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.

The Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (DCENR) launched a Trading Online Voucher Programme in 2014 and has teamed up with the Local Enterprise Offices to deliver this to Irish business.

A Trading Online Voucher (TOV) is a financial incentive for small businesses with no more than 10 employees, less than €2m turnover and who have been trading for at least 6 months. This voucher is designed to stimulate the applicant business to develop their online trading presence. The voucher is administered through your Local Enterprise Office (LEO) and takes the form of matched funding where the maximum amount payable will be €2,500 or 50% of the eligible cost (whichever is the lesser), exclusive of VAT.

Those wishing to avail of a voucher, must attend an obligatory Information seminar. At each seminar attendees will be informed of the purpose of the scheme and how best to use and get value from the application of the voucher.

The application process for the Vouchers will be a competitive process.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Vouchers will be available to a maximum value of €2,500 or 50% of 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)

The vouchers are targeted at businesses with the following profile:

• Limited Online Trading presence
• Less than 10 employees
• Turnover less than €2m
• Applicant business must be registered and trading for at least 6 months
• Business must be located and registered in Waterford City and County 

Ineligible Projects

• Companies with charitable status, commercial semi-state companies, “not for profit” organisations, trade associations and company representation bodies such as Chambers of Commerce are not eligible to participate in the innovation voucher initiative
• Professional services specialising in IT type services who are already capable of trading online using existing in-house systems
• Conferences and Seminars
• Projects which are contrary to public policy
• Duplication of support for projects which would be eligible for assistance from other State Agencies of EU funded Operational Programmes
• Projects with employees in excess of 10 people
• Projects deemed to be capable of proceeding in any event without scheme assistance i.e. deadweight
• Projects essentially comprising importation and distribution

What the vouchers can 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 on-line trading activity

What the vouchers cannot be used for

• Development of brochure websites
• Purchase of non-internet related software
• Anything other than online trading related activity Evaluation Process
• An evaluation committee will assess the applications and make recommendations for approval
• A competitive process will be put in place to assist with selection process. Selection of successful applicant will be based on the following criteria:
  1. Eligibility for scheme
  2. Value added potential
  3. Export potential
  4. Job creation potential
  5. Financial Sustainability
• Record decisions and report to the Local Enterprise Office approvals committee
• In order to apply for a voucher applicants will be required to attend a training session on how to use and get the best value for money from the voucher

Voucher Administration

• Client must attend pre-voucher application information seminar
• Letter of offer with Voucher to be sent out to successful applicant
• Letter of offer signed, accepted and returned
• Client has four months to complete the work as per their application

Voucher application and drawdown process:

• Application with three similar quotes
• Submit copy of completed and signed application form by hard copy;
• Soft copy of completed application to be supplied by email;
• Online application to submitted via the submit.com portal (details below);
• Evaluation of applications and recommendations for approval;
• Application is approved by Local Enterprise Office Committee.
• Drawdown
• Applicant signs declaration on the voucher and submit to Local Enterprise Office (LEO);
• Applicant and Supplier(s) submit copy of an up to date tax clearance certificate ;
• Invoice from supplier(s) containing CRO details and Tax registration number submitted to LEO for payment (Only suppliers with these basic criteria in place are eligible); There is no geographical limit to where a supplier may be located globally, however proof that the supplier is legitimately in business whatever is the relevant form in the suppliers territory.
• Proof of payment to supplier(s) submitted by applicant to LEO e.g. bank/cr. Card statements
• Voucher is redeemed to applicant

Post-Voucher reporting

By accepting a Trading Online Voucher, businesses agree to provide information on the impact on their business of trading on-line;

• Reporting will include: Jobs (new or reallocated), Exports and/or domestic market expansion, Increase Revenue, Reduced Costs, Expected follow on investment Suppliers will be required to report on the impact of their products and services.
• Reporting will include how their product or service enabled: trading on-line, improved business performance, reduced cost, opened markets.

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.

Application

Applicants can now apply online using the following link to access our online portal - Application Portal

Please note you do not need to complete the form in one sitting, you can save and return to the form. Only fully completed applications can be reviewed. 

Those wishing to avail of a voucher, must attend an obligatory Information Seminar if not done so already. At each seminar attendees will be informed of the purpose of the scheme and how best to use and get value from the application of the voucher. You can book our next information seminar on our website.

Please reach out to us at info@leo.waterfordcouncil.ie if you any questions in relation to your application, quotes or Information Seminar.