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This guide will help you apply for the Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF). It includes how to complete your application form and finance spreadsheet.

You can find the application forms and further details on the TPIF forms page.

The deadline for applications is 29 July 2026.

We will notify all applicants of their TPIF funding decision. We expect to issue outcomes on 16 September 2026.

What to do before applying

Before completing your application, you should:

• read this guidance and the main TPIF page thoroughly
• check that the items you wish to purchase and activities you wish to carry out are eligible
• ensure you will have the funds available to purchase items and/or pay for work up front as the grant is paid in arrears
• get quotes so you’re confident in the estimates you provide in your finance spreadsheet and to ensure good value for money

How to complete your application form

You must:

• complete all sections of the form
• write your answers in English
• define any abbreviations and acronyms used in the proposal
• not alter the layout or format of the form

If any part of your application is incomplete or incorrect, we will return your application to you within 3 working days for you to revise and resubmit before the deadline.

Where questions have a word limit, any information exceeding this will not be evaluated.

Part 1: applicant details

Applicant details

The ‘applicant organisation’ is the organisation that will be named on the grant agreement, if successful, and to whom grant payments will be paid. The applicant organisation will assume all responsibilities detailed in the grant agreement, in line with the terms and conditions of funding.

Give the organisation’s legal name. If this is different to how it is known publicly, include the public-facing name in brackets.

Include the name and contact details of the ‘lead applicant’. The person included in this section must also sign the form in Part 11.

Enter one of the following:

• a company registration number (preferred)
• charity number (preferred)
• UK Provider Reference Number (preferred for educational institutions)
• VAT registration number
• Unique Taxpayer Reference

Let us know if you would like your contact details to be included in the TPIF directory. The directory will only be shared with other TPIF grant recipients via email.

Project details

Tick the relevant box or boxes to show which financial year(s) you are seeking funding in.

Summarise your project and what you hope to achieve in 50 words or less. This summary should be brief and non-confidential, as the Forestry Commission may share it online or in print.

Eligibility criteria

Read the eligibility criteria carefully and respond to each question by completing the Yes/No/N/A column.

All projects will be assessed against these eligibility criteria before they are scored by the evaluation panel. If you answer No or do not answer any questions, your application will be rejected.

Part 2: project summary

You must answer questions A-D in this section.

Tick which TPIF challenge(s) your project aims to address.

Select your project’s current Technological Readiness Level (TRL) and the level you expect to reach by the end of the funding period.

Part 3: assessed questions

The questions in this section will be scored by the evaluation panel. The weighting of the scores is given in brackets next to each question. Read how applications are assessed for more information.

Make it clear if any of the expected outcomes outlined in your answers are dependent on external factors. For example, hiring a research assistant.

You can attach documents to your application to support your answers. For example, risk registers, quotes or CVs. If you do, clearly refer to them in the relevant question.

Part 4: work packages, outputs and outcomes

If successful, the information in this section will form part of your grant agreement and will be used to help monitor project progress.

You will need to provide:

• a numbered list of work packages
• planned activities for each financial year the project covers
• expected outputs for each financial year the project covers
• long term outcomes
• any knowledge transfer and exchange activities you are planning for your project. This can include online or in person events, publications or any media such as videos

Work packages and activities should be outlined in your timeline.

Part 5: finances

You must complete and submit a finance spreadsheet with your application form. This forms part of your answer to Question 6: additionality and value for money.

Read how to complete your finance spreadsheet.

Parts 6-10

Read through the information in these sections carefully.

In Part 8: declarations, tick each box to show that you have read, understood and agree to each declaration. If you fail to comply with any obligations, your application may be rejected.

Part 10: authorisation

Once you have completed your application form and finance spreadsheet, sign the form.

You must either add a:

• digital e-signature: select the signature box and follow the instructions
• printed signature: print the form, sign it by hand and scan it back in

We cannot accept typed signatures.

The person signing the form must be the lead applicant named in Part 1.

How to complete your finance spreadsheet

Read the Instructions tab of the finance spreadsheet before starting.

Your finance spreadsheet outlines how you propose to spend the grant funding and will form your budget for the project if you are successful.

You must list all proposed project costs in your finance spreadsheet and specify what financial year they will incur in.

Ensure the information is comprehensive and includes all anticipated costs. If successful, you will need to link each cost you claim for to its relevant item reference on your finance spreadsheet.

If you’re VAT registered, all items should be exclusive of any VAT that can be recovered from HMRC. If you are unable to recover VAT on a cost, include the VAT in the total amount you provide. If you can recover VAT on a cost, provide the cost exclusive of VAT.

Get quotes before applying and ensure all costs are deliverable within the funding period and in the financial year stated on your finance spreadsheet.

Any costs incurred outside of your funding period are not eligible to claim back.

Personnel costs

You must list all personnel who would work on the project, whether internal or external, in this tab.

Personnel rates can include overheads that will be incurred as a result of undertaking the project.

Equipment depreciation costs

Complete this tab if you are applying for depreciation costs on equipment that will be usable beyond the end of the project, or that will only partially be used on the project.

Depreciation costs can only be claimed for the period the equipment is used on the project and must be claimed for in arrears in each financial year.

Equipment purchased before the start of your funding agreement are not eligible to claim depreciation costs on.

You do not need to apply depreciation to items that form part of your project outputs. For example, robotic components. These should be listed in the Other Non-Personnel Costs tab as ‘Equipment (not depreciated)’.

Other non-personnel costs

Include all other project costs in this section and select their cost type:

• materials and supplies – consumable items and raw materials needed to deliver the project. These are typically lower-value, non-capital items that are used up during the project e.g., seeds, soils, packaging and chemicals
• travel and subsistence – travel, accommodation and meals incurred by staff or project partners when undertaking project-related activities. This covers transport to project sites, conferences or stakeholder meetings and reasonable subsistence allownaces
• works and services – external contractors providing services to the project. This includes subcontracted work, consultancy, testing or specialist labour that cannot be delivered in-house. Wherever possible, project partners should not be included in this category and should be listed in the personnel tab with hourly rates
• equipment (not depreciated) – assets such as machinery or specialist tools which are needed to deliver the project or form part of the project outputs. This may include items such as temperature and humidity sensors or a component for a robotic system being developed through the grant. If a piece of equipment will have a usable lifetime beyond the end of the project or will only be partially used on the project, include it in the Equipment Depreciation Costs tab instead

Where you anticipate many small, related costs, group these into a single line.

For example, ‘Lab consumables’, ‘Travel and subsistence for site visits’, ‘Robotic components’ or ‘Software development’.

Summary of costs

Check the details in the grant funding summary table in this tab. The table is auto-filled based on the information entered on previous tabs.

Before submitting, check that:

• all costs are correct
• you are only applying for eligible items and activities
• you have applied for costs in the correct financial year
• the ‘summary of costs’ tab is correct
• the total funding applied for is no less than £20,000
• the total funding applied for in each financial year is no more than £200,000

Financial viability evidence

If you are a local authority, public body or university and the value of the capital items you are applying for exceeds £50,000, you must submit a departmental letter of authority to spend on capital items in the agreement.

Departmental letters must:

• come from someone with decision making capacity, such as a member of the finance department, or the head of the department through which the project will be delivered
• acknowledge the total cost of capital items
• confirm that the department has sufficient funds to deliver the capital costs of the project up front and they understand that claims will be paid in arrears

You can find the total value of capital costs for your application in the ‘summary of costs’ tab of your finance spreadsheet.

These cost categories are classified as capital costs:

• equipment depreciation costs
• materials and supplies
• equipment (not depreciated)

If you have applied for or have been awarded funding for multiple projects under the Tree Production Innovation Fund, the £50,000 threshold is cumulative. We will use the total of all unpaid agreements and pending applications to determine whether we require this additional evidence.

If you are not a local authority, public body or university we may contact you to request evidence of financial viability if your application exceeds a certain threshold.

How to submit your application

Check all sections of your application form and finance spreadsheet are complete before submitting.

Submit the following to tpif@forestrycommission.gov.uk:

• application form
• finance spreadsheet
• timeline or equivalent
• financial viability evidence (if applicable)

The deadline for applications is 11:55pm on 29 July 2026.

After you have applied

Read the TPIF process diagram for an overview of the application process.

How applications are assessed

All applications will be initially assessed for eligibility. Any application deemed to fall outside the scope of the fund or does not meet TPIF eligibility criteria will not be evaluated and will be rejected.

Eligible applications will be evaluated and scored by a panel with expertise and experience of tree production methods used in England

Initial sift

If we receive a high volume of applications, the panel will undertake an initial sift using the information provided in Part 2: project summary of your application form. Only the proposals that pass the initial sift will progress to full assessment.

The panel will award a single score using the following evaluation criteria:

Score	Description
0-3	Very weak/unsuitable – project summary is unclear or incoherent. There is no real innovation or link to at least one TPIF challenge. The TRL progression is implausible. Description of outputs and sector impact is minimal
4-5	Weak – proposal is a partial fit to TPIF with many unclear elements or weak feasibility. The TRL progression is unrealistic or unclear. The outputs and sector impact described are vague
6	Adequate – response provides basic clarity on what will be done and why, and shows a clear link to at least one TPIF challenge. The activities are feasible, though some elements are generic or under-explained. The outputs are identifiable but limited in detail. There are modest or broad indications of sector benefits
7-8	Strong – summary is clear and provides a good strategic fit to at least one TPIF challenge. The methods, partners and TRL trajectory described are credible, with meaningful and realistic outputs. The sector impact is plausible and well articulated
9-10	Outstanding – description of the problem and the solution is exceptionally clear in plain English. The responses are direct, well justified and align with at least one TPIF challenge. The TRL progression is realistic and well explained. Activities and partners are highly credible for the scope and timescale. The outposts are tangible and provide a clear benefit to the sector

The minimum score to pass the initial sift is 6. If more than 40 proposals meet the minimum score, the sift pass threshold may be raised to 7.

Proposals that score below the sift pass threshold will be rejected.

Evaluation

Applications that pass the initial sift will be scored in full. Funding will be awarded to the highest scoring applications.

The panel will apply the following evaluation criteria to assessed questions:

Score	Description
0	Unacceptable – nil or inadequate response. Fails to demonstrate how the assessment criteria are met
1	Poor – response is partially relevant and/or poor. The response contains insufficient/limited detail or explanation to demonstrate evidence of meeting the assessment criteria
2	Acceptable – response is relevant and acceptable. The response provides sufficient evidence of meeting the assessment criteria and covers the majority of points expected for a given criterion
3	Good – response is relevant and good. The response provides full details of how the assessment criteria will be fulfilled covering all of the points expected for a given criterion
4	Excellent – response is completely relevant and excellent overall, possibly exceeding requirements. A well thought through project with all elements of question fully addressed and detail provided that exceeds some or all of the requirements. The response is comprehensive and provides a high level of detail on how the assessment criteria are met

Question score weighting:

• Question 1: challenge and Question 4: sector impact – 20%
• Question 5: deliverability and Question 6: additionality and value for money – 15%
• all other questions – 10%

If there is a tie or there are insufficient funds to support all projects, the panel will review responses to Question 1: challenge to break the tie.

The overall level of innovation will be assessed by the evaluation panel as follows:

Degree of innovation (10%)

0 – None: proposals are not innovative.

1 – Limited: use of existing technologies in novel ways/settings.

2 – Moderate: proposals demonstrate a novel approach, drawing on both new and existing forest nursery technologies and/or working practices. 

3 – High: development or application of a technology, product or working practice that is entirely new to English forest nursery production.

4 – Very high: development or application of an entirely new technology or product.

An application that scores 0 in response to any question will be rejected. Proposals must score a minimum of 20/40 to be eligible for funding.

The evaluation panel will have access to information about the delivery of previous TPIF grant agreements you may have held and may use this to help score your application.

Application outcomes

We will email all applicants to inform them of the outcome of their application. We expect to issue outcomes on 16 September 2026.

We will issue you with one of the following:

1. Successful outcome letter: your application was successful. You will also receive an offer letter, and a grant agreement.

2. Unsuccessful outcome letter: your application was unsuccessful.

3. ‘Offer in principle letter’ and ‘offer in principle form’: the evaluation panel requires further information before deciding whether to award funding.

The offer in principle form outlines the evaluation panel’s comments and requests. You must complete the relevant sections in the form and provide the necessary information, clarification and/or documents requested. You must email your form within 2 weeks or request an extension if you are unable to make the deadline. If you do not submit a response or request an extension by the deadline, your application will be unsuccessful.

If successful, you must sign and return the grant agreement by email before beginning any project activities. Items purchased or activities conducted prior to the start of your grant agreement will not be eligible to claim for.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may not be able to provide feedback to unsuccessful applications.

If successful, read the guidance for TPIF grant holders.

Reporting

All successful applicants are required to report on their project throughout the funding period. The reports need to detail achievement against stated outcomes and outputs, lessons learnt and any need for further development.

Templates for interim, end of year and end of project reports are available on the guidance for TPIF grant holders.

Dates set for interim and end of year reports for multi-year agreements:

Financial year	Report for submission	Deadline
2026-27	End of year claim and report	Saturday 27 March 2027
2027-28	Interim claim and report	Thursday 7 October 2027
2027-28	End of year claim and report	Monday 27 March 2028
2028-29	Interim claim and report	Thursday 5 October 2028
2028-29	End of year claim and report	Tuesday 27 March 2029

Consider these dates when planning project activities.

Further information

If you need to clarify any application requirements or the application process, email  tpif@forestrycommission.gov.uk.

If we consider information requests relevant to any applicant, we will provide additional guidance to all applicants by email to ensure a fair and open process. We may be unable to respond to some requests due to the competitive bid process. We reserve the right not to answer clarifications where we consider that the answer to that clarification would or would be likely to prejudice commercial interests.

You can amend your application before the published deadline or withdraw at any time.

Applicants who canvass Forestry Commission or Defra employees associated with TPIF may have their applications rejected.

Neither the Forestry Commission nor its respective partners, advisors, directors, officers, members, partners, employees, other staff or agents:

• makes any representation or warranty (express or implied) as to the accuracy, reasonableness or completeness of this guidance
• accepts any responsibility for the information contained in this guidance or for the fairness, accuracy or completeness of the information. Nor shall any be liable for any loss or damage (other than in respect of fraudulent misrepresentation) arising as a result of reliance on such information or any subsequent communication

Changes to the application process

The Forestry Commission reserve the right to amend, add or withdraw all or any part of the application process or grant offer at any time. All changes and updates are recorded. If you have already submitted an application, we will inform you of the changes via email.

Significant changes (for example, to the closing date or eligibility) will be communicated via the Forestry Commission grants and regulations eAlert.

Terms and conditions

Access the terms and conditions that will apply to this grant on the TPIF application form page.

Confidentiality

If you consider the information contained within your application to be commercially sensitive, you must notify us of this when submitting your application.

Contact us

If you have questions about TPIF or the application process, email tpif@forestrycommission.gov.uk.

Find out how to make a complaint or appeal.