I recently became aware of a ‘lower level’ investment fund that is available to businesses who are involved in or provide services for the country sport industry. Farmers, landowners, rural accommodation businesses, food producers and shooting and horse-riding providers in South West England could access investment to develop their country sports facilities and boost business.

Country Sports South West is a £1.6m tourism project (available until January 2014, subject to demand) funded by the  Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and is being delivered by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and The Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT).

Together they areoffering small investments to businesses that reduce the barriers to eating game or to any of the country sports.

The fund has, to date, assisted the following:

• Vacuum packers;
• Pie cutting machines;
• Chillers;
• Clay traps;
• Guns;
• Special saddles;
• Access gates paths bridges etc.;
• Fishing platforms for the disabled;
• Pond creation for shooting and fishing;
• Feeding pens;
• Release pens;
• Pop ups for promotion;
• Gun cabinets for tourism businesses;
• Drying rooms;
• Shoot rooms; and
• Toilets.

It is an investment (not a grant) and there is no application process (as such).  Country Sports South West will visit your business, carry out a review, look at priorities for the business and the project and then decide if they would like to invest to ensure that priority is taken forward.  

There is also an investment pot for expert advice, a game keeper for the day or marketing advice, health and safety guidance etc.

The usual offer is anything between £100 and £2,000.   

For further information, please visit the Country Sports South West website.