Find out how to apply

About the programme

Our Supply Chain Solutions support can help businesses improve their supply chain resilience and competitiveness following the COVID-19 pandemic, EU Exit and current global environment.

Supply Chain Solutions is open to manufacturers and internationally tradeable services businesses who manage a supply chain as part of their business, or who are involved in the extended supply chain.

The application window to apply for Supply Chain Solutions is currently open.

What support is available?

Supply Chain Solutions will provide a 3-step graduated framework of support. A team of supply chain professionals will provide specialist advisory support to help businesses identify supply chain risks and appropriate mitigations, reduce costs, improve competitiveness, identify supply chain opportunities and develop supply chain capability.

As part of Step 3, financial assistance towards the salary costs of an employee dedicated to supply chain may also be available depending on a business’ circumstances.

Read the Supply Chain Solutions - Guidance Notes (PDF)  for full details on the support available under each step.

Is my business eligible?

Supply Chain Solutions support is open to any manufacturing or tradable service business which meets the following criteria:

  • Is based, and operating, in Northern Ireland.
  • Manufactures products or provides internationally traded services.
  • Has a total supply chain spend of at least £100,000 in one of the previous 2 financial years.
  • Experienced supply chain disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, EU Exit and current global environment.
  • Has or will reach a turnover of £250,000 per annum in the next five years, and achieve at least 25% of those sales outside of Northern Ireland; or be an existing Invest NI customer.
  • Be able to complete a State Aid declaration in the event that financial support for a new key supply chain worker is determined.

The following businesses are not eligible to apply:

  • Businesses already in receipt or intending to gain other government support for the project.
  • Businesses that do not provide commercial products and/or services.
  • Businesses with a minimum total supply chain spend of a least £100,000 in one of the previous 2 financial years.
  • Businesses that cannot demonstrate they are a viable business.
  • Businesses involved in activities that Invest NI considers as ineligible or as involving an unacceptable reputational risk, such as gambling, adult entertainment, tobacco products and cannabis-based products which are not authorised as medicines.

How can my business apply?

If you would like to apply, please proceed to check your eligibility. The call for applications will close 15:00, Friday 22 March 2024.

Get started

Is your business eligible?

Answer the following questions to find out if you can apply.

Q1 - Is your business based in Northern Ireland?
Q2 -Does your business either manufacture products or provide internationally traded services?
Q3 - Did your business have an annual supply chain spend of of at least £100,000 in one of the previous 2 financial years?
You will be required to provide signed company accounts to verify this.
Q4 - Has your business’ supply chain been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, EU Exit or current global environment?
You will be required to provide evidence of this.
Q5 - Are you an existing Invest NI customer?
Q6 - Can you demonstrate your business will reach a turnover of £250,000 per annum in the next five years, and achieve at least 25% of those sales outside of Northern Ireland?

You may be eligible for support through Supply Chain Solutions

Please complete this enquiry form and a member of our Supply Chain Solutions Team will be in touch within ten working days to discuss your project.

You may be eligible for support through Supply Chain Solutions.

Please complete this enquiry form and a member of the Supply Chain team will be in touch within ten working days to assess the potential for your business to become an Invest NI customer.

Following completion of the onboarding process, a member of the Supply Chain team will contact you to discuss your project.

Sorry, from your answers your business does not meet the eligibility criteria for support through Supply Chain Solutions.

You can find out more about the Supply Chain Solutions eligibility criteria here: https://www.investni.com/support-for-business/supply-chain-solutions

Further information

For full details and information on the scheme please read the Supply Chain Solutions - Guidance Notes (PDF)

If you have any enquiries about the Supply Chain Solutions, complete the Supply Chain Solutions online enquiry form.

For general enquiries, contact Invest NI’s Business Support Team on 0800 1814422. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9:00 to 16:30.

Discover more

Watch Dermot Begley, Quality and Continuous Improvement Manager at Mallaghan’s, discusses the positive impact our Supply Chain Solutions support has had on their business.

Supply Chain tutorial series

Watch our supply chain video tutorial series for a comprehensive introduction to Supply Chain best practice. Topics include supply chain management, effective supplier sourcing, developing a supply chain strategy and more.