Grants & Funding

What is the Trading Online Voucher?

The Trading Online Voucher scheme is a government of Ireland initiative to help get Irish businesses trading online more effectively. It focuses on costs associated with your website, including design, development, SEO, social media, hosting, management and advanced functionalities such as payment processing and booking systems. It is the single most beneficial grant available for SMEs in Ireland who are interested in improving their online presence.

Who is the grant for?

The grant is not aimed at any industry in particular and can include e-commerce, hospitality, accounting, law, news &amp media, cleaning, construction, recruitment and retail.

The Local Enterprise Office does not mind what industry you are in, just so long as the new website will improve your company’s ability to do business online. This does not necessarily mean having an online shop, it could mean you have a simple payment facility or even a booking system.

Does my business qualify?

To qualify for the grant, your business must tick the following boxes.

* Less than 10 employees

* Under €2 million in turnover

* Company trading for over 6 months

* Applicant businesses must be trading for at least 6 Months

* Business must be located in the area covered by the LEO to whom they make their application

* Have an appropriate project proposal that satisfies the LEO evaluation criteria

What do you need to do?

* Register for the Trading Online Seminar/Webinar (You can find this in the events section of the Local Enterprise Office Website)

* Fill out the applications form (You can find this on the LEO website under Trading Online Voucher)

* Send it via email or post to your local LEO along with your quote

* Wait for approval (This can take a few weeks)

* Once approved you can begin the work

* Drawdown details of the grant will be given to you by the LEO officer when you are approved

E-Merge. The E-Merge programme provides €2800 fully-funded consultancy support to help businesses develop online sales and eCommerce solutions.

Application form:

Click here

Support is provided in a range of areas including:

* How to promote and sell online e.g. E-Marketing, Social Media
* Website management
* SEO optimisation
* Identification of sectoral e-markets
* E-commerce
* Online payment systems/ billing/ security
* Product listing

Eligibility Criteria

Businesses should:

* Be an SME with less than 250 staff and £40Million turnover, priority will be given to companies employing less than 100 or those with turnover of less than £10m / or euro equivalent.
* Be an indigenous business registered in Ireland or Northern Ireland (Companies from Ireland must hold a valid Tax Clearance Certificate)
* Be active in either the manufacturing or tradeable services sectors. By tradeable services, InterTradeIreland requires the business service to be delivered in the cross-border market, and not just to attract customers from the cross-border market to their service business in the home market. (See list below of ineligible sectors)
* Have an established trading history and have a proven track record in their home market. (ie. minimum 12-18months trading history)
* Have an established trading record in cross border trade (ie. selling products/ services in the cross-border market) or have identified a potential opportunity for future cross border trade.
* Have increasing cross border trade as the primary focus of the project.
* Must be able to complete the E-Merge project within 4 – 6 weeks of approval.

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme encourages people getting certain social welfare payments to become self-employed. If you take part in the BTWEA scheme you can keep a percentage of your social welfare payment for up to 2 years.
There is also a separate Back to Work Scheme called the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance, which supports people on Jobseeker’s Benefit to start their own business.

COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

The Government announced under the July Jobs Stimulus that access to the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance will be extended to people getting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

You can qualify for a Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) if you are:

Setting up as self-employed in a new business that has been approved in advance in writing by a DSP Case Officer and a Local Development Company and meet the criteria (see Intero Website for qualifying criteria)

Help with starting a business

In addition to income support (your weekly payment), you can also get financial support with the costs of setting up your business. These supports are provided under a scheme called the Enterprise Support Grant (ESG).
You can only get the ESG if you have been approved for the BTWEA. The business plan you submit as part of your application for the scheme must set out the rationale and requirement for financial support. The ESG can pay a total of €2,500 in any 24-month period.

How to apply

To apply for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, complete application form BTW 2.
You should return form BTW 2 to the Case Officer in your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.
The Case Officer will look at your business proposal and may discuss certain aspects of it with you. You may then be referred to your Local Development Company. You must not take up self-employment until you have received written approval from the DSP.
If you are accepted on to the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, you must register as self-employed with the Revenue Commissioners.

Where to apply

You can apply to the Case Officer in your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.

If you would like to discuss any of these options further get in touch today!

Email – michelle@michellecharlottecostello.ie Tel – +353 (0) 87-7744260