Grants Support
If you are currently receiving or have previously received support through the Go Succeed service, you may be eligible to apply for a grant to help take your business to the next level.
We can fund up to 50% of eligible capital costs, with a maximum grant of £3,000. This grant could support the purchase of specialist equipment to automate your production processes and boost productivity, or digital tools such as a website or software to streamline operations and enhance how you promote your business.
Please note:
- Applications will be invited through an open call and assessed via a competitive process.
- Funding is limited, and meeting the eligibility or scoring criteria does not guarantee an award.
- All grants are paid retrospectively, following the completion of satisfactory project monitoring. You must not begin your project until you have received and accepted a formal Letter of Offer. Any costs incurred before this will not be eligible for funding.
As well as receiving support through the Go Succeed service you must also:
Be actively trading at the time of application within your Council area
Have completed at least 60% of your mentoring before you apply
Have identified a barrier to growth which can be addressed by this grant
Be/have the potential to become an employer enterprise or social economy enterprise with a minimum of 1 full-time employee (FTE) and a maximum of less than 50 FTEs, including the business owner(s).
If you think you could be eligible for a grant, please contact your local council and they will be able to advise.
What can or can't be funded with the Go Succeed grant?
Examples of eligible capital expenditure include the below items which can be linked to introducing approaches leading to boosting productivity, to access to new markets and improved business performance.
New equipment / machinery that contributes towards business productivity growth or efficiency |
Mobile machinery, such as scissor lifts, forklifts, ride-on lawnmowers |
Computer equipment & software (outright purchase only, on-going license fees ineligible) |
Web development / e-commerce websites |
The following items cannot be funded under the service:
Businesses who have already been awarded the maximum Go Succeed grant |
Marketing |
Consultancy costs |
Attendance at trade shows / exhibitions |
Business running costs (for example, phones/mobile phones, staff costs, rent, rates, electric, insurance, stock) |
Funding awards for the core offering of your business are not eligible e.g. website development business applying for development of a website. |
Equipment/services that are eligible for funding through another service (e.g., Digital Transformation Flexible Fund, Invest NI, InterTrade Ireland) |
Retrospective expenditure (e.g. where services/items have already been obtained and paid in advance of a signed Letter of Offer) |
Motorised vehicles, including vans, lorries, cars, boats, bikes, quads or any other form of motorised mobile vehicles that can used as a means of transport |
Second-hand or refurbished equipment, where like for like quotations cannot be obtained |
General maintenance or refurbishment works |
Servicing of existing equipment |
Capital Improvements, building works, refurbishments (i.e. of any residential property or commercial property) |
Training costs |
Labour costs not directly associated with the installation of purchased equipment /capital works or build of websites |
Hire purchase arrangements |
Any activity or action that is a statutory requirement of your business (e.g. for Health and Safety purposes such as Personal Protective Equipment) or the responsibility of another government department |
Activities which are party-political in intention, use or presentation |
Alcohol, gratuities, gifts, and prizes |
Costs that are not auditable (for example, cash payments) |
Purchase of stock for general trading purposes |
Consumable items used by businesses that are replaced regularly because they wear out or are used up (for example, hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, visors, high-visibility vests for staff, printer ink) |
Staff Uniforms or clothing, including personal protective items |
On-going Licence Fees Loan Repayments, Bank interest charges, referral fees and foreign currency transaction charges. Costs that can be claimed back from elsewhere (for example, VAT) |
Please note this list is not exhaustive. Please ask your mentor if you have any queries. |
Still not sure? Contact us and we may be able to help you.
Want to start your Go Succeed journey?