Ambition to Grow | Supporting Women

Is your business led by a woman in a key decision-making role?

Invest Northern Ireland has opened applications for their Ambition to Grow | Supporting Women programme.

In partnership with Women in Business NI, the programme supports Northern Ireland's most innovative and ambitious woman-led start-ups and small businesses. It aims to help businesses grow by creating jobs, innovating processes, and selling outside Northern Ireland.

Eligible participants can receive up to £30,000 in funding, broken down as follows:

• £10,000 towards new employment within the business
• £10,000 for business development (market, product, or skills growth)
• £10,000 after completing an Export Health Check, Export Marketing Plan, Innovate NI Self-Assessment, and Leadership Development workshops

Participants also have the opportunity to network with other women entrepreneurs.

Who can apply?

The programme is open to all woman-led, Northern Ireland-based businesses who have:

• a suitable product or service for selling outside Northern Ireland
• the potential to increase new employment within the business
• the ability to demonstrate the need for government support
• annual turnover under £1 million or sales outside Northern Ireland less than £300,000

To find out if your business is eligible for Ambition to Grow | Supporting Women competition, complete Invest NI's online Eligibility Checker.

Ambition to Grow | Supporting Women is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

First published 9 October 2024