What and when?
Find out how the Pitch Up! applications process works – what you need to do, when you need to do it, and what happens next…
We understand many of you might be fitting your application around a day job, so we’ve broken the application process into six key stages, to make it more manageable for everyone:
Stage 1: Expression of Interest
When? Any time of year
Who? You
What? A short and simple form introducing you and your business, and telling us which Partner farm(s) you’re interested in.
Stage 2: Farm response
When? Within 2-3 weeks of receiving your Expression of Interest
Who? Your chosen Partner farm(s)
What? The key contact(s) at your chosen farm(s) will come back to you with an initial response outlining suitability, opportunities to integrate with other activity/ businesses on the farm, and what else they’d like to see in your full application. This will normally be by email, but they might suggest a call. You may also be able to organise a visit to the farm if there’s time/ it’s mutually convenient (if not this can happen at Stage 5, below).
Stage 3: Full application
When? 1–30 November (closes at midnight)
Who? You
What? You’ll need to fill in the full Pitch Up! application form, giving us more details about your business and financial model to show how it can be viable. The full Pitch Up! application form goes live first thing on 1 November, but you can find out more to help you prepare any time on our applications info page.
If you’ve only come across Pitch Up! in November, you can go straight to starting with Stage 3/ full application form.
Stage 4: 15-minute video call
When? December/ January
Who? You and your chosen Partner farm(s)
What? A quick video call with key members of the team on your chosen farm(s). This is a chance for everyone to meet each other, and your chosen farm(s) to find out a bit more about you and your idea and/ or your experience (if you’re responding to a listed opportunity).
Stage 5: Farm visit(s)
When? January/ February
Who? You and your chosen Partner farm(s)
What? This stage is really key – helping you understand the ‘lie of the land’ on your chosen Partner farm(s), and for both sides to get a more tangible sense of how your business idea could come to life there.
Stage 6: 45-minute interview
When? February/ March/ April
Who? You and the Pitch Up! team
What? This is a chance to unpack your idea more fully, with both the team on your chosen Partner farm(s) and relevant members of the national Pitch Up! team who have useful experience/ insight in your specific business/ sector.
After this, you and your chosen Partner farm(s) will agree on the next steps and timescales for moving forward – it’s different for every business, so we’ve found it’s best for you to agree directly on what works for you both.
The application process should be complete by early spring 2026 – possibly before, depending on the number of applicants and what stage of development/ operations your business is at. We’ll keep you updated on timings as you move through each round.
