Lean Transform

About this scheme

Lean Transform, part of Údarás na Gaeltachta's Lean Manufacturing Supports, is a comprehensive, organisation-wide programme with a strong focus on employee development, delivering Lean tools and techniques across the entire organisation as part of a broader Organisational Innovation programme. It targets improving the ongoing flow of value to customers, implementing team-based problem solving and continuous improvement, identifying and removing wasteful activities across the business and supply chain, and developing leadership and management systems to align operations with company strategy. Unlike the smaller Lean Start and Lean Plus schemes, it is open to companies of any size engaged in manufacturing or eligible internationally traded services. Eligible costs cover trainees' and trainers' personnel time, approved external course costs, eligible travel & subsistence, and certain materials/licensing costs for non-routine training content. The percentage and level of funding is determined case-by-case, and no fixed maximum grant euro amount is stated on the page. As with other schemes, payment is made on receipt of a valid claim supported by documentation confirming that all grant conditions were met and approved expenditure was paid.

Who can apply

• Available to companies of any size (Small, Medium or Large)
• Engaged in manufacturing or in eligible internationally traded services
• Must have the capability and commitment to successfully complete a Lean Transform assignment
• Employ a minimum of 10 staff
• Eligible cost elements: trainees' personnel costs for hours spent in training; trainers' personnel costs (external trainer costs capped at €900/day inclusive of expenses; internal trainer daily rates based on actual base employment cost up to a maximum of €645/day); course costs for approved external courses supporting project goals; travel & subsistence for company staff attending off-site training or Lean Best Practice site visits (excluding Business Development, Sales, or Conference travel/subsistence, which is not eligible); materials costs where not readily available (e.g. specific workbooks/non-routine training materials, or licence costs for software/e-learning/VR/AR content)
• Ineligible: general stationery (flipcharts, paper, photocopying, etc.); costs for Learning Management platforms; development of training content

How to apply

1. 1Contact the relevant Údarás na Gaeltachta regional office (Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford or Meath) for advice and support.
2. 2Complete a grant application form, available at www.udaras.ie or from any regional office.
3. 3Submit the completed application form to the appropriate regional office; the percentage and level of funding will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
4. 4If approved, financial support applies from the date of issue of the Letter of Acknowledgement of receipt of application; grant aid cannot be approved retrospectively for expenditure incurred before this date.
5. 5As a condition of funding, implement a language plan to promote the use of Irish in the business.
6. 6Claim the grant by submitting a valid claim with supporting documentation confirming that all grant conditions were met and that all approved expenditure has been paid.