A SCHEME which helps young rural people set up in business has reached a £1m milestone in providing grants.

Growing Routes was launched by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society at the 2003 Great Yorkshire Show.

Director George Hamilton said: "So far, we have assisted more than 230 businesses and in addition we have now chalked up this major milestone."

Growing Routes provides business advice, grant help and ongoing support to those wanting to set up their own businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber.

The team of four co-ordinators works with applicants, combining help and encouragement, with sound, practical, unbiased advice.

Another team of 50 voluntary business professionals provides a mentoring service, and the programme is funded by Yorkshire Forward.

Mr Hamilton said: "There is no doubt that Growing Routes has made a real difference in the region.

"Since 2003, we have helped create more than 400 full and part-time jobs in 237 enterprises, and most importantly, our business survival rate stands at 90pc, which is amazing, given the high failure rate of new companies.

"The figure proves that the support we give is effective. It is focused, realistic, and practically based."

Growing Routes is working with those in the farming community who are looking for financial help from the new Rural Development Programme for England with farm diversifications and related enterprises.

The programme, managed by Yorkshire Forward, has more than £9m a year to invest in rural businesses.

Over the years, Growing Routes has helped a wide variety of businesses get off the ground.

Mr Hamilton said: "We've helped a horse-drawn funeral cortege business, a farmer's son who's set up a sheep progeny scanning business, a couple of micro breweries, a lady saddler, a pet crematorium, as well as several farm shops, and equestrian enterprises."

Patrick Snowden and his son, Steven, were able to expand their thriving organic farm shop with help from Growing Routes.

They started selling potatoes direct to the public about 15 years ago, but expanded the range of produce following customer demand.

In 1997, their 200-acre Hawthorne House Farm, in Weeton Lane, Dunkeswick - off the A61 between Harrogate and Harewood - gained full organic Soil Association status.

Mr Steven Snowden said: "Expanding has been a natural progression, and we got to the stage where we really wanted to make the shop a more solid part of the farm.

"Growing Routes provided a grant to help buy the new building, prepare the car parking area and so on, and also advised on some aspects such as the shop layout. Everyone there has been really helpful."

The shop is in a purpose-built log cabin, which also allows customers to see where the vegetables are growing.

In addition to home-grown fruit and vegetables - including onions, leeks, spinach, kale, broccoli, root vegetables, strawberries and apples - the Snowdens also offer lamb, pork and chicken, and a range of other organic items, such as flour, muesli, jam, juices, eggs and spices.

They also grow organic beans for animal feed, organic oats and wheat.

Mr Snowden added: "People are asking for organic products more and more often, and there is also more support for locallygrown produce, so the customer base is definitely out there."

The farm is also in Countryside Stewardship and grows crops for wild bird cover and pollen and nectar mixes for insects.

It is also a member of Renewable Energy Growers, growing approximately 12 acres of shortrotation coppice willow on contract to Drax Power Station.