Section A: Scheme Guidelines
1. The Scheme Objective
Digital for Business is an initiative designed to give Údarás na Gaeltachta clients a digital edge. The scheme offers access to expert digital consultants who can assist in:
- 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.
- Guidance on the implementation of new or enhanced digital solutions.
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The scheme helps businesses:
- Reduce stress in running their business.
- Improve business results.
- Reduce time spent on administrative tasks.
- Efficiently meet regulatory requirements.
- Integrate Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.
- Streamline processes for digital customer experiences.
- Enhance insights into business performance.
- Retain staff
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2. Eligibility
Digital for Business is open to small enterprises (with between 1 and 50 paid employees) who:
- are a company, self-employed individual or partnership carrying on a trade or profession
- are established and trading for at least 6 months,
- are registered and operate within the Gaeltacht,
- are solvent as demonstrated in the financial statements supplied.
The following enterprises can also apply:
- Sporting bodies that carry on activities which would be chargeable to tax under Case I or II of Schedule D but for an exemption set out in section 235 TCA.
- Charities that carry on activities that would be chargeable to tax as trading income, but for an available tax exemption under section 208 TCA, are also included within the scope of the scheme.
Businesses must have current tax clearance from Revenue. Businesses must supply a Tax Reference Number and a Tax Clearance Access Number to allow for verification of their Tax Clearance status on Revenue’s online portal.
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3. Ineligible Businesses
- Businesses with charitable status, commercial semi-state companies, “not for profit” organisations, trade associations, company representation bodies such as Chambers of Commerce.
- Businesses which are operating in the coal or steel sector.
- Businesses which are active in the primary agricultural, fishery or aquaculture sectors.
- Are involved in activities that Údarás na Gaeltachta considers as ineligible or as involving an unacceptable reputational risk. Ineligible activities include activities relating to:
- The gambling sector, including ‘gaming’ (as defined in the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956)
- Adult entertainment.
- Tobacco and tobacco-related products.
- Cannabis-based products which are not authorised as medicines.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Any queries in relation to the eligibility of an activity should be directed to Údarás na Gaeltachta who will assess the case.
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4. The Support Available
The Digital for Business scheme is a Mentoring/Consultancy based scheme under which a business can avail of a digital expert to support a business-driven digital initiative with practical hands-on guidance that could include:
- 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.
- Guidance on the implementation of new or enhanced digital solutions.
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5. Expected Outcomes
- Creation of a Digital Action Plan with targeted initiatives for the next 3 – 6 months.
- The consultant will submit a project report to An tÚdarás – project report to include Objective, Activities, Challenges, Opportunities Identified, Action Plan and potential operational effectiveness gains identified.
The Consultant costs will be paid directly by An tÚdarás upon receipt of a final report – there is no charge to the client.
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6. Grow Digital
Applicants who avail of the Digital for Business scheme can then use their Digital Action Plan to apply to Údarás na Gaeltachta for a Grow Digital Voucher in order to implement the plan. This scheme offers funding of up to €2,500 (at a grant rate of 50% of eligible expenditure) to invest in software and training/IT configuration to further support clients on their digitalisation journey.
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