I hope this post finds everybody safe and well.
The last number of weeks have been a very challenging time for many businesses and there has been little in the way of good news. This week the Local Enterprise Office have announced some significant changes to one of their business support schemes that is very good news and we feel worth sharing at this time.
Your Local Enterprise Office offers a wide suite of business support initiatives and schemes – one of them is the Trading Online Voucher Scheme. This scheme covers website development, app development and certain online subscriptions. This week has seen very significant and interesting changes to this scheme brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. At a high level the changes are:-
- Financial assistance up to €2,500 available covering 90% of total cost (previously this was capped at 50%)
- Companies that have already availed of this scheme can now re-apply if upgrades are needed
The voucher scheme does not cover standard brochure style websites – it is aimed at businesses looking to offer payment or booking facilities online. The scheme targets business with the following characteristics:-
- Limited or no e-commerce presence
- 10 or less employees
- Turnover less than €2m
- Applicant business 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 i.e. LEOs cannot accept applications from businesses located outside their jurisdiction.
So while this has been a very trying time for small business, there has never been a better time to bring your business online or enhance your existing web offering. It’s interesting to note that the businesses that have been thriving during this crisis have a strong online presence as opposed to those that just have a bricks and mortar presence. At ClearSoft, we’re here to help if you want to discuss business opportunities on the web or enhancements to your existing web offering.
In summary, these changes make it possible to get a very comprehensive website or upgrades that costs you just €250. So hopefully this is seen as welcome piece of good news in all the doom and gloom 🙂
For our existing customers
We’re working as normal during this time albeit our office will remain closed until further notice. We can set up (and have been doing) Google Hangouts video conferencing for clients looking to discuss projects, online training and system handovers.
If you’re an existing client and wishing to communicate with your customers on your website about your COVID-19 plans and restrictions (information boxes, popups, etc.) we continue to offer this service for free.
Stay safe
Shane
