Are you considering applying to LEAP?

The Real Farming Trust is hosting online information sessions for businesses considering LEAP loan finance.

Since 2020 the LEAP programme has provided low cost loans totalling more than £1 million to small scale sustainable food businesses in the UK, including market gardens and veg box schemes, grocers and fishmongers, from the most southerly tip of Cornwall through to the central belt of Scotland. The accompanying social impact grants have been used for a wide range of activities, including staff and resources to support volunteering, compost toilets and car parking for visitors, and food education work with schools, with over £150,00 distributed so far.  Alongside the loan and grants, mentoring support is provided as part of the investment readiness programme for applicants, helping you to prepare for the next stage of development. 

If you run a small scale food business with a social mission and you’re looking for investment, the current round is open to new Expressions of Interest until the 17th of September. We are particularly keen to hear from processors and producers, and businesses across the food system as well as growers and farmers, and to support businesses outside of the south of England (although we encourage applications from all UK businesses that fit our eligibility criteria). 

To find out more about LEAP and whether it is right for you, we are hosting 2 short Q&A sessions on Tuesday September 3rd at 3pm and Friday September 6th at 10am – if you’d like to attend please email leap@realfarming.org telling us which date you’d prefer to attend, and we’ll send you joining information.