Earlier in June, the Minister of Business, Heather Humphrey’s announced the extension of the Government’s Online Trading Voucher.
There scheme saw three times more applications in the last three months, that all of last year. There were 1,218 applications for the scheme last year, but there were 3,962 applications from mid March to early June this year alone.
The scheme allows, SME’s and start-ups with 10 employees or less, claim up to €5,000 in two grants, worth €2,500 each.
Most businesses are using the grant to improve their online presence and to accept payments and bookings online and to develop new apps for clinets.
The Minister also stated: “Online sales have been a lifeline to many SMEs during Covid-19 and we have seen major success stories of small businesses actually increasing their sales during the pandemic due to their online platform. We want to make sure that continues.”
She said the ability to trade online has become more and more valuable as the country moves through the phases of re-opening the economy, particularly as it faces into a period of reduced capacity on shop floors.
Chambers Ireland chief executive Ian Talbot said “Covid-19 has been extremely challenging for our local economies, and we are by no means out of the woods just yet. However, the capacity of businesses to innovate, particularly SMEs, during lockdown has proven to be a saving grace for so many retail and hospitality businesses,”
For further information and applications, please visit your Local Enterprise Office: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Discover-Business-Supports/Trading-Online-Voucher-Scheme-/