If you run a small business in rural Northern Ireland, there’s a grant available right now that could cover up to half the cost of new equipment — including forklifts, pallet trucks, and other material handling machinery.
The DAERA Rural Business Development Grant Scheme (RBDGS) 2026/2027 is open for applications until 12 noon on Wednesday 30 July 2026. That’s just weeks away, so if you’ve been thinking about upgrading your equipment, now is the time to act.
We’ve had a number of enquiries from rural businesses across Northern Ireland asking for quotes specifically to include with their RBDGS application. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is the RBDGS Grant?
The Rural Business Development Grant Scheme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) under its Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Framework. It’s administered locally by your Council.
The scheme provides capital grants to help small rural businesses grow and become more sustainable. In practical terms, it means the government will cover up to 50% of the cost of new equipment or machinery for your business — up to a maximum of £7,500.
How Much Can You Get?
- Minimum grant: £500
- Maximum grant: £7,500
- Grant rate: 50% of eligible project costs
- Minimum project cost: £1,000
- Maximum project cost: £30,000
So if you’re purchasing a new electric forklift or pallet truck costing £15,000, you could receive £7,500 back from the scheme. For a smaller piece of equipment costing £5,000, you’d receive £2,500.
Are Forklifts and Pallet Trucks Eligible?
Yes — and this is important. The DAERA guidance explicitly lists forklifts and mobile machinery as examples of eligible expenditure under this scheme. Other examples given include scissor lifts, mini excavators, and ride-on equipment.
To be eligible, the equipment must be:
- Brand new (second-hand or refurbished equipment does not qualify)
- Capital equipment (not consumables, stock, or running costs)
- Priced between £1,000 and £30,000 per item (or in combination)
Electric forklifts and pallet trucks fit this criteria perfectly. If you’ve been putting off upgrading to a more efficient electric model, this grant significantly reduces the upfront cost.
Does Your Business Qualify?
To be eligible for the RBDGS, your business must:
- Be based in a rural area of Northern Ireland (outside towns with a population over 5,000)
- Currently employ fewer than 10 full-time equivalent staff
- Be an existing, actively trading registered business (new starts cannot apply)
- Have a dedicated business bank account
- Not be a mainstream agricultural business registered to a Category 1 DAERA Business ID
Standard agricultural businesses (farming) are excluded, but farm diversification enterprises that are separately registered and actively trading may be eligible — check with your local Council officer.
What’s the Process?
This is important to understand before you apply:
1. Attend a Pre-Funding Workshop (mandatory) Before you can apply, you must attend a pre-funding workshop run by your local Council. Without this, your application will not be considered. Contact your Council now to book a place — workshops are filling up.
2. Get your quotes You’ll need at least two comparable quotes for equipment costing up to £10,000, or three written quotes for items costing between £10,001 and £30,000. These must be submitted with your application.
3. Apply online by 30 July 2026 (12 noon) The online application portal closes at midday on 30 July 2026. No late applications are accepted under any circumstances.
4. Receive your Letter of Offer Successful applicants are notified and Letters of Offer are expected to issue around 15 October 2026.
5. Purchase your equipment and submit your claim Once you accept your Letter of Offer, you purchase the equipment and pay for it in full from your business bank account. You then submit your grant claim — with invoices and bank statements as evidence — by 3pm on 21 December 2026.
6. Receive your grant payment The grant is paid directly to you after your claim is processed. Note that hire purchase arrangements are not accepted — the equipment must be purchased outright.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications opened | 29 June 2026 |
| Application deadline | 30 July 2026 at 12 noon |
| Letters of Offer issued | ~15 October 2026 |
| Project completion & claim deadline | 21 December 2026 at 3pm |
How Clearlift Can Help
If you’re planning to apply and need a quote for a new forklift, electric pallet truck, or other material handling equipment to include with your application, we can have a written quotation to you quickly.
We’re EP Equipment’s exclusive partner in Northern Ireland, based in Portadown, and we supply a full range of new electric forklifts and warehouse equipment — all of which qualify as new capital equipment under the RBDGS scheme.
Popular equipment for RBDGS applicants includes:
- Electric pallet trucks — ideal for warehouses, distribution, and retail
- Electric counterbalance forklifts — for yard, production, and storage operations
- Electric reach trucks — for high-racking and warehouse applications
- Electric stackers — for smaller warehouses and rural businesses
All EP Equipment models are brand new, energy-efficient, and come with full warranty and aftersales support from our Portadown team.
Get Your Quote Before the Deadline
The application window closes on 30 July 2026. If you need a written quote to include with your RBDGS application, contact us as soon as possible to allow time for us to prepare the quote and for you to complete your application before the deadline.
Call our Portadown team: 028 3833 7038 or fill in our enquiry form and mention RBDGS in your message.
Please note: This blog post is intended as a helpful guide to the RBDGS 2026/2027 scheme. Always refer to the official DAERA RBDGS guidance and your local Council for definitive eligibility advice before applying. Grant funding is competitive and not guaranteed.
Clearlift Material Handling is Ireland’s exclusive EP Equipment partner, with offices in Portadown, Northern Ireland and Navan, Co. Meath. We supply electric forklifts, pallet trucks, and warehouse equipment across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
