DAERA Rural Business Development Grant 2025

You will be eligible if you:

• Are located in a rural area (less than 5,000 residents)
• Employ less than 10 full time equivalent employees
• Must have an existing business and be actively trading (Farmers cannot apply)
• Are aged 18 or above at the application deadline.
• Are appropriately insured or prepared to obtain appropriate insurance if awarded a grant (building, contents or public liability insurance as appropriate)
• Have a dedicated bank account used by the business
• Can provide two “like for like” price checks or written quotes for each item claimed in the application, as required.
• Must attend a pre-funding workshop before the application call closes – See details below.
• Must be able to complete your project before 23 March 2026.

To be eligible to claim, all applicants must first attend a mandatory online workshop hosted by their local council. 

To register for a workshop please contact the Rural Development Team for your local council by email.

Type in your council name + Rural business development grant 2025/26 into google/ search bar and it should be one of the first 3 links. Contact information along with dates and times for the grant workshops will be available on each individual council website.

The following workshops are scheduled for the Fermanagh and Omagh District Area:

• Tuesday 30 September 2025 at 5.00pm

• Thursday 2 October 2025 at 7.00pm

• Monday 6 October 2025 at 5.00pm

• Wednesday 8 October 2025 at 7.00pm

To register for the workshops, you can express your interest by contacting the Rural Development team by emailing rural.development@fermanaghomagh.com

Or Call: 0300 303 1777

You will receive a link to the workshop and an online form to be completed prior to the workshop.

For all other Local Council contact details see page 18 & 19 of Full Claim Guidance Notes

The maximum number of items, or grouping of items that you can purchase under this scheme is six.

Examples of eligible expenditure includes:

• Computer equipment, eg computer, laptop, printer.
• Computer software (outright purchase; ongoing license fees are not eligible).
• E-commerce websites to allow online purchase capabilities.
• New capital equipment/ machinery.
• Mobile machinery, such as scissor lifts, forklifts, ride-on lawn mowers.

• Equipment/machinery under £1,000 or over £30,000 (minimum eligible spend of £1,000).
• Second-hand or refurbished equipment.
• Servicing of existing equipment.
• General maintenance or property refurbishment (requires Building Control/planning permission).
• CCTV, Signage
• Mobile Phones
• Solar panels and wind turbines, generators, wood waste heaters
• Port-a-cabins, pods, or other buildings.
• Labour costs unrelated to equipment installation or website builds.
• Projects started before receiving a Letter of Offer.
• Resource items (e.g., marketing materials, information websites, training, feasibility studies).
• Motorised vehicles (e.g., vans, cars, boats, bikes, quads).
• Activities required by law or another government department (e.g., Health and Safety, PPE).
• Business running costs (e.g., staff, rent, insurance, stock).
• Bank charges and currency transaction fees.
• Consumable items (e.g., high-visibility vests, printer ink).
• Equipment for adding bed space to existing accommodations.
• Staff uniforms or protective clothing.

You are required to obtain two or three quotes based on the value of the item you are applying for.

• Quotes should be “like-for-like” for fair comparison (same make and model where possible).
• Ensure all costs (delivery, installation, etc.) are included in quotes.
• Email quotes are acceptable and must include the supplier’s name and contact details.
• Quotes must be dated within 3 months of the application submission and before the deadline.
• Group items from the same supplier into one budget line (limit of six budget lines).
• You or your business cannot quote for your own project.
• If a family member is involved, disclose this in writing and provide 3 quotes (2 independent).
• Internet quotes (for items under £10,000) should include supplier name, web address, and price (printed or screen captures).
• Clarify if costs include or exclude VAT, and show this in quotes if applicable.
• Select the lowest quote and include these costs in the application.
• Quotes in other currencies must be converted using exchange rates on http://www.x-rates.com/ .
• Full procurement is required for entire items (no splitting into components).

Step 1: Register interest for a workshop by contacting your local council as soon as possible.

Step 2: Get the appropriate number of quotes/price-checks for each item you are applying for, see above for more information on suitable quotes.

Step 3: Submit the online application and all supporting evidence by 12pm mid-day 30 October 2025.

-Submit all quotes as attachments at the time of application—file-sharing links are not accepted (ensure all quote copies are clear and readable). See more information about suitable quotes above.

Step 4: Receive your Letter of Offer.

Step 5: Attend a mandatory Letter of Offer workshop via zoom. You cannot accept your Letter of Offer until you attend the workshop.

Step 6: Accept and sign your Letter of Offer digitally within 1o working days of the Letter of Offer workshop.

Step 7: Have the project completed (items are paid for in full, operational and on home site) by 23 March 2026.

Step 8: Complete the grant claim form online and upload all supporting documents (invoices for purchased items, bank statement as proof of payment and photographs of the items purchased) by midnight 23 March 2026.

Step 9: Receive your grant for 50% of eligible capital expenditure.

Click the following links for the:

>> General Guidance and Online Application Form (Fermanagh and Omagh)

>> Full Claim Guidance Notes and FAQ’s

For all other Local Council contact details see page 18 & 19 of Full Claim Guidance Notes.