South Yorkshire-based Finance For Enterprise has facilitated a £200,000 loan to support a Shropshire farm in advancing its journey toward sustainable farming.

The 60-acre farm specialises in growing maize and blueberries, which are supplied to UK retailers and local farm shops. Established in 2009, the farm has been committed to becoming a zero-carbon operation. A key step in this journey was the installation of a ground source heat pump (GSHP) in 2021 to support their sustainability vision.

To further their ambitions, the farm required funding to install two additional GSHPs. These systems will not only increase fruit production but also provide heat for two hectares of existing polytunnels. This innovation allows fruit to be grown outside the traditional growing season, reducing reliance on costly imports and significantly lowering the farm’s carbon footprint.

Finance For Enterprise was contacted to arrange a £200k enterprise loan as part of the Recovery Loan Scheme which would be used as part of an overall £930k investment to finance the purchase of the second GSHP. 

Neil Wade, Senior Business Lending Manager at FFE added “I’m absolutely delighted to be involved in this deal to support the future of UK farming. British farmers are beginning to adopt more sustainable farming methods in a bid to help the UK become carbon neutral by 2050.”

Finance For Enterprise helps businesses across England to achieve their ambitions. Financial support is tailored to meet the unique needs of each borrower SME, helping them to improve liquidity, facilitate growth or purchase assets. Loans of up to £250,000 are available and can be accessed by businesses in all sectors.