Small businesses across Omagh, County Tyrone and the surrounding areas could benefit from a new £2.3 million support programme designed to help businesses expand, develop their products and services, and reach customers beyond Northern Ireland.
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced the launch of Groundwork for Growth, a new initiative developed by Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) to help ambitious micro, small and medium-sized businesses take their next steps towards growth.
The programme aims to support 240 businesses over the next three years, with successful applicants able to access up to £15,000 in financial support alongside practical guidance and business development opportunities.
Supporting Business Growth in Omagh and County Tyrone
Omagh and the wider County Tyrone area have a diverse business community, including manufacturers, engineering firms, technology companies and specialist service providers.
For many smaller businesses, expanding beyond their existing customer base can present challenges, particularly when it comes to developing new products, marketing, accessing new markets and investing in staff skills.
Groundwork for Growth aims to help businesses overcome some of these barriers by providing targeted support to businesses with the potential to increase sales outside Northern Ireland.
The programme could be particularly relevant to local businesses that have established a strong foundation in the Omagh area but are now looking to explore opportunities in Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland or international markets.
What Support Is Available?
Successful applicants can receive up to £15,000 in grant support to help develop their business and prepare for growth.
Support can cover several important areas, including:
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Product and business development: Improving existing products, developing new offerings and strengthening business operations.
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Marketing and market development: Identifying new customers, exploring markets and developing strategies to increase sales.
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Training and skills development: Building the knowledge and capabilities needed to support business expansion.
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Export development: Accessing practical guidance and workshops to help businesses prepare to sell outside Northern Ireland.
Businesses accepted onto the programme will also become Invest NI clients, providing an opportunity to establish a longer-term relationship with the organisation.
Who Can Apply?
Groundwork for Growth is aimed at businesses that are not currently Invest NI clients but have the ambition and potential to grow.
Applicants must meet eligibility requirements, including:
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Being an established Northern Ireland business that is already trading and generating sales.
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Operating in manufacturing or tradeable services.
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Having annual turnover below £2 million, or annual sales outside Northern Ireland below £250,000.
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Demonstrating the potential to increase sales beyond Northern Ireland.
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Having access to the additional funding needed to deliver their proposed project.
Businesses do not need to be exporting already, but they must demonstrate realistic plans to develop external sales.
Some business activities, including retail, primary agricultural production and tourism accommodation, are excluded. Applicants should review the full eligibility criteria before applying.
The funding is paid in arrears against eligible expenditure rather than being provided upfront.
Encouraging Local Businesses to Think Bigger
For businesses in Omagh and surrounding towns and rural communities, the programme presents an opportunity to explore growth beyond the local marketplace.
A manufacturing business could use the support to develop products for customers in new markets, while a technology or specialist services company could strengthen its marketing and develop the skills needed to attract clients further afield.
Access to financial support, combined with practical business guidance, could help local businesses invest in opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to pursue.
The programme also reflects a wider effort by Invest NI to engage with smaller businesses at an earlier stage of their development, including those that have not previously accessed its support.
How to Apply
Applications for Groundwork for Growth are now open.
Application deadline: Monday 2 November 2026, at 12 noon.
Note: Invest NI’s webpage also contains one conflicting reference to 9am. Applicants should submit well ahead of the deadline or confirm the closing time directly with Invest NI.
Businesses interested in applying should review the eligibility criteria, consider their plans for growth and identify how the available funding could support their development.
Find out more and apply: Invest NI – Groundwork for Growth
Further information: Department for the Economy – £2.3 Million Programme Announcement
For businesses across Omagh and County Tyrone with ambitions to expand into new markets, Groundwork for Growth could provide valuable support to turn those ambitions into practical opportunities for long-term business growth.
