Trading Online Voucher Scheme

 

Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in Ireland can provide financial assistance to small businesses to help them to trade online, develop their websites and digital marketing strategies. Eligible businesses can apply for a voucher to invest in developing their eCommerce capability, of up to €2,500.

What is a Trading Online Voucher?

The Trading Online Voucher is a scheme which will pay up to 50% of your web design development costs up to a maximum value of €2500 setup and given by the LEO (Local Enterprise Office). You must match the other 50% and any costs over and above the total of €5000.

With the trend ever increasing towards online spending it is estimated that only 23% of small Irish businesses are engaged in any meaningful way in e-Commerce sales. For businesses employing less than ten people, this percentage could be even lower. It is now believed that of online purchases made in Ireland that 70% of these are done in overseas markets. There is now an urgency to ensure that businesses recognise that this is happening and that they are encouraged and supported to correctly respond to this digital reality.

For anyone interested in this scheme they should attend one of the Local Enterprise Offices free mentoring clinics or Trading Online Vouchers information seminars for expert advice on how to make the most of the scheme on offer.

What can the vouchers be used for ?

  • IT consultation

  • Development or upgrade of an e-commerce website

  • Implementing Online payments or booking system

  • Purchase of Internet-related software

  • Purchase of online advertising (this purchase cannot make up any more than 30% of approved Voucher costs and can only be drawn down in one payment phase)

  • Developing an app (or multiplatform webpages)

  • Implementing a digital marketing strategy i.e. Social media marketing

  • Consultation with ICT experts for early-stage adopters of online strategy

  • Training/skills development specifically to establish and manage an online trading activity

You can find out more about the Trading Online Voucher on the LEO website.