Funding Opportunities

£1M+ of support available to businesses in Ards and North Down via new grant schemes.

Ards and North Down Borough Council has announced details of a new support programme for commercial properties located in the towns and city.

The funding of over £1M will help support thriving high streets by creating safer and more attractive streetscapes, boosting footfall, and attracting new businesses.    

Launch of the Empty to Energised Pilot Grant Scheme 

Ards and North Down Borough Council is pleased to announce the launch of the Empty to Energised Pilot Grant Scheme, the second strand of the Supporting Thriving High Streets Programme which is part funded by Department for Communities and Ards and North Down Borough Council.

The Empty to Energised Pilot Grant Scheme is funded entirely by Ards and North Down Borough Council. The scheme aims to help property owners revitalise vacant commercial premises in Bangor City and Newtownards Town Centre.

The scheme offers financial assistance to renovate empty commercial properties, making them fit for purpose and ready to occupy. By bringing vacant spaces back into use, the scheme seeks to boost town centre vibrancy, attract new tenants, increase footfall, create local employment opportunities, and promote sustainability in redevelopment projects.

The Empty to Energised Pilot Grant Scheme provides a capital grant of up to £25,000 per property located in Bangor City or Newtownards Town Centre, covering up to 80% of eligible renovation costs. The property must have been vacant for a minimum of 12 months at the time of application. A minimum 20% match funding contribution is required from the applicant.

The Grant opens for applications on Monday 5 January 2026 and closes for applications on Monday 16 February 2026 at 12 noon.

Online information sessions will be held on Microsoft Teams on the following dates:

• Wednesday 3 December at 18:00
• Thursday 4 December at 10:00 and 14:00

Registration is required, contact emptytoenergised@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk to register. These sessions will provide further information on the application process and provide an opportunity to ask any questions.

To find out more visit https://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/Empty-to-Energised

Funded by Ards and North Down Borough Council

Glow Up Grant - now closed to applications.

A value of £550,000 and is funded by the Department for Communities with a contribution from the Council.  It is for active businesses in the urban centres of Bangor, Newtownards, Comber, Donaghadee and Holywood seeking to make shopfront improvements.  Grants will provide 90% funding up to a maximum amount of £2,500 per property. Closes 12noon on 1 August 2025 or sooner should all funding be awarded. For enquiries, contact glowupgrant@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

To find out more visit www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/glow-up-grant 

Funded by the Department for Communities and Ards and North Down Borough Council

Further initiatives to support existing businesses will be announced later in the year. 

For more information visit www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/supporting-thriving-high-streets

The DTFF is a demand led grant scheme aimed at establishing a Northern Ireland wide fund to stimulate digital innovation.

DTFF seeks to address the financial barriers to the adoption of advanced digital technologies to achieve business transformation amongst small and micro-businesses.

DTFF grants are worth between £5,000 and £20,000 ex VAT and are designed to help small and micro businesses accelerate their digital transformation ambitions.

Call 6 Expression of Interest Window is currently closed.  The deadline was 24 October 2025. Keep an eye out for the next round.

Click here to find out more about DTFF.

Applications Now Open for Call 2.

If you’ve previously received support or are currently going through the Go Succeed service, you may be eligible to apply for a grant of between £1,000 and £3,000 to help take your business to the next level.

Applications will close on Wednesday 5th November 2025 at 12 noon.

Click here to find out more

DAERA has launched the 2025 Rural Business Development Grant Scheme which will deliver £1.55million in capital grants to support rural micro businesses across Northern Ireland.

The Rural Business Development Grant Scheme is funded through the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs ‘Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation’ (TRPSI) Programme and is delivered in partnership with local Councils. 

Eligible rural businesses can apply for capital assistance of 50% up to the value of £4,999 for the purchase of capital equipment which will help their business to enhance sustainability or lead to growth opportunities and the creation of employment opportunities which in turn strengthen the rural economy.

Details of the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme are on the DAERA website at:  

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/rural-business-development-grant-scheme-rbdgs

Only online applications can be accepted for this scheme. 

Please Note: Your business must be located in a rural area (This excludes the city of Bangor and the towns of Comber, Donaghadee, Holywood and Newtownards) & have less than 10 full time equivalent employees.

The Scheme has now closed.

If you have any questions, please contact a member of the Regeneration Team: 

Telephone – 0300 013 3333 Ext 40918 or 40893

Email – rbdgs@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Mind Body Business is an initiative by Ards and North Down Borough Council that aims to benefit you, your business and your employees, by providing a series of initiatives that encourages employers to put “health” at the centre of their business agenda.  This year’s scheme is offering a small grant of financial support, up to £250 (per business), to businesses based in Ards and North Down Borough who are interested in providing a workplace health and well-being initiative for their employees.  This scheme is currently closed to applications.

Click here for further details about the Mind Body Business programme