The Minister for Communications Alex White has today published a report on the impact of the Government’s Trading Online Voucher Scheme.
It reveals that small businesses that move online experience a 21% average increase in sales, while over 70% of businesses surveyed expect to recruit new staff.
The scheme was launched by the Government last year. It offers small businesses a grant of up to €2,500 – subject to matching funding – as well as training, mentoring and networking support to help them develop their online trading capability.
Commenting on the report's findings, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said, "The Government has a plan to rebuild an enterprise-focused economy that can support full employment by 2018.
Small businesses are the backbone of every Irish town and village and, with consumers across Ireland now spending almost €700,000 online each hour, trading online is essential to create new jobs, new business, and new exports.
As a small, open economy, our SMEs need to compete in a global market place and the Trading Online Voucher is one way for them to get ahead. The Government is committed to rolling out the Trading Online Voucher Scheme to more interested businesses, to improving digital skills amongst businesses and vulnerable groups, and to working at European level to develop a digital single market for the benefit of Irish SMEs and jobs."
Source: www.businessworld.ie