Get £2,500 to Hire a Facilitator: ADOPT Facilitator Support Grant Round Six for English Farming, Growing and Forestry Businesses

If you run a farm, a nursery, or a forestry business in England and you’ve been staring at the blank page of a funding application thinking “where do I even start?”, this small-but-mighty grant is written for you. Innovate UK is offering a one-off Facilitator Support Grant of £2,500 to help farming, growing or forestry businesses bring in an external project facilitator to prepare a full ADOPT grant application. Think of it as paying for a skilled co-pilot to steer your idea from “good thought” to “fundable proposal.”

This grant is short, sharp and practical: it’s not funding the full project, it’s funding the professional help to shape the application that could win much larger ADOPT awards. If you’re serious about scaling a trial, testing an innovation on working land, or joining a consortium but need help pulling the elements together — this is a pragmatic and cost-effective way to raise your chances.

Below you’ll find everything you need: a quick facts table, a clear breakdown of what the funding covers, who qualifies, tactical advice on picking and briefing a facilitator, a realistic timeline, the likely evaluation priorities, common traps and concrete next steps so you can apply without the usual panic.

At a Glance

Why this grant matters (short and practical)

Two things make this opportunity worth your attention. First, the amount is realistic: £2,500 is enough to buy specialist time — several days from a seasoned facilitator — rather than vague promises. A good facilitator will structure your proposal, surface risks, draft key sections, and prepare the kind of project plan and budget reviewers actually understand.

Second, the grant is targeted. Unlike general business development funds, this is specifically for shaping an ADOPT application. That means you’re paying expertise that (a) knows the ADOPT format and priorities and (b) can translate on-the-ground farming or forestry practice into the wording funders want. For many applicants, that translation is the single biggest barrier.

If you treat this grant as an investment — a small payment to secure professional input that improves your odds for a larger award — it can deliver outsized returns.

What This Opportunity Offers (200+ words)

At face value the grant offers one clear thing: up to £2,500 to engage an external facilitator. But practically, what you buy with that sum is a package of skills and outputs:

1. A clearer project narrative. Facilitators put your idea into a structured story: problem, solution, methods, outcomes, and why this work matters on real land.
2. A draft application. Most facilitators will deliver a polished draft of the core sections of a full ADOPT application — aims, approach, work packages, milestones, and a basic budget structure.
3. Stakeholder mapping and consortium advice. They’ll help you identify potential partners (researchers, supply chain partners, tech providers) and recommend concrete next steps to bring them into a full proposal.
4. Risk and feasibility checks. Good facilitators anticipate operational headaches — seasonal constraints, biosecurity, permits — and propose realistic mitigations reviewers praise.
5. Practical meeting facilitation and capture. If you need to run a workshop with neighbors, partners, or advisors to shape your idea, the facilitator can run and record that session.

Remember: £2,500 won’t fund a full application writer on a week-long retainer in expensive consultancy markets, but it will pay for several focused days with an experienced facilitator. The trick is to use those days where they matter most: framing, partner matchmaking, and producing a convincing draft package.

Who Should Apply (200+ words)

This grant is aimed squarely at active farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England. That includes a broad range of enterprises: arable farms, livestock units, horticultural growers, nurseries, tree nurseries, and commercial forestry operations. Sole traders and partnerships are explicitly eligible, which is important because many real-world farm businesses operate under those structures rather than limited companies.

You should consider applying if at least one of these is true:

1. You have a practical innovation or trial-ready idea that needs a properly structured project plan to appeal to ADOPT reviewers.
2. You lack internal capacity or confidence to turn your concept into a fundable proposal.
3. You need help persuading collaborators to join, or converting operational details (timing, labour, machinery access) into credible work packages.
4. You can evidence you are an established business (accounting records, business bank account, VAT records if applicable, or other trade evidence) and you hold a UK bank account for payments.

Real-world examples:

• A small livestock farmer wants to trial a precision grazing tech package across two sites, needs help building a 12-month trial plan and recruiting an academic partner.
• A fruit grower sees potential to trial an integrated pest management approach but needs a facilitator to assemble a timeline around harvest windows and draft impact metrics.
• A forestry contractor wants to pilot a mechanised planting technique and needs support writing the project rationale and pulling together letters of support from landowners.

If you’re not an established business (for example you’re an unincorporated idea group without trading records), this grant probably isn’t for you. If you run a business registered and actively trading in England, even if you’re a sole trader, you’re in scope.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application (300+ words)

This grant is small but strategic. Here’s how to get the most out of it.

1. Buy focused expertise, not time. Use the facilitator for the high-value parts: clarifying objectives, designing work packages, and drafting application text that sells the value to reviewers. Don’t spend the money on general business coaching if your need is a fundable project plan.

2. Hire someone with ADOPT experience or Innovate UK familiarity. Facilitators who know the grant format, reviewer expectations, and common pitfalls will give you more bang per day. Ask for examples of past successful Innovate UK or ADOPT-related work when you shortlist.

3. Set a tight scope and deliverables before you pay. A good brief might require: a one-page project summary, a three-page approach and methodology, a draft budget framework, a risk register, and notes from a consortium workshop. Put those deliverables in the contract so you’re sure the £2,500 buys outputs you can actually submit.

4. Prepare before the facilitator arrives. Collect the basics: evidence of trading, a one-page business summary, a rough idea of what you want to do, and contact details for potential partners. You’ll get far more accomplished if the first day is drafting, not information-gathering.

5. Use the facilitator to create convincing feasibility evidence. Reviewers want to know things will run on working land. Ask your facilitator to include clear operational timelines tied to seasons, and to document access to machinery, sites and labour (letters of support from landowners or contractors are gold).

6. Plan for partner recruitment. Facilitators can help identify and approach academic or commercial partners, but you should have a short list of plausible collaborators and introduce them. The grant can pay for the facilitation to pull them into the proposal; it’s less useful for paying partners.

7. Keep communication tight and documented. Record meetings, request a short progress report halfway through the contract, and insist on a final day dedicated to pulling everything into a near-submission-ready draft.

8. Negotiate rates and hours. £2,500 might buy three to five days of consultancy at moderate rates. Be explicit about hourly estimates, travel costs (if any), and whether follow-up editing is included.

9. Prioritise a strong project summary. Reviewers read that first. A skilled facilitator helps condense complex practice into a crisp summary that makes the rest of the application easier to accept.

10. Ask for a practical checklist from the facilitator. The best facilitators give you a short, operational list of next steps after the grant ends — who to contact, what documents to collect, and which sections to finalise — so you don’t lose momentum.

Application Timeline (150+ words)

Work backwards from the deadline: 25 February 2026 at 11:00. Treat that as immovable and submit at least 48 hours early to avoid technical issues.

Suggested timeline (example):

• Mid January 2026 — Confirm eligibility and register interest on the Innovate UK portal. Shortlist 2–3 facilitators and request quotes.
• Late January 2026 — Select facilitator and sign a short agreement with explicit deliverables. Provide them with your business summary and any existing notes.
• Early February 2026 — Facilitation work begins: workshops, drafts, partner outreach. Expect 2–3 focused days of intensive work.
• Mid February 2026 — Receive draft application materials and give feedback. Facilitator finalises drafts and produces a submission checklist.
• 23 February 2026 — Internal review and final edits. Ensure all evidence of business and bank details are uploaded. 24 February 2026 — Final check and submit before 25 February 11:00 (aim for 23–24 Feb).

If you start later, compressing steps often reduces quality. Begin exploring facilitators as soon as possible — good ones book up fast.

Required Materials (150+ words)

The official guidance will list exact required documents; the following is a practical preparation list to have ready:

1. Proof of trading / business establishment: recent invoices, tax returns, business bank statements or VAT registration (if applicable).
2. UK bank account details: account name, sort code and account number (payments can only go to UK bank accounts).
3. A concise business summary: 1–2 pages describing your enterprise, current operations, and the innovation you want to trial.
4. Facilitator quote and brief: a short contract or letter from the facilitator describing scope, deliverables and cost.
5. Contact details for any initial partners or stakeholders you’re already approaching.
6. Evidence of site access or permissions if the project requires specific land or infrastructure.
7. Any prior technical notes, pilot data, photos or operation schedules that help the facilitator frame the project.

Practical tip: convert everything to PDFs and organise them in a single folder labelled clearly before you open the application portal. That saves time and prevents the common last-minute scramble.

What Makes an Application Stand Out (200+ words)

For a support grant of this type, reviewers are looking less for scientific novelty and more for credible readiness and value for money. The strongest applications present a short, persuasive case that the business is already positioned to develop a full ADOPT application with a clear route to delivery.

Key strengths:

1. Clear demonstration of established trading status. If you can show regular turnover, invoices and a clear trading history, reviewers feel confident you’re not a speculative applicant.
2. A focused, season-aware project plan. Demonstrate you understand operational constraints (harvest windows, planting seasons, weather), and that your facilitator will translate those into realistic timelines.
3. Evidence that facilitator time will be used for high-value work. Applications that itemise deliverables — draft application sections, partner workshop, budget template — score better than vague “help with writing.”
4. Realistic use of the £2,500. Break down how many days/hours the facilitator will work and what outputs are expected. If you plan to spend the money on open meetings or partner incentives, explain why that is essential.
5. Early partner engagement. If you already have tentative buy-in from a technical or research partner, include that as evidence of momentum.
6. Practical outcomes for the ADOPT application. Show that the facilitator will produce a near-complete package that can be adapted into the full ADOPT submission.

Frame every claim with evidence. If you say “we can run trials across two sites,” include contact details or a letter from the site owner.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (200+ words)

This small grant invites a few predictable errors. Avoid these.

1. Hiring a generalist instead of an ADOPT-aware facilitator. Result: time wasted on strategy instead of producing a submission-ready draft. Solution: check past Innovate UK experience and ask for relevant examples.

2. Purchasing the wrong deliverables. Don’t spend the £2,500 on a long ‘feasibility study’ when you need a draft application. Solution: write a short brief with deliverables and include it in the contract.

3. Leaving partner recruitment until after facilitation. If you need collaborators, bring them in early. Solution: use facilitator time partly for outreach and workshop facilitation.

4. Missing the banking or evidence requirements. A UK bank account and proof of trading are essential. Last-minute evidence gathering frequently causes rejected applications. Solution: gather documents before you start.

5. Underestimating seasonal constraints. Applying without acknowledging harvest, planting, or contractor availability makes proposals look naïve. Solution: include seasonally grounded timelines and mitigation plans.

6. Submitting at the last minute. Portal issues happen. Solution: submit at least 48 hours early.

If you avoid these mistakes, the £2,500 will stretch further and you’ll be well positioned for the bigger ADOPT round.

Frequently Asked Questions (200+ words)

Q: Who can apply? A: Single applicants only — active farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England. Sole traders and partnerships are eligible. You must be able to evidence that you are an established business and have a UK bank account.

Q: Can I use the money to pay an internal employee? A: The grant is specifically to engage an external project facilitator. If you plan to use an internal member of staff, check the official guidance and clarify whether that counts as “external.” Best practice: plan to hire independent expertise.

Q: Will £2,500 cover the whole facilitation cost? A: It depends on the facilitator’s rates. In many cases it will cover several days of focused consultancy. Be explicit in your brief about the number of days and deliverables so no one is surprised.

Q: Do I need to provide match funding? A: The public summary does not state a match funding requirement for this facilitator grant. Still, read the full guidance on the official page to confirm.

Q: Can partnerships or consortia apply? A: No — this competition is open to single applicants only. However, the purpose of the grant is often to help single applicants prepare a full ADOPT application that may later involve partners.

Q: What happens after I receive the facilitator grant? A: Use the facilitator’s outputs to prepare a strong ADOPT application. The grant funds the preparation, not the project itself.

Q: Are international facilitators allowed? A: The brief specifies an external facilitator; it does not explicitly ban international consultants. However, practicalities like time zones and knowledge of Innovate UK processes make UK-based facilitators more effective. Confirm details in the official guidance.

Q: How quickly will the grant be awarded? A: Timelines can vary. Check the Innovate UK competition page for award schedules and contact details.

How to Apply (Next Steps) (100+ words)

Ready to move? Here’s a short checklist to take action now:

1. Confirm you meet eligibility (active farm/grower/forestry business in England; UK bank account).
2. Draft a one-page business summary and gather proof of trading documents.
3. Shortlist 2–3 facilitators with Innovate UK or agricultural project experience and request quotes tied to clear deliverables.
4. Agree a short contract with the chosen facilitator specifying outputs and timelines.
5. Prepare application documents (see Required Materials) and register on the Innovate UK portal.
6. Submit at least 48 hours before the deadline: 25 February 2026, 11:00.

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page for full guidance and the application portal: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/adopt-facilitator-support-grant-round-six/

If you need help choosing a facilitator or writing the brief, come back and I can draft a short template brief and a contractor checklist tailored to your enterprise and seasonality.