About the Ambition to Grow programme
Is your business seeking to create new employment and grow into new markets?
Our Ambition to Grow - Supporting Women programme, delivered in partnership with Women in Business NI, supports innovative and ambitious micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Northern Ireland to receive up to £30,000 of funding.
The programme helps businesses accelerate growth through innovation, create new jobs and secure sales outside Northern Ireland. Participants can also build valuable connections with like-minded business owners and expand their professional networks.
The application call for Ambition to Grow – Supporting Women will open on Monday 16 November at 9:00.
How my can my business benefit from the Ambition to Grow - Supporting Women programme?
Your business can access up to £30,000 though:
- £15,000 towards creating new employment opportunities
- £10,000 to support market, product, and skills development
- £5,000 on completion of an Export Health Check, Innovate NI Self-Assessment, and participation in a series of leadership development workshops.
Who can apply for the Ambition to Grow - Supporting Women programme?
Ambition to Grow - Supporting Women is open to any business in Northern Ireland that meets the eligibility criteria who:
- Have a suitable product or service for selling outside Northern Ireland
- Have the potential to create new jobs within the business
- Can demonstrate the need for government support
- Have an annual turnover under £1m or sales outside Northern Ireland less than £300,000
You can find the full criteria in our Ambition to Grow | Supporting Women - Guidance Notes (PDF).
How do I apply for Ambition to Grow - Supporting Women?
The application window for Ambition to Grow - Supporting Women will open on Monday 16 November at 9:00.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the most frequently asked questions about Ambition to Grow, however, more in-depth questions and answers can be found in our guidance notes linked above.
What type of business is Ambition to Grow - Supporting Women aimed at?
Ambition to Grow - Supporting Women is aimed at businesses that are not currently Invest Northern Ireland clients but have plans to grow sales outside Northern Ireland and with this create new employment.
Is Ambition to Grow – Supporting Women suitable for start-up businesses?
To be eligible to apply for Ambition to Grow - Supporting Women, businesses need to already be trading and be able to demonstrate they can sustain any new employment created. Businesses at an earlier stage may benefit more from other support options which can be found at nibusinessinfo.co.uk.
Is the Ambition to Grow – Supporting Women programme for woman applicants only?
No. The programme is open to any business that meets the eligibility criteria. We do, however, actively encourage applications from businesses with a woman in a key decision-making role.
Is all the grant money paid up front?
No. Payment of the different grant elements is triggered by carrying out or spending money on specific activities.
Do I need to be exporting to be able to apply?
You do not need to currently be exporting to apply but you need to demonstrate how your business plans to increase sales to customers based outside Northern Ireland, and with this create new employment.
Discover more
Find our more about the Ambition to Grow – Supporting Women programme.
You may be interested in
- Start a business
Regional Business Network
Our Regional Business Network works directly and indirectly with businesses across Northern Ireland.
- Start a business
Support for local start-ups
Thinking of setting up a business or a social enterprise and don’t know where to start? We can help.
- Export Support
Export to Grow
Complete our Export Health Check to assess your export readiness.