6 January 2015
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Cork based Dara Murphy, Data Protection Minister, calls on Cork startups and SMEs to ‘Get Digital’ in 2016 and seize opportunities in the multi-billion euro digital marketplace.
Dara Murphy TD (Fine Gael/Cork North Central) is Minister of State for Data Protection and Europe.
“Irish SMEs need to improve their digital presence to succeed in global markets. Start the New Year by contacting your Cork LEO to grow your business online – deadline for Online Trading Vouchers is 30th January, 2016”
Dara Murphy, Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central and Minister for Data Protection has called on young Cork entrepreneurs and returning emigrants who may be seeking finance for innovative business ideas, to start the New Year by engaging with their Local Enterprise Office (LEO) to avail of feasibility or innovation grants, to help launch a new e-commerce startup, or grow their online business in 2016.
Dara Murphy, Minister for Data Protection, is calling on Cork businesses not to miss the January 30th 2016 deadline for applications for the Trading Online Voucher (TOV) scheme which was rolled out by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) last year. The Online Trading Voucher scheme offers small businesses and retailers the opportunity to apply for match funding to the value of €2,500 to help build an e-commerce platform and improve their online trading presence.
Data Protection Minister Dara Murphy, said:
“The popularity of mobile devices in Irish homes has boosted online spending this Christmas and the digital economy in Ireland is set to surge to over €21 billion by 2020. It is estimated that Irish consumers are now spending around €700,000 per hour, 24 hours a day online, however only 23% of Irish SMEs are currently trading online.
“There are huge opportunities here for Irish businesses to grow revenues and create jobs, and we need to ensure that we get ahead of the curve in terms of digital take-up by businesses. The Government is encouraging Irish SMEs and retailers to gear up for opportunities in the rapidly growing multi-billion euro digital economy, and face up to growing overseas competition in the digital marketplace.”
“Research shows that SMEs who build an effective e-commerce platform to trade online, grow twice as fast and export twice as much as their offline competitors. The digital marketplace offers major growth opportunities for Cork retailers and SMEs so I am encouraging SMEs from all sectors to apply for their Trading Online Vouchers before the closing date of January 30th 2016.”
“I also encourage small businesses to look at the full range of Government supports that are available to SMEs – over 80 different supports totalling over €2 billion – which are available to help grow businesses in Ireland. Information on all of these available supports can be accessed at the Supporting SMEs website.”
