Deadline: 16-Jul-2026
The LEP Enterprise Partnership Fund provides grants of £5,000 to £15,000 for innovative and experimental enterprise development projects in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. The programme supports partnership-based projects delivered with the Local Economic Partnership and the wider entrepreneurship ecosystem. Applicants must provide at least 25% match funding and appoint a lead partner responsible for project delivery, management, and administration.
Overview
The LEP Enterprise Partnership Fund supports new and creative approaches to enterprise development.
The programme is designed to fund innovative and experimental projects that strengthen the local entrepreneurship ecosystem.
It is supported by the Department for the Economy and delivered in collaboration with the Local Economic Partnership.
Purpose of the Fund
The purpose of the fund is to encourage fresh approaches to enterprise development within the local economy.
The programme supports projects that test new ideas, develop practical business solutions, and improve support for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and enterprise-focused stakeholders.
It places strong emphasis on partnership working and local collaboration.
Key Focus Areas
The fund focuses on innovative enterprise development, experimental business solutions, entrepreneurship ecosystem development, local economic growth, partnership working, Local Economic Partnership collaboration, creative enterprise support models, business development interventions, and collaborative project delivery.
What the Fund Supports
The LEP Enterprise Partnership Fund supports enterprise development projects that are innovative, experimental, and locally relevant.
Supported projects may include initiatives that:
- Test new enterprise development models
- Support entrepreneurs and start-ups
- Strengthen the local entrepreneurship ecosystem
- Develop new business support solutions
- Encourage collaboration between local partners
- Address gaps in enterprise development support
- Promote local economic development
- Deliver practical enterprise-focused activities
- Build stronger connections between businesses, support organisations, and stakeholders
Projects should show clear added value and should not duplicate existing funded activity.
Funding Amount
Grants range from £5,000 to £15,000.
Applicants must provide a minimum of 25% match funding.
This means applicants cannot rely entirely on the grant and must contribute additional funding from eligible sources.
Match Funding Requirement
A minimum of 25% match funding is required for each project.
Applicants should clearly explain:
- The total project cost
- The grant amount requested
- The source of match funding
- Whether the match funding is confirmed
- How match funding will be used alongside the grant
Applicants must also confirm that they are not receiving funding from other sources for the same project costs.
Who Is Eligible?
Applicants must meet the programme’s eligibility conditions at the application stage.
Key eligibility requirements include:
- The applicant must be 18 years or older
- The applicant must have authority to submit the application
- The application form must be fully completed
- The lead partner must be based within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area
- The project must comply with all eligibility criteria in the official guidelines
- The organisation must confirm that the same costs are not being funded by another source
Incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible.
Lead Partner Requirement
Each project must have a designated lead partner.
The lead partner is responsible for:
- Project delivery
- Project management
- Administration
- Financial accountability
- Reporting
- Coordination with partners
- Ensuring compliance with programme requirements
The lead partner must be based in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.
Partnership and Collaboration
The programme strongly encourages partnership working.
Projects should be delivered in collaboration with the Local Economic Partnership and may involve wider stakeholders in the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Additional partners are encouraged but are not mandatory.
Potential collaborators may include:
- Business support organisations
- Enterprise agencies
- Community organisations
- Education or training providers
- Local businesses
- Start-up networks
- Innovation partners
- Sector-specific business groups
A strong proposal should explain how collaboration will improve project quality, reach, and impact.
Why It Matters
Enterprise development helps create stronger local economies by supporting entrepreneurs, start-ups, small businesses, and business support networks.
The LEP Enterprise Partnership Fund matters because it encourages new and experimental ideas that can improve how enterprise support is delivered locally.
By supporting collaboration between local partners, the fund helps strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem and encourages practical solutions that respond to local economic needs.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a complete application that clearly explains the project idea, partnership structure, innovation, budget, and expected local impact.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that they meet the basic eligibility rules.
They should check that:
- The applicant is 18 or older
- The applicant has authority to apply
- The lead partner is based in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area
- The project fits the fund’s enterprise development priorities
- The organisation is not seeking duplicate funding for the same costs
Step 2: Define the Project Idea
Applicants should clearly describe the enterprise development project.
The proposal should explain:
- What the project will do
- Why the project is needed
- What makes the project innovative or experimental
- Who will benefit
- How the project supports enterprise development
- How the project strengthens the local entrepreneurship ecosystem
Step 3: Identify the Lead Partner
The application must name a lead partner responsible for delivery and administration.
The lead partner should demonstrate the capacity to manage the project, coordinate activities, oversee finances, and meet reporting requirements.
Step 4: Describe Partnership Working
Applicants should explain how the project will work with the Local Economic Partnership and the wider entrepreneurship ecosystem.
If additional stakeholders are involved, the application should describe their roles and contributions.
Step 5: Prepare the Budget
The budget should clearly show the total project cost, grant request, and match funding.
Applicants should ensure that:
- The grant request is between £5,000 and £15,000
- At least 25% match funding is included
- Costs are realistic and eligible
- No duplicate funding is being claimed for the same costs
- Each budget line is linked to project activities
Step 6: Explain Expected Outcomes
The application should explain what the project will achieve.
Expected outcomes may include:
- New enterprise support models tested
- Entrepreneurs supported
- Stronger local business networks
- Improved collaboration between partners
- Increased start-up or enterprise activity
- Better understanding of experimental enterprise solutions
- Contribution to local economic development
Step 7: Complete the Application Form
The application form must be fully completed.
Incomplete forms will be deemed ineligible, so applicants should review every section carefully before submission.
Step 8: Submit the Application
Applicants should submit the completed application with all required information and supporting details by the stated deadline.
The proposal should be clear, practical, locally relevant, and aligned with the programme’s partnership-driven approach.
Assessment Considerations
Applications are likely to be assessed based on eligibility, project quality, innovation, collaboration, and local economic value.
Important assessment areas may include:
- Fit with enterprise development priorities
- Level of innovation and experimentation
- Strength of partnership working
- Role of the Local Economic Partnership
- Capacity of the lead partner
- Quality of project planning
- Clear budget and match funding
- Avoidance of duplicate funding
- Expected contribution to the local entrepreneurship ecosystem
- Potential to support economic development in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should clearly show how the project is new, useful, and locally relevant.
Applicants should:
- Explain the enterprise development challenge being addressed
- Show what makes the project innovative or experimental
- Clearly define the role of the lead partner
- Demonstrate strong local knowledge
- Include realistic activities and outcomes
- Show how the project supports entrepreneurs or enterprise development
- Provide a clear match funding plan
- Confirm there is no duplicate funding for the same costs
- Highlight partnership value
- Complete every section of the application form
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting incomplete or weakly aligned applications.
Common mistakes include:
- Leaving parts of the application form incomplete
- Requesting less than £5,000 or more than £15,000
- Not providing the required 25% match funding
- Naming a lead partner outside the Derry City and Strabane District Council area
- Not showing authority to submit the application
- Failing to explain the project’s innovation
- Submitting a general business activity rather than an enterprise development project
- Claiming costs already funded by another source
- Not explaining the partnership approach
- Providing unclear outcomes or weak project planning
FAQ
1. What is the LEP Enterprise Partnership Fund?
The LEP Enterprise Partnership Fund provides financial support for innovative and experimental enterprise development projects delivered in collaboration with the Local Economic Partnership and the local entrepreneurship ecosystem.
2. How much funding is available?
Grants range from £5,000 to £15,000.
3. Is match funding required?
Yes. Applicants must provide a minimum of 25% match funding.
4. Who must lead the project?
Each project must have a designated lead partner responsible for delivery, management, administration, financial accountability, and reporting.
5. Where must the lead partner be based?
The lead partner must be based within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.
6. Can projects include additional partners?
Yes. Collaboration with additional stakeholders is encouraged, although it is not mandatory.
7. What makes an application ineligible?
An application may be deemed ineligible if the form is incomplete, the applicant lacks authority to apply, the applicant is under 18, the lead partner is not based in the required area, match funding is not provided, or the same costs are already funded by another source.
Conclusion
The LEP Enterprise Partnership Fund supports innovative and experimental enterprise development projects that strengthen the local entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. With grants of £5,000 to £15,000 and a minimum 25% match funding requirement, the programme encourages creative, partnership-based projects that contribute to local economic development. Applicants should submit a complete and well-structured application that clearly demonstrates innovation, local relevance, partnership value, eligible match funding, and strong delivery capacity.
For more information, visit Derry City and Strabane District Council.