25 small businesses to receive €2500 to support online trading
The new Local Enterprise Office is being officially opened by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D. in Fingal today (May 13th), with the news that more small businesses are in line for a financial boost, to help them start trading on-line.
Details for the new ‘Online Trading Voucher’ scheme are also being announced, to mark the visit of Minister Bruton to Swords to officially open the new Local Enterprise Office in Fingal at County Hall.
Under the ‘On-line Trading Voucher’ scheme, 25 small businesses will be able to spend up to €2,500 on this voucher, or up to a maximum of 50% of the relevant costs, to develop or upgrade their websites or to roll out their digital marketing strategies.
The Minister is being welcomed to County Hall by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Kieran Dennison, the County Manager, Paul Reid, the Head the Local Enterprise Office, Oisín Geoghegan and members of the local business community.
A key element in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, the new Local Enterprise Office is now the “one stop shop” for all start-ups and businesses seeking supports from state agencies and signals the start of a new era in supports for SMEs, according to Minister Bruton.
Speaking at today’s announcement, Minister Bruton said:
“Local Enterprise Office Fingal will deliver more services and better services to the start-ups and small businesses across the county that we rely on to create the jobs we need – with more staff and more funding. Today is a good day for business in Fingal.
“The online trading scheme being launched today is particularly welcome. Irish consumers spend almost €4billion online every year but 70% goes to retailers abroad. There is a huge opportunity here for Irish SMEs, and providing supports in this area is a great example of what the LEOs will be doing.
“Start-ups and small businesses are crucial to our plans for jobs and growth. 200,000 SMEs in Ireland employ well over 600,000 people in Ireland, and two thirds of all new jobs come from businesses in their first five years of existence. By creating the Local Enterprise Offices, SMEs across the country will be able to access in one place in their own county all the supports provided by the State through various Agencies. This is part of a range of new measures we have put in place to provide better supports for SMEs, including new schemes to provide funding, the supports for online trading and Circuit Court Examinership to make it easier and cheaper to restructure legacy debts. I am determined that with the right new supports more small and medium sized businesses can start-up, survive, grow, and create the jobs we need”.
Funding for the new Local Enterprise Office is provided by Enterprise Ireland, under a Service Level Agreement with Fingal County Council. Welcoming the official opening of the Local Enterprise Office in Fingal today, Paul Reid, Fingal County Manager said:
“LEO Fingal will be at the front line assisting business growth and jobs, providing direct support and pulling together all the players – agencies, this Council and the private sector – to support everyone with a good business idea and strengthen the enterprise sector in Fingal. By bringing the functions of Fingal County Enterprise Board into Fingal County Council, I know we can offer a more streamlined service for clients”, the Manager added. “We aim to overcome the typical barriers to success that small businesses have faced such as access to finance or lack of management, marketing or planning skills”, the Manager said.
According to Oisín Geoghegan, new Head of Local Enterprise Office Fingal, the new on-line trading voucher scheme is just one example of the types of services that local start-ups and businesses can now access.
He said: “The needs of small businesses and start-ups are ever-changing and the range of support services available locally is also changing, to meet those needs. Through the Local Enterprise Office, we’re helping to create a positive entrepreneurial environment, where small businesses can succeed and employment will be created.”
Geoghegan added: “Through the new voucher scheme, we’re encouraging more small business owners and new start-ups to reap the business benefits of trading on-line. Research shows that small to medium sized businesses with a stronger internet presence, can grow faster and export more goods and services.”
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Kieran Dennison, also speaking at the launch said: “The recent Mayor’s Economic Conference outlined once again how Fingal is working hard to sustain investment and to maximise benefits from our infrastructure, our well-educated workforce and a business friendly environment that exists in Fingal and this Council is taking a lead role in driving Ireland's growth and employment in the years ahead.”
“Supporting small business is crucial if an entrepreneurial culture is to develop and thrive and LEO Fingal will be of a key element of this support”, the Mayor said.
Further information about the enterprise supports available to small businesses and new start-ups in Fingal is available from http://www.localenterprise.ie/Fingal.
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
For all media queries, please contact Sarah Bohan at Engage Ireland on Tel: 01 8855162 / 087 65 39936/ office@engageireland.com
Photography Note: Joe Keogh from Joe Keogh Photography has been commissioned by Local Enterprise Office Fingal to syndicate images from the official opening. Please expect these pictures by 17.30 on 13/05/14 (reproduction-free).
About Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs):
As set out in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, on 15th April 2014, “Local Enterprise Offices” (or “LEOs”), replaced the 35 County Enterprise Boards around the country. The LEOs have an expanded role in the provision of business supports and are based within the Local Authorities (www.localenterprise.ie)
The activities of the Fingal County Enterprise Board were taken over by Local Enterprise Office Fingal, which is based in County Hall in Swords. Oisín Geoghegan, former CEO of the Fingal County Enterprise Board, is now the new Head of Local Enterprise Office Fingal (www.localenterprise.ie/Fingal).
About the On-line Trading Voucher Scheme:
Sole traders, partnerships or limited companies which employ fewer than ten people with a turnover of less than €2 million can apply, provided they are registered in Fingal County Council area. The following small enterprises are eligible to apply, before the June 1st 2014 closing date.
- Registered and based in Fingal County Council area
- Employ fewer than 10 people
- Turnover of less than €2 million
- Sole traders, partnerships or limited companies (does not include not-for-profit organisations or Chamber groups).
The scheme isn’t aimed at companies which have professional IT services in-house and are already capable of trading online.
