MicroTrade Link-Up Funding

MicroTrade is keen to support collaboration between micro-enterprises, North and South. To encourage this type of activity, MicroTrade offers funding packages worth up to Stg£5,000 per partnership (on a 50% funding basis) for certain types of inter-business collaboration.

What types of businesses are eligible?

• A cross-border link-up between two micro-enterprises (1 to 10 employees).
• A cross-border link-up between a micro-enterprise and a larger company, where there will be a significant business development benefit for the micro-enterprise.
• A grouping or cluster of micro-enterprises with a good North South balance.

Other than in exceptional circumstances, all applicant businesses must have been in business for at least one year and have experienced success in their domestic market.

What types of collaboration can MicroTrade support?

• The development of joint marketing materials to support the promotion of joint products or services.
• Joint exhibition at trade events for the promotion of joint products or services (support towards exhibition space and towards accommodation and subsistence costs, subject to maximum limits)
• Third party fees for market research, feasibility study preparation or joint business plan development where a clear need to employ a third party can be demonstrated.
• Third party costs for prototype development or service development, provided a need for external input can be clearly demonstrated.

We will look at proposed activities to see if they would result in the partner businesses …

• significantly increasing their levels of  cross-border trade AND/OR
• jointly developing trade in a third market.

Examples of Funded Projects

The examples below might give you a more concrete idea of the types of projects we have supported:

• Funding to a County Down corporate team-building provider working with a prestige venue in County Dublin to jointly offer corporate packages to Dublin-based companies.
• Funding to a Belfast market information company and a Dublin IT company for the marketing of a jointly developed CRM package for the construction sector.
• Funding to a Strabane - Donegal partnership of businesses jointly marketing crockery and kitchen equipment to the hotel sector.

Click here to see how Coral IT from Carrickfergus and JBM of Galway partnered to target the All-Island hospitality sector.

Read how the Link-Up Funding has helped bring success to EVG Eventures Group and Miller Hospitality here...

Download a copy of the Link-Up Guidelines (pdf)

Download an Link-Up Funding Application Form (word doc.)

Feel free to get in touch to discuss any proposal you might have: info@microtrade.org or + 353 (0)1 494 8414.