckinghamshire’s rural firms, helping local businesses grow and continue to create jobs and opportunities across the county.

Buckinghamshire Council Leader Steven Broadbent, visiting some of the businesses, has seen first-hand how the council’s support and the overall funding has helped these crucial local firms sustain local jobs and keep providing for a loyal customer base from local people and beyond.

Steven said:

"Rural businesses are a huge part of what makes Buckinghamshire such a great place to live, work and visit. They provide valued local jobs, support our communities and help sustain the character and vitality of our towns, villages and countryside. They play a key role in life in our county and its identity and supporting them is part of our wider priority of ensuring our communities are thriving.

"It was inspiring to meet the passionate people behind these businesses and hear how they are investing in their future. From creating new visitor attractions and community spaces to expanding production and creating employment opportunities, these projects show the positive impact that thriving local businesses can have.

"We know that rural businesses can face unique challenges, so it's fantastic to see this funding helping ambitious local enterprises grow, diversify and continue making a valuable contribution to Buckinghamshire's economy and community life."

The fund has supported a range of projects and three businesses that featured during the visits show the difference its made:

• The Real Drinks Company, near Waddesdon, which has expanded its production facilities to meet increasing demand for its premium non-alcoholic fermented drinks and support future growth. The grant funding helped them to introduce new product lines and scale up their operation and increase the number of jobs on site. They’ve received more than £150,000 of grant funding which has been further bolstered by private investment.
• Pitchcott Hill Farm, near Aylesbury, where underused farm buildings are being transformed into a café, shop, kitchen and studio space, creating a new destination focused on food, wellbeing, creativity and nature-based learning. The funding has helped them broaden their offering, meaning the business is growing, attracting more customers to provide longer opening hours and more staff. They’ve received £300,000 of grant funding towards the total project cost of nearly £850,000.
• Aedda's Farm Distillery, near Winslow, which is developing a visitor and events centre to support rural tourism, community engagement and business diversification. The grant has helped them to open up other enterprises alongside farming at their site – it reduces risk to the business overall, boosts employment opportunities and supports a bigger number of other local businesses too through local supply chains. They’ve received £95,000 and have also invested a further £144,000 themselves.

David Begg is CEO of Real Drinks Company, based in Waddesdon. He said:

“We’ve been in business for about ten years always here in Buckinghamshire. We employ around 25 people and we are growing that team fast. The council’s been instrumental for us in funding to help us put new equipment in, allowing us to expand, employ more people and produce a greater quantity of drinks.”

Tony Langford is owner and director at Pitchcott Farm, in Pitchcott. He said:

“It’s great to welcome people here from the local community and provide a place for people to connect to each other and connect with their local environment. Our café also lets people connect to nature through food. We use really good quality ingredients that we provide through local farmers and local businesses in the area – it’s very rustic and natural and we are at the heart of the local community here.”