Financial Assistance

Download Financial Assistance brochure

The financial assistance available from Invest NI is targeted towards helping businesses that can grow and compete in international markets. Financial resources are limited, so focusing assistance on the businesses with export potential is one of the ways we can strengthen the economy and deliver the best return on investment.

Who is eligible?

Financial assistance is potentially available to Invest NI clients that have completed the free-of-charge Business Health Check. Read about the Business Health Check.

To be eligible for financial assistance you must also be a manufacturing business or a business offering internationally tradable services.

We consider each individual project against the following key criteria. It is not necessary to satisfy every criterion.

• Does the project have a strategic focus on markets outside Northern Ireland?
• Does it feature innovation, advanced technologies or will it result in strengthened design capability?
• Will the project produce new, value-added products or services?
• Will it lead to increased employment and specifically, greater value-added opportunities?
• Will the project create new skills or experiences?
• Does the project feature university or research linkages?
• Will it accelerate a business’ growth towards challenging targets?
• Has the maximum private sector finance been raised?

• Is the business committed to becoming internationally competitive?
• Is there a link between the project and the business’ corporate objectives?
• Is the business committed to international standards of performance?

• Having strategic importance for the business’ sector
• Offering opportunities to local suppliers or distributors
• Focusing on high-growth sectors
• Locating in areas of greatest social need

Project eligibility criteria

We support projects that have the greatest potential to generate economic growth and prosperity. Projects are considered against key criteria, but broadly speaking, if a project is to be approved for financial assistance it must:

• be viable
• show a need for Invest NI support
• generate a positive return to the economy

Further information

Contact your Client Executive or the Invest NI office in your area. Find your nearest Invest NI office.