Employment Funding Support

About this scheme

Job creation is a key priority for Enterprise Ireland, and Employment Funding Support helps create new jobs as part of the overall expansion and development of a company, contributing towards the cost of new employee salaries. It can be used by companies with growth potential advancing a development project with the potential to increase international trade, to expand and achieve increased employment (a minimum of 3 new jobs). Grant support is provided per new job, up to a maximum of €15,000 per employee and €150,000 per company application, with the actual support rate (as a percentage of eligible costs) varying between roughly 10% and 35% depending on company size (Small, Medium or Large) and the Regional Aid Area in which the company is located, based on the General Block Exemption Regulation and the Regional Aid Map for Ireland (2022-2027). Employment grant approvals must provide for a minimum of €20,000 in grant aid. It is aimed at Enterprise Ireland client companies seeking enhanced growth through increased employment. Claims must be certified by an Independent Accountant.

Who can apply

• Must be an Enterprise Ireland client company advancing a project with the potential to increase international trade
• Support is for recruitment of a minimum of 3 new employees over and above the company's base employment position
• Maximum grant per employee is €15,000; the support rate per job varies
• Employment grant approvals must provide for a minimum of €20,000 grant aid, up to a maximum of €150,000 per company application
• Maximum support percentages (aid rates as % of eligible costs) are based on the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) 2023-2026 and the Regional Aid Map for Ireland (applicable 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2027, Commission Decision SA 101399): Assisted Area A - 35% (Small), 25% (Medium), 15% (Large); Assisted Area B - 30% (Small), 20% (Medium), 10% (Large); Non-Assisted Area - 20% (Small), 10% (Medium), N/A (Large, not eligible for this aid category in Non-Assisted Areas)
• Regional Aid to Large Enterprises can only be awarded if the company will be operating a new business activity under a new 4-digit NACE code, or is setting up a new establishment in an alternative location in an assisted area on the Regional Aid Map
• Note: Investment Aid for SMEs is technically not Regional Aid
• Claim must be certified by an Independent Accountant on their headed paper

How to apply

1. 1Company works with its Enterprise Ireland Development Advisor to put forward a development project with the potential to increase international trade and a plan to recruit a minimum of 3 new employees over and above its base employment position
2. 2Company applies via Enterprise Ireland's online application process and, if approved, receives a Letter of Offer (Grant Agreement) confirming the grant title, Project Number, approved expenditure and Final Claim Date, with the support rate determined by company size and the Regional Aid Area the company operates in
3. 3Company recruits the approved new employees and reviews its Letter of Offer, then downloads the Employment Grant Checklist, Claim Form and Director Statement (one Excel workbook)
4. 4Company arranges for an Independent Accountant to certify the claim on their headed paper, using the required template
5. 5Company submits the completed claim, certified by the Independent Accountant, to Enterprise Ireland by email, including Company Name and Project Number in the subject line
6. 6A Grant Payment Officer reviews the claim and supporting documentation; if in order, the claim is authorised and a payment request is submitted to Finance, with payment following to the company's bank account