Strategic Consultancy Assignment Grant

About this scheme

The Strategic Consultancy Assignment Grant improves the strategic capability of Enterprise Ireland client companies by encouraging them to engage outside consultants to help develop and implement specific strategic or tactical initiatives, with consultants acting as coaches, mentors, counsellors, facilitators, analysts or negotiators. For SMEs, eligible work covers new assignments of strategic significance, such as a strategic review of one or more business functions or implementation of a new strategic initiative at corporate or functional level. For Large companies, eligibility is restricted to environmental studies or consultancy directly linked to investments in improved environmental protection (decarbonisation, energy/resource efficiency, renewable energy generation), under a distinct State Aid basis from the SME strand. It provides up to 50% of consultancy costs to a maximum grant of €35,000, with consultancy fees capped at €900/day. It is aimed at established SME clients in manufacturing or internationally traded services with 10-249 employees (HPSUs excluded), and Large companies for environmental-only projects. The scheme is non-competitive and processed year-round; it previously included a 'Short Term Consultancy Projects' component that has since been removed (per the August 2024 revision of the Terms of Reference).

Who can apply

• SMEs: must be established Enterprise Ireland clients in manufacturing or internationally traded services, employing 10-249 full-time people (HPSU companies are not eligible)
• Large companies: eligible only for environmental studies or consultancy services directly linked to investments in improved environmental protection, including decarbonisation, increased energy/resource efficiency, and renewable energy generation
• Companies not eligible to receive this support from An Bord Bia or An Bord Iascaigh Mhara
• For SMEs, eligible projects must be new assignments of strategic significance to the company (e.g. a specific strategic review of one or more business functions, and/or implementation of a new strategic initiative at corporate or functional level)
• Projects that don't fit the standard criteria but have a strong case may be presented by the Development Advisor to the Investment Committee for consideration
• The programme is not competitive; proposals can be processed throughout the year
• Project content, scope and size must be discussed and agreed with the Development Advisor before starting the application
• A consultant must already be identified prior to application, and the Development Advisor must be satisfied with the consultant's ability and experience and the quality/scope of the project
• Not eligible: consultants engaged as an integral part of a training or R&D project (other specific programmes exist for these); continuous/routine consultancy activities such as legal, financial, market research and PR; energy audits mandated under the European Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU (SI 426 of 2014); and subsidising a client's regular operating expenses
• Eligible costs: consultancy fees only, capped at €900/day inclusive of travel, subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses (aggregate days count where a firm has multiple consultants on the project; the rate applies separately per firm where multiple firms are involved); applicants should obtain three competitive quotations/tenders where practicable, and accept the tender offering best value for money
• Receipt of other Enterprise Ireland grants may impact eligibility for this support
• Grant approvals in excess of €5,000 require submission of audited P&L/Balance Sheet (under 2 years old) and management accounts (under 6 months old, unless audited accounts are already under 6 months old); companies trading less than 2 years are exempt from this requirement; an abridged Balance Sheet is required if availing of audit exemption; a Group structure copy is required if applicable
• A maximum of 2 claims may be made under this grant
• Where projects are funded under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (Carbon Reduction Fund, Climate Enterprise Action Fund, or Digital Transition Fund), they must comply with the 'Do No Significant Harm' Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), excluding certain fossil-fuel, ETS, and waste-related activities

How to apply

1. 1Read the eligibility requirements, then contact your Enterprise Ireland Client Advisor to discuss further; if you do not have a Client Advisor, you must first become an Enterprise Ireland client
2. 2Discuss and agree the project's content, scope and size with your Development Advisor before beginning the application, and identify a suitable consultant in advance
3. 3Once ready to apply, submit an application through Enterprise Ireland's Online Application System; first-time applicants must register to apply, and the online forms provide a step-by-step guide for each tab; the project start date is the date the application is received by Grant Applications & Contracts, and any costs incurred before this date are ineligible
4. 4Grant Applications & Contracts generates a proposal form on receipt of a valid application, which the Development Advisor completes and submits for approval via the Online Application System; for grant approvals over €5,000, financial statements (audited accounts, management accounts, or abridged Balance Sheet as applicable) must be appended, or the proposal is suspended
5. 5If approved, the company must return acceptance of the Letter of Offer within 60 days or the offer lapses
6. 6Company engages the identified consultant to carry out the approved strategic consultancy assignment (development and/or implementation of the strategic initiative)
7. 7Company submits claims via Enterprise Ireland's standard claims process, with a maximum of 2 claims allowed under this grant, by the Final Claim Date specified for the project