FAST can collaborate with your food & drink processing company in conjunction with the Invest NI Agri-Food Investment Initiative (AFII).
The AFII aims to boost the economic performance and competitiveness of Northern Ireland’s Agri-food sector by providing financial support for transformative capital investments in key areas. Areas include:
- Machinery and equipment
- Buying or developing computer software
- Buying patents, licences, copyrights and trademarks
AFII support is available for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) as well as Large agri-food processing enterprises. The main aims of AFII are to:
- support enterprises to improve their efficiency
- improve the competitiveness of Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector, and
- support capacity building, growth, innovation and new product development
Is my business eligible?
AFII is open to all Invest NI clients and new clients* operating within one or more of the following food and drink processing sectors:
- Meat processing (beef, sheep, pig and poultry)
- Dairy, milk and milk products
- Potatoes
- Cereals/Arable Crops, fruit and vegetables
- Bakery, Snacks and Convenience
- Drinks and beverages
- Animal feed
- Cold stores (industrially de-rated only)
*Businesses which are not currently Invest NI clients must demonstrate that they meet Invest NI’s criteria to become a client and if they do so, they will then be on-boarded.
Due to State Aid restrictions, businesses involved in the following activities should contact their Invest NI Client Executive or email [email protected] before completing an online eligibility check or applying:
- Bakery (only applications from SMEs are eligible)
- Drinks and beverages (only applications from SMEs are eligible)
- Cold stores (only applications from SMEs are eligible)
- Egg processing
You can find out here –
Agri-Food Investment Initiative - Guidance Notes
What support is available?
Small businesses**
The maximum aid intensity that can be granted is 35 per cent of the eligible investment costs. Minimum project size is £300,000.
Medium businesses**
The maximum aid intensity that can be granted is 25 per cent of the eligible investment costs. Minimum project size is £1,000,000.
Large businesses**
The maximum aid intensity is 20 per cent of the eligible investment costs, however, the aid intensity for any individual project will be limited to the minimum support required to implement the project, compared to the counterfactual scenario in the absence of aid. Minimum project size is £1,000,000.
** As per the EU definition, SMEs are businesses with a staff headcount of fewer than 250 people, and which have an annual turnover no more than €50 million or an annual balance sheet total no more than €43 million.
The maximum eligible costs per individual investment project under this scheme will be no more than €25 million. The maximum assistance available under this scheme will be around £5 million.
FAST Solutions
Our team of automation experts can develop and implement custom solutions, unique to your food and drink manufacturing process.
FAST can provide manufacturers of food and drink items the ability to increase, productivity, accuracy and flexibility across a wide range of areas such as:
Material Handling
Quality Testing
End-of-line Packaging
Product Handling
Case Sealing
Pallet Handling & Wrapping
Cutting & Separation
Pick & place Applications
F&D processing companies can optimise production lines through the integration of robotics, software, and automation solutions. From box sealing to palletising and shrink wrapping, FAST offer a complete line of efficient automated packing systems designed to reduce waste and human error without compromising on safety.
Collaborative automation swiftly and seamlessly on tasks such as, such as assembly, quality control, surface finishing, packaging and machine tending or testing. FAST offer a range of software solutions, ranging from those to easily manage and track work orders through production, to assisting with improving productivity and removing waste.