An Invest Northern Ireland scheme to help companies improve their supply chain resilience and competitiveness following COVID-19 and EU Exit
The COVID-19 Supply Chain Resilience and Development Framework (SCRDF) has been developed to provide support to businesses to help improve their supply chain resilience and competitiveness.
SCRDF is open to manufacturers and internationally tradeable services businesses who manage a supply chain as part of their business, or who are involved in the extended supply chain.
You should review the eligibility criteria below, read the scheme Guidance Notes, and complete the eligibility checker before applying.
Applications to the second call of the COVID-19 Supply Chain Resilience and Development Framework will close to applications at 5pm on Friday 29 October 2021.
Projects will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis.
What is available?
SCRDF will provide a 3-step graduated framework of support, primarily providing specialist advisory support to help businesses identify supply chain risks and appropriate mitigations, identify supply chain opportunities and develop supply chain capability.
As part of Step 3, financial assistance towards the salary costs of a dedicated supply chain worker may also be available depending on a business’ circumstances.
Read the Supply Chain Resilience and Development Framework – Second Call – Guidance Notes (PDF, 335K) for full details on the support available under each step.
Eligibility
SCRDF support is open to any manufacturing or tradable service business which meets the following criteria:
- Is based, and operating, in Northern Ireland.
- Manufactures products or provides internationally traded services.
- Has a total supply chain spend of at least £100,000 in the 2019/2020 financial year.
- Be able to demonstrate how your supply chain has been adversely impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic or EU Exit.
- Either be able to demonstrate your business has or will reach a turnover of £250,000 per annum in the next five years, and achieve at least 25% of those sales outside of Northern Ireland; or be an existing Invest NI customer.
- Be able to complete a State Aid declaration in the event that financial support for a new key supply chain worker is determined.
Who cannot apply?
The following businesses are not eligible to apply:
- Businesses already in receipt or intending to gain other government support for the project.
- Businesses that do not provide commercial products and/or services.
- Businesses with less than £100,000 total supply chain spend in the 2019/2020 financial year.
- Businesses that cannot demonstrate they are a viable business.
- Businesses involved in activities that Invest NI considers as ineligible or as involving an unacceptable reputational risk, such as gambling, adult entertainment, tobacco products and cannabis-based products which are not authorised as medicines.
How to apply
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be directed to complete an online enquiry form and the SCRDF Team will then contact you.
You will need to provide the following details in your application:
- Your business name.
- Your contact name and number.
- Your business address and postcode.
- Number of people you employ in Northern Ireland.
You will also need to provide electronically:
- Signed company accounts to evidence that your business had a minimum total supply chain spend of at least £100,000 in the 2019/2020 financial year.
- Details outlining how your supply chain has been adversely impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic or EU Exit.
The maximum file size of each attached document is 10MB.
You will also be asked to complete a supply chain checklist which will be sent to you as part of the application process.
Further information
The Supply Chain Resilience and Development Framework is now open for applications. For full details and information on the scheme please read the Supply Chain Resilience and Development Framework – Second Call – Guidance Notes (PDF, 335K).
Projects will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis. The programme will close to applications at 5pm on Friday 29 October 2021, or earlier if the available advisory resource, or budget, is fully allocated.
Please read and check your application before submitting it to ensure that the information provided is correct. Corrections or additional information provided after the closing date will not be accepted.
If you have any enquiries about the COVID-19 Supply Chain Resilience and Development Framework, complete the SCRDF online enquiry form.
For general enquiries, contact Invest NI’s Business Support Team on 0800 1814422. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 4:30pm.