Assistance available to Food Businesses from Offaly Local Enterprise Office

  • Eligible projects may qualify for Priming or Business Expansion Grant Assistance may be available from the Local Enterprise Office towards capital expenditure and fit out of the units, subject to a 50% limit. A maximum grant of up to €15,000 per full time job created may also be available.
  • Subsidised expert business advisor / mentoring consultancy to assist with developing the product or business.
  • Website development grant – 50% of expenditure to a maximum of €1,500.
  • Trade Fair Support – 50% of eligible expenditure to a maximum of €2,000 per annum to support attendance at trade fairs in Ireland or abroad as an exhibitor.
  • Quality Assurance Certification support to include shelf life testing – 50% of eligible expenditure to a maximum of €2,000.
  • The Local Enterprise Office works in partnership with Micro Finance Ireland providing access to loans of up to €25,000 for businesses who do not meet standard lending criteria.
  • Support pathway to Bord Bia including an opportunity to participate in new initiatives such as the Food Academy programme.
  • Alerts about and assistance to avail of additional support programmes such as the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher scheme and relevant InterTrade Ireland
  • Programmes will also be made available through monthly email newsletters.
  • Access to subsidized / free training courses run by the Local Enterprise Office in areas such as finance, marketing and social media.
  • Free membership of Offaly’s Network of Entrepreneurs (O.N.E.) to anyone in business or thinking of setting up.

Starting a High Potential and Internationally Focused Business

Our High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) team provides hands-on support and advice to entrepreneurs and early stage companies that are considered by Enterprise Ireland to have an innovative product, service or technology, and have the potential to achieve international sales and create employment.

If you have a business proposition with international sales potential or are currently raising investment for your start-up venture, then you may qualify for support and investment.

This All Pages section sets out the criteria for becoming an Enterprise Ireland HPSU client and the supports that are available to you.

Ferbane Food Campus will provide food entrepreneurs with all the relevant help they require onsite Links to Bord Bia programmes will be facilitated and developed. HACCP training and HACCP systems developed for all individual products.

Production skills training and advice. Food product development mentoring from our onsite manager. Training facilities with full internet access for food related hospitality courses. Business plans and tax consulting advice. Marketing, design and printing expertise within campus. Affordable hourly rate / pay for what you use. AIT (Athlone Institute of Technology) within 15km to assist with courses and food product development.

Timesharing kitchen facility that can be used for product testing or production as you need it. Childcare facilities within the business park.