Overview of Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme Evaluation 2022
This review focuses on the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme in Ireland, analyzing its impact on SMEs, alignment with state policies, beneficiary views, and key findings. The scheme aimed to enhance digital capabilities, boost business continuity, and foster long-term growth post-pandemic. Evaluations indicate positive outcomes on online sales, website traffic, and staff retention. Recommendations include addressing application concerns and conducting follow-up evaluations for future improvements.
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IGEES Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service Spending Review 2022 Review of the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme Data and Evaluation Unit Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment December 2022
Spending Review 2022 Overview, Aims & Objectives Overview In 2018, the Online Retail Scheme (ORS) was launched to enable Irish-owned retailers to enhance their digital capability and to develop a more competitive online offer, in order to increase their customer base and build a more resilient business. The scheme provided direct funding to Irish-owned SMEs. It was targeted at retail firms with a pre-existing online presence, and was administered by Enterprise Ireland (EI). In 2020, ORS was modified in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and launched as the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme, with the goal to boost business continuity, and to lay foundations for future recovery and growth following the Covid-19 pandemic. 2 Rialtas na h ireann | Government of Ireland
Spending Review 2022 Overview, Aims & Objectives Aims and Objectives Analyse the rationale for the scheme behind state funding in the retail sector. Assess how the scheme is aligned with State enterprise policy, including how the scheme aligns with other enterprise development polices/initiatives. Establish a profile of the firms supported under the scheme based on an analysis of approvals and payments under the scheme. Examine activities and initial outputs of the schemes first three calls and how these align with the intended outcomes of the scheme. Based on the outcomes of the first three calls, establish the degree to which the scheme is achieving its objectives. Assess the impact of the scheme and explore the beneficiary views of the scheme through self- declaration surveys. 3 Rialtas na h ireann | Government of Ireland
Spending Review 2022 Key Findings Key Policy Relevant Findings A total of 503 applications were approved under the Covid-19 Online Retail scheme s three calls. The draw down rate was of approximately 91%. On average, 34,361 were spent by those who drew down. There was greater uniformity of ORS funding by county than EI clientele. This implies alignment with the goal of regional development in every county (Pillar 4 of the Economic Recovery Plan 2021). Survey outcomes suggests that ORS positively impacted on participants online sales volumes, website traffic, and to a smaller extent also on international trade volumes. ORS enabled participant retailers to continue to trade and retain staff, since the scheme was offered as a support in a time of crisis and closure of non-essential retail. Future ORS calls should address concerns about the time and resources for applying to the scheme, and the labour-intensive nature of the application. Follow-up and comprehensive evaluations are recommended in order to capture medium and/or long- term outcomes and possible evolutions of the scheme. 4 Rialtas na h ireann | Government of Ireland
