90,000 Euros Fund to help Small Businesses Trade Online

90,000 Euros Fund to help Small Businesses Trade Online

Launched by Local Enterprise office, Kildare.

Applications now open to help Small Businesses in County Kildare trade online,the 2017 trading online voucher Scheme (TOV ) offers small businesses and retailers the opportunity to apply for matched
funding to the value of €2,500 to develop and improve their online trading presence. 

Online spending in Ireland is growing at a rate of 16% per annum and the digital economy in Ireland set to grow to €21 billion by 2020. Today Irish consumers spend around €700,000 per hour, 24 hours a day online. Yet only 23% of Irish SMEs are currently trading online. This scheme offers small businesses a chance to get financial support and access to the expertise they need to develop and engage online customers.

The TOVs are available to eligible SMEs in the County Kildare region and can be used for:
  • The development or upgrade of an e-commerce website such as implementing online payments or booking systems;
  • Purchase of Internet related software;
  • Online advertising;
  • Development of an app;
  • Implementation of a digital marketing strategy;
  • Consultation with ICT experts for early stage adopters of online strategy;
  • Training/skills development specifically to establish and manage an online trading activity;
  • Photography

The scheme is open to businesses that are trading for over 12 months, have a limited online trading presence, less than 10 employees and a turnover less than €2 million.

Apply for your Online Trading Voucher here

Speaking about the opportunity afforded by the TOV scheme, Jacqui Mc Nabb , Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office Kildare, said 

“International research shows that SMEs who adopt online trading grow twice as fast and export twice as much as their offline competitors. Trading online offers a major opportunity to Kildare retailers and SMEs, at a time when growth in these sectors is so imperative; and so we’re encouraging SMEs from all sectors to apply for their Trading Online Vouchers in 2017 .She continued “Our role as Local Enterprise Offices is to assist and support the micro-business community. This scheme is just one of the many initiatives offered, and one which so many can benefit from.” 

The Online Trading Voucher Programme is supported by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources through the National Digital Strategy.

Eligibility Criteria 

  • Vouchers will be available to a maximum value of €2,500 or 50% eligible expenditure (exclusive of VAT), whichever is the lesser;
  • Voucher approval must be gained prior to incurring any expense;
  • Own labour is not an eligible expense;
  • Third party costs only will be considered;
  • All third party/supplier invoices must contain proper business details (e.g. Tax and Business Registration details).

Voucher Application 

  • It is mandatory for applicants to attend a TOV information seminar prior to submitting an applicatio
  •  Read the terms and conditions;
  • Complete and sign application form and return to Local Enterprise Office Kildare ;
  • Enclose copies of three quotations in respect of each proposed element of work.


Our next Trading on line information seminar will take place on 24th January 2017 6pm in Our Offices , Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co Kildare.

Acknowledgements

The trading online voucher scheme is an initiative of the National Digital Strategy, developed and funded by the Department of Communication, Energy and Natural Resources  on behalf of
Government, administered by the Local Enterprise Offices on a pilot basis.

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