Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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328. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports offered to SMEs that wish to acquire more digital skills and e-commerce training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42221/18]

Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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329. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans in place to support SMEs in e-commerce in view of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42222/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 328 and 329 together.

The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the first-stop-shop front line service assisting in delivering business growth and jobs for the small & micro-enterprise sector. The LEOs are the first port of call for anyone who wishes to start or expand a business, in terms of advice, training, sign posting to other support providers and, in certain circumstances, grant support. The LEOs undertake a number of activities to encourage businesses to build their online presence and compete in the online market place.

The LEOs nationwide actively promote the Trading Online Voucher Scheme (TOVS) on behalf of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The TOVS offers matched financial assistance of up to €2,500, along with training and advice, to micro companies (10 or less employees) who want to establish an online presence for the first time, or who wish to expand a basic existing website to incorporate a more substantive online trading capacity. Since the start of the scheme in July 2014 to 30 June this year, over 4,100 micro enterprises have availed of TOVs.

The LEOs also offer a wide range of short training programmes to support their clients in building their online presence and to compete in the online marketplace. These programmes are focused on different elements which aim at maximizing outputs from investment in online trading such as:

- Marketing, focused mainly on development of an online/mobile marketing strategy;

- Social Media, with the majority of programmes focused on educating the client base on how to use the different social media platforms to support their business;

- eCommerce Sales Strategy, including how to convert website visits into sales; and

- Search Engine Optimization, including web analytics and video optimization for web.

Enterprise Ireland (EI) works with 5,000 manufacturing and internationally traded services companies, and building an online presence is part of the range of supports offered to those clients. EI has supported projects focused on developing innovative products on new product platforms for international markets. However, EI cannot support companies whose only function is in the area of sales/distribution.

Working closely with the Irish Internet Association, EI delivers a range of funded and advisory eCommerce supports for its clients to develop their online marketing capabilities, for example:

- ‘Marketing Funding Support’: under a Business Process Improvement Grant client companies can apply for grant support to plan and implement significant strategic e-marketing projects.

- ‘Measuring your Internet Marketing Maturity’: to help clients develop an understanding of their web presence and activity.

EI regularly organizes events which can connect clients with leading experts and inform them on best practice. Topics covered include Developing an Online Strategy; Online Localization for International Markets; Search Engine Optimization; Pay Per Click Marketing; Branding and Getting the Web Content Right.

EI also offers an Excel @ Export Selling Workshop Series which includes creating a digital marketing strategy. This workshop is aimed at senior management executives with responsibility for selling high value products and services into business-to-business markets.

In Budget 2019, I have allocated €1.25m for a Retail Online Scheme which will be launched by EI shortly. The main objective of the Pilot scheme will be to support SMEs in the retail sector with a pre-existing online presence to develop and implement a more sophisticated and strategic online trading offer with a view to increasing online business and customers both domestically and internationally.

I have also earmarked an additional €1.8m for the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland over the next 3 years. The proposed investment, again via EI, is intended to expand marketing and development programmes, which are currently being delivered on a smaller scale by DCCOI for Irish designers and makers. This will support enterprises to exhibit at international trade fairs, to develop partnerships with flagship retailers, and to develop e-commerce capacity. The aim is to assist the sector to develop and generate additional export sales and online revenue opportunities, increasing market diversification by client companies and underpinning sustainable growth.

Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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330. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department supports or runs information campaigns to encourage Irish businesses, SMEs and start-ups to apply for International Organization for Standardisation certification; if not, her plans to do so in the future in view of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42227/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is the State body under the aegis of my Department with responsibility for developing, publishing and selling standards to meet Irish and European needs through consultation and consensus with stakeholders and interested parties. Standards aim to improve the performance of business and protect consumers by ensuring quality and safety.

The NSAI also provides a comprehensive certification service in line with current European and international practices, offering an objective assessment of the quality and/or safety of a product or service. Certification is recognised as an authoritative statement of conformity to applicable national and international standards.

As part of its activities in standards and certification, the NSAI has annual communication and awareness campaigns to promote and facilitate Irish business engagement in the international standardisation process and to obtain internationally recognised certification to a range of management, process and product standards. The campaign profile includes:

- Radio advertising,

- On-line advertising,

- Regional Roadshows for business,

- Attendance and industry events / conferences,

- Promotion through print and social media channels, and

- Online services such as “Your Standards Your Say”.

In addition, NSAI has established a dedicated Brexit unit in the Agency. This unit is developing a response to standardisation and certification matters for Irish industry post-Brexit. NSAI is also taking part in the Getting Ireland Brexit Ready workshop events.