Rural Business Development Grant Scheme

The Rural Business Development Grant Scheme (RBDGS) 2026/2027 offers micro-enterprises in rural Northern Ireland capital grants of £500 to £7,500 to support business growth and sustainability.

The RBDGS is funded under the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ (DAERA) Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Framework and aims to support the sustainability, competitiveness, and development of rural micro-businesses across Northern Ireland. The scheme provides capital grants covering 50% of eligible project costs, with a minimum grant of £500 and a maximum of £7,500. Total project costs must range between £1,000 and £30,000 and applicants must provide the remaining match funding for the project.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the grant, applicants must meet the following conditions:

• Be a micro-enterprise based in a rural area of Northern Ireland.
• Be an existing, registered private business or social economy enterprise actively trading commercially, evidenced by self-assessment or company registration details. (Farmers cannot apply).
• Employ fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees (full-time ≥30 hours/week, part-time ≥16 hours/week).
• Be appropriately insured or willing to obtain insurance if awarded the grant.
• Sports clubs or community groups are eligible only if they operate a commercial trading element generating revenue from non-member customers. Projects already funded by other sources, such as Sport NI, are not eligible under this scheme.
• The applicant has a dedicated bank account used by the business.
• Two price checks or written quotes have been provided for items as required.
• The applicant has attended a pre-funding workshop (this is very important, if this stage is not completed, you will not be able to apply for the grant).

Application Process

1. Pre-application Workshop: Applicants must attend a virtual or online pre-funding workshop before submitting an application. Workshops explain the application process and ensure compliance with scheme requirements. The workshops are organised by your local council area.
2. Application Submission: Applications are submitted through local councils, which administer the scheme on behalf of DAERA.
3. Funding Assessment: Grants are awarded based on merit against scoring criteria detailed in the scheme guidance notes. Not all applications may be funded due to limited resources.
4. Deadline: The 2026/2027 scheme opened on 29 June 2026 and closes at 12:00 pm on 30 July 2026.

Applicants are encouraged to contact their local council for guidance, registration, and support with the application process.

Benefits

The grant can be used to:

• Purchase capital equipment to improve productivity and competitiveness. Second hand or refurbished equipment will not be accepted in the grant.
• Support innovation, service expansion, or entry into new markets.
• Enhance the sustainability and growth of rural micro-businesses.

The scheme has previously supported over 1,200 businesses in Northern Ireland, demonstrating its impact on local economies and rural communities.

For more information, including guidance notes and council contact details, applicants can visit the DAERA website.

Emer Logue is a Senior Manager at Abac, Chartered Accountants.

This article is for general information only. You are recommended to seek professional advice before taking action on the basis of the contents of this article.