Business Support Finder

The business support finder is a searchable database that can help you find local publicly-funded and not-for-profit sources of 
assistance you may be eligible to apply for. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free 
or subsidised advice services. There may also be specific initiatives to help with starting up, managing or growing a business.

209 schemes available

  • Up to £15,000 of funding for Invest NI customers to cover external training, travel, and accommodation.

  • Tailored training for small to medium-sized businesses to increase the skills levels of their existing workforce.

  • Up to 50% of funding for eligible costs to train and upskill staff.

  • The Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) provides different levels of rate relief for Northern Ireland business properties depending on their net annual value.

  • Business support scheme details on the value of rate relief, which Post Offices qualify for rate relief and how to apply.

  • Support for businesses to increase productivity through skills development and a productivity road map.

  • Small grants for community and voluntary organisations to address loneliness and isolation and build social connections.

  • Help for setting up a new social enterprise or co-operative including advice, networking opportunities, coaching and workshops

  • Bespoke mentoring and exclusive workshops to help social enterprises enhance their skills.

  • Support for social enterprises to elevate their skills through one-on-one mentoring and online workshops, focusing on fundraising, digital marketing, and social impact planning.

  • Funding of up to £25 million for UK-registered organisations to develop secure, sustainable or sovereign connectivity technologies.

  • Rate relief for a club, society or organisation that provides sports or recreation services.

  • Grant to support individuals and clubs to develop sport in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area.

  • Grants of up to £5,000 to help with business ideas that have been tested and are ready to launch.

  • Government-backed unsecured personal loan of between £500 to £25,000 to help start or grow a business in the UK.

  • Fixed-rate business loans from 1 to 5 years, offering up to £100,000, to help UK owners start, grow, or expand their business over 1 to 5 years.

  • An opportunity to provide a work placement to a young person to help bring diversity to entrepreneurship.

  • Specialist advice and support for Northern Ireland businesses managing supply chains, improving resilience and growth.

  • Sustainability Reports give businesses an understanding of their environmental performance across a number of areas.

  • Grants of up to £2,000 are available for young entrepreneurs who are running a business or planning to start one soon.

  • Support for cross-border business collaboration and innovation across the island of Ireland.

  • Expert support for businesses facing technical challenges in engineering, manufacturing, product/process, environmental, and health & safety matters.

  • Access advice and expertise in managing and implementing resource efficiency projects.

  • Funding of up to £25,000 for Northern Ireland businesses to cover costs of expert technical services that support innovative projects.

  • The Tender Alert Service enables companies to identify local and international public sector contract opportunities

  • Opportunity for businesses to test trade their products or promote their services at St George’s Market.

  • A range of guidance on the menopause for managers and employees.

  • The Pixel Mill is a collaborative and accessible co-working space in the Ormeau Labs for Northern Ireland’s interactive sector.

  • Tax relief for companies that produce theatrical productions.

  • Support programme for tourism and hospitality businesses to help them survive and grow business revenues in the short to medium term.

  • All tourist accommodation providers in Northern Ireland must receive certification from Tourism NI in order to operate.

  • The Tourist Accommodation Quality Grading Scheme is open to hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, self-catering, hostels and guest accommodation; with premises having the ability to achieve a grading of between one to five stars.

  • Providing NI companies with access to in-market consultants who undertake a range of bespoke projects to help companies investigate and develop export markets.

  • Bespoke, fully funded one-on-one specialist support to help your business grow cross-border exports. The Trade Export Pathway will assist you in researching market opportunities and developing a robust sales plan.

  • A practical hub with all the information for businesses about trading between Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain.

  • Free online food safety education tool for small food businesses in catering, food service, retail and manufacturing

  • Funding to explore barriers and blockages to the creation of a fair and sustainable financial system within the economy.

  • This bursary award is for a one-week studio residency at The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig.

  • A one-week residency for practitioners in all art forms who are based in the Lisburn and Castlereagh area.

  • Funding of up to £3 million for UK-registered organisations to support innovative projects in quantum technologies.

  • UnLtd provides funding to help social entrepreneurs and social ventures start and grow their business.

  • The Vacant to Vibrant grant scheme aims to reduce vacancy, address dereliction, and support local independent businesses in Belfast.

  • Tax reliefs to encourage indirect investment by individuals through a mechanism similar to an investment trust.

  • Tax relief for companies making video games.

  • Grants and capital funding for charities and social enterprises to revitalise Northern Ireland's rural communities by repurposing historic buildings.

  • Grants of up to £500, workshops and one-to-one mentoring for starting up a business, or growing businesses not yet working at full capacity.

  • The Quality Grading Scheme for Visitor Experiences offers tourism operators a chance to be awarded with a one to five star rating to indicate the level of quality a visitor can experience when visiting their attraction or activity.

  • A 12-week programme to help female entrepreneurs harness AI and other technological tools for their business.

  • Bite-sized, topical online learning sessions for employees on wellbeing and inclusion.

  • A three-year initiative to help female founders scale their business strategically and sustainably.

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