Special Promotional Regional Event for the Greater Dublin Area
This event will be hosted by South Dublin Local Enterprise Office and run by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment as part of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme on Monday 3rd April in Red Cow Moran's Hotel, Naas Rd. The greater Dublin area includes all of the Dublin LEOs along with the Local Enterprise Offices of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow
The event is free to all businesses in the region to attend. The objective is to encourage more business in the region to consider trading online.
Click here to Book your Place
Event Outline
Date: Monday 3rd April 2017
Time: 9.30am – 2.30pm (lunch provided)
Location: Red Cow Moran's Hotel, Naas Road, Dublin 22
The event will feature:
- Opening Address by Government Minister.
- Basic introduction on how to trade online
- Q&A with local businesses who have established a successful trading online presence
- Ask the experts with representatives from Facebook, Amazon, SAP**
- Connect with other businesses and suppliers
**(speakers subject to confirmation)
Scheme Overview
Even though there is currently an increasing trend in online spending it is estimated that only 23% of small Irish businesses use eCommerce in any meaningful way. It is estimated that of all online purchases made in Ireland 70% are done in overseas markets.
There is a critical need to encourage small Irish businesses to develop their digital presence to avoid missed opportunities. In order to support this goal, the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (DCENR) has launched a Trading Online Voucher Scheme and has teamed up with the Local Enterprise Offices to roll out the scheme under the National Digital Strategy.
The Trading Online Voucher Scheme offers small businesses the opportunity to develop their website or digital marketing strategy by availing of vouchers of up to €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure.
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).
Eligible Projects
- Limited Online Trading presence
- Less than 10 employees
- Turnover less than €2m
- Applicant business must be registered and trading for at least 12 months
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 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)
- 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
How To Apply
- In order to apply for a Trading Online Voucher you must first attend a half day Information Seminar on how to use and get the best value for money from the voucher.
- After attending the information session you should complete and submit the application form below.