Skills Boost for Business Growth (small grant scheme)

We are offering this small grant scheme to local businesses in the Lisburn and Castlereagh area to support industry-related training.  This will help improve employability outcomes and labour market conditions locally.  

You could receive up to £2,000 of grant support through this programme to train your team.  We are offering up to £500 per employee for a maximum of four employees in your business.  The programme aims to improve employment opportunities by offering entry level positions or upskilling opportunities as a result of training. 

Businesses in the Lisburn & Castlereagh Council area who are interested in providing a workplace training initiative for their employees should apply.

Your business must employ one or more members of staff excluding the business owner.

Training must include an industry recognised certification or qualification e.g.  First Aid, CSR Card, Forklift licence, Hygiene Certificates.

This programme is not available to the public sector.

You can view the privacy notice for this programme here

 

You should take part to:

•    obtain training for your staff/employees at no cost or lower cost* to your business
•    offer training opportunities to your staff and employees to upskill and enhance their employability
•    provide Industry Specific Training at a time and date that suits your business
•    support the growth of your business by investing in your staff
•    provide training for your staff to progress in their career and therefore create entry level positions

*Subject to the terms and conditions of this initiative i.e. £500 per employee for a maximum of 4 employees per business. 

Criteria for funding – Please read carefully

Grants will only be offered on a first come, first served basis to companies who meet the criteria.  Eligible businesses should employ one or more employees and will apply on behalf of employees.  Owners cannot avail of the training grants.

1. Training should be easily obtained by the individual or employer on receipt of a letter of offer for funding.
2. Two ‘like for like’ quotes must be provided for each training initiative.  If a local provider cannot be sourced, please provide quotes from companies outside of the Lisburn and Castlereagh area.  Emails from training providers and screen shots from relevant training providers' websites are acceptable and should be provided when submitting your application.  Failure to provide the required number of quotes will result in the application being rejected.
3. Evidence of quotes should be sent to lmp@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk at the time of submitting your application. Please include your business name in the subject of the email.
4. Applicants must complete a pre and post programme survey form on successful completion of scheme and be prepared to report on programme outcomes 6 months post completion.  A copy of the pre-programme survey form must be completed by each applicant as part of the Letter of Offer Acceptance criteria.
5. Applicants must submit bank statements, receipts, invoices and copies of certificates on completion of the initiative via a Grant Claim Form.  Payments will be made retrospectively. 
6. Participants must be employed in the Lisburn and Castlereagh area.
7. Applicants must provide full details of proposed initiative and include ALL costs.
8. Applicants must include VAT registration details.  Payments to those who are VAT registered will be made exclusive of VAT, if not VAT registered payments will be made inclusive of VAT.
9. One application form may be made per business / owner / employer including subsidiaries of the business and can propose more than one employee but not more than 4, excluding the business owner.
10. The grants are up to £500 per person to cover and/or contribute to the cost of training. Training must include an industry recognised certification or qualification e.g. First Aid, CSR Card, Forklift licence, Hygiene Certificates. Grants are capped at four employees per employer (maximum amount of £2,000)

The following will not be considered for funding: membership fees, beauty treatments, teambuilding events, taxi, transport costs or other costs not associated with this grant and deemed ineligible by the Labour Market Partnership.
 

Important dates

Any application or evidence submitted after the deadline will not be considered by the LMP and the application will be rejected. Due to funding limits, grants will only be offered (on a first come, first served basis) to companies who meet the criteria.

Successful applicants will be issued a Letter of Offer and a supplier details form.

Acceptance form and supplier form need to be returned promptly to speed up your payment process once the training has been completed and costs submitted for consideration. Successful applicants will be required to complete a Subsidy Control Form that must be returned with required documentation.  
 
Please do NOT incur expenses for activities until you have received written approval that funding has been granted to your organisation as it will be deemed ineligible.
 
Monday 31st March 2025: All Grant Claim Forms and all invoices and evidence in relation to the approved and completed initiatives must have been submitted no later than this date.  It must be accompanied by receipts, invoices and bank statements for the full amount claimed. We recommend returning this paperwork to us on completion of the activity.

We anticipate to agree payment for your financial support payment within 14 days, subject to all relevant financial evidence having been provided.
 
Should the invoice(s) exceed the amount agreed in the Letter of Offer, only the amount stipulated in the Letter of Offer will be paid, subject to satisfactory assessment of the said invoice(s). Late invoices received after the closing date will not be paid.

For queries please email: lmp@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk 

Click here to apply