Business support in Northern Ireland: Invest NI
Official business support in Northern Ireland from Invest NI, plus UK-wide schemes on Find a grant.
Invest NI is Northern Ireland's economic development agency. It supports businesses with advice and programs, and UK-wide schemes on Find a grant are also open to eligible Northern Ireland businesses.
Where to look
Invest NI
Northern Ireland's economic development agency. Start at the official page, Invest NI, and read the current version for eligibility, amounts and deadlines. Program details change, and the official page is always the final word.
Find a grant (GOV.UK)
The UK government service for searching government grant schemes. Start at the official page, Find a grant (GOV.UK), and read the current version for eligibility, amounts and deadlines. Program details change, and the official page is always the final word.
How to approach it
- Check each program's eligibility on the Invest NI site.
- Speak to an Invest NI adviser about your plans.
- Look at UK-wide schemes too.
How to tell if a program fits
Before you write anything, read the eligibility section of the official page and answer three questions. Is your organization type eligible, such as a for-profit business, nonprofit or public body? Is your location covered? Are the activities and costs you plan to spend money on the ones the program funds? If any answer is no, move on. Reviewers rarely stretch the rules, and a near miss costs as much time as a real application.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free money for business grants Northern Ireland? Most public funding is for a specific purpose, and many programs are loans, tax credits or cost-shared contributions. Read each official page to see what type of support it is.
Do I have to pay to apply? No. Applying through official government portals is free. Be cautious of anyone who charges a fee to get you a grant.
How long does it take? It depends on the program. Check the official page for intake dates and decision timelines, and plan to submit early.
Before you apply: a quick checklist
- Read the current official program page and applicant guide, not a summary of last year's version.
- Confirm you are eligible: organization type, size, location and years in operation.
- Confirm your project is eligible: the activities and costs the program actually funds.
- Classify the money: grant, repayable contribution, loan, tax credit or service.
- Work out your share: cost share, matching funds and the cash you need before reimbursement.
- Note the intake window or deadline and the time zone, and plan to submit days early.
- Ask the program contact any question you cannot answer from the guide.
- Do not start spending until you have a signed agreement or written approval.
Mistakes that sink otherwise good applications
- Applying to a program that does not fit, in the hope that reviewers will stretch the rules. They rarely do.
- Copying last year's application without checking what changed in the guide.
- Vague outcomes. Say what will change, for whom, and how you will measure it.
- A budget that does not match the narrative. Every cost should connect to an activity you describe.
- Submitting at the last minute, when portals are busy and there is no time to fix errors.
Keep exploring on GrantSift
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