Apply for up to £15,000 in funding to help accelerate business growth
Invest Northern Ireland’s Groundwork for Growth programme supports ambitious and innovative local businesses with the potential to sell outside Northern Ireland. Each successful applicant can receive up to £15,000 in funding to help accelerate business growth.
What the grant can support
If your business is eligible, you can apply for a grant to help you reach new customers outside Northern Ireland, refine your products or processes, and upskill your employees.
As part of the programme you’ll also attend a workshop focussed on growing your export sales, which will help you sell your product or service in new markets.
Who can apply
Groundwork for Growth is open to any Northern Ireland business that meets the eligibility criteria and:
- is not currently an Invest Northern Ireland client
- has the potential to increase sales outside Northern Ireland
- has an annual turnover under £2 million, or sales outside Northern Ireland of less than £250,000
- can demonstrate the need for government support
You can find the full criteria in the Groundwork for Growth guidance notes (PDF, 1.1MB).
How to apply
To apply, complete the eligibility checker on the Invest NI website.
If you pass the eligibility checker, you will gain access to the online application form through the Invest NI portal.
The application call will close at midday on Monday 2 November 2026.
Source: nibusinessinfo
