Second call for €1.25m online fund for Irish retailers
A €1.25m fund targeted at online retailers to encourage them to improve their online offerings and can be used to fund research, strategy development, implementation and training. It opens for applications on Wednesday 19 June for six weeks.
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys announced the second call of the Enterprise Ireland pilot Online Retail Scheme last week.
The fund will remain open for six weeks, closing to applications at 3pm on Wednesday 31 July. The Online Retail Scheme is open to applications from Irish owned retail businesses with 10 or more employees, and who have a physical retail outlet.
The pilot scheme’s second call is an initiative of the Government and Enterprise Ireland and originates from the work of the Retail Consultation Forum, chaired by the minister. Under this second competitive call, successful Irish retailer applicants with the ambition to internationalise through a strengthened online offering can receive funding ranging from €10,000 to €25,000.
The scheme’s purpose is to support online retailers to enhance their online sales capabilities to increase competitiveness and subsequently scale their businesses in international markets.
Minister Humphreys said: “Retailing supports jobs in every city, town and village in the country and so it is critical that our retail sector is competing at the forefront of the digital revolution. I am delighted to announce the opening of the second call for applications to support Irish retailers to develop and grow their online retail presence and effectively compete with international companies.
“Increasing the international sales of Irish companies translates into sustaining and creating high-quality, sustainable jobs across the country,” she added.
Through the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland will administer the second call of the Online Retail Scheme.
Stephen Hughes, Head of Consumer, Enterprise Ireland said: “The scheme has been developed in response to the challenges currently faced by the retail sector in keeping up with consumers’ ever-changing appetite for quick and easy consumption and the advances in digital capability. The fund will provide grants between €10,000 and €25,000 on a match fund basis with the purpose of enhancing their online offering.”
“Regional development is a significant pillar of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy. To this end, once the fund criteria is met, at least half of the total number of funds will be awarded to Irish retail businesses based outside of Dublin,” concluded Mr Hughes.
Further information on the scheme and details on how to apply are available at www.enterprise-ireland.com/retail, or interested parties can email retail@enterprise-ireland.com.