Access Advice: LeanStart

This Enterprise Ireland grant funds the hire of an external Lean coach, typically over 8-12 weeks, to give a company a short, focused introduction to Lean thinking and help it identify waste and embed continuous improvement. It provides grant funding of 80% of the project cost to a maximum of €5,000, based on 7 days of training/advisory services with eligible costs capped at €900 per day inclusive of travel, subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses.

Grant range: Up to €5,000
Funding level: 80%
Support type: Grant
Last checked: 4 Sept 2026

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About this scheme

Access Advice: LeanStart gives a company a short, focused introduction to Lean thinking, helping it understand what a Lean approach can do for the business. It funds the hire of an external Lean coach, typically over 8-12 weeks, to coach staff in identifying waste, establish more effective workplace organisation systems, and build better communication and collaboration systems, embedding a culture of continuous improvement. It is aimed at Irish-owned businesses in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector employing 10 or more staff, or at Enterprise Ireland High Potential Startup (HPSU) clients. Grant funding covers 80% of the project cost to a maximum of €5,000, based on 7 days of training/advisory services. It does not cover general management consultancy, equipment scoping/sourcing, planning for other grant applications, or general business process mapping. A company may make a maximum of one claim against this grant.

Who can apply

Irish-owned business operating in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector, employing 10 or more full-time staff
OR an Enterprise Ireland High Potential Startup (HPSU) client
Support is based on 7 days of training or advisory services; eligible costs are capped at €900 per day, inclusive of travel, subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses
Maximum daily rate supported by Enterprise Ireland is €900 (the provider's actual daily rate charged may be higher or lower)
Cannot be used for general management consultancy (business strategy, market research, product development, financial review and planning, sales & marketing, HR planning, health & safety training, IT or cyber-security process review, installation or configuration), for scoping/sourcing equipment purchases or planning for other grant applications, or for general business process mapping
A maximum of 1 claim can be made against this grant

How to apply

Company identifies it is new to Lean thinking and, working with Enterprise Ireland, selects the LeanStart project option within the Access Advice online application process
Company applies online for Access Advice: LeanStart and, if approved, receives a Letter of Offer confirming the grant, Project Number, approved expenditure and Final Claim Date
Company engages an external Lean coach, who works with the company typically over 8-12 weeks (up to 7 days of training/advisory services) on waste identification, workplace organisation and communication/collaboration systems
Company downloads and completes the Access Advice Claim Form, Checklist and Director Statement (one Excel workbook), plus a Progress Report (Word document)
Company emails the completed claim (with signed/PDF Director Statement) to IndustryGrantClaims@enterprise-ireland.com, including Company Name and Project Number in the subject line, with files encrypted using the company's CES ID
A Payment Officer reviews the claim; if information is missing they suspend the claim and request it, or return it as invalid if the Final Claim Date has passed or documentation is significantly incomplete
If complete, the claimed expenditure and supporting documentation are desk inspected and reviewed against the submitted Progress Report
The Payment Officer authorises the claim and submits a payment request to Finance; a confirmation letter issues via email and payment follows to the company's bank account