Trading Online Vouchers

What is the Trading Online Voucher?

The voucher is a financial incentive to small businesses to develop or enhance their ability to trade online. Under the scheme a qualifying business may apply for matched funding to a maximum value of €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure (exclusive of VAT), whichever is the lesser. Following approval of their application, a successful applicant can engage suppliers and upon completion of the work, submit a request for payment to the LEO in line with the terms and conditions of their voucher. The application process for the vouchers will be a competitive process.

Training and further business supports are also provided by Local Enterprise Offices, and businesses that have already received a Trading Online Voucher can now apply for a second voucher, where upgrades are required. You will need to attend another seminar to apply for a second voucher. You must apply for a voucher within 6 months of attending a webinar.

Eligibility

What are the eligibility criteria?

The vouchers are targeted at businesses with the following profile:

1. Limited Online Trading presence
2. Less than 10 employees
3. Turnover less than €2m
4. Applicant business must be trading for at least 6 months
5. Business must be located in the area covered by this phase of the scheme i.e. within the remit of the participating LEOs.

What are ineligible projects for this scheme?

Companies with charitable status, commercial semi-state companies, trade associations and company representation bodies such as Chambers of Commerce are not eligible to participate in the scheme

1. “Not for profit” and social entrepreneurship applicants unless they operate in a commercial domain
2. Professional services specialising in IT type services who are already capable of trading online using existing in-house systems
3. Conferences and Seminars
4. Projects which are contrary to public policy
5. Duplication of support for projects which would be eligible for assistance from other State Agencies of EU funded Operational Programmes
6. Projects with employees in excess of 10 people
7. Projects deemed to be capable of proceeding in any event without scheme assistance i.e. deadweight
8. Projects essentially comprising importation and distribution.

• There are categories of business excluded from the Trading Online Voucher Scheme as defined by their NACE Code. A number of sectors are identified by their NACE Codes in which exclusions apply in terms of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme. The NACE Code for a business can be checked via CRO Registration or through ROS enquiry. Full list of business excluded can be found HERE

What can the vouchers be used for?

1. IT consultation
2. Development or upgrade of an e-commerce website
3. Implementing Online payments or booking systems
4. Purchase of Internet related software
5. 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)
6. Developing an app (or multiplatform webpages)
7. Development of a digital marketing strategy
8. Implementing a digital marketing strategy
9. Training/skills development specifically to establish and manage an on-line trading activity.

What are the things the vouchers cannot be used for?

1. Development of brochure websites
2. Purchase of non-internet related software
3. Anything other than online trading related activity.

What else do I need to know about vouchers?

1. Voucher approval must be gained prior to incurring any expense
2. Own labour is not an eligible expense
3. Third party costs only will be considered
4. All third party/supplier invoices must contain proper business details (e.g. tax or business registration details or proof that the supplier is a registered business in the territory in which the supplier is located).

TOV Application Process

 1. Trading Online Voucher Information Webinar - Those wishing to avail of a voucher, must attend an obligatory Trading Online Voucher Information webinar. At each webinar attendees will be informed of the purpose of the scheme and how best to use and get value from the application of the voucher. 

*Please note you will be required to sign an attendance sheet or attendance will be logged by online trainer at the session/webinar as proof of attendance. Please keep this your confirmation email as you will be required to submit it as part of your application.

2. Submit Application Form - Only those people who attend the trading online voucher information webinar and meet the eligibility criteria will be sent an application form to apply for a voucher from our LEO. 

To Apply for Trading online Voucher please click Here

For more information please call 071-9650420 or email info@leo.leitrimcoco.ie