Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme

The scheme will support the Irish processing sector to engage in transformational change, mitigating the effects of the TCA/Brexit while also building more environmentally friendly, sustainable and competitive enterprises which serve the EU and wider global markets, create higher levels of employment more locally, and make better and more sustainable use of Irish landed or imported raw material. It is aimed at supporting industry led transformative capital investments that enable the sector to focus on “creating more from less” in the wake of reduced supply of raw material and move enterprises in the sector further up the supply chain to produce higher value product and shift the industry to a focus on secondary processing and beyond to products targeting end-user markets.

Who is Eligible

This Scheme is available to applicants who are BOTH an onshore processing SME and have an SFPA approval number with activity code FFPP (Fresh Fishing Products Plant) or PP (Processing Plant).

The responsibility is on the applicant to ensure that they correctly categorise themselves when applying for funding. If they are unsure, applicants are strongly advised to seek professional advice to determine whether they qualify as an SME. Applicants who apply to this programme as an SME and are subsequently determined not to be an SME will be required to refund the grant to BIM.

Please see the SME Definition below:  Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are defined as enterprises which:

• have fewer than 250 employees, and
• have either,
  • an annual turnover not exceeding €50 million, or
  • an annual balance-sheet total not exceeding €43 million, and
• are autonomous as set out in the European Commission’s User Guide to the SME Definition.

What is Funded

Investment Type 1: Tier 1 Transformational Processing Equipment

• This investment type is targeted at funding secondary processing equipment which is clearly aligned to a product and/or market diversification strategy, to assist processing enterprises in moving away from commodity production to production of higher value-added products, and to further integrate the supply chain.

Eligible Expenditure

• Processing equipment solely used for smoking, canning, brining, adding non-fish product ingredients (such as breadcrumbs, marinades, and sauces), cooking, ready meal manufacturing, and food ingredients for human consumption/functional food manufacturing.
• Processing equipment solely used for production of portioned seafood products aimed at end users in retail and foodservice which are packaged AND require no further processing to reach the end user will also be included in this category.
• Refrigeration and temperature control equipment integrated into the above equipment^[1]
• Commissioning costs for the above equipment up to maximum of 15% of the equipment costs by the equipment supplier or their approved agents.
• The above equipment must meet environmental performance standards as established in the project assessment criteria.

[1] Limited to refrigerated cold air systems aimed at achieving targeted cooling of product in-process; chilling and super-chilling, refrigerated air, glycol, freshwater and seawater systems used in-process; and, automated freezing systems used in a controlled and measurable way, and suitable for whole, headed and gutted, and individual quick freezing.

Investment Type 2: Tier 2 Transformational Processing Equipment and Energy Efficiency Investments

• This investment type is targeted at elevating enterprises beyond primary processing to produce value added products for earlier points in the supply chain than catered for in Investment Type 1, products for non-human consumption, and products derived from the transformation of waste, which support a product and/or market diversification strategy.
• Investments in renewable energy sources AND enhancing the energy efficiency of buildings in which transformational processing equipment is housed, is also covered by this investment type.

Eligible Expenditure

• Processing equipment exclusively for IQF (Individual Quick Freeze) filleting or shellfish preparation (to include de-heading, tailing, and deshelling where appropriate) where the only remaining processing step is thawing and/or packaging for the consumer.
• Processing equipment for the transformation of waste into value added products, which fall outside of the scope of investment type 1
• Processing equipment solely used for value added products for non-human consumption aimed at end users in retail markets which are packaged and require no further processing.
• Refrigeration and temperature control equipment integrated into the above equipment^[1]
• Purchase and installation of equipment that generates energy from renewable sources.
• Triple E certified equipment which improves energy efficiency for the premises in which Type 1 and Type 2 investments are being located.
• Commissioning costs for the above equipment up to maximum of 15% of the equipment costs by the equipment supplier or their approved agents.
• The above equipment and facilities must meet environmental performance standards as established in the project assessment criteria.

Investment Type 3: Primary Processing Efficiency and Facilities investments

• This investment type is aimed at supporting investment in quality, competitiveness and efficiency improvements in primary processing and/or in fundamental equipment and capital works which support secondary processing and are aligned to a product and/or market diversification strategy.

Eligible Expenditure

• Processing equipment for whole freezing, cutting, filleting, de-boning, peeling, washing, de-heading and/or gutting and any other processing which is not included in Type 1 and Type 2.
• Traceability systems/ERP/stock control that verify sustainability, demonstrate compliance and enhance the food safety of seafood products being put on the market
• Processing equipment for food ingredients for non-human consumption
• Commissioning costs for the above-mentioned equipment up to maximum of 15% of the equipment costs by the equipment supplier or their approved agents.
• External civil and associated works
• Internal works including all elements of sub dividing structures e.g walls, airflow systems & service provision of water, air, and electricity
• Equipment for blast freezing, chilling, cold stores, and refrigeration
• Warehousing
• Building services works
• Handling equipment and facilities
• Packaging and labelling equipment which is not part of a process captured in Type 1 and Type 2.
• The development of systems and capabilities for the sustainable management and/or disposal of waste streams
• Triple E certified equipment which improves energy efficiency for the premises in which only Type 3 investments are located.
• The above equipment and facilities must meet environmental performance standards as established in the project assessment criteria.

Amounts Granted

The following payments apply to applicants approved under the Scheme.

Guidance Notes for Applications in Excess of €5m

• If a project, or combination of projects, applying for grant aid under the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme has a value in excess of €5m, additional documentation must be provided to supplement your grant application. This does not need to be submitted with your online application, but you will be contacted after submission, and you will be asked to provide the following additional evidence. It is therefore advisable to prepare this documentation while preparing your online application.

Environmental impact:

• This must include an environmental strategy setting out the applicants’ commitment to reducing the organisations carbon footprint and the improvement of environmental performance.

Value for money:

• A cost benefit analysis of the proposal
• Evidence of the need for State investment
• The direct benefits to the Irish economy arising from the direct economic expenditure such as employment or impact on local suppliers
• The indirect benefits to the Irish economy arising from the direct economic expenditure such as the development of transferable skills and expertise or the enhancement of the reputation of Ireland on world markets.

Scheme Documentation & Video Tutorials

• Guidelines for Applicants – Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme
• BIM – Brexit Processing Capital Scheme Declaration
• Terms and Conditions – Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme
• Letter of Offer Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme
• Brexit Processing Capital Scheme Documents
• Guidance Note – Processing Capital Grant Applications in Excess of €5m

Video Tutorials

• Calculating your carbon footprint
• Uploading quotes & expenditure items
• Writing your business plan
• Completing your project plan
• Completing your claim form
• Claim Form Demonstration 14/09/2023

For more information, please email brexitprocessing@bim.ie