Strategic Consultancy Grant

Under Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) (2021-2026), projects supporting the digital and climate transition of enterprise are being funded through the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. This covers projects that will:

facilitate emissions reductions, or
support the digital transformation of the company, driving increased adoption and diffusion of digital technology

Overview of the Strategic Consultancy Grant

In order to meet the varied needs of clients at different stages of growth, two categories of grant are offered:

Strategic Consultancy Grant (support for SMEs & Large clients, grant rate of 50%)

SME company: Eligible projects must be new assignments of strategic significance to the company such as a specific strategic review of one or more business functions and/or implementation of a new strategic initiative at a corporate or functional level.

Large company: Eligible projects must be to develop an organisational carbon reduction roadmap. Large companies are not eligible for other strategic assignments under Strategic Consultancy Grant.
Strategic Consultancy Grant - Short Projects (support for HPSU, SME & Large clients, projects between 3-10 days in duration, grant rate of 80%)

Eligible projects must relate to:
(a) an Identified pillar issue and/or action arising from a Client Development Meeting or
(b) Achieving Gender Balanced teams (actions arising from www.levelproject.ie)

Strategic Consultancy Grant

The Strategic Consultancy grant can support the cost of hiring Strategic Consultants to assist in the development and/or implementation of strategic initiatives in client companies. It is designed to facilitate business growth as the consultants can act as coach, mentor, facilitator, analyst, negotiator and/or operator for the company.

SME Company: Eligible projects must be new assignments of strategic significance to the company such as a specific strategic review of one or more business functions and/or implementation of a new strategic initiative at a corporate or functional level.

Large Company: Eligible projects must be to develop an organisational carbon reduction roadmap. Large companies are not eligible for other strategic assignments under Strategic Consultancy Grant. The Strategic Consultancy Grant cannot be used to subsidise regular company operating costs. Routine or ongoing outsourced consultancy costs such as PR, marketing, legal, financial costs are not eligible for support.

Consultancy costs relating to an Acumen Consultancy or Acumen Prospector assignment, pre-approved by Intertrade Ireland, must also apply for grant support using the Strategic Consultancy Grant online application forms.

Strategic Consultancy Grant – Short Projects

Eligible projects, up to and including €9,000 expenditure (minimum 3-day and maximum 10-day duration) can be used to support early stage, SME and large companies to focus on strategic and short-term tactical challenges where they assist companies to address:

Identified pillar issues and actions arising from a Client Development Meeting
Achieving Gender Balanced teams (actions arising from www.levelproject.ie)

The Strategic Consultancy Grant cannot be used to subsidise regular company operating costs. Routine or ongoing outsourced consultancy costs such as PR; marketing, legal, financial costs are not eligible for support.

Support may be approved against eligible De Minimis Costs associated with the Strategic Consultancy project.

Please note that the application form for this grant is not available on the Online Application System and can be accessed after consultation with your Enterprise Ireland Advisor.

Am I eligible?

Strategic Consultancy Grant

Eligible companies include;

A manufacturing or internationally traded services SME company employing 10-249 people.
Large companies are eligible for Strategic Consultancy Grant support to develop an organisational carbon reduction roadmap. Large companies are not eligible for other strategic assignments under Strategic Consultancy Grant.
Companies not eligible to receive the support applied for from An Bord Bia or An Bord Iascaigh Mhara.

Strategic Consultancy Grant – Short Projects

Eligible companies include;

Small and Medium established clients
HPSU Accelerate companies
Large companies

Upon declaration of De Minimis Aid status

Companies can avail of a maximum of three projects in any 12-month rolling period, at the 80% grant rate. Each of the approved projects should address a separate business challenge.

What costs are eligible and what is the maximum funding available?

Strategic Consultancy Grant

Up to 50% of the costs incurred in hiring a consultant to a maximum grant amount of €35,000. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and the level of funding will be determined following assessment of;

(a) the merits of providing grant support to the activity set out in the application
(b) the need for financial support
(c) previous funding provided to the company
(d) potential for employment and sales growth

Receipt of other grants from Enterprise Ireland may impact on your eligibility for support under this initiative.

Eligible Expenditures	Maximum Limits and Notes
Consultancy Fees	Costs of hiring a specialist consultant to input into or undertake the proposed project. Max. Consultancy rate is €900 per day. Daily rate to be inclusive of travel and subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses. Where more than one consultant is being used from the same firm the daily rate applies to the firm. Where there is more than one consultancy firm involved on the project, the rate applies to each firm separately.

Eligible Expenditures

Maximum Limits and Notes

Consultancy Fees

Costs of hiring a specialist consultant to input into or undertake the proposed project.
Max. Consultancy rate is €900 per day.
Daily rate to be inclusive of travel and subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses.
Where more than one consultant is being used from the same firm the daily rate applies to the firm.
Where there is more than one consultancy firm involved on the project, the rate applies to each firm separately.

Acumen Consultancy: Support of up to 50% of the cost of the consultancy at a maximum daily rate of €900, up to a maximum grant of €5,000. The consultancy period can be spread over a six to twelve month period.

Acumen Prospector: Support of up to 50% of the cost of the consultancy at a maximum daily rate of €900, up to a maximum grant of €10,000. The Prospector consultancy period can be spread over a six to twelve month period.

Strategic Consultancy Grant – Short Projects

Up to 80% of the costs incurred in hiring a consultant to a maximum grant amount of €7,200. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and the level of funding will be determined following assessment of;
(a) the merits of providing grant support to the activity set out in the application
(b) the need for financial support
(c) previous funding provided to the company
(d) potential for employment and sales growth
Funding will be by way of Grant under De Minimis. Receipt of other grants from Enterprise Ireland and other Agencies may impact on your eligibility for support under this initiative.

Eligible Expenditures	Maximum Limits and Notes
Consultancy Fees	Costs of hiring a specialist consultant to input into or undertake the proposed project. The maximum daily rate is €900 per day for a maximum of 10 days (and minimum of 3 days). A maximum of three projects may be approved within a 12-month rolling period. Each approved project must address a separate business challenge. Daily rate to be inclusive of travel and subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses. Where more than one consultant is being used from the same firm the daily rate applies to the firm. Where there is more than one consultancy firm involved on the project, the rate applies to each firm separately.

Eligible Expenditures

Maximum Limits and Notes

Consultancy Fees

Costs of hiring a specialist consultant to input into or undertake the proposed project.
The maximum daily rate is €900 per day for a maximum of 10 days (and minimum of 3 days).
A maximum of three projects may be approved within a 12-month rolling period. Each approved project must address a separate business challenge.
Daily rate to be inclusive of travel and subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses.
Where more than one consultant is being used from the same firm the daily rate applies to the firm.
Where there is more than one consultancy firm involved on the project, the rate applies to each firm separately.

How do I Apply?

Apply via the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System.

Prior to applying you must do the following:

Contact your assigned Enterprise Ireland Adviser to discuss your application.
First time applicants will be required to register on the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System.

Any expenditure incurred prior to receipt of the application will not be eligible for grant aid.

Please note that the application form for the Strategic Consultancy Grant – Short Projects is not available on the Online Application System and can be accessed after consultation with your Enterprise Ireland Advisor.

Call close dates

You may apply all year.

Key contact/more information

Carbon Reduction Roadmap Guidelines (doc)

Carbon Reduction Roadmap Consultancy Plan (xls)

Contact your Enterprise Ireland Adviser.

If you are seeking consultancy grant support for an Acumen Consultancy or Acumen Prospector assignment, go to Acumen Programme.