This is an amazing opportunity which I have been made aware of. The Dublin City Enterprise Board (DCEB) are offering 50 lucky local Dublin businesses the chance to get their hands on €2.5k vouchers. The vouchers can be used to build or re-design a website, or an eCommerce store, and/or they can be used to market your business online.
25 vouchers are being given out in 2013, and a further 25 vouchers are earmarked for 2014.
The closing date for the 2013 allocation is noon next Friday, the 15th November 2013.
The first 50 entrants will get priority for these first 25 vouchers.
Below is the full official press release, with all relevant links included…
Online Trading Voucher Scheme
50 small businesses in Dublin City will be awarded a voucher, worth up to €2,500 each, to enable them to start trading online to grow sales and reduce costs.
The Dublin City Enterprise Board is working in partnership with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to run a pilot programme under the National Digital Strategy, for small businesses in the Dublin City Council area. The application process gets underway today.
Under this pilot programme, the 50 small businesses will be able to spend up to €2,500 (or up to 50% of the costs) to develop or upgrade their websites or to roll out their digital marketing strategies.
The pilot will approve 25 online trading vouchers in 2013 and a further 25 in 2014. It is a competitive process and the first 50 applications will receive priority when approving the initial 25 vouchers. Surplus applications will be carried over to the 2nd call for applications in February 2014.
By trading online, small businesses can access wider geographic markets, they can reduce costs and they can gather better market intelligence.
Only Apply if your business address is registered within the Dublin City Council Catchment Area.
Please review the full specifications: Click Here
To go straight to the application form now, click ‘Online Trading Voucher Scheme Application’
Is your small business eligible to apply?
Under the Online Trading Voucher Scheme, the following small enterprises are eligible to apply before noon, Friday 15th November deadline:
- Registered and based in Dublin City 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.
What the Online Trading 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
- Developing an app
- 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 online trading activity
What the Online Trading Vouchers cannot be used for:
- Businesses that are not already trading
- Development of brochure websites
- Purchase of non-internet related software
- Anything other than online trading related activity
The deadline to apply to Dublin City Enterprise Board is noon, Friday 15th November 2013.
Please review the full specifications: Click Here
To go straight to the application form now, click ‘Online Trading Voucher Scheme Application’
How the scheme works:
If your business is eligible, complete and return the application form to the Dublin City Enterprise Board, before the deadline.
- All applications will be reviewed by an evaluation committee
- If your application is successful, your business will be issued with an Online Trading Voucher
- When you have identified and engaged a suitable service provider (must be a third party company), they will issue their invoice to the Dublin City Enterprise Board for payment (up to a maximum of either 50% of the total costs or €2,500, net of VAT)
- Those who are approved for an online voucher are required to attend a morning training session on who to use and get the best value for money from the voucher on 27th November 2013
Recognising the growing importance of the digital economy, The Minister for Communications, NDS-logoEnergy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte T.D, said: “There is an enormous opportunity for Irish businesses in the online space and significant risks if they do not develop online trading platforms”.
Irish consumers spent approximately €3.7bn online last year, of which 70% was spent outside Ireland. Less than 1 in 4 small Irish businesses are trading online. Research undertaken for the European Commission indicates that traditional businesses which have a meaningful online presence grow twice as fast, export twice as much and employ twice as many people.
“In Ireland, where the digital economy represents 4.4% of GDP, there is a real opportunity for small businesses to grow. My ambition is to ensure that a much greater proportion of the online spend stays in Ireland, supports Irish businesses and creates jobs in this country. For that to happen many more Irish businesses need to offer services online,” added Minister Rabbitte.
Only Apply if your business address is registered within the Dublin City Council Catchment Area.
Please review the full specifications: Click Here
To go straight to the application form now, click ‘Online Trading Voucher Scheme Application’
Hashtags: #Enterprise 
