RURAL BUSINESS GRANTS FOR UP TO £4,999

Do you operate a micro business? (i.e. you employ less than 10 employees)

Is your business based in a rural area?  (a rural area is defined as an area with a population of less than 5,000 residents and outside designated urban areas of Magherafelt, Dungannon, Cookstown and Coalisland).  

If so you may be eligible to apply for capital funding under the Rural Business Development Grants Scheme. 

This Scheme aims to support the sustainability, recovery and development of micro rural businesses across Northern Ireland by providing a small capital grant for the business.  

Funding for this Scheme is provided through the Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. 

All businesses intending to apply must attend a virtual pre-application funding workshop. To register for a workshop please email rdp@midulstercouncil.org. Date and times for the workshops are available through the link below.

For more information on eligibility, how to apply and upcoming workshops, visit:

www.midulstercouncil.org/ruralbusinessgrant

Any further enquiries, contact a member of the RDP Admin Unit by calling 03000 132 132 (Ext 22508 / 22504) or email rdp@midulstercouncil.org

 Ardean ¦ Business Funding

 

Don’t forget to declare COVID-19 grants on your tax return

 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding Self Assessment customers to declare any COVID-19 grant payments on their 2020 to 2021 tax return

More than 2.7 million claimed at least one Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) payment up to 5 April 2021. These grants are taxable and you should declare them on your 2020 to 2021 tax return before the deadline on 31 January 2022.

https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/dont-forget-declare-covid-19-grants-your-tax-return

Ardean ¦ Business Planning

UK Tradeshow Programme launched

 Get government support to help you attend or exhibit at overseas trade shows

A new programme to support SMEs to explore exporting opportunities at overseas trade shows has now opened.

Businesses will receive training to help them get the most out of exhibiting and some may be able to access grants of either £2,000 or £4,000 to help with costs.

UK businesses exporting, or thinking about exporting, can apply for support to:

• exhibit at, or attend, approved overseas trade shows and conferences
• potentially receive grants to offset some costs

Applications to exhibit at overseas trade shows are now open. Applications to attend overseas trade shows (without exhibiting) will open in January 2022.

https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/uk-tradeshow-programme-launched

Ardean ¦ Marketing

New DAERA Grants and Funding Hub

Find grants and funding supporting local farming, fisheries, rural business, communities and environmental NGOs with a new tool from DAERA.

A new one-stop online funding hub has been launched by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). The Grants and Funding Hub will provide users, at a glance, with information about the schemes DAERA offers, help them easily determine eligibility, and provide details about how to apply and who to contact for further information.

In addition to signposting current opportunities, it includes details of existing and legacy schemes to help users better understand the types of funding offered by DAERA. It also has links to other government funding available and provides contact details for support organisations that can help applicants avail of funding.

Complementing the hub, a new text alert service has been established. The service will allow those interested in schemes to sign up to be alerted when new opportunities are available, be reminded of closing dates and signposted to other useful updates. Subscription is easy - simply text DAERAGrants to 67300 for free updates by SMS.

Find the latest opportunities on the DAERA Grants and Funding Hub: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/grants-and-funding

Ardean: Business Funding

Minimum wage rates increase from 1 April 2022

 National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates increase from 1 April 2022.

Employers should be aware that all minimum wage rates increase on 1 April of each year. This includes all National Minimum Wage rates and the National Living Wage rate. The new minimum wage rates apply to eligible workers in Northern Ireland from 1 April 2022.

Read more on National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates.

Ardean ¦ Business Planning

Economic Recovery Innovation Grant

A new £4 million innovation grant for SMEs opens for applications
Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) has launched the Economic Recovery Innovation Grant (ERIG) to support small and medium-sized businesses to develop and implement innovative projects.

ERIG will provide up to £5,000 to help businesses develop new, or improve existing products, services or processes through innovation. The grant will support eligible costs, including:

• testing and developing new products or processes
• equipment
• skills development
• marketing
• consultancy

ERIG is open to any business that can demonstrate it meets all the eligibility criteria.

How to apply
Complete the Eligibility Checker to find out if you are eligible to apply.

https://www.investni.com/economic-recovery-innovation-grant-eligibility-check

Ardean ¦ Funding For Businesses

£300 Marketing Grant Available For Mid Ulster Businesses

 Mid Ulster District Council has launched a new £250K grant scheme to support the economic recovery of local businesses in the district.

From today, Monday 2 August, businesses in Mid Ulster will be able to apply for a marketing grant, up to a maximum of £300, to help assist their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications to the scheme will only be accepted through the online application process, no hard copy or email applications will be accepted. Funding will be allocated to businesses on a first come, first served basis until all the funding has been committed.

Learn more about this grant from this webpage: https://www.midulstercouncil.org/marketinggrant

Ardean ¦ Funding