Sligo based engineering firm Jennings O’Donovan are one of the first organisations in Ireland to use new digital technology to reward staff with a local Gift Card.
Jennings O’Donovan used the technology available through their local Town & City Gift Card to reward their 90+ staff with an e-card as a Christmas reward. The new tech allowed the firm to send the digital Love Sligo Gift Cards to staff on a chosen day and time, ensuring all staff members received their reward at the same time.
Focused on renewable energy, water supply and wastewater treatment across Ireland, Jennings O’Donovan said the new way of rewarding their team digitally had a number of benefits over physical Gift Cards, while the local element allowed their employee reward investment to benefit the local economy.
David Kiely is director at Jennings O’Donovan and commented: “As a Sligo based organisation, we feel the need to give back to the community, support local businesses and support placemaking efforts in the town too. A strong town attracts new industry and encourages new businesses, which is a real positive for Sligo. Choosing our local Town & City Gift Card, the Love Sligo Gift Card, meant the €30,000 we invested in our team rewards went directly into the local economy, and stayed in the local economy.
“Another reason for moving to the Love Sligo Gift Card was the zero commission that businesses have to pay to accept the card, so if a team member spends €50 with a local shop, the shop keeps the full €50. Lots of retailers, restaurants and other businesses accept the Love Sligo Gift Card, so there was plenty of choice for our team.
“Our employees were told in advance that they’d be receiving their digital Love Sligo Gift Card reward by email. The ease of use for us in administering the digital card over a physical card was brilliant. We have a hybrid working system which means that not all employees are in the office at the same time. In the past, this has meant we couldn’t get the cards to the staff member in person, so they had to then be posted out. With the digital Love Sligo Gift Card, everyone received their reward at the same time.
“The Love Sligo Gift Card has been well received by staff, particularly the ease and choice. Some staff members used their card to put fuel in their cars, others used their card at the supermarket or the DIY store. People may not always want to spend their reward on discretionary items, and the Love Sligo Gift Card offers our team the chance to spend as they choose.
“As local employers and organisations, it is very important that we are involved in, and support our town centres. Local businesses have had, and continue to face many challenges, and choosing the Love Sligo Gift Card is a tangible way that we have been able to give our local businesses a lift.”
The Town & City Gift Card initiative is active across Ireland in Ballinrobe, Carndonagh, Cavan, Donegal Town, Drogheda, Kilkenny, Letterkenny, Limerick, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford and County Wexford. The cards can be spent with a variety of local businesses, making them popular for employee rewards. €10.5 million of Town & City Gift Cards were purchased in Ireland in 2024, up from €7 million in 2023. Local Gift Card sales in Ireland are expected to exceed €15 million in 2025.
In Sligo, over €1.5 million Love Sligo Gift Cards were purchased between November 2023 and November 2024, with around 70% of sales dedicated to local organisations purchasing the Gift Card for employee rewards. Over €1.1million of the overall sales figure has now been redeemed across 240 Sligo businesses by way of 29,000 plus instore transactions.
The Love Sligo Gift Card was introduced by Sligo BID in association with County Sligo LEADER Partnership to drive spend in Sligo. Cards can be spent with around 240 participating businesses, driving footfall in the town.
Gail McGibbon, CEO at Sligo BID said: “We are proud to see well-respected Sligo firm Jennings O’Donovan leading the way with local digital reward technology, ensuring their €30,000 investment in staff rewards also benefits their town. More and more Sligo organisations are making the move to the Love Sligo Gift Card for their rewards and incentives. The option of the physical card to hand out or the digital card to send to multiple staff on a date and time of their choosing gives organisations the chance to select the reward option that best suits their needs, and the needs of their people.”
Mark Cunningham, Love Sligo program coordinator and business development manager for Miconex Ireland, said: “One of the main benefits of the Love Sligo Gift Card is that every card has to be spent in person, driving footfall in Sligo. The card is commission free for businesses to accept and can also be used to reward staff tax free, using the Small Benefit Exemption scheme, which increased to €1,500 across five gifts in January 2025. I urge all organisations to take Jennings O’Donovan’s lead and choose a Gift Card that directly supports the local economy.”
Colin Munro is the managing director of Miconex and commented: “In November 2024, we introduced new digital gifting technology allowing organisations to distribute digital e-card Town & City Gift Cards, and it’s fantastic to see Jennings O’Donovan using this technology to reward their people easily, with a tangible positive impact on their local economy.
“In our 2024 research, 89% of organisations said supporting local businesses was important to them and 94% said their rewards and incentives align with their organisational purpose and values. Town & City Gift Cards allow organisations to take an active role in the success of their community, while giving employees unbeatable local choice.”
Organisations can purchase physical or digital Town & City Gift Cards online.