Grants of max. €2,500 available to help micro-enterprises develop their website or digital strategy.
Trading Online Vouchers Initiative Rules
Terms
- Vouchers will be available to a maximum value of €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure (Net 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).
- There is no LEO discretion in respect of NACE code eligibility for applicants who complete a webinar/mentoring session on or after the 8th February 2021.
- There are categories of business excluded from the Trading Online Voucher Scheme as defined by their NACE code. A number of sectors are identified by their NACE codes in which exclusions apply in terms of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme. The NACE code for a business can be checked via CRO registration.
- A business cannot receive more than two Trading Online Vouchers.
Eligible Criteria
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 trading for at least 6 months
- Business must be located in the catchment area of a LEO that is participating in this scheme
Ineligible Projects
- Companies with charitable status, commercial semi-state companies, trade associations and company representation bodies such as Chambers of Commerce are not eligible to participate in this scheme
- 'Not for Profit' and social entrepreneurship applicants until they operate in a commercial domain
- 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 or involved in activities that the Local Enterprise Offices consider as ineligible or as involving an unacceptable reputational risk: gambling including ‘gaming’ (as defined in the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956), adult entertainment, tobacco products and cannabis based products which are not authorised as medicines
- 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
- There is no LEO discretion in respect of NACE code eligibility for applicants who complete a webinar/mentoring session on or after the 8th February 2021.
- There are categories of business excluded from the Trading Online Voucher Scheme as defined by their NACE code. A number of sectors are identified by their NACE codes in which exclusions apply in terms of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme. The NACE code for a business can be checked via CRO registration.
Ineligible Businesses as Defined by NACE Code
Description of NACE Code Categories under which some sub-categories are excluded from TOVs | NACE Code Reference for the sub-categories | Detailed Descriptions of the Excluded Businesses ineligible for a TOV |
|---|
Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products | C (26.1 – 26.4) | 2611 Manufacture of electronic components 2612 Manufacture of loaded electronic boards 2620 Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment 2630 Manufacture of communication equipment 2640 Manufacture of consumer electronics |
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | G (46.5.0 – 46.5.2, 47.4.0 - 47.4.3, 47.9.0 – 47.9.9) | 4651 Wholesale of computers, computer peripheral equipment and software 4652 Wholesale of electronic and telecommunications equipment and parts 4741 Retail sale of computers, peripheral units and software in specialised stores 4742 Retail sale of telecommunications equipment in specialised stores 4743 Retail sale of audio and video equipment in specialised stores 4791 Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet 4799 Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets |
Air Transport | H (51) | 5110 Passenger air transport 5121 Freight air transport 5122 Space transport |
Information and communications | J (58 – 63) | 5811 Book publishing 5812 Publishing of directories and mailing lists 5813 Publishing of newspapers 5814 Publishing of journals and periodicals 5819 Other publishing activities 5821 Publishing of computer games 5829 Other software publishing 5911 Motion picture, video and television programme production activities 5912 Motion picture, video and television programme post-production activities 5913 Motion picture, video and television programme distribution activities 5914 Motion picture projection activities 5920 Sound recording and music publishing activities 6010 Radio broadcasting 6020 Television programming and broadcasting activities 6110 Wired telecommunications activities 6120 Wireless telecommunications activities 6130 Satellite telecommunications activities 6190 Other telecommunications activities 6201 Computer programming activities 6202 Computer consultancy activities 6203 Computer facilities management activities 6209 Other information technology and computer service activities 6311 Data processing, hosting and related activities 6312 Web portals 6391 News agency activities 6399 Other information service activities n.e.c. |
Financial and insurance activities | K (64 -66) | 6411 Central banking 6419 Other monetary intermediation 6420 Activities of holding companies 6430 Trusts, funds and similar financial entities 6491 Financial leasing 6492 Other credit granting 6499 Other financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding n.e.c. 6511 Life insurance 6512 Non-life insurance 6520 Reinsurance 6530 Pension funding 6611 Administration of financial markets 6612 Security and commodity contracts brokerage 6619 Other activities auxiliary to financial services, except insurance and pension funding 6621 Risk and damage evaluation 6622 Activities of insurance agents and brokers 6629 Other activities auxiliary to insurance and pension funding 6630 Fund management activities |
Real estate activities | L (68) | 6810 Buying and selling of own real estate 6820 Renting and operating of own or leased real estate 6831 Real estate agencies 6832 Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis |
Professional, scientific and technical activities | M (73) | 7311 Advertising agencies 7312 Media representation 7320 Market research and public opinion polling |
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | O (84) | 8411 General public administration activities 8412 Regulation of the activities of providing health care, education, cultural services and other social services, excluding social security 8413 Regulation of and contribution to more efficient operation of businesses 8421 Foreign affairs 8422 Defence activities 8423 Justice and judicial activities 8424 Public order and safety activities 8425 Fire service activities 8430 Compulsory social security activities |
Education | P (85) | 8510 Pre-primary education 8520 Primary education 8531 General secondary education 8532 Technical and vocational secondary education 8541 Post-secondary non-tertiary education 8542 Tertiary education 8551 Sports and recreation education 8552 Cultural education 8553 Driving school activities 8559 Other education n.e.c. 8560 Educational support activities |
Arts, Entertainment and recreation | R (91 – 92, 93.2.0 – 93.2.9) | 9101 Library and archives activities 9102 Museums activities 9103 Operation of historical sites and buildings and similar visitor attractions 9104 Botanical and zoological gardens and nature reserves activities 9200 Gambling and betting activities 9321 Activities of amusement parks and theme parks 9329 Other amusement and recreation activities |
Other activities | S (94) | 9411 Activities of business and employers membership organisations 9412 Activities of professional membership organisations 9420 Activities of trade unions 9491 Activities of religious organisations 9492 Activities of political organisations 9499 Activities of other membership organisations n.e.c. |
What the vouchers can be used for
- IT consultation
- Development or upgrade of an e-commerce website
- Implementing Online payments or booking systems
- 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)
- Development of a digital marketing strategy
- Implementing a digital marketing 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
Trading Online Voucher Scheme – up to €2,500 grant available
Grow your business with help from this Government grant scheme, designed to assist small businesses. It offers financial assistance of up to €2,500 along with training and advice to help your business trade online. Participating in this scheme can make the process of trading online much easier for you.
Making informed decisions is vital for all business, so the free help and training provided by your local enterprise office puts you in a position to decide what is best for your business.
Cutting the cost of developing your online trading capacity can make the investment very affordable for many small businesses out there.
Information 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.
Under the Government’s National Digital Strategy, the expanded Trading Online Voucher Scheme helps small businesses with up to 10 employees to trade more online, boost sales and reach new markets. There is up to €2,500 available through the Local Enterprise Offices with co-funding of 50% from the business*.
Training and further business supports are also provided by Local Enterprise Offices,and businesses that have already received a Trading Online Voucher can now apply for a second voucher, where upgrades are required. You will need to attend another seminar to apply for a second voucher. You must apply for a voucher within 6 months of attending a webinar.
Please attend a Trading Online Voucher webinar to receive the application form.
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.
TOV Application Process Includes attending TOV info Seminar and Application Form:
1. Trading Online Voucher Information Webinar - Those wishing to avail of a voucher, must attend an obligatory Trading Online Voucher Information webinar. At each webinar attendees will be informed of the purpose of the scheme and how best to use and get value from the application of the voucher. *Please note you will be required to sign an attendance sheet at the webinar as proof of attendance. Please keep this confirmation email as you will be required to submit it as part of your application.
2. Submit Application Form - Only those people who attend the trading online voucher information webinar and meet the eligibility criteria will be sent an application form to apply for a voucher from our LEO.
Acknowledgements
This scheme is an initiative of the National Digital Strategy, developed and funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment
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