Government Funding Announced to Enhance Small Business Trading Online

Trading Online Voucher Scheme – up to €2,500 grant available

Grow your business online with help through the Government’s National Digital Strategy. The expanded Trading Online Voucher Scheme is designed to assist small businesses with up to 10 employees to trade more online, boost sales and reach new markets. Participating in this scheme can make the process of trading online much easier for you.

It offers financial assistance of up to €2,500 with co-funding of 10% from the business* along with training and advice to help your business trade online. Cutting the cost of developing your online trading capacity by up to 90% can make this investment very affordable for many small businesses out there.^*

Making informed decisions is vital for all business, so the free help and training provided by your local enterprise office in the delivery of this scheme puts you in a position to decide what is best for your business. The training sessions cover various topics, including developing a website, digital marketing, social media for business and search engine optimisation. The information provided is impartial and will help you decide on what trading online options, are right for your business.

Businesses that have already received a Trading Online Voucher can now apply for a second voucher, where upgrades are required.

Funding can be used towards adding payment facilities or booking systems to your website or developing new apps for your customers. The voucher can also be used towards subscriptions to low cost online retail platform solutions, to help companies quickly establish a retailing presence online.

The vouchers are targeted at businesses with the following profile:

• Limited or no e-commerce presence;
• 10 or less employees;
• Turnover less than €2m;
• Applicant business must be trading for at least 6 Months**;
• Business must be located in the area covered by the LEO to whom they make their application i.e. LEOs cannot accept applications from businesses located outside their jurisdiction.

Previous voucher recipients may apply for a second voucher

**applicant business must provide clear proof of trading for a minimum of 6 months to their Local Enterprise Office

*For applications received from April 7th 2020 until September 30th 2020. Further eligibility, terms and conditions apply (LocalEnterprise.ie, 2020).

In response, Buymedia are asking businesses to get in touch in order to help you with this application process.

We realise this can be a time-consuming task however, our team of online and digital experts are keen to assist in any way we can.

Please get in touch here or call us on (01) 443 3112.

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