Small Grants – Horticulture Start Up (window 5): using RPW Online to apply

Important notes

This guide explains how to complete your Small Grants - Horticulture Start Up application.

You must ensure you submit your application in line with the timings detailed within the scheme guidance.

Registering for RPW Online

To register your business details for the first time, you need to complete the online registration form. Please refer to the how to register guidance for further details. The vast majority of changes to business details can be done online. However, Welsh Government may require further details on any major changes. Please contact the Customer Contact Centre for further information. Rydym yn croesawu galwadau a gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg / We welcome calls and correspondence in Welsh.

Problems with the application

Customer Contact Centre

If you are encountering problems or are unable to access your RPW Online account, please contact the Customer Contact Centre where staff are on hand to provide information and answer queries.

You can use the "Messages" page in your RPW Online account to send an enquiry to the Customer Contact Centre. Alternatively, you can call on 0300 062 5004 (Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm).

Accessing the application

The application is available under the forms list on your RPW Online home page. Select the application you wish to apply for and click on the start button to start the application. Note that if you have previously started an application and saved your progress without submitting, the button will change to "Continue Application". If you are continuing an application, the system will offer you the choice to continue from where you previously left off or start again. If you wish to start again, please follow the on-screen instructions.

Overview and navigation of the application

The application will show your Customer Reference Number (CRN) at the top left corner of the page. 

The left side of the screen shows the pages available in the application. The currently active page will be highlighted in blue. You may click a page to move directly to that page or click the "Next" / "Previous" buttons to move between pages. Pages requiring data entry will be marked with a red cross or a green tick. The red cross signifies incomplete data entry on that page, whereas a green tick indicates that all required information has been successfully entered.

A number of buttons are shown on screen to help with navigation of the application as follows:

• "Help" should assistance be required with completion of the form
• "Print" to print a copy of the form in its current state
• "Cymraeg"/"English" to switch between languages
• "Save" to save your current progress
• "Next" to move to the next page in the list
• "Previous" to move to the previous page in the list
• "Exit" to save and exit the form

This is the introduction page which provides information about the scheme. For greater detail about the information provided on this page, please read the Small Grants – Horticulture Start Up: general guidance booklet.

There is a link at the top left of this screen, which will direct you to the how to apply page on our website.

On the left the different sections are displayed. A red cross indicates you either have not accessed each section yet, or you have errors on the section(s). A green tick will display once you have completed each section and there are no errors we can identify. There are various navigation buttons at the top and bottom of the form. Also, if you wish to switch between English and Welsh there is a button to do so at the bottom left of the screen.

The "Privacy Notice" page outlines how we handle personal data relating to grant applications and funding requests. It explains how we process submitted information for eligibility, fraud prevention, and identity verification. It also details how data may be shared with regulatory authorities and fraud prevention agencies, retention periods for personal information, and individuals' rights under data protection laws. After viewing, click "Next" to move to the next page.

On this page you must answer the question to confirm if you are an owner, partner or shareholder with an active role in an existing business with an interest in commercial horticulture. 

Please note that if your answer is ‘Yes’ you are not eligible to apply.

Follow the on screen instructions to complete the eligibility question.

On this page you will detail your relevant qualifications, for example a qualification in horticulture, agriculture or related subject. (Related subject could include crop science, marketing, food safety, business studies etc). 

You will also need to confirm and provide evidence if you have undertaken any continued professional development (CPD) relating to horticulture, business planning, business management or development, marketing or any other CPD activity that would help you prepare to establish a successful horticultural enterprise.

Please note: You must submit the following documents, where applicable, by the closing date of this application:

• copy of certificates of qualifications
• evidence of CPD activity undertaken between 1 January 2023 and 30 September 2026

You will also be required to confirm the following:

• what type of horticultural enterprise you intend to establish. Select one or more options from the list provided
• what the business structure of the enterprise will be. Select one of the two options listed
• if you have developed a business plan for your proposed new horticultural enterprise. Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’

Follow the on screen instructions to complete the questions as required.

On this page you will detail your current knowledge and experience that will help you start a horticulture business. The experience does not necessarily have to be within the horticulture sector, but wider experience such as staff management, sales etc would be considered beneficial.

You will also be required to provide a summary/description of your current job/role and explain how you plan to manage the new enterprise, considering your current/other roles. You could establish the enterprise on a part time basis while maintaining employment elsewhere, however, you will need to detail how you will manage the activity and deal with conflicting priorities.

Follow the on screen instructions to complete the questions as required. 

The suitability of investment/activity page requires you to provide details of why you want to establish the business including how this will be a viable enterprise.

You will need to provide a brief description of your proposed horticultural enterprise, including your reason for seeking to establish a horticulture enterprise and detail the structure of your business. You will need to provide an explanation as to why you want to establish the business to give confidence that you are doing so with the intention of establishing a viable enterprise.

You will need to detail what horticultural crop/crops you intend to grow. You will also be required need to provide your intention regarding crops, including the scale of the enterprise in the first year. It is expected that you have a clear plan to implement.

Follow the on screen instructions to complete the questions as required and to add the crops you intend to grow.

On this page you will confirm the resources available to you to set up your horticultural enterprise. This will include access to land, any facilities and other machinery or equipment. 

It should be noted that if you do not have access to resources and have not explained how this will be achieved, you will receive a low score.

For equipment, if you do not have machinery and equipment available to you, or you have to purchase all machinery, you will need to detail how you intend to undertake the activity.

Follow the on screen instructions to complete the questions as required.

On this page you will confirm the details of your proposed market and any market research you have undertaken. 

Local sales could impact on existing producers, you will need to demonstrate that you have considered this. If you propose to sell outside your local area or have an agreement with a customer, your application will achieve a higher score.

Follow the on screen instructions to complete the questions as required.

The long term sustainability page is where you will need to provide details to enable the evaluation of how the project will impact on the environment and contribute to climate change. Resource efficiency is crucial in order to help achieve a well-being economy, as well as reducing emissions. You are encouraged to consider how your plans will impact on the environment and climate change. 

Provide details of how the investment will support the business to grow crops sustainably and enhance water, soil and air quality. You should describe how you intend to grow crops sustainably with consideration of water soil and air quality conservation.

Provide a detailed explanation of how your plans will commit to the efficient use of nutrients, reducing emissions and enhancing the farm ecosystem.

Follow the on screen instructions to complete the questions as required.

On this page you will be required to provide information on the financial aspect, compliance and delivery of your project.

You are required to provide details on how the project will be funded, in addition to any grant awarded, and how you are going to comply with any obligations required. You are also required to provide a plan of the work that the business/organisation intends to undertake this will confirm the timetable of delivery for all activities and stages of your project.

You should provide details around the costs you plan to incur during the establishment of your enterprise for example capital investments, cultivation costs, seeds, harvesting, packaging, marketing costs etc.

You will need to provide a project plan detailing proposed costs and timeline for expenditure.

You will need to provide details of the proposed activities along with a proposed start and end date for each activity.

You will need to have considered how you source items to achieve value for money, including obtaining any competitive quotes.

You will also need to provide evidence of funding, sufficient to cover all proposed expenditure.

You will need to provide an explanation as to why you are unable to progress without grant support.

It should be noted that higher scores will be achieved by providing detailed investment proposals along with a detailed plan and timescales and also by having detailed full use of the proposed grant.

Follow the on screen instructions to complete the questions and add activities as required.

The risk and risk management page is where you will use a table to set out a summary of at least the top five risks that might affect the delivery of the project and the achievement of outputs and objectives of the project that includes:

• what the risk is and what the likelihood is of it happening during the time that the project is being delivered
• what the consequences to the project would be if it did happen
• what mitigating steps might be taken to try and avoid it happening and what might be done to reduce the effect on the project if it did happen

The question in this section is mandatory and you will not be able to submit your form without adding at least 5 risks.

Follow the on screen instructions to add the risks and complete the questions as required.

The targets and outcomes page is where you provide details of the targets and outcomes you aim to achieve during the first 12 months of your enterprise. You will need to provide the following:

• area of crops / crops grown
• number of customers targeted
• value of sales

It should be noted that we expect that the targets you provide are reasonable and sufficiently ambitious for a start-up business. Growing a very small area of crop and targeting one customer would result in a low score.

Follow the on screen instructions to add the indicator/s and complete the questions as required.

The cross cutting themes page is where you will provide evidence on how the proposed project contributes to cross cutting themes. In this section you need to explain how the proposed project will contribute to the below cross-cutting themes, explaining how your proposed enterprise will contribute to mainstreaming:

• equality of opportunity and gender mainstreaming
• tackling poverty and social exclusion
• Welsh language

Follow the on screen instructions to complete the questions as required.

This page confirms any supporting documentation you need to submit with your application.

Follow the on screen instructions to complete this page. 

This page provides a summary of the items you have selected and informs you of any errors or information messages on your application.

Once you have checked the summary and corrected any errors, click on the ‘Next’ button. 

This page lists the declarations and undertakings you must agree to when applying. Please read this page thoroughly to confirm your understanding of the guidance, compliance category requirements, the need to retain documentation, and the requirement for co-operation with any inspections required. You also guarantee that the provided information is accurate.

Tick the box at the bottom labelled "I have read and agree to the above Declarations and Undertakings" and click "Next" to go to the submit page.

Note that if you do not agree to the declarations and undertakings, you will not be able to submit your application.

Your application is now ready for submission. Please click the "Submit" button.

If supporting documentation is required to be submitted at application stage, you can do this by clicking the "Submit Documentation" button on the next screen after you have clicked "Submit". Please refer to the individual category guidance for further information on supporting documentation requirements.

After submission, a summary document containing details of the submitted information will be added to your messages area.

RPW Online 

Access the RPW Online service. If you are not yet registered with RPW Online, please refer to our website for the how to register guidance or call the Customer Contact Centre on 0300 062 5004. 

Enquiries: Customer Contact Centre 

For all enquiries, please contact the RPW Customer Contact Centre

Enquiries can be submitted via RPW Online at any time. 

Access to Welsh Government offices for people with disabilities or special needs

If you have any special needs which you feel are not met by our facilities contact the Customer Contact Centre on 0300 062 5004. Welsh Government officials will then endeavour to make arrangements to accommodate your requirements. 

Welsh Government website

For all of the latest Agricultural and Rural Affairs information, visit our website. By visiting the website, you can also sign up to receive the Gwlad e-news letter.