APPLICATION FORM
For
BUSINESS EXPANSION GRANT
Local Enterprise Office
Freedom of Information
The Local Enterprise Office will not release any
information received as part of this application except
as may be required by law, including the Freedom
of Information Acts 1997 and 2003. In the event of
a Freedom of Information request, the client will be
given reasonable advance notice in order to contest
such disclosure.
Data Protection
Any personal information which you provide to the
Local Enterprise Office will be obtained and processed
in compliance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 &
2003. The information in this Application Form will be
used by the Local Enterprise Office in the processing
of your application and for ongoing administrative
purposes between you and your Local Enterprise Office.
Note
Beneficiaries of grant aid should note that the
acceptance of funding is an acceptance of their
inclusion in the list of beneficiaries under Article 7(2)
of the Implementation Regulation (EC) No 1828/2006.
This list can be accessed on Border Midland & Western
and Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly websites.
Draft: 8: 04/09/15
Information on financial assistance from Local Enterprise Offices
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) can assist in the establishment and/or development of new and existing enterprises
(Limited Company, Designated Activity Company, individual/sole trader, co-operatives and partnerships) provided that
such enterprises/projects are capable of attaining commercial viability and subject to the following criteria:





The enterprise must not employ more than 10 people
The enterprise must be established, registered, and operate within the geographic location of the Local Enterprise
Office
The enterprise must operate in the commercial sphere
The enterprise must demonstrate a market for the product/service
The enterprise must have the potential for growth in domestic and/or export markets and also potential for new
job creation
Within the above eligibility criteria there are certain priorities and restrictions.

Only enterprises in the manufacturing or internationally traded service sector which over time can develop into
strong export entities and graduate to the Enterprise Ireland Portfolio;

Salary support may be offered to unique tourism services projects that are focused predominantly on generating
revenues from overseas visitors and which do not give rise to deadweight (where projects would have proceeded
anyway) and/or displacement (where the project simply displace business from other players in the market);

Areas such as retail enterprises, personal services, professional services or construction/local building services are
not eligible for grant aid.
Information relating to Business Expansion Grants
A Business Expansion Grant is available to micro enterprises (Limited Company, Designated Activity Company,
individual/sole trader, co-operatives and partnerships) after the first 18 months of trading to assist in the expansion of
the business. The maximum Business Expansion Grant payable shall be 50% of the investment or €150,000 whichever is
the lesser.
Grants over €80,000 and up to €150,000 shall be the exception and shall only apply in the case of projects that clearly
demonstrate a potential to graduate to Enterprise Ireland. In all other cases, the maximum grant shall be 50% of the
investment or €80,000 whichever is the lesser. Subject to the 50% limit, a maximum grant of €15,000 per full time job
created shall apply in respect of any salary support granted.
A business that had availed of a Priming Grant will be ineligible to apply for a Business Expansion Grant until 12 months
after date of approval of the Priming Grant whichever is the later except in cases of exceptional merit and where less than
the maximum Priming Grant was drawn down, and subject to the provisions in respect of ‘De Minimis state aid’.
A Business Expansion Grant may be payable to purchase new equipment, assist with direct business costs such as salary,
accommodation/rental, utilities, marketing, consultancy etc. as per application form. Grant assistance is not allowable for
the purchase of a building, land or mobile assets. All financial assistance awarded will have a repayable aspect to it which
will be determined by the LEO’s Evaluations and Approvals Committee.
Expenditure may be considered under the following headings:

Capital Items, including fit out of workspace, office equipment, machinery, server/computer costs hardware &
software etc. (note acquisition and construction of building and purchase of mobile assets including laptops,
tablets and smart phones are excluded from grant aid).

Salary Costs. For 1st year of employment. This to be paid in two instalments. The first instalment at the
commencement of employment and the second instalment once the employment has continued in existence for a
period of six months. The level of grant support should reflect the salary scale proposed for the employment being
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
2|
generated. It is anticipated that only quality jobs attracting salaries in excess of €40,000 will be eligible for the
maximum €15,000 grant support with appropriately scaled back grants offered in accordance with proposed salary
for lower paid positions. It should be noted that approved grants are used for their intended purposes. Where
salaries are being supported by the LEO the detailed job description and contracts for the role need to be
forwarded to the LEO prior to drawdown.
 Consultancy /Innovation / Marketing Costs - may include packaging, brochures, business cards, trade fairs, website
and development, consultancy fees and other marketing initiatives.
 General Overhead Costs – including e.g.
 Utility Costs. These include installation costs for fixed line telephone, broadband and three phase power.
Rental / Accommodation Costs for 1st year of project (note where rental space is already subsidised by an investment of
public funds then grant support should reflect the differential between the market rate and subsidised rate). Rental costs
may be paid up front subject to receipt by the LEO of signed lease / rental agreements.
Application procedure
In order to apply for a Business Expansion Grant, it is necessary to contact your local LEO to assess suitability and
eligibility.
Applications are considered on a case by case basis and the level of funding will be determined following an assessment
of:





The merits of providing grant support to the activity set out in the application
The need for financial support
Previous funding provided to the promoter
Subject to availability of funding
Potential for employment and sales growth
If an individual or business wishes to make an application they will be requested to submit a completed signed Business
Expansion grant application form along with the following – Curriculum Vitae for key promoter(s) , Quotations for key
costs and 3 quotes for any item of expenditure over €5,000, and in the case of existing businesses last set of certified
accounts.
Your LEO will acknowledge your application in writing and an executive from the LEO will meet with you to discuss the
application. Additional information may be requested. When the LEO receives all the necessary information your
application will be evaluated at the next available meeting of the LEO’s Evaluation & Approvals Committee. You will then
be informed in writing of the decision.
Expenditure incurred prior to receipt of an official written acknowledgement of your completed application will be
considered ineligible for grant aid purposes. The submission of any application for grant assistance or receipt of the Letter
of Acknowledgement from us should not be taken as any guarantee that the application is eligible or will be awarded
grant aid. The final decision on grant assistance is with the LEO’s Evaluation & Approvals Committee.
For more information on financial supports available from the LEO including eligibility please see www.localenterprise.ie
Please ensure the application form is completed in full.
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
3|
Drawdown procedure in the event of approval
Any financial assistance approved can only be drawdown based on submission of evidence of expenditure as detailed in
your letter of offer. Any funding approved must be claimed within the time period on the letter of offer.
In order to claim any financial assistance approved the promoter must submit the following:
 Signed acceptance of offer
 Original invoices
 Evidence of payment
 Auditors Certificate
 Claim form
 Current valid tax clearance certificate, and
 Any other conditions as set out in the Letter of Offer
De Minimis Aid
The aid being sought is provided under the European Commission Regulation on De Minimis Aid. Limited amounts of
State aid, up to €200,000 in any three-year period to any one enterprise, are regarded as too small to significantly affect
trade or competition in the common market. Such amounts are regarded as falling outside the category of State aid
which is banned by the EC Treaty and can be awarded without notification to or clearance by the European Commission.
A Member State is required to have a mechanism to track such aid (called ‘De Minimis aid’) and to ensure that the
combined amount of De Minimis aid payments from all sources to one enterprise in any three-year period respects the
€200,000 ceiling. Please provide details of all other grant aid (or De Minimis aid) that has been granted to you/ your
company within the past 3 years. It should be noted that a false declaration by a company resulting in the threshold of
€200,000 being exceeded could later give rise to the aid being recovered with interest.
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
4|
Application Check List
Application Form Completed
Application signed and dated
Three quotations for equipment for which grant aid is
sought. (for any proposed spend greater than €5,000)
Latest set of Certified Accounts
Certificate of Incorporation,
CRO Number or Certificate of Registration of
Business Name if available
Please provide evidence of the availability of match
funding from own resources / investor / loan finance
Your Own Qualifications (CV or Personal Profile)
Confirmation of Grant Aid sought from other Agencies
and signed declaration
Tax clearance certificate
REMEMBER INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION WILL RESULT IN DELAYS
1. Contact Details
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
5|
Primary Contact Details
Name/s:
Business Name: (Limited
Company or Trading As)
Registered Business Address
Home Address
Telephone Numbers
Landline:
Mobile:
Email Address
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Other Social Media Platforms
(Please specify)
Current status of Promoter/s:- Please tick relevant box
Name/s
Self Employed
Employed
Unemployed
Training/Education
2. Company Details
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
6|
Number of Year’s Trading: _____________
Business Type:
Tick Relevant Column and provide Business Registration or /CRO Number if Applicable
Sole Trader/Individual
Partnership
Limited Company
Other (please state)
If Applicant is a Limited Company please complete section below
In case of Limited Company list
all directors and percentage of
Shareholding
Director Name & Home Address
Percentage
Shareholding
(1)
(2)
(3)
Company Tax Number
Location of Business Premises
Business Operating
Address
Is the Premises?
Owned
Leased
If the premises is leased please indicate the term and the time remaining on the lease:
3.. Promoter’s Details
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
7|
Promoters Background/Qualifications & Experience
Detail relevant experience and qualifications of each of the promoters involved in the project.
(Feel free to use bullet point format)
Include school/college education, other training, work history, and self employment history if applicable).
Education/Training
Relevant Business Experience: (minimum 150 words)
4. Business Details
Please Describe Your Existing Business:
(Please include as much detail as possible)
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
8|
1. Describe Product/Service:
2. Unique Features of Product/Service:
3. Benefits to Your Customers:
4. Pricing:
5. Patent Claims/Intellectual Property:
6. Supplier Information (Raw materials):
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
9|
7. Details of Proposed Expansion:
8. Detail Investments Costs to Date:
5. Market Research and The Market
5.1 The market research carried out to support expansion plans:
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
10 |
(Min. 150 words)
5.2 Detail what you know about the size of your target market:
(Include what trends if any exist, how is spending changing in the market, why are they changing)
(Min. 150 words)
5.3 Customers:
(What Groups/type of customers you are targeting, have you identified any individual customers, do you have any existing
customers)
(Min. 150 words)
5.4 Details of any new forward orders to support expansion:
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
11 |
5.5 Marketing Strategy:
(Where and how will you sell your product/service? How will it be distributed/promoted to potential customers?)
(Mention of website, online sales and social media proposed, min. 150 words)
5.6 Competitors:
(Who are your competitors? Where are they located? How will you compete? Why will people buy from you?)
(Min. 150 words)
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
12 |
6. Expenditure Costs
Please list the items to be purchased and other expenditure and their expected cost in year 1
Please see financial guidance notes at front of this form or financial supports section on www.localenterprise.ie which outlines
eligibility for grant aid, limits on support available, and conditions of grant aid etc.
(PLEASE NOTE on expenditure of greater than €5,000, please provide three quotations for each such item.)
Anticipated Salary Costs (a):
I
Expenditure Cost €
Job Title
(Annual Salary Amount)
Grant Sought €
(Eligible Costs Max.
€15,000 per Job)
Total Salary Costs (a)
Anticipated Other Expenditure Costs (b):
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
13 |
I
Expenditure Cost €
Item Description
(Ex. VAT)
Grant Sought €
(Eligible Costs max.50%
of Expenditure costs Ex.
VAT)
Capital Items
(Equipment & machinery etc.)
Total Capital
Expenditure Cost €
Marketing Costs
(Ex. VAT)
Grant Sought €
(Eligible Costs max.50% of
Expenditure costs Ex. VAT)
Total Marketing
Expenditure Cost €
Consultancy costs
(Ex. VAT)
Grant Sought €
(Eligible Costs max.50% of
Expenditure costs Ex. VAT)
Total Consultancy costs
Utility Installation costs (e.g. ESB- 3 Phase Power,
communication/broadband etc.)
Expenditure Cost €
(Ex. VAT)
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
Grant Sought €
(Eligible Costs max.50% of
Expenditure costs Ex. VAT)
14 |
Total Utility Installation costs
Total Other Expenditure costs (b)
Total Expenditure Cost & Grant Sought:
Expenditure Cost €
Transfer totals from above tables
Grant Sought €
Total Salary Costs (a)
Total Other Expenditure costs (b)
Total Expenditure Cost & Grant Sought
Match funding sources for total grant sought amount:
Match Funding €
Investment in project from own resources (Proposed)*
Investment in project financed by borrowing (Proposed)*
Investment in the project from other sources (Proposed)*
TOTAL:
*Please provide evidence of the availability of match funding from own resources / other sources / loan finance.
(Please note that grant assistance if approved can only be claimed based on vouched expenditure.)
Please outline why your business needs LEO support and the impact that the assistance will have, and
Identity and explain the effect of not receiving assistance.
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
15 |
7. Employment Details
Estimated Job Potential (Including the applicants):
Total Employment
Staff at time of
Total Staff by end
Total Staff by end of
Total Staff by end of
Application
of Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
(including Owner)
Full Time (Female)
Full Time (Male)
Part Time (Female)
Part Time (Male)
Total
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
16 |
8. Financials
Summarised Trading Accounts & Trading Projections
Last Trading Year Ended
/
/20
Yes
Are Accounts Audited
No
Please provide a copy of your latest set of Certified Accounts
(Management accounts should be provided if available.)
Actual
(if Applicable)
End Year 1
Projected
End Year 2
End Year 3
1. Sales (Turnover)
2. Cost of Sales
Raw Materials
Salary Costs
Rent/Accommodation & Rates
Utility Costs
Phone/Broadband
Electricity
Water
Cleaning/Waste Disposal
Marketing Costs
Consultancy Costs
Business Specific Training
Insurance Premium
Transport Costs (fuel etc.)
Printing & Stationery
Loan Repayments
Depreciation
Business Specific Training
Repairs & Maintenance
Other
3. Total Costs of Sales (Add total of 2)
4. Net Profit (deduct 3 from 1)
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
17 |
12 Month Cash Flow- Year 1
Months
Income:
Cash Sales
Owner’s Funds
Loans
Grant Funding
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Total Income
Expenditure:
Fit out/Equipment costs
Raw Materials
Salary Costs
Rent/Accommodation & Rates
Utility Costs
Phone/Broadband
Electricity
Water
Cleaning/Waste Disposal
Marketing Costs
Consultancy Costs
Business Specific Training
Insurance Premium
Transport Costs (fuel etc.)
Printing & Stationery
Loan Repayments
Business Specific Training
Repairs & Maintenance
Vat Payment
Corp. Tax
Other
Total Expenditure
Opening Cash Balance (existing
business
Net
Cash only)
Closing Bank Balance
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
18 |
12
Total €
12 Month Cash Flow- Year 2
Months
Income:
Cash Sales
Owner’s Funds
Loans
Grant Funding
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Total Income
Expenditure:
Fit out/Equipment costs
Raw Materials
Salary Costs
Rent/Accommodation & Rates
Utility Costs
Phone/Broadband
Electricity
Water
Cleaning/Waste Disposal
Marketing Costs
Consultancy Costs
Business Specific Training
Insurance Premium
Transport Costs (fuel etc.)
Printing & Stationery
Loan Repayments
Business Specific Training
Repairs & Maintenance
Vat Payment
Corp. Tax
Other
Total Expenditure
Opening Cash Balance (existing
business
Net Cashonly)
Closing Bank Balance
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
19 |
12
Total €
Months
Income:
Cash Sales
Owner’s Funds
Loans
Grant Funding
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Total Income
Expenditure:
Fit out/Equipment costs
Raw Materials
Salary Costs
Rent/Accommodation & Rates
Utility Costs
Phone/Broadband
Electricity
Water
Cleaning/Waste Disposal
Marketing Costs
Consultancy Costs
Business Specific Training
Insurance Premium
Transport Costs (fuel etc.)
Printing & Stationery
Loan Repayments
Business Specific Training
Repairs & Maintenance
Vat Payment
Corp Tax
Other
Total Expenditure
Opening Cash Balance (existing
business
Net Cashonly)
Closing Bank Balance
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
20 |
12
Total €
9. Grant History
De Minimis Declaration - Previous State Support (if any)
Has the business or any of its promoters previously received any other State Supports or E.U. Supports
from any other Agencies?
YES
NO
If YES, above please give details including the date, amount and the purpose of the support:
De Minimis Aid
Type of Aid Approved e.g. training / innovation voucher / seed capital /
feasibility / capital / employment or other grants
Amount €
Total:
0
Date
De Minimis Aid is small amounts of State Aid given to an enterprise which cannot exceed €200,000 over
any three fiscal years to any business irrespective of size or location.
De Minimis Aid can come from any State body, agency or department. If a Company is part of a
group then the €200,000 limit applied to group.
A false declaration resulting in the threshold of €200,000 being exceeded could result in aid being
recovered.
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
21 |
10. Additional Information
a)
Are you in receipt of, or you will be an applicant for, any Social Welfare Support in respect of your
own or your employee’s employment?* (please tick)
YES
b)
NO
This application will have to be referred to others (on a confidential basis) as part of the Local
Enterprise offices’ processing procedure. Do you consent to this?* (please tick)
YES
c)
NO
Do you agree to receive Local Enterprise Office information on an ongoing basis? (please tick)
YES
d)
NO
Are you (or the company) registered for VAT? (please tick)
YES
NO
e) Please give details of the following:*
Bankers
Accountant
Solicitor
Insurers
Beneficiaries of grant aid should note any capital items grant aided must be insured and evidence of this
must be provided prior to grant drawdown.
11. Signature*
I hereby declare that the details given in this application, together with any supplementary information
supplied are true and accurate
Insert Signature: ……………………………………………………………..
Name:
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
22 |
Application form and supporting information to be signed and returned to the Local Enterprise Office.
For Internal Use Only
File Reference__________________________________________________________
Date Application Received _______________________________________________
Sector ________________________________________________________________
NACE Code __________________________________________________________
GMIS Code ___________________________________________________________
Executive _____________________________________________________________
Local Enterprise Business Expansion Grant
23 |