Local Enterprise Office (LEO) South Dublin, together with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, co-hosted a very successful Dublin Regional Trading Online Seminar in the Red Cow Moran Hotel on Monday 3rd April.  Almost 300 delegates attended the event from Dublin, Wicklow, Meath, Kildare and beyond.

Special guest speakers at the event included representatives from Amazon, Facebook and RTÉ. The audience also gained valuable insights from case studies of successful local business including Wyldsson Ltd., an elite nutrition company from Whitestown, Tallaght,Personalised Chocolates, chocolates producer in Rathfarnham and NIMA Brush, high quality make-up suppliers also from Rathfarnham.  These local businesses have already grown and gained access to wider customer base through the Trading Online Voucher Scheme.

Speaking at the event Colm Ward, Head of Enterprise, LEO South Dublin said “It was great to see such levels of interest and enthusiasm for trading online.  This is a very positive indicator for the growth of small business both locally in South Dublin and across the region.  I encourage businesses to connect with the Local Enterprise Office to find out more about the Trading Online Voucher scheme.”

Denis Naughten TD, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment also commented: “Ireland needs more small businesses trading on the internet.  Even if we look at our local market – Irish consumers spend €14,000 per minute online.  Most of that spending goes abroad. Irish businesses have an opportunity to change that.  Every business can benefit from trading online which offers 24-hours-a-day sales opportunities. I would like to see the number of Irish businesses that are trading online increasing significantly, so we are working towards that through my Department’s Trading Online Voucher Scheme. No matter which sector, region, or market a business operates in trading online works. Business owners that have availed of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme see their sales grow by 21% and 3 in 5 export for the first time.”

The Scheme is designed to assist small businesses by offering training and advice, along with financial assistance of up to €2,500 to develop their trading online capability. It is a unique programme under the National Digital Strategy, funded by the Department and delivered by the nationwide network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs).  The scheme is a matched-funding opportunity where the maximum amount payable is €2,500 or 50% of the eligible cost (whichever is the lesser), exclusive of VAT.

Vouchers are targeted at businesses with a limited online trading presence and:

  • 10 employees or less
  • turnover less than €2 million
  • trading for a minimum of 12 months
  • {additional T&Cs apply}

    For many businesses, the question is not whether to trade online, it’s how to start. At least 2,000 small businesses across Ireland have found answers to that question and a helping hand to take that step through the Trading Online Voucher Scheme. Some of them are your competitors.

For further information about the Trading Online Voucher Scheme and eligibility criteria visit our website at contact Local Enterprise Office South Dublin on 01 414 9000 or visit our website at: https://www.localenterprise.ie/SouthDublin/Financial-Supports/Trading-Online-Voucher-Scheme/