The Local Enterprise Office has launched its new online digital supports for small and medium sized enterprises. Digital for Business is an initiative from the Local Enterprise Office designed to give its clients a digital edge.
The LEO’s expert digital consultants will assist these clients through analysis of gaps, exploration of opportunities and guidance in implementation of new digital solutions.
They’re intended to reduce the stress of running a business by reducing paperwork, improve results and efficiencies, integrate CRM systems, retain staff and improve overall performance.
Head of Enterprise in Waterford, Gareth Evans encourages all who are eligible to explore these new supports to contact the office, “For more information on your eligibility and in order to discover how Digital for Business can give you edge we’re encouraging all small businesses in Waterford to contact the team here at the Local Enterprise Office.
“Digital for Business is open to small enterprises with between 1 and 50 paid employees who are not currently clients of Enterprise Ireland or the IDA, they must be established and trading for at least 6 months, and operate within County Waterford.”
The support the LEO can offer via Digital for Business includes, analysis of existing digital systems in the business to identify potential gaps in meeting business needs, exploration of opportunities to optimise existing systems and to integrate with new solutions to enhance business operations and guidance on the implementation of new or enhanced digital solutions.
It does not cover costs associated with routine or business as usual upgrades of digital systems already in use that would not lead to a significant improvement in the business.
Once you have completed your Digital for Business you can take the next step on your digital journey with the Grow Digital Voucher. This offers small and medium businesses with up to 50 employees financial support to embrace digital technology. A Digital for Business project report must be completed within the previous two years. With this you can apply for up to €5,000 to embrace new technologies including cyber security, stock control or online booking or payment systems.
Funding will be in the form of a grant. The grant aid will be 50% of eligible costs with minimum grant aid of €500 up to a maximum grant of €5,000 per application. Enterprises can be approved for a maximum of two Grow Digital Voucher projects up to a maximum cumulative grant value of €5,000 as identified in their Digital for Business project to support their Digitalisation journey. Approval of a second Grow Digital Voucher is dependent on the demonstrated achievement of the progression of the business as outlined in the Digital for Business report. Allowable expenditure will be towards supporting the Digitalisation progression of the applicant.
All applications for Grow Digital Voucher should be discussed with your Local Enterprise Office in Waterford. Investigate your options and eligibility via the LEO’s website, www.localenterprise.ie/Waterford, contact LEO Waterford at 051 849905 or email info@leo.waterfordcouncil.ie
