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InterTradeIreland

5 schemes tracked

SEIS & EIS Specialist Consultancy Support Scheme

The SEIS/EIS Specialist Consultancy Support Scheme helps qualifying early-stage companies secure Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) Advance Assurance from HMRC, which reassures investors that share purchases will qualify for SEIS/EIS tax relief. InterTradeIreland fully funds the cost of the pre-investment Advance Assurance step by paying an approved specialist consultant, who is only compensated once the applicant company secures Advance Assurance; the applicant company is responsible for the costs of the separate post-investment Compliance Statement step.

Grant range
Covers consultant costs
Funding level
100%
Support type
Voucher
Last checked
4 Sept 2026
Start this application on InterTradeIreland's website (opens in a new tab)

About this scheme

SEIS and EIS are UK tax-relief schemes designed to help smaller, higher-risk trading companies raise finance by offering tax reliefs to investors who buy new shares in an eligible company. To access these schemes, a company typically needs Advance Assurance from HMRC confirming it, its trade, and its shares should qualify, giving investors confidence before they commit funds. InterTradeIreland's Specialist Consultancy Support Scheme part-funds this process for qualifying early-stage companies by covering the full cost of the pre-investment 'Advance Assurance' step, carried out by an approved specialist consultant. The post-investment 'Compliance Statement' step is paid for by the applicant company itself. Applicants apply online, are assessed by InterTradeIreland's Funding for Growth team, and are then matched with a specialist consultant of their choice from an approved list. The consultant determines SEIS/EIS eligibility and is only paid by InterTradeIreland once the company has actually secured Advance Assurance, meaning there is no upfront cost risk to the applicant for this step.

Who can apply

  • Must be a Limited Company registered on the island of Ireland
  • If registered in Ireland (Republic of Ireland), must have or intend to establish a permanent establishment in the UK (a fixed place of business, or in some cases a UK-based agent)
  • Must have been trading (first commercial trade/sale) for less than 7 years
  • Must be conducting, and plan to spend the investment on, a qualifying trade under HMRC's SEIS/EIS rules
  • Company may not qualify if more than 20% of its trade is in: coal or steel production, farming or market gardening, leasing activities, legal or financial services, property development, running a hotel or nursing home, energy/gas/fuel generation or export, or banking, insurance, debt or financing services
  • Full SEIS/EIS eligibility requirements are set by HMRC (see linked GOV.UK guidance) in addition to InterTradeIreland's own scheme criteria

How to apply

  1. Complete an online application for consultant support via InterTradeIreland
  2. Application is initially assessed by the InterTradeIreland Funding for Growth team
  3. Companies that meet the criteria are passed, with their application and supporting documentation, to a specialist consultant selected by the company from InterTradeIreland's approved list
  4. The specialist consultant determines whether the company is eligible for SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance
  5. If eligible, a Terms of Reference is agreed and the consultant's work (application form, HMRC checklist, cover letter, financial accounts, business plan, etc.) begins
  6. Once evidence that Advance Assurance has been secured is provided, InterTradeIreland compensates the specialist consultant for the work carried out (the consultant is only paid if/when Advance Assurance is secured)