v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v Page 72 • The HERALD • 20th November 2025 ASK A PROFESSIONAL Grants To Boost New Forest Business Small and micro producers in the New Forest can boost their business thanks to a new £20,000 small grant scheme. e New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) in partnership with New Forest District Council is o ering small grants of up to £1,000 to New Forest micro and small producers in the food and drink and art and cra sectors. e New Forest Rural England Prosperity Fund supports businesses to grow and community-based organisations to invest in improvements to facilities to bene t local residents and the wider economy of the district. e grant can cover up to 100% of eligible costs and is speci cally aimed at the micro and small businesses which play a key role in sustaining the New Forest economy. e grant scheme is funded by the Rural England Prosperity Fund as part of the wider UK Shared Prosperity Fund. New Forest National Park Authority member Mary Davies, who represents the NPA members of the New Forest Business Partnership, said: “Micro and small producers are at the heart of the food, drink and craft sectors in the New Forest and they need support to help grow their business, to adopt new ways of working or enter new markets. Often just a small grant can make a big difference and this fund has been designed to support those businesses that are often overlooked by the bigger grant schemes that require a large amount of match funding.” New Forest District Council’s portfolio holder for planning and economy, Cllr Derek Tipp, said: “We’re delighted to support our local entrepreneurs and makers through these grants, which are helping to strengthen the New Forest’s rural economy. From artisan food producers to local artists and craft businesses, these small enterprises are at the heart of what makes our communities so distinctive and vibrant. By working in partnership with the New Forest National Park Authority and through funding from the Rural England Prosperity Fund, we’re investing in sustainable growth and helping local businesses to thrive for the future.” A micro or small business will typically have fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover of less than £1 million. Businesses are encouraged to apply by completing an application form which can be downloaded from the New Forest National Park Authority website: www. newforestnpa.gov.uk/documents/communities/newforest-rural-england-prosperity-fund-applicationform Applications are accepted any time until the budget is fully allocated, with decisions made in four to six weeks. All spend must be complete by 31st March 2026. NFBP Business Support Programme New Forest Business Partnership (NFBP) have a really useful programme of business support and networking events, open to everybody and aimed at providing training for local businesses across a variety of essential skills. e programme includes a mix of both online and in person events - and many of them are free of charge. New Forest Business Support Hour: Join in an informal one hour networking meeting – an opportunity to update each other on how your businesses are progressing, to meet new people and to ask each other questions in a relaxed setting. You do need to book your FREE place by 3pm on the day. You will then receive an email before the meeting starts with the Zoom meeting ID and password to enable you to join the meeting online. e next sessions are taking place on Wednesday 26th November, Wednesday 3rd December and Wednesday 10th December 4pm–5pm. Other NFBP events: Business Brie ng – New Forest Apprenticeship Hub, Tuesday 25th November, 9.30am–11.30am, at Lyndhurst Community Centre, free. New Forest Brilliance in Business Awards, Thursday 4th December, 5pm–11pm, at Brockenhurst College, tickets £35-£70. Marketing Masterclass, Tuesday 9th December, 9.30am–11.30am, at Hanger Farm Arts Centre in Totton, £24. Christmas Drinks and LinkedIn Local, Tuesday 9th December, 5pm–7pm, at Pylewell Park in Lymington, £29. Christmas Lunch, Wednesday 17th December, 12noon–3pm at Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, £59. For more information and to book a place on any of the above events please visit: www.n p.org.uk
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