Business Grants in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland offers unique business funding opportunities through Invest NI, local councils, and cross-border programmes with the Republic of Ireland. Belfast and other NI businesses can access support for innovation, exports, and growth.
Invest NI Funding
Invest Northern Ireland is the main business development agency for NI. They provide grants, loans, and support for businesses looking to grow, innovate, or export. Their programmes cover R&D, capital investment, skills development, and market entry.
Local Council Support
Northern Ireland's 11 councils offer their own business support programmes. Belfast City Council, Derry City and Strabane, and other councils run grant schemes for local businesses, particularly SMEs and startups.
Cross-Border Programmes
NI businesses can also access cross-border funding programmes with the Republic of Ireland and EU-funded initiatives. InterTradeIreland supports cross-border trade and innovation projects.
Northern Ireland Business Grants
51 grants found
CfI: Earlier identification of UK children with SEN
Organisations can apply for a share of £2.5m inclusive of VAT to develop innovations that enable earlier, fairer, more reliable identification of special educational needs (SEN) in contexts where existing market solutions underperform or do not operate. This phase 1 competition focuses on developing, testing, and rolling out innovations that can be integrated into education settings for children and young people.
Next Wave: Breakthrough Wave 1
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £10 million for industrial research projects to explore industrial strategy aligned Createch innovation. The aim is to support early stage innovation in the intersection of high growth potential Createch and the Industrial Strategy Frontier industries, developing innovations beyond proof of concept, de-risking future investment and supporting long term sector growth.
Capacity building: clinical research training fellowship
A fellowship opportunity for registered healthcare professionals who are PhD graduates working outside of research to reacquire research skills, refresh their research momentum, and pursue a clinical academic research career within the Medical Research Council remit.
Commissioned Rehabilitative Services General Grant Scheme
A grant scheme by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to award multiple competed general grants across probation regions. It supports services for people with shared protected characteristics or experiences, aiming to promote rehabilitation and desistance, reduce reoffending, and improve probation engagement.
Workplace Charging Scheme
Grant to provide support towards the costs of the purchase, installation and infrastructure of electric vehicle chargepoints at eligible places of work.
England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)
Supports the establishment of new woodlands, administered by the Forestry Commission.
Electric vehicle chargepoint grant for renters and flat owners
The grant provides electric vehicle (EV) drivers who are renters or own a flat with support towards the costs of the purchase and installation of EV charge points.
Electric vehicle chargepoint and infrastructure grants for landlords
Grants for landlords to install electric vehicle chargepoints and supporting infrastructure in rental and leasehold properties.
Trees, woodlands and forestry - Woodland Creation Planning Grant
The Woodland Creation Planning Grant (WCPG) offers funding of up to £30,500 for the production of a UKFS-compliant woodland creation design plan. Landowners, land managers and public bodies can apply.
Made Smarter - Manufacturing grants and funding
Made Smarter South East is a government-funded programme to drive growth amongst the South East's manufacturing SMEs and makers. It launched in April 2025 and the pilot runs to 31 March 2026 and has a budget of £1.55m.
Tree Health Pilot
The Tree Health Pilot (THP) scheme is testing different ways of slowing the spread of pests and diseases affecting trees in England. It supports owners and managers of trees in woodland or trees outside woodland to deal with tree health issues.
Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF)
This funding programme provides grants to local communities and economies that are disrupted by the construction of Phase One and Phase 2a of HS2 between London and Crewe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about business grants in Northern Ireland