Eircom Business Solutions Awards €100,000 to 10 Irish Companies with Digital Boost Initiative

eircom Business Solutions has awarded a total of €101,535 in funding to 10 Irish companies in the second and final round of its Digital Boost initiative to support innovation and growth in their business through investment in digital solutions. This brings the total awarded under eircom Business Solutions’ 2015 Digital Boost seed fund to €250,160.

In total, 27 companies secured funding under the initiative, which is designed to offer tangible assistance to the SME community in four key areas: business mobility; digital training; sales and marketing; and business productivity.

The Little Milk Company, a Waterford-based organic diary co-op, was one such company to secure funding in the second round, receiving over €10,600 in digital solutions including tablets with 4G access for all staff, a Google Export Markets workshop and, mobile app development and support.

Based across Munster and Leinster, The Little Milk Company is owned by ten organic family farmers and produces award winning 100% organic cheese. The company currently sells its products in retailers across Ireland and exports to seven markets around the world. In order to build on this success, the company believes that it needs to enhance its marketing to engage with customers and build greater brand awareness in a crowded market.

Speaking on how the eircom Business Solutions Digital Boost funding will benefit the company, Conor Mulhall, CEO of The Little Milk Company said, “As a small company, with only three full time staff, we are delighted to have secured the additional resources through the Digital Boost fund to promote our products in the variety of markets in which we operate. Mobile and digital is essential to achieving this as we work and travel from our base in Waterford. Currently, funding for the best and most efficient technologies has an obstacle but this will help the business to compete better and make the best use of resources.”

Commenting on the announcement on the outcome of the second, and final, round of Digital Boost, Gary Disley, Small Business Director, eircom Business Solutions said: “Over the course of Digital Boost 2015, we’ve seen some really exciting and successful Irish businesses that are focused on adapting their business models, marketing approach or how they engage with their customer in order to grow their businesses.”

“What is even more encouraging to see is that SMEs do understand the value of digital, and the opportunities it can bring to their business. This fund is a key pillar of our overall strategy to support the growth of Irish SMEs, and to help build digital expertise within those organisations. The Little Milk Company has built a digital based business from the outset and I really admire that Peter and his team have sought external expertise to add to the existing skillset that they have to move the business forward.  ”

eircom Business Solutions partnered with Google, PayPal, Samsung, The Digital Marketing Institute, Isobar and Salesforce as part of this initiative to deliver a suite of digital funding to a total of 27  successful applicants, 17 in Round one and 10 in Round two.

For more information on the Digital Boost fund visit eircom.ie/digitalboost