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Digital Business Ireland welcomes Government’s move to support online trading

DBI called for online supports in a submission last week

Digital Business Ireland (DBI), today welcomed the announcement by Minister Heather Humphreys that she will expand the Digital Trading Online Voucher scheme and offer free online training to businesses through the Local Enterprise Office network.

Minister Humphreys has announced that the online initiative is an expansion of the €2,500 Trading Online Voucher Scheme for microenterprises, in agreement with Minister Bruton. An additional €3.3m is being provided to the scheme bringing the total available to €5.6m.

The Ministers also announced new flexibilities with the €2,500 Trading Online Vouchers, allowing businesses to apply for a second voucher of up to €2,500 where they have successfully utilised their first one; and allowing subscriptions to low-cost online retailing platform solutions to quickly establish a retailing presence online. Free mentoring, free online training is also now available through the LEO network for all businesses.

Founder of DBI, Lorraine Higgins said “Last week Digital Business Ireland (DBI) submitted a number of recommendations to the Minister for Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD and Minister for Communications, Climate Action & the Environment, Richard Bruton TD to aid businesses operate online during the COVID-19 pandemic which included the need to increase funding for the Digital Trading Online Voucher to empower and enable micro and small businesses to get online and trade through the current difficulties while their shop-door is closed. We also proposed that e-learning measures should be rolled out across the Local Enterprise network which is part of a package of measures announced by Minister Humphreys today”.

“Never before has the need for digital business been more acute. The Covid-19 pandemic, which is engulfing our world, has brought to the fore the pressing need for an omnichannel, bricks and clicks approach to business. Consequently, it is only right that supports for this integrated business model is an elevated priority in policy-makers minds in order to offset the worst excesses of business disruption that we have seen in recent weeks”.

“DBI’s objective at this time is to formulate proposals to keep businesses open, maintain cashflow, sales and jobs. Therefore, we welcome the supports announced by the Minister today which will assist businesses without full online capacity to rebuild, plan and sustain their business offering” Lorraine Higgins concluded

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14/04/2020

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