Causeway Coast firms need a free workshop before grant bid

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-14 19:40 3 min read

Close up of person filling out paperwork and calculating financial documents with a laptop.

The first hurdle for Causeway Coast and Glens businesses seeking a new capital grant is not the application form. Applicants must first attend a free, mandatory pre-application workshop organised by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

The workshops are intended for eligible micro businesses, small businesses and social enterprises operating across the borough. The supplied council notice does not specify workshop dates, times or venues, but registration is required through the council’s website before an organisation applies.

The workshop comes before a £5,000 to £30,000 bid

The workshops will explain the Causeway Coast and Glens Local Economic Partnership Capital Grant Programme, including its eligibility rules and application process. Attendance is mandatory for organisations planning to submit a grant application.

Successful applicants could receive between £5,000 and £30,000. Funding can cover up to 70% of eligible project costs for significant capital investments.

Supported investments may include new equipment, machinery and capital infrastructure. Proposed projects should help a business introduce or improve products and services, expand productive capacity, operate more efficiently or reach new markets.

Causeway Coast firms need a free workshop before grant bid

The programme was developed through the Causeway Coast and Glens Local Economic Partnership. It is funded through the Department for the Economy’s Sub-Regional Economic Plan.

Eligibility starts with two years of trading

The programme is restricted to eligible micro businesses, small businesses and social enterprises that are located and actively trading within the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area.

Applicants must have traded for at least two years. They must also produce goods and/or provide tradeable services. Organisations that meet those conditions are being directed to read the full programme guidance before registering for a workshop.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor Dawn Huggins said the grants were intended to help local businesses increase capacity, improve productivity and pursue new products and markets. She encouraged eligible businesses with growth plans to examine the programme and attend an upcoming workshop.

Jobs, sales and Net Zero will shape the assessment

Submitting an eligible project will not be the only consideration because applications will be assessed competitively. The council says decisions will focus on the outcomes that each proposed investment is expected to deliver.

Assessment areas include job creation and the sustainability of those jobs, increased sales, access to new markets, productivity and efficiency improvements, and contributions to Net Zero. Reviewers will also consider whether the applicant has the capacity to deliver the proposed investment successfully.

That approach means applicants will need to connect the equipment, machinery or infrastructure they want to purchase with clear business results. The mandatory workshops are designed to explain those requirements before the funding portal opens.

Applications run from 7 September to 5 October

The council’s online funding portal will open on Monday, 7 September 2026. Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday, 5 October 2026.

Eligible organisations considering an application should now review the guidance and register for one of the mandatory pre-application workshops through the council’s Local Economic Partnership page. Workshop dates, times and venues are not included in the supplied announcement, so applicants will need to check the council website for the available sessions and registration details.

Source: Causeway Coast and Glens Council News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

Grant values, eligibility rules, workshop requirements and application dates were matched to the published council notice.

Checks

Confirmed the £5,000 to £30,000 grant range and funding of up to 70% of eligible costs.
Confirmed the local trading requirement, minimum two-year history and goods or tradeable-s...
Confirmed that a pre-application workshop is mandatory and registration is required.
Noted that workshop dates, times and venues are not stated in the supplied announcement.

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