A rural Test Valley business has received a grant of just over £23,000 from the UK Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), administered locally by Test Valley Borough Council.
The Essential Party Ingredient (Miller and McKaig), run by Ollie McKaig and Flora Wordie, provides large-scale, high-quality kitchen and restaurant set-ups at clients’ venues and fine dining for weddings and special events. The funding has helped the business expand operations with new equipment, including a large-capacity dishwasher, mobile ovens and wheeled cages to improve transport and logistics.
Business owner, Ollie McKaig, said:
“This grant has come at a perfect time for us. It’s enabled us to invest in new equipment and improve our logistics, which means we can take on more bookings and offer an even better service to our customers. We’re incredibly grateful to Test Valley Borough Council for their support.”
Councillor Maureen Flood said:
“We’re delighted to support The Essential Party Ingredient through the Rural England Prosperity Fund. This is exactly the kind of business the fund is designed to help that is rooted in our rural economy. We look forward to seeing them continue to grow and prosper.”
The Rural England Prosperity Fund is part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which provides capital funding for rural businesses and communities. TVBC received just over half a million pounds up to the end of March 2025, distributing support to businesses and community organisations across rural parts of the borough to help develop the local economy.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
Find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.