InBusiness Autumn 2023 by Ashville Media Group

MENTORS SERIES AUTUMN

2023

MAKING YOURSELF HEARD WITH STEPHEN LEDDY

CONNECTING IRISH BUSINESS

Cost CONTROL REAL-TIME SPEND TRACKING FOR CONSTRUCTION FIRMS

InBUSINESS AUTUMN2023

PAY TRANSPARENCY DIRECTIVE Why now’s the time to get your ducks in a row

€2.70

TERRY SPENCE on One4all’s commitment to Ireland’s business community

772009 393018

HANDS

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20/10/2023 13:31

Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme Low-Cost Finance For SMEs, Farmers & Fishers The Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme supports businesses impacted by additional costs due to the conflict in Ukraine with low-cost finance of up to €1 million.

Find out more at sbci.gov.ie

Loans from €10,000 to €1 million at reduced interest rates, with terms up to 6 years. Loans up to €250,000 unsecured. Terms and conditions apply. 253182_1C_SBCI_Chambers Ireland Autumn 2023_V1.indd 1

18/10/2023 16:19

Editor: Denise Maguire Creative Director: Jane Matthews Editorial Assistant: Eva-Marie McNamee (Chambers Ireland) Designers: Lenny Rooney Neasa Daly

Contents

Photography: iStock Photo Infographics: www.flaticon.com Production Executive: Nicole Ennis Sales Director: Diarmaid Lennon

Managing Director: Gerry Tynan Chairman: Diarmaid Lennon

COVER STORY:

Published by: Ashville Media Group, Unit 55 Park West Road, Park West Industrial Park, D12 X9F9 Tel: +353 1 432 2200 Email: info@ashville.com Web: www.ashville.com On behalf of: Chambers Ireland, 11 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, D02 FY84 Tel: +353 1 400 4300 Email: info@chambers.ie Web: www.chambers.ie All articles © Ashville Media Group 2023. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. Opinion and comments expressed herein are not necessarily those of Ashville Media or Chambers Ireland. ISSN 20093934

In Safe Hands InB InBUSINESS speaks to Terry Spence, Director of Sales, B2B at One4all

Mentors

STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE

Making himself heard

Accounting is not just a numbers game for Hilary Larkin, who leads the Outsourcing function at Mazars Ireland; it’s about building relationships too

Entrepreneur Aisling Cullen, Founder of Thanks Plants, is ready to take the vegan alternative brand to the next level

Fingal business picks up with innovative eCargo bike trial schemes; Donabate and Portrane projects progress with appointment of consultants; €9.79m funding for Project Carlow 2040

Page

Launch of Irish Community Archive Network empowers Co Cork’s heritage; innovative rain garden system unveiled in Cobh; Limerick Regional Athletics Hub opens in Newcastle West

New €3m stateof-the-art National Surf Centre opens in Strandhill; Great Western Greenway 5km extension from Achill Sound to Cashel opens; €2.5m investment in Sports Energy Support Scheme

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84 ULSTER

LEINSTER

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InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

Page

CONNACHT

Our Local Government InBUSINESS supplement continues to look at the important role played by Local Authorities in Irish enterprise

Proposed development of Letterkenny Cultural Corridor; Belfast City Council wins award for innovative approach to tackling single-use plastic; €246,000 forest park funding for Cavan

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Martin Harley pictured with distinguished guests walking the Tip O’Neill Trail led by iCARE children with Tommy O’Neill (son of Tip O’Neill) and Niamh Clerkin, iCARE Children’s Co-ordinator at Drumfries, Inishowen. Photo: Angela Tourish.

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ECARGO BIKE TRIAL SCHEMES IN FINGAL

iCAN LAUNCHES IN CORK

BELFAST CITY COUNCIL WINS AWARD

Enhancement works and accessible wheelchairs for Tip O’Neill Trail

In Association with

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• Din Medium • Din Regular

Stephen Leddy, Hidden Hearing’s Managing Director, talks about why he’s determined to corner the hearing care market

Donegal County Council announced a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to building an inclusive and accessible community in the county with the introduction of two all-terrain/beach wheelchairs and enhancement works on the beloved Tip O’Neill Trail in Inishowen. The project was made possible through the contribution of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme in Inishowen, where Donegal County Council and the Local Community Development Committee have been able to empower individuals and communities to engage in physical activity and outdoor pursuits, resulting in significant improvements in health and wellbeing. These specially designed Hippocampe wheelchairs are equipped to handle a variety of terrains, ensuring that individuals can safely and comfortably traverse the trails or beaches. In addition to the wheelchairs, Donegal County Council has undertaken enhancement works along the Tip O’Neill Trail to improve accessibility for all residents and visitors. These enhancements included the upgrade of over 1km of trail. “Our mission has always been to create a healthier and more vibrant, inclusive community, one that everyone can enjoy, regardless of their mobility. With the addition of two all-terrain/beach wheelchairs, individuals with limited mobility will now have the opportunity to explore the stunning beauty of the Tip O’Neill Trail and our wonderful natural assets in Inishowen,” says Cathaoirleach of

In Association with

Donegal County Council, Cllr Martin Harley.

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

20/10/2023 09:25

Contents Go to chambers.ie for the online edition

87 [LIFESTYLE] 87 BOOKS InBUSINESS chooses five titles to cram in before the end of the year 88 PODCASTS Sarah McGrath, host of the CEO Corner Podcast, on how to be a strong leader

Small Business LiveCosts provides the construction industry with real-time spending tracking, essential in light of spiralling materials costs

PAY TRANSPARENCY DIRECTIVE Now’s the time for employers to get their ducks in a row when it comes to the Pay Transparency Directive

[REGULARS]

88 2

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Business News

The Hot Topic

Start-up Central

Movers & Shakers

Opportunity Ireland

Skills & Talent Businesses must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and utilise tailored technology to weather the impending storm

36 Chambers Catch Up InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

20/10/2023 09:25

Fund your future Talk to us about a retirement plan that works for your lifestyle and Financial Wellbeing Let’s chat about your pension Search

bankofireland.com/pensions

Terms and conditions apply. Life assurance and pensions products are provided by New Ireland Assurance Company plc, trading as Bank of Ireland Life. New Ireland Assurance Company plc, trading as Bank of Ireland Life is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Member of Bank of Ireland Group. Advice on Bank of Ireland Life products is provided by Bank of Ireland. Bank of Ireland trading as Bank of Ireland Insurance & Investments, Insurance & Investments is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Bank of Ireland is a tied agent of New Ireland Assurance Company plc for life assurance and pension business. Members of Bank of Ireland Group. Information correct as of September 2023.

Warning: The value of your investment may go down as well as up. Warning: If you invest in a pension you may lose some or all of the money you invest. Warning: If you invest in a pension you will not have access to your money until your retirement date.

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18/10/2023 16:20

BUSINESS NEWS

HOGS & HEIFERS SET FOR EXPANSION

COVER STORY

“In the current cost of living crisis and with the announcement that minimum wage is to increase, it makes sense for employers to reward staff with gift cards as opposed to cash and utilise the benefit in kind exemption to level out their costs.” Terry Spence, Director of Sales, B2B at One4all

The Wright Group has announced plans to expand its Hogs & Heifers restaurant brand and is actively seeking new locations of between 5,000 to 6,000 sq ft in high footfall areas in Irish cities and towns and in Belfast. The Irish hospitality group, owned by businessman Michael JF Wright, is planning on Michael JF Wright, Owner, adding up to six new Hogs Hogs & Heifers & Heifers outlets to the existing two and is now appealing to owners of potential venues to make contact. The Group currently employs over 750 staff and over 120 are employed in the two existing Hogs & Heifers locations. The expansion plans will create up to another 360 jobs. In addition to expanding the Hogs & Heifers chain at home, the Wright Group is also examining a potential future expansion into the UK.

American approval More than 95% of US multinationals have H&S a positive view of Ireland as an investment

A new survey from the location, according to a survey of American Compliance Institute shows Chamber of Commerce Ireland members. that almost two-thirds of people consider the health and safety of employees to be one of the most important responsibilities of a business.

Business

BITES

CLOUD OUTAGE WOULD BE ‘CATASTROPHIC’

Donal Sullivan CTO, Auxilion

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A new survey from Auxilion reveals that 73% of IT leaders in Ireland believe a cloud outage would be ‘catastrophic’ for their business, with a similar proportion (77%) worried about such an occurrence. The same survey highlights that 84% of businesses expect to have fully migrated all their systems, applications and data to the cloud within the next three years. Hybrid cloud was found to be the most popular choice among the companies already using cloud, with 22% of respondents believing it to be the future. Meanwhile, 21% think public cloud is the future. The most cited reason for adopting cloud computing was reducing costs (32%). Investment in cloud looks set to increase, with two thirds (67%) planning to up their cloud spend over the next 12 months and the average investment estimated to be €1.84 million.

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

19/10/2023 15:48

BUSINESS NEWS

€329M ENERGY BILL FOR IRISH BUSINESSES Brosnan Facility Management has examined the most up to date figures from the CSO to determine which counties in Ireland are spending the most on energy costs for their business. County Dublin comes out on top of the spending list, with €5.25 billion, an increase of over €1 billion from 2015. County Leitrim has spent €15 million, a decrease of €10 million from the 2015 figures where €25 million was spent. The biggest increases in spending outside of Dublin are occurring in Limerick (up €184m), Cork (up €121m) and Kildare (up €81m). Longford and Wexford have both reduced spend by €20 million, down from €45 million and €108 million respectively. Other counties to see a dip in costs include Donegal and Galway. The only county to stay at the same level was Louth, with a spend of €137 million.

PICTURE THIS

Jason Doyle, Bewley’s and Brian Donaldson, Maxol Maxol has announced a five-year contract with Bewley’s. Valued at €10 million, the contract includes 270 tonnes of coffee beans exclusively sourced for Maxol by Bewley’s and the installation of new coffee machine equipment in 72 Maxol company owned stores. The partnership will also see the introduction of two new variants across an initial 20 Maxol stores – iced coffee and oat milk coffee. As part of the contract, 130 coffee machines will be replaced, units will be upgraded and new digital screens will be installed.

Carbon neutrality A DataSolutions survey reveals that while JOB FOR LIFE 78% of tech companies have plans to According to a new survey achieve carbon neutrality, 65% have not from Lockton People yet measured their carbon footprint. Solutions, a job-for-life is a dated concept, with six in 10 workers stating they will leave their current employer in the next 10 years.

FINTECH

Irish fintech firms struggling with sourcing funding and staff have called for regulatory processes to be streamlined to trim costs, according to a Finance Services Ireland survey.

RECRUITMENT

New Central Statistics Office (CSO) data indicates that the number of people employed in the financial services, insurance and real estate sectors has climbed by almost 7% in the past year.

WESTERMO OPENS NEW DUBLIN SITE

Mary Buckley, Executive Director, IDA Ireland, Declan Carew, Managing Director, Westermo Ireland, Jenny Sjödahl, President & CEO, Westermo and Minister Dara Calleary TD

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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Westermo recently opened its new site and announced plans for continued growth in Ireland, expanding capacity and adding a range of highly skilled engineering, research and supply chain positions. Technologies from Westermo play a key role in societal infrastructure such as trains, railways, energy production and electricity distribution. Westermo CEO, Ependion President and CEO, Jenny Sjödahl said: ‘’This investment is a critical part of Westermo’s investment commitment to the market for large-scale remote access technologies where quality and reliability capabilities are so essential. The closeness of our development and deployment teams in Dublin demonstrates how deep technical expertise and support is such a great foundation to securing strategic long term framework agreements in critical infrastructure markets right across the globe.’’

19/10/2023 15:48

BUSINESS NEWS

MERRION HOTEL SIGNS CPPA WITH FLOGAS

EY TO CREATE 1,000 NI JOBS EY has announced the creation of 1,000 new jobs in Northern Ireland over the next five years in a move that will bring the total EY headcount to 1,900 in the region. To support this growth, EY will establish a hub in the North West to attract talent from across the region. The roles will be filled by a mix of experienced candidates, recent graduates and school leavers in areas such as cyber security, data analytics, cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies, risk, tax, audit as well as business consultancy. EY Northern Ireland is committed to working with the Department for the Economy to operate an Assured Skills Academy Programme that will focus on individuals such as those seeking to return to work following a career break, those wishing to change career or recent graduates looking for an alternative route into professional services.

Pictured are Customer Relationship Manager at Flogas Enterprise Lauren Stewart and Facilities Manager at the Merrion Hotel, Gerard Mountaine

The Merrion Hotel in Dublin has signed a 21-month Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) with energy supplier Flogas Enterprise. The Merrion is the first hotel in Ireland to sign a CPPA which will allow the company to purchase renewable electricity directly from one of Ireland’s first ever wind farms, Cronalaght Wind Farm in Co Donegal. This CPPA will meet 60% of the hotel’s annual electricity requirements and support its sustainability ambitions to reduce its carbon emissions by 530 tonnes of CO2. “From the energy used to power our hotel building, to the food served in our restaurants, renewable electricity is a vital pillar in the Merrion’s sustainable journey and this new CPPA marks a significant milestone. By working with Flogas Enterprise, we’ll be making positive changes to become more energy efficient, reduce our energy bills and ensure the electricity supplied to The Merrion is certified as 100% renewable,” said Gerard Mountaine, Facilities Manager at the Merrion Hotel.

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(L-R) Mel Chittock, Interim CEO of Invest NI; Judith Savage, EY UKI Consulting Partner; Rob Heron, EY Northern Ireland Managing Partner; Mike Brennan, DfE Permanent Secretary

SPEED-FUNDING EVENTS FOR SMALL BUSINESS Small business support platform and membership community Enterprise Nation has launched a series of events aimed at helping small businesses get access to early-stage seed funding and growth investment. The ‘Show Me the Money’ events, to be held in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Donegal over the next 12 months, will see small business owners hear from experts on a range of funding solutions from venture, angel and alternative investment specialists to high street banks. The events are part of Access to Finance, a broader nationwide initiative in partnership with SBCI, Sage, BPFI, AIB, Bank of Ireland and TSB to support more businesses to improve financial management skills. For more details on the timings of the events, go to www.enterprisenation.com/access-to-finance/events/

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

19/10/2023 15:48

BUSINESS NEWS

ASTELLAS PHARMA TO OPEN €330M TRALEE PLANT

Fergal Meehan, Chief Commercial Officer at Paradyn, pictured at Lough Eske, Co. Donegal, with Sean Dunnion, Project Leader Information Systems at Donegal County Council

CRITICAL DATA BACK-UP FOR DONEGAL CO CO Paradyn has announced it is backing up critical data for Donegal County Council with Vault365, an all-in-one back-up, ransomware and data protection solution. Donegal County Council needed to back up and secure its Microsoft Office365 data to ensure compliance and eliminate the setup and maintenance of its own hardware, storage and infrastructure. Paradyn deployed the Vault365 solution which runs in the cloud and backs up information to its own highly secure off-site data centre. The remotely stored data is immutable and cannot be compromised by potential cyberattacks on the organisation’s estate. Paradyn’s solution is protecting sensitive information for Donegal’s 166,000 citizens. It’s also enhancing the user experience for those who engage with the council’s vital services as public information is backed up, reliable and up-to-date.

Astellas Pharma has announced its intention to submit a planning application to build a new €330 million state-of-the-art facility in Tralee. The investment will, says the company, expand its capacity and capabilities for aseptic drug products, reinforce stable production for global supply and accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative antibody drugs and other new products. The facility will be based on the IDA’s greenfield site in Kerry Technology Park, Tralee, bringing highly specialised engineering, science and technology roles to the region and helping to further the Astellas vision to “be on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients.” The new facility aims to reduce operational energy intensity by more than onethird and produce zero waste to landfill.

GOCAR TO UPGRADE CAR SHARING FLEET

Paul McNeice, Head of Country for GoCar

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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GoCar has announced an investment of €10 million in the expansion and enhancement of its current vehicle sharing services across Ireland. The investment is part of GoCar’s commitment to provide sustainable and convenient mobility solutions to meet growing customer demand for alternative transport options to private vehicle ownership. The €10 million investment will support increased vehicle availability and wider vehicle choices for customers throughout the country. A total of 280 new vehicles will be added across 149 locations, catering to both urban and rural communities. This expansion aims to provide users with a broader range of vehicle types, ensuring increased choice and flexibility when it comes to public transport options. The company will also be launching a new website and app designed to provide a more innovative and intuitive customer experience, along with a new loyalty programme.

19/10/2023 15:49

BUSINESS NEWS

ACCESS TO LABOUR TOP CONCERN FOR CONSTRUCTION SECTOR Although over a third of construction companies experienced an increase in turnover in Q2 (34%), 77% of companies cite access to skilled labour as their top concern, according to the Construction Industry Federation’s Quarter 2 Economic Outlook Survey. The survey found that 34% acknowledge an increase in turnover year-on-year in Q2, 33% expect turnover to continue to increase in Q3 and 28% report an increase in the total number of people they employ. Access to skilled labour (77%), securing a healthy profit margin (60%) and the increased cost of raw materials (55%) remain the three most significant challenges. Hubert Fitzpatrick, Director General of the CIF said: “Government and industry are working together to increase pathways into construction and to attract more workers from Ireland and overseas, while upskilling the current labour force to meet new demands and technologies.”

Pictured (l to r) are Chief Investment Officer Frank Tobin; CEO Jim Bergin; Director of R&D Michelle Collins; Chairperson John Murphy and Chief Financial & Secretariat Officer Michael Horan. Picture by Finbarr O’Rourke

TIRLÁN COMMITS €10M TO AGRI-FOOD TECH Tirlán has committed a total of €10 million towards the development of the Tirlán Nurture Fund, which is aimed at identifying and scaling innovative agrifoodtech solutions. Tirlán said it will target early-stage innovative and sustainable technology investments through the new €10 million platform over the coming years. Investments will seek to identify solutions that add to increased efficiency and drive sustainability along the supply chain, with the aim of benefitting Tirlán, its farmer suppliers and the wider community. It’s expected that the first investment will take place in the first half of 2024. Tirlán said the Fund will make both direct and indirect investments into proven technologies seeking commercial scale, as well as established companies seeking to scale into new markets.

HCS PARTNERS WITH FORTINET Cybersecurity and digital transformation firm HCS has announced it expects to increase revenues by €2.5 million in the next two years through its enhanced partnership with Fortinet, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions and services. HCS has been awarded Expert level partnership with Fortinet, one of only a handful of Irish companies to achieve this status. HCS was recognised as its Fortinet team has achieved the highest level of technical certification and has a proven track record in delivering Fortinet security solutions to customers through professional and managed services. To support the expected growth in demand for these services, HCS will create 15 jobs across its security managed and professional services teams. As a Fortinet Expert partner, HCS will provide specialist offerings to customers across cloud security, network security, Zero Trust network access and SD-WAN. The company expects to see the biggest growth in SOCaaS (security operations centre as-a-service) and SASE (secure access service edge) over the next 12 months.

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InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

19/10/2023 16:01

Green skills for a sustainable future • Develop new skills in your team • Green your business for cost savings, competitiveness and proﬁtability • Access highly subsidised ﬂexible training boost skills – boost business Contact your local Education and Training Board or visit skillstoadvance.ie

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18/10/2023 09/10/2023 12:40 11/07/2023 11:13 04/04/2023 16:22 12:21

TOP TRENDS

IRELAND TOPS EU CHARTS FOR WFH GROWTH Ireland has become the poster child of Europe in terms of how rapidly remote working is taking the place of traditional office-based work, according to analysis of Eurostat data by BNP Paribas Real Estate. While the Netherlands has the highest percentage (over 50%) of its workforce engaged in remote working, Ireland is adopting remote working at the fastest rate of any other EU country. In 2019, just 7% of Ireland’s workforce said they ‘usually’ work from home, but this figure soared to 25% in 2022, the biggest percentage point increase of any EU country. John McCartney, BNPPRE’s Director of Research, said: “Ireland’s adaptability throughout the pandemic has been remarkable in many ways, not least the ease with which businesses and employees alike adjusted their working models.”

THE HOT TOPIC

Remote Working Commentary and news on the effect of remote work

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD

“In recent years, we have witnessed remarkable progress in supporting remote workers and employers. It is of utmost importance that we maintain this momentum. Our rural development policy, ‘Our Rural Future’, clearly acknowledges the pivotal role of remote working in achieving balanced regional development. Remote workers contribute to local economies and sustain communities and I am committed to fostering remote work. This survey will provide us with essential data to make informed decisions in this vital area.” Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, sharing her views on remote working at the launch of the 2023 National Remote Working Survey

TikTok tracking return-to-office While the Government is expressing support for remote work, some of the major tech companies located here are moving against it. The Sunday Independent reports that TikTok has rolled out a data-collection app for employees in its Dublin office to monitor their compliance with more stringent office attendance requirements. From October, TikTok employees worldwide must attend the office at least three days a week instead of two. TikTok, which employs 3,000 people in Ireland, has new locations at the Tropical Fruit Warehouse office building on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay in the Dublin Docklands and at the Sorting Office on Cardiff Lane.

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InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

19/10/2023 16:21

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18/10/2023 11/09/2023 16:22 10:44

START-UPS

GALWAY AND CORK BUCK FUNDING SLOWDOWN

NEWS, VIEWS AND PROFILES ON THE LATEST START-UPS IN IRELAND

€103m

The amount invested in Irish AI companies in H1 2023, according to TechIreland

HOW IT ALL STARTED

Padraig Hyland CO-FOUNDER, THE CORE STORY

Company name: The Core Story Location: Kilkenny Product or Service: Tailored leadership and strategy engagement programmes Staff: 20 How have you funded the business to date? We are self-funded to date and have also received innovation and technical investment at key times to enable critical innovations. We currently invest profits back into the business.

What’s the best advice you have been given? “If you are not telling your story, someone else is.”

What’s the most important lesson you learned starting out?

You need to engage people around your business who can help. Your network is larger than you think and people are happy to assist.

Your biggest make-or-break moment?

Definitely Covid. Up to that point we delivered our services in-person, which meant all our business dried up immediately. We realised we were not going back to business as usual for some time, so we became fast adopters of digital services and tailored our offerings to an online setting. We now offer a mix of online and in-person programmes, depending on the client’s requirements.

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Figures collated by TechIreland show 112 companies raised a total of €460 million in the first half of 2023, down 40% on last year. While the report paints a sobering picture for investment in Irish start-ups, there is some positive news for regions outside the capital where funding was the second best on record. TechIreland reports that Galway (€74 million into 14 companies) and Cork (€67 million into nine companies) both outperformed when compared with previous years.

‘AIRBNB FOR STUDENTS’ WINS LAUNCHBOX CONTEST Hebe Adventures, a company building the “Airbnb of student travel”, has won Trinity College Dublin’s annual student entrepreneurship contest. The team emerged victorious from 10 groups of student entrepreneurs who participated in the LaunchBox summer programme. The winning team receives a cash prize of €3,000 plus six months of coworking space at Dogpatch Labs. Since launching in 2013, the €1 million provided as grants to students participating in LaunchBox has led to over €100 million in follow-on investment and funding.

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

19/10/2023 15:50

START-UPS

Hugh Sheehy, CEO and Co-Founder, Go Eve

Daniel Izquierdo, Tara McElligott and Sean Smith

Micron Agritech bags €2.7m in funding for AI technology

Cybersecurity start-up launches crowdfunding campaign round Cybersecurity technology start-up Binarri Labs has launched a €900,000 crowdfunding campaign via the Spark Crowdfunding platform. The company will use the funding to expedite its commercialisation plans across the US, Ireland, the UK, South Africa and India. Founded in 2021 by Steven Garner, Nigel Carter, Aidan Finn and Ciarán McNamee, Binarri Labs previously raised €1.4 million in funding and has secured US patent granted status whilst advancing with its UK patent application.

NE TO WATCH: GO EVE

Dublin-based agricultural technology company Micron Agritech has raised €2.7 million in funding co-led by ACT VC, Atlantic Bridge and Yield Lab Europe, positioning itself for further expansion in Ireland and the UK. With cumulative funding of €5 million to date, the TU Dublin spin-out wants to revolutionise rapid animal health testing through AI technology. Founded by Daniel Izquierdo, Tara McElligott, Sean Smith and Jose Lopez in 2019, Micron Agritech’s Micron Kit enables vets to conduct on-site, rapid parasite testing on animals using their mobile phones.

SEV charging start-up Go Eve is on a mission to make high-power DC charging cost-competitive with lower-power AC charging options. A joint University College Dublin and Imperial College London spinout, the start-up recently secured €3.5 million in its first funding round. Co-founded by Hugh Sheehy, John Goodbody, Professor Robert Shorten, Dr Pietro Ferraro and Andrew Cullen in 2021, Go Eve’s technology was originally invented by a team of academics and researchers led by Professor Shorten at the UCD School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. The start-up will use its initial fundraising round to secure supply chains and significantly scale production, funding the first installations of its DockChain system on sites and ensuring volume availability in Europe and the US before the end of the year. For more info, visit goeve.com

Ciarán McNamee and Aidan Finn of Binarii Labs with Chris Burge, Spark Crowdfunding

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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20/10/2023 11:46

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NEW APPOINTMENTS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY NATIONWIDE

AOIFE LEONARD

NOEL O’GRADY

IVAN DARMODY

SUE BYWATER-READ

NEW TITLE: Chief Operation Officer

NEW TITLE: Sales Manager

NEW TITLE: New Business Sales Manager

EMPLOYER: Bank of Ireland Retail Ireland

EMPLOYER: Logicalis

EMPLOYER: Envisage

NEW TITLE: Strategic Relationship Director

PREVIOUS ROLE: Director Distribution Channels, Bank of Ireland

PREVIOUS ROLE: Sales Director, Sungard Availability Services

PREVIOUS ROLE: Business Development Manager, Sage Ireland

Aoife Leonard has been appointed Chief Operating Officer for Bank of Ireland’s Retail Ireland division. She will oversee day-today operations of Bank of Ireland’s retail business across Ireland, while ensuring the delivery of strategic and financial planning for the division. The Retail Ireland business includes c4000 colleagues, 169 branches and two large customer support contact centres in Kilkenny and Tallaght.

Logicalis UK&I, a provider of IT solutions and managed services, has announced the appointment of Noel O’Grady as Sales Manager. Noel will be responsible for driving revenue generation and growth for the company in Ireland through the development of existing clients and new customer acquisitions. He will oversee the creation and execution of go-to-market strategies, while managing the midmarket and new business teams.

Envisage, a leading Sage partner in Ireland and member of the Noledge Group, has announced the appointment of Ivan Darmody as New Business Sales Manager. His primary responsibilities will include identifying new business opportunities, fostering customer relationships and assisting clients in selecting the ideal financial management solution from the Envisage and Sage product portfolios.

SHOWING GRATITUDE IN WORK

EMPLOYER: Vyta PREVIOUS ROLE: Asset Manager, The Workshop Vyta, Ireland’s leading secure IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) company, has announced the appointment of Sue BywaterRead to the role of Strategic Relationship Director. Sue will be responsible for identifying gaps and pain points in companies’ IT asset management models and overseeing solutions to build upon Vyta’s services. At The Workshop, Sue built an IT Asset Management function from the ground up.

New research from Workhuman has found that almost one-in-six employees admit to feeling awkward about giving gratitude, while 15% say they don’t always know how to show it. The survey of 555 full-time employees in Ireland also found that it is employees’ peers, rather than managers, who are most likely to dish out kudos. In addition, about 20% of employees say that they have not been thanked by their boss in a month or more.

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InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

19/10/2023 15:52

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18/10/2023 16:25

ACCOUNTANCY

STRAIGHT FROM THE

SOURCE There is much more than numbers to the accounting game says Hilary Larkin, who leads the Outsourcing function at Mazars Ireland

Hilary Larkin, Lead Partner and Head of Accounting and Outsourcing Services, Mazars Ireland

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ACCOUNTANCY

ilary Larkin’s career journey since joining Mazars in 2008 has taken her from being an audit trainee in the SME division, where she got a solid grounding in how businesses and financials interplay and then moved into the busy work of insolvency and restructuring in the downturn. She was appointed as Partner in 2018 and most recently as Lead Partner and Head of Accounting and Outsourcing Services on behalf of Mazars in Ireland. She now leads a growing team of over 50 professionals and assists a wide range of clients including emerging businesses, established domestic businesses and multinational clients, where there is a strong focus on servicing the needs of foreign direct investment (FDI) companies who are establishing operations in Ireland. Larkin says her career path has evolved along with Mazars’ growth in Ireland. “When I started back in 2008, the firm had 150 employees. Now we are almost at 750, with plans to grow to 1,000 in the short term. This year alone we grew our headcount by over 100.” It’s a much larger firm to the firm she originally joined, but many of the core values remain the same. “I chose to train with Mazars because I felt I would get a better and more rounded training in a medium-sized firm. From the outset, I gained exposure to a wide range of interesting assignments on a diverse portfolio of clients and never felt that I was pigeonholed to a specific area. I was very lucky to have had some excellent mentors over the years who were always very supportive and promoted succession. They gave me those opportunities that allowed me to develop into leadership roles, there is a great culture in Mazars in that sense. As a firm, we have worked hard to retain those core values, ensuring our graduates receive varied training and have the opportunity to work closely with and collaborate with senior people who guide them from a learning and development perspective. “As a female leader, my responsibility is to ensure there are no blocks to female talent reaching their potential within the firm. We are investing significantly in our high-potential female talent pool across all levels, offering global leadership InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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What they are looking for from us is that we understand their business, that we are flexible in our approach and that we are properly resourced to deliver continuity of service

programmes, tailored coaching and mentoring and sponsoring.” OUTSOURCING OFFERING The Mazars outsourcing offering is servicespecific rather than sector-specific in that it supports clients across all industry and business types, from SMEs to FDI clients. The core offering is accounting, payroll tax compliance and company secretary services. “Every client is different and has different needs,” Larkin says. “That ranges from servicing a certain aspect of their compliance requirements to taking responsibility for their overall finance function.” Another popular offering is secondment services, which are in high demand at the moment with businesses looking to address talent constraints, be that a maternity or sick leave, or a looming deadline that requires additional resources. “It is a great opportunity for staff to broaden their skill set, gain fresh perspectives and it supports their developmental journey toward assuming leadership roles,” she emphasises. Many FDI clients turn to Mazars looking for expertise and support in addressing local compliance requirements, or where they don’t have the resources on the ground to get to grips with it. “It’s a bespoke service offering, which varies client by client, but what they are looking for from us is that we understand their business, that we are flexible in our approach, properly resourced and that we have talent retention to deliver a continuity of service with a dedicated point of contact,” she says. NOT JUST NUMBERS While some may think of accountancy as purely about numbers, Larkin says it is also about building strong relationships with clients, understanding their business and being available to advise and support them through decisions as their business evolves. “It’s a people business in every sense. There’s the relationship side with the client, but there’s also the development, mentoring, scaling and retention of the team because, without a strong delivery

team, we are nothing.” Trust is also hugely important. “Our clients have to be able to trust in our ability to service them, and that we will be at the end of a phone to assist them if they are in difficulty.” The outsourcing team “works hand in glove with our other departments within Mazars”, in particular, the tax and HR teams, to give FDI clients a full-service offering that includes global mobility, gender pay gap reporting and executive recruitment. They also operate as a fully integrated global team across 95 jurisdictions offering multinational clients one point of contact to coordinate their compliance requirements in every jurisdiction. Digital solutions is another area that Larkin sees as key to remaining competitive. “It’s moving at such a pace, you really need to be up to speed, keeping abreast of developments that enhance efficiency and ensure compliance. Technology is a huge factor in our business and we have made advancements in that regard and are keeping a close eye on advancements, especially in AI, and its potential applications.” Clients not only demand best-in-class technology but also IT security. “Given the extent of cyber threats that there are at the moment it means that outsourcing providers with the strongest controls and systems are going to be best placed to secure the work.” Despite rumblings of global uncertainty, FDI activity in Ireland remains strong with 242 investments through IDA Ireland client companies last year and 139 already in the first half of this year. “Despite economic challenges in general, FDI activity in Ireland has continued to perform over the last 10 years, with 300,000 people now employed by multinationals.” Ireland remains an attractive FDI destination and Mazars is one of the largest outsourcing and payroll divisions in the Irish market. “At this stage, we have seen every type of issue that can come up when establishing operations in Ireland and have the in-house expertise to deal with it.”

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ENTREPRENEUR

K S N A T O H T

P LA N T S Aisling Cullen, Founder of Thanks Plants, is ready to take the vegan alternative brand to the next level

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“I’ve always had a real outward look when it comes to my career and it was always inside me that I wanted to do something myself when I came back to Ireland.”

Q: Did you always feel a draw towards entrepreneurship? AC: There was always a lot of entrepreneurship and drive in the family but besides that, I ended up in a corporate job in retail property for about 17 years. I was working in Ireland on Dundrum Town Centre in a preleasing role. Then I went to the UK and worked on a number of retail projects over there for six years and then over to Malaysia for another six years. Also, twice a year I would go over to New York Fashion Week and direct the shows for designers over there. I’ve always had a real outward look when it comes to my career and it was always inside me that I wanted to do something myself when I came back to Ireland. Q: How has your previous career experience inspired you in this business? AC: Fashion and food are very closely linked. In fact, when I was doing the Food Academy course, about 30% of the people that were on it came from a fashion background. When you see trends happening in fashion, the same happens with food – tastes change all the time. When I was young, I was always a real lover of fashion, but also whenever I went over to New York, I would love going to restaurants, to the new speakeasies or the latest hotspots everyone was talking about. I was really into that whole food experience, even going to a whole foods market and looking through the food hall and seeing what new concepts were out there. Q: How did you find your experience with the Food Academy – what stage were you at when you entered and how did it help you grow? AC: Before the Academy I did a two-day food starter course, run by James Burke who also runs the Food Academy. I had an idea in my head that I wanted to do meat-free products, but full of wholesome ingredients. Besides a few

Aisling Cullen, Founder, Thanks Plants

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ENTREPRENEUR

recipes, I had no finished or developed products but James must have seen something in me. After I did the course, he said I should apply for the Food Academy. Everybody on the Food Academy course was further ahead in their journey than I was, but the course exists to nurture and develop young food entrepreneurs and get them to come up with a brand or concept. It really helped me hone in on what I wanted to do and figure out how I was going to present the brand within SuperValu, as well as everything around manufacturing and food safety issues. It was a real catalyst for me to be able to do what I’m doing now. If I was on my own at home trying to launch a product, I don’t think I would have been able to do it. Participating in the course definitely guided me at the beginning. Q: What would you say is the secret of your brand’s success? AC: You need to research your competitors and see what’s out there. We definitely have a point of difference; we put as many wholesome ingredients as possible into our meat-free products, whereas our competitors might include methyl cellulose or sodium alginate or some other ingredients that customers aren’t familiar with. That really is a turnoff to some people when they’re purchasing a product. As a young brand with a limited marketing budget, it’s so important to appeal to the customer on shelf more than anything else. At the end of the day, I think it all comes down to taste. If you have a great tasting product, people will come back to you. You also must be savvy; you have to tap into the Local Enterprise Office, access as much financial support through grants as you can and have a good business plan in place to be able to keep your head above water at the beginning. It’s also important to just talk to people and make as many connections as possible in the industry, as that’s when business starts to happen. Q: What are the biggest challenges you faced on your journey? AC: Cashflow was always a challenge and still is; some retailers won’t pay for

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“As a young brand with a limited marketing budget, it’s so important to appeal to the customer on shelf more than anything else.”

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER ENTREPRENEURS STARTING OUT? Look at every penny that you spend and keep a very tight control on your costs. When you’re doing your sales projections, look at where your sales are, for example what Dublin will be versus the rest of Ireland. For any start-up, I would also recommend getting in touch with your Local Enterprise Office before you do anything.

45 days plus and in the meantime you have to pay all of your employees, all of your ingredients and your packaging. I think the other challenge is that Ireland is such a small market and we’re a niche product that exists in that small market. Q: What are your goals going forward? AC: We are very much focused on the UK. We’d like to get a listing there, so fingers crossed we hear something within the next couple of months. We’ve done a little bit of exporting with our Festive Roasts to Iceland, Spain and France. The Irish market is a great testbed market, but again it’s very small so it’s important for us to look at exports and try and develop our products in bigger markets. InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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JOB CREATION

COMPANY: Bord Gáis Energy

SECTOR: Services

LOCATION: Nationwide

ANNOUNCEMENT: Bord Gáis Energy is to triple its services workforce by recruiting 300 staff and opening a bespoke Bord Gáis Energy Academy over the next five years. The company made the announcement as it opened its apprenticeship programme for applications.

COMPANY: SuperNode SECTOR: Technology

COMPANY: Tesla SECTOR: Motoring

LOCATION: Dublin

LOCATION: Cork

ANNOUNCEMENT: Energy technology company SuperNode has announced plans to invest more than €40 million in its Irish operations, designing, developing and manufacturing High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) cable systems.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Electric vehicle giant Tesla has opened its second Irish centre in Cork, offering sales, repair and test drive services. The opening “indicates Tesla’s continued investment in the area, as part of its mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy”.

OpportunityIRELAND InBusiness highlights some of the companies that are expanding operations and generating new employment opportunities across the country.

COMPANY: Red Bull

COMPANY: Astella Pharma

SECTOR: Gaming

SECTOR: Pharmaceuticals

LOCATION: Waterford

LOCATION: Tralee

ANNOUNCEMENT: Red Bull has unveiled a new gaming hub in Waterford, which will support the development of third-level gamers. The hub at East Technological University marks a significant expansion of the energy drink company’s gaming presence in Ireland.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Japanese company Astellas Pharma has announced plans to build a new facility in Tralee that could lead to the creation of 350 jobs. The €330 million investment will expand the company’s capacity for the development and supply of new drugs and products.

COMPANY: Integrity360

SECTOR: Cybersecurity

LOCATION: Dublin

ANNOUNCEMENT: Cybersecurity company Integrity360 has invested €8 million in a new security operations centre in Sandyford. As part of the investment, the company will create approximately 200 roles over the next three years, 50 of which will be based in Ireland.

Company behind ChatGPT comes to Dublin US tech start-up OpenAI, the company behind groundbreaking AI programs ChatGPT and DALL·E, is opening an office in Dublin as part of its plans to expand its presence in Ireland and Europe. Dublin will become OpenAI’s third global location after its headquarters in San Francisco and London.

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“We plan to grow a team through this year in Ireland that will propel our operations, trust and safety, go-to-market, security engineering, and legal work as part of our ongoing commitment to better serve the European market. Ireland blends a talented workforce with support for innovation and responsible business growth.” Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI

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COVER STORY

SAFE HANDS

At One4all, small firms matter. Terry Spence talks to InBUSINESS about the importance of building a culture of recognition, why the gift card is king and One4all’s commitment to Ireland’s small business community

ack in 2021, One4all conducted a study that examined the impact of saying ‘Thank You’ in the workplace. Findings from the survey suggested that in general, we’re more thankful today for what other people do than we were pre-pandemic. It also found that 68% of respondents would stay loyal to their employer if they were regularly thanked for their efforts, while 34% stated they would be unlikely to leave a position where they were shown regular appreciation and praise. A perhaps surprising 71% of employees also said they would sacrifice a higher wage if it meant they could work for an employer that regularly expressed gratitude. Research has proven that employers who build a culture of recognition in the workplace and regularly reward their employees reap the benefits when it comes to staff recruitment and retention. Rewarded employees feel like they’re valued and that their contributions are boosting the company’s success, which in turn motivates them to continue great work. The power of rewards and recognition is something Terry Spence recognised early on in his career. Before joining One4all in 2004, he held the role of regional sales manager at Eircom. “My time spent at Eircom really sparked my interest in the rewards and

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Paul McCarthy

COVER STORY

Terry Spence, Director of Sales, One4all Rewards

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recognition industry. I’ll always remember the TV’s and video recorders I was rewarded with as a result of good performance. Every time I switched on that TV, it motivated me to go the extra mile at work. Similarly, an employee that receives a gift card from their employer is reminded of the hard work they’ve put in or the bright idea they generated and they’re more inclined to repeat that behaviour going forward,” says Terry Spence, Director of Sales, B2B at One4all. Terry will celebrate two decades at One4all next year. When he took up a sales and business development role in the Swords office, the One4all Gift Card didn’t yet exist. “At that time, we were producing printed gift vouchers for individual shops. When the One4all Gift Card was launched, it was a complete gamechanger. It meant our corporate clients could provide their employees with a gift card that could be used in 3,500 retail outlets across the country. It was so exciting to be part of that process and witness the company grow in those early years.” In the intervening years, the One4all business model has radically shifted. The number of retail outlets accepting the gift card has increased to 13,000 and additional products, such as the Digital Gift Card, Cyclescheme and Christmas Club have been added to the company’s portfolio. Introduced to the Irish market in November 2019, the Digital Gift Card allows employers to make bulk orders, potentially rewarding thousands of employees at the push of a button. The launch was, says Terry, made possible through Blackhawk’s acquisition of One4all in 2018. “Blackhawk is a major player in the gift card and payment industry. The acquisition provided us with the cash injection we needed to get our Digital One4all Gift Card over the line. It was the first multi-store Digital Gift Card to be

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launched globally and that’s something we’re immensely proud of.” In those early days, Terry’s career at One4all quickly progressed from sales to Trade Promotions Manager. Successful trade and consumer promotions helped bring visibility to the new brand. “At one point, almost a quarter of our business was generated through marketing campaigns. Going from zero to 25% was a huge achievement and from there, my career flourished. One4all is a business that believes in continuous education; over the years I’ve completed a Diploma in Professional Selling, a Diploma in Sales Coaching and an MA in Business Leadership and Management Practice at Michael Smurfit Business School.” In March 2020, Terry was appointed Director of B2B Sales, just when Covid hit. “I’m forever grateful to the company for having confidence in my ability to take on such a high-profile role, but there’s no doubt that it was an extremely challenging time. I had to really dig deep and utilise the experience I had gained over the years to steady the ship and steer it through the storm. It wasn’t easy.” The ensuing lockdowns and periods of uncertainty made Terry more empathetic as a manager. “I think that time allowed me to develop my skills as a manager. I couldn’t have successfully navigated the team through that period without the support of the people working with me. We helped each other get through it and that’s not something you see in many companies.” Today Terry is part of a larger EMEA team, responsible for rolling out best practices from Ireland to other countries. “I’ve always been very ambitious and have my sights set on either a European

“It was the first multi-store Digital Gift Card to be launched globally and that’s something we’re immensely proud of.”

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Terry Spence, Director of Sales, One4all Rewards

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Paul McCarthy

COVER STORY

or global role. For now, it’s all about ploughing ahead and continuing down the growth path we’re on.” Rising costs continue to be a key challenge for businesses across Ireland. Many companies are unaware of the benefits associated with purchasing One4all Gift Cards, says Terry. “Under the Government’s Small Benefits tax exemption policy, businesses can reward their staff with a One4all Gift Card of up to €1000 per year completely free of tax, PRSI and USC. For the employer, that amounts to a saving of up to €1,313.54 per employee. Increasing the limit to €1000 in the last Budget was a huge boost to both employers and to the Irish economy. In the current cost of living crisis and with the announcement that minimum wage is to increase to €14, it makes sense for employers to reward staff with gift cards as opposed to cash and utilise the benefit in kind exemption to level out their costs.” One4all wouldn’t be as successful as it is if employers didn’t recognise the benefits of gift cards over cash rewards. “It’s proven that gift cards lead to more successful results. When an employee gets a cash bonus into their salary, it gets soaked up into bills and day to day expenses. When someone gets a gift card, their only option is to treat themselves.” Irish businesses aren’t just trying to retain talent; they’re working hard to attract new talent. “Having in place a transparent rewards structure goes some way towards attracting new talent into your company. In addition, using a One4all Gift Card is good for the economy. It can only be spent in Ireland so it’s supporting a huge range of Irish businesses up and down the country.” Terry and the entire team at One4all are gearing up for a busy Christmas. Every effort is made to maintain service levels right up to mid-December when order volumes increase significantly. The advice to Irish companies is to get your order in nice and early, says Terry. “We want to make sure we look after all our customers in plenty of time, so don’t delay in getting your order in. To ensure we maintain our excellent service levels, we double our sales staff numbers temporarily in Q4 every year. We’re known for our customer service and we work hard to maintain that reputation.” Thanks to the Blackhawk acquisition, One4all is in safe hands. “We’ve launched into the Netherlands and the USA. Plans are in place to launch into more new countries. For the One4all team in Ireland, the only way is up. I’m excited to see what the future brings.”

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MENTORS

MENTOR: STEPHEN LEDDY

DEANNA O’CONNOR chats to STEPHEN LEDDY, Hidden Hearing’s Managing Director, about swapping accountancy for retail and why he’s determined to corner the hearing care market

MAKING HIMSELF

HEARD 26

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Who

Stephen Leddy, Managing Director, Hidden Hearing

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knows what Stephen Leddy might have become had he followed his teenage interest in studying geography. However, with a grandfather and father both accountants, there was an expectation that he would follow in their footsteps. And so he did, to a certain extent, working in the family business during the summer months before qualifying as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 1995. It was a qualification he knew would take him around the world, rather than back into the family fold. After a year working in Australia, he came home seeing the world through a different lens. Instead of joining the family firm, he took on a role in a smaller accountancy practice, where he got hands-on with every aspect of the profession. This led to him being poached by an audit client. The company owner wanted to take off and travel the world in a Winnebago and saw Stephen as the safe pair of hands he needed to manage the retail arm of his business while he was away. And so began a headfirst dive into the world of window retail! “I had no retail experience whatsoever,” Leddy recalls, but even the grind of a daily commute from Rathfarnham to Portmarnock didn’t dim his enthusiasm for the new challenge. When the time came to move on, his mind was made up that retail was the space he wanted to be in, feeling this was where he had learned to fly. “I really loved how dynamic it was and how agile you had to be.” Since joining Hidden Hearing in 2000 as Financial Controller, he has never looked back. The company, which was previously part of a UKbased group, had just been acquired by Danish plc Demant, one of the top hearing healthcare companies in the world. Demant had, up to that point been manufacturers and wholesalers, but wanted to get into market supply and the retail vertical. At the time the team in Ireland was small, mainly

“The most important thing that I could see was the marketing. We’re selling a product nobody wants. It’s like selling coffins; it’s a grudge purchase.”

concerned with answering leads and dispensing hearing aids. The new management decided to sever ties with UK management and set up the Irish subsidiary as a separate entity. Of this time, he says: “I absolutely loved it, but it was very raw, as we were building it up.” While he says, “It’s not like it was the Wild West,” there was a lack of structure and governance in the operations and Ireland was somewhat of an “afterthought” compared to their bigger markets in the UK and Portugal. Within two years he was appointed Managing Director and was ready to burst through the metaphorical saloon doors, guns blazing, to implement the changes the then-struggling company desperately needed. “I said, ‘Give me six months to run the business and I’ll turn it around for you’.” He implemented a new CRM system and an analytical review of the company’s business process, immediately reducing the cost base and increasing productivity. He also grew the Northern Ireland (NI) business, which now employs 20 people. He put in place a growth strategy to increase clinic numbers and audiologists in the NI market. “It’s a totally different market. It’s much more competitive, because your biggest competitor is the NHS and they’re free.” Notwithstanding the challenges, NI accounts for about 16% of the overall business now. Reflecting on when he first took over his role, he says: “The most important thing that I could see was the marketing. We’re selling a product nobody wants. It’s like selling

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MENTORS

coffins; it’s a grudge purchase.” While marketing was the business’ biggest spend, they had no real tracking on it and didn’t know what the ROI was for their various marketing campaigns. “At the time, around 20% of our revenue went on marketing spend so I had to get it right.” A software system was put in place to track all their campaigns and staff were educated on the importance of asking inbound callers where they had heard about the business. This gave staff an understanding of where their target demographic noticed Hidden Hearing, or what stimulated them to pick up the phone. Digital marketing has changed this game, but although the digital natives are getting older, it’s still not going to be as relevant to a lot of the company’s older customer demographic. “Digital marketing is beautiful because you’ve got so many KPIs and so much data at your fingertips,” he says, but traditional marketing routes still remain important to them, from TV and radio campaigns to print coupons. It remains a difficult customer to capture – he quotes a statistic that it takes 10 years from the time someone first notices a hearing issue to the time they resolve to do something about it. He’s even seen it first hand with a family member who, despite Leddy’s line of work, wasn’t keen on engaging with their hearing problems. It’s a perfect example of the resistance felt by many people in need of a hearing aid. “I could see him struggling, he was withdrawing more and more from

“I could see him struggling, he was withdrawing more and more from social settings, the TV was going up louder… I could see the decline in his quality of life, yet he wouldn’t do anything about it and I was offering a free hearing aid – so that’s the customer we’re dealing with!” 28

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STEPHEN LEDDY ON… DEALING WITH OPPOSITION EARLY IN HIS CAREER… “I could stand toe-to-toe and say, ‘I have my own skill set. I’m full of energy and full of ideas. I’m the General Manager, so you either come with me or you fight against me’.” THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT… “If you’re not engaged, if you are not emotionally connected to your organisation, seek excellence elsewhere.” SEPARATING WORK AND LIFE… “You’re not in business to make friends. To this day, even with my senior leadership team, I’ll do a corporate dinner but I won’t call around to your house for a barbecue.” HIRING GOOD TEAMS… “Surround yourself with people that are smarter than you. A lot of senior leaders are afraid to hire people that are smarter than them because they feel intimidated by them.” SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR KEY ROLES… “Always have a succession plan for your leadership team. It’s easy to take your finance director or your marketing director for granted, but you need to have it in case they decide to leave the business or retire. Whatever happens, you need to have a succession plan for those key positions and that’s not always an easy conversation.”

Stephen Leddy, Managing Director, Hidden Hearing

social settings, the TV was going up louder… I could see the decline in his quality of life, yet he wouldn’t do anything about it and I was offering a free hearing aid – so that’s the customer we’re dealing with!” There is a mismatch that makes him uncomfortable between the hookdriven approach they need to use to get people to engage with audiology testing and the premium brand they offer. “The gap is not as big as it used to be because our brand awareness is a lot higher,” he says. “We know that when we do TV or radio, that tide lifts all boats and we see a bigger response InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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in all our other campaigns.” Part of their strategy is to normalise hearing tests, to the point where people go for a yearly check-up in much the same way they would visit the doctor. He points to the knock-on effects of hearing loss, including social isolation and depression and efforts to educate doctors that hearing loss can be a root cause of other issues patients may present with. “We’re trying to define the market as being one of hearing care excellence and not of price – the best technology, the best people, the best consultations, the best protocols and the best personalised aftercare.” InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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“We’re trying to define the market as being one of hearing care excellence and not of price – the best technology, the best people, the best consultations, the best protocols and the best personalised aftercare.”

With Hidden Hearing since the year 2000, Leddy says there are enough challenges to keep it interesting. “There’s been a lot of change in Demant; it has been an ever-evolving plc. This business has been very good to me financially. I’ve been allowed to pretty much run it like it’s my own business, with the opportunity for a piece of the action as well over time. For me, the way that we have developed this business has been one that has evolved but with all the challenges of market conditions, price and competitiveness, every day is energising.”

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SMALL BUSINESS

Cost Founded in 2018 by Ciaran Brennan and his brother Niall, LiveCosts provides the construction industry with real-time spending tracking, more essential than ever with spiralling materials costs

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Can you tell us about the LiveCosts offering? LiveCosts targets small- to medium-size construction companies and we offer those companies a very simple way of tracking their construction project costs. In simple terms, LiveCosts will tell a construction company exactly where they’re winning and losing money on their projects without having a massive labour-intensive process around spreadsheets. How did you come up with the idea for the business? We ran our own construction companies and LiveCosts was born from scratching our own itch; we got really frustrated by not being able to get simple insights into project data. There was nothing available on the market and after researching a lot of different products we decided to build something, initially, for our own company. After a couple of other companies expressed interest in taking it from us too, we saw there would be a pretty good market for it. We realised that construction technology as a whole was completely underserved so we sold up, downed tools, raised some finance and decided to go all in on LiveCosts. With neither of the Co-Founders coming from a tech background, was getting off the ground a big challenge? It was a huge challenge and one that, looking back now, I probably underestimated. Coming from a construction background, you’re used to having to tackle areas on a project that aren’t your specialty and you just subcontract it out. But the reality is that when you’re building something, as a tech firm, it’s fundamental to what you do as a company and therefore it has to be in-house from day one. We’ve seen some very successful companies outsource their technology but for me as a start-up, I’d find that very difficult as you’ve got to be able to react to situations on the go and make changes. That’s the biggest advice I would give to any non-technical founder starting a tech company; have the tech in-house from day one. Did you engage with any agencies that supported the business? We had support from Enterprise Ireland (EI) early in the process and we were also a High Potential Start-up (HPSU). I can’t speak highly enough about Enterprise Ireland. Even when we’ve gone to EI with questions that are not in their core offering, they’ve opened doors for us and made connections to people that can answer that problem. How has the business grown since you began in 2018? Although the company was founded in 2018, we didn’t actually commercialise the product until February 2019, just when the first case of Covid was found in Ireland, so our go-to-market strategy was quickly disrupted. We’ve had some challenges – Covid and Brexit – but I’m happy to say we’ve now got LiveCosts operating across Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and we’re starting to put the early work into the US.

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“I’m happy to say we’ve now got LiveCosts operating across Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and we’re starting to put the early work into the US.”

Has the rise in construction materials costs been good for your business as people look to keep a tight rein on costs? We have a particular feature that manages this for our clients. We quickly realised that material costs were spiralling, so we developed a very simple way to read product codes from invoices and then give the user the data behind that product code. We can tell our customer if they are being overcharged and by how much and what that data means compared to the last time they bought it. What has been your most successful marketing strategy? Word of mouth has been a big one for us. There’s a natural network effect in construction, so we’ve been able to grow a lot through word of mouth. We also have a construction knowledge podcast that we do in-house and that has brought brand awareness to the company. A lot of people get to know us by tuning into podcasts and listening to webinars and they eventually reach out to us for a demo. We still have a very small sales team but we’ve managed to grow by pushing out good, relevant online content. How do you plan to develop the business? We have just secured investment from one of the leading software construction strategics in the world, a German company based in Munich called the Nemetschek Group. What Nemetschek does really well is acquire and invest in the most innovative construction companies on the planet. One of the things we’ve been working closely with them on is trialling the product in international markets through channel partners. We’re early doors into our relationship with Nemetschek, but one of the most positive and promising signs we’ve seen is how LiveCosts can scale into regions without us having to put boots on the ground in those countries. We’re focusing very much now on the next phase which will be building a reseller network – a strategic partner network – in various different regions.

19/10/2023 15:58

ENTREPRENEUR

Skills & Talent

C E A R L O M F E B

THE

STORM

With a hiring surge expected in 2024, businesses must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and utilise tailored technology to weather the impending storm. Starcircle CEO James Galvin gives his take on how businesses can navigate the pressurised talent acquisition market

OVER

the last 18 months, multiple industries across several regions have experienced waves of layoffs, with the tech space being particularly hard hit. With record-level employee turnover rates, millions of unfilled job openings, masses of skills shortages, major capacity issues and all-time high levels of recruiter burnout, it seems that talent acquisition functions are bearing the brunt.

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Despite confusing economic data, the Irish market is showing signs of growth and recovery, says Starcircle CEO James Galvin. “We’re hearing in our conversations with companies that they’re gearing up for a surge in hiring and we’re also seeing an increase in new roles for talent acquisition professionals, particularly in senior strategic and recruiting operations positions. All that points to a renewed focus on planning for future recruitment success.” However, there’s no denying the fact that the hiring landscape has changed. Teams are leaner, the market is tougher and Al is on everyone’s agenda. “Starcircle helps companies grow by solving their hiring challenges with a flexible, tailored approach that’s powered by AI and driven by human expertise. When discussing recruitment strategy with clients and global experts, we’re hearing phrases like ‘calm before the storm’, ‘doing more with less’ and ‘the pressure is building’ more and more frequently. At our recent Supernova conference, we gathered InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

19/10/2023 16:16

ENTREPRENEUR

together talent industry stalwarts from top companies including Google, Meta, WorkHuman and more, to look at ways of addressing the seismic sea change. What we all agreed is that to thrive, businesses need to use this pre-tempest period to review and revamp hiring strategies so their processes and capacity-planning are flexible enough to scale on-demand.” Hiring on the Up According to Eurostat data, European companies are cautiously preparing for increased hiring in 2024, mirroring trends in the US. Currently, the talent acquisition market could be described as the ‘calm before the storm’ yet while there’s a sense of stability, there’s also an underlying tension as organisations anticipate a hiring surge. Fuelling this tension is the need to avoid mistakes of the recent past so we don’t repeat the yo yoing between mass recruitment and layoffs. “As business leaders, we must realise that the short-sighted, reactive approaches that led us to this point need overhauling. Our ways of working need to better suit the post-pandemic, tech-powered, AI-enabled world – a world where the forces behind the Great Resignation are still having an impact.” This calm is, says James, a valuable opportunity to reassess recruitment strategies, strengthen employer brand and review solutions to build a talent pipeline for the impending surge. “Creating more sustainable, proactive, long-game processes begins with a willingness to rethink current practices. Minimising hiring friction is a great place to start. When potential hires are moved through the funnel quickly, fairly and transparently, they’re more likely to refer or reapply even when they’re not selected, for instance. Boosting the candidate experience not only improves engagement but also furnishes employer reputation, so it should be a top priority during this quiet spell.” Doing More with Less The aftermath of tech layoffs has left many organisations with leaner HR and talent acquisition teams. According to a report by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of HR specialists employed in the tech industry decreased by 12% in the past two years. Leaner teams mean ‘doing more with less’, an approach that’s forcing talent acquisition professionals and the wider organisation to look for ways to streamline recruitment and efficiencies in the hiring process. However, knowing where and how to adapt isn’t always so straightforward. “In my experience the answer lies with tech but not just plug-and-play, one-size-fits-all kinds of solutions. Technology has to be implemented in a more tailored way. It must be underpinned by data-driven insights, effectively leveraging AI and strategically powered by a level of human expertise – in a business-aligned synergy of human and machine learning.” Implementing tech-based solutions with a tight focus on essential hiring needs in this way maximises available resources and reduces InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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James Galvin, CEO, Starcircle

workloads for time-poor teams. “AI, for instance, makes tracking talent pipelines and applicant flows less labour-intensive. Similarly, leveraging data analytics exposes bottlenecks in existing recruitment processes. It identifies opportunities to speed up the hiring of quality candidates.” Communication within and between teams is also improved. Feedback loops are, for example, shortened, which enables faster decision-making. Better communication also enhances collaboration. “Having everyone on the same page slashes time-drainers like revisions and duplications, so operations flow seamlessly.” Pressure is Building With the hiring surge on the horizon, pressure is building on businesses and talent acquisition teams to find and secure top talent quickly. This pressure isn’t only driven by the need to fill positions but also by the various skills shortages in play, says James. Competition for skilled professionals is intense and organisations must have the right tools and processes in place to identify, engage and secure the best candidates when needed. “It’s yet to be determined exactly what the future will bring. Still, businesses that use the time now to prepare and provide their leaner teams with the resources they need to prevent them from repeating past mistakes, will be better positioned to weather the impending storm.”

“It’s yet to be determined exactly what the future will bring. Still, businesses that use the time now to prepare and provide their leaner teams with the resources they need to prevent them from repeating past mistakes, will be better positioned to weather the impending storm.”

19/10/2023 16:16

PAY TRANSPARENCY DIRECTIVE

EQUAL PAY

InBusiness talks to Síobhra Rush, Partner at Lewis Silkin, about the new Pay Transparency Directive and why now’s the time for employers to get their ducks in a row

FOR ALL

June this year, the European Union Pay Transparency Directive – the EU’s latest step in addressing and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace – came into effect. The aim of the Directive is to establish pay transparency standards to empower workers to claim their right to equal pay and is part of a broader package of measures addressing the root causes of the gender pay gap and economic empowerment of women. It will also introduce gender pay gap reporting across Europe, a measure already in place in Ireland. Now’s the time for employers to start thinking and preparing for the Directive says Síobhra Rush, Partner in the Employment, Immigration and Reward

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Síobhra Rush, Partner in the Employment, Immigration and Reward Department, Lewis Silkin

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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PAY TRANSPARENCY DIRECTIVE

Department at Lewis Silkin. Although it will provide employees with transparency around pay, for employers it will be a more onerous undertaking. “The Directive will introduce several measures. For instance, it will prohibit employers from asking employees their salary history. Employers will also be obliged to advertise salary ranges, but I think perhaps the most onerous requirement will be around the expanded reporting obligations, which will include a requirement to report on the pay gaps within categories of employees.” Currently, Ireland’s gender pay gap reporting requires employers to report on average statistics of the pay gap between male and female employees. The Pay Transparency

“Employers will be required to completely review their job architecture to figure out what is work of equal value.” Directive will require employers to report the gender pay gap within each category of workers who do the same work or work of equal value. “Employers will be required to completely review their job architecture to figure out what is work of equal value. They should already have an idea because equal pay for equal work is what grounds a claim for equal pay under the Employment Equality Acts, but employers will certainly have to delve into that a lot more. If there is a pay gap of 5% or more in any category of worker and the difference can’t be objectively justified and hasn’t come down within six months of reporting it, the employer may have to look at a joint pay assessment or an equal pay audit within that category, to be carried out jointly with employee representatives.” InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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Defining Categories Defining categories for workers will be difficult, says Síobhra. “The Government will be obliged to publish guidelines and support employers in terms of looking at job architecture and methodologies for assessing the categories. I think it will be worth looking at how countries with collective bargaining agreements and classification systems already in place go about this process.” Employee Representatives Employee representatives may also be tasked with examining the methodology used to define categories and determining how the stats have been calculated. How employers deal with that will have to be determined. “For instance, are they going to allow employees to elect a committee who will only be there for the Pay Transparency Directive? How will they deal with employees who are representatives for this purpose and then leave the company in terms of replacement?” Definition of ‘Pay’ In the Directive, pay is defined as ‘the ordinary basic or minimum wage or salary, or any other consideration, whether in cash or in kind, which a worker receives directly or indirectly.’ “It would be great if we learned from the issues that have arisen in the first year of gender pay gap reporting and ensured the new terms are very clearly defined in the Irish legislation and that there is no difference between how employers are interpreting the Directive. At the moment, it’s quite broad but hopefully it will be narrowed by the time it’s put in place in 2026.” Employers will also be prohibited from banning employees from discussing pay. “They won’t be allowed to force employees to keep their pay confidential where it’s disclosed for the purposes of enforcing equal pay rights.” Employee Rights Under the Directive, employees will have the right to know what their pay is likely to be. “When a role is advertised, an employer will have to advertise the pay scales for that role, which they don’t currently have to do. There will be an outright ban on asking somebody’s salary history. If an employer is asked for information on what comparable roles within job categories are paid, they will have to give that information. It’s important to note that this obligation doesn’t only apply to employers whose employee thresholds require them to report. That means an individual employee will be able to request that as well, assuming it’s transposed here as it is in Europe.” Get Prepared From a social, diversity and equity perspective, the Directive is to be welcomed but there’s no doubt that it will place more of an administrative burden on employers overall, says Síobhra. “I think the majority of larger employers will have started complying with the gender pay gap reporting already. If they haven’t, it’s a good idea to go down that road as it’s something potential recruits are looking for. Today’s employees are very discerning. If an employer states on their website that they’re committed to DE&I but they’re publishing a 40% pay gap, they will struggle to attract and retain talent.” Companies affected by the Pay Transparency Directive should be bringing the topic up at the board table. “This needs to be on the agenda. It’s quickly coming down the line so to avoid scrambling for information when the time comes, get your ducks in a row now. Get your data together, know your head count, look at your employee categories and start looking at where your gender gaps are. If you’re prepared for this change, you’ll be ahead of the curve.”

19/10/2023 16:05

A ROUND-UP OF ALL THE NEWS AND EVENTS FROM THE CHAMBER NETWORK NATIONWIDE

The best of Ballina The Mary Robinson Climate Conference, which took place in July in Ballina, Co Mayo, welcomed Climate Action Officer staff from local authorities from around the country. Delegates participated in a series of sessions, bringing together voices from all sectors of academia and society to share climate experiences and discuss pathways for a sustainable future. Ballina Chamber hosted a topical session on the SDG’s and organised a bike buffet for delegates, sponsored by IPB Insurance.

NI Chamber welcomes new CEO CHAMBER COMMENT

“The meeting with Minister Helen McEntee was very productive and a wide range of issues connected to policing resources were discussed. We will continue to advocate on behalf of our members to ensure that Cork remains a safe city that is an attractive place to work, live and visit.”

Suzanne Wylie, CEO, NI Chamber

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) has welcomed its new Chief Executive, Suzanne Wylie OBE. Suzanne brings a wealth of local and international leadership experience to the position. A former Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, this new appointment sees her return to Northern Ireland after a period as CEO to the Government of Jersey. Commenting on her new role, she said: “The scale of potential which exists in Northern Ireland is one of the many reasons I am looking forward to this role. I am confident that NI Chamber is well-placed to enable our brilliant local businesses to grasp the opportunities ahead. And while there are many challenges to be worked through, I am buoyed by the high levels of business confidence I have already witnessed.”

Conor Healy, Cork Chamber CEO

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InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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Skillnet Conference at Mount Congreve Waterford Chamber Skillnet, Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet and County Tipperary Chamber Skillnet joined forces to host a sold-out conference titled “Preparing for the Future: Strategies for Building a Resilient Business Toolkit” at Mount Congreve Gardens in Waterford. The event brought together professionals and experts from various fields to share insights and strategies for business resilience and growth and was attended by a wide selection of businesses from across the southeast region, from SMEs to FDI companies. Speakers included Paul Healy, Chief Executive of Skillnet Ireland and Ray Goggins, author and Chief Instructor on RTE’s Ultimate Hell Week. Sustainability was a key topic throughout the event, as was how best to foster a positive money mindset.

Tipperary Chamber launches Health and Wellness Series

Increased policing discussed at Cork Chamber

County Tipperary Chamber recently announced the launch of its Health & Wellness series of events, in collaboration with members UPMC. Michelle Aylward, CEO of County Tipperary Chamber, said: “We’ve never been more aware of the importance of looking after our mental and physical health than we are at this moment. We as a community need to ensure we are providing the knowledge that is required to do this, which is why we are doing this collaboration with members UPMC. We hope the community of Tipperary will join us for what we promise will be both informative and encouraging.” Registrations can be taken via www.countytipperarychamber.com

The need for increased policing resources in the city was raised with the Justice Minister in a meeting she attended at Cork Chamber recently. The focus of the meeting was to highlight some of the concerns associated with the need for a greater garda presence in the city. “The meeting with Minister Helen McEntee was very productive and a wide range of issues connected to policing resources were discussed. The need for increased policing resources in the city has been on our agenda and we will continue to advocate on behalf of our members to ensure Cork remains a safe city that is an attractive place to work, live and visit,” said Conor Healy, Cork Chamber CEO. InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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19/10/2023 16:06

CHAMBER NEWS

Cross border tax breakfast huge success Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, in association with the Cross Border Partnership for Employment Services, hosted a free tax breakfast on tax implications and HR issues for cross border workers and employers in the cross border region at Ballymascanlon Hotel. Attended by over 100 delegates the event covered topics such as redundancy payments, pensions lump sums, tax relief on pension contributions and tax requirements for the cross-border worker. Speakers included Brenda McGeeney, Adviser for the Cross Border Partnership for Employment Services, Rose Tierney of Tierney Tax and Brendan Casey of PRSI Consultancy. For more information on the Cross Border Partnership Employment Services, go to www.cbpes.com

CHAMBER CAPTION

M1 Drogheda Chamber hosts AI workshop

One hundred and fifty Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber members and friends came together recently to celebrate winning the Chambers Ireland ‘Chamber of The Year 2023’ Award at The Park Hotel Dungarvan. Beverages were sponsored by Chamber members Legacy Irish Cider, Thin Gin and Muldoon Whiskey Liqueur. Pictured are Aoife Nagle and Marissa Tobin from Old Head Financial taking a turn with the Chamber Of the Year trophy.

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The Mill Enterprise Centre recently played host to a focused AI workshop, presented by the M1 Drogheda Chamber Skillnet. With more than 30 businesses represented, the event highlighted the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence in the modern business environment. Keynote speaker Greg Fry shared practical insights into how businesses can integrate and benefit from AI. Joe Lynch, Manager of the M1 Drogheda Chamber Skillnet, emphasised the relevance of AI in today’s business landscape.

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

19/10/2023 16:06

CHAMBER NEWS

Cobh & Harbour Chamber hosts Gala Dinner Cobh & Harbour Chamber held its President’s Gala Dinner at Fota Island Resort in September. An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD was in attendance, while the Chamber extended its deep gratitude to DP Energy and Iberdrola for their continued sponsorship and belief in the vision of the event. “It is with the support of sponsors like DP Energy and Iberdrola that we can create moments like these – where members and non-members alike can connect, celebrate, and champion the causes close to our hearts. My personal thanks and great appreciation for the monumental effort of all involved in making our Chamber dinner a truly successful and memorable night,” said President Toddy Stafford. Picture courtesy of Conor McCabe Photography

Dublin Chamber’s Annual Dinner 2023 A standout event in the Dublin business calendar and proudly sponsored by AIB, this year’s Dublin Chamber’s Annual Dinner witnessed a gathering of over 1,000 business leaders at the Convention Centre Dublin in September 2023. Dublin Chamber President and Olytico Founder, Stephen O’Leary and Mary Rose Burke, CEO of Dublin Chamber, were among the keynote speakers, joined by Michael McGrath, Minister for Finance; Cathy Bryce, MD of AIB Capital Markets; and Rosheen McGuckian, CEO of NTR.

Think Waterford First ‘Think Waterford First’ was the message delivered loud and clear at Waterford Chamber’s Dublin Diaspora Dinner, sponsored by EY and Waterford Chamber Skillnet. Opening proceedings, Paul Nolan, Waterford Chamber President spoke of the Chamber’s belief in Waterford being the driver of the South East region, while Economist Jim Power offered an economic overview of Waterford, exuding passion and pride in the place he calls home. A panel of speakers included Michael Walsh, Chief Executive, Waterford City & County Council; Prof Veronica Campbell, President, SETU; Brian McGee, Regional Director, IDA Ireland; Martin Corkery, Regional Manager, Enterprise Ireland and Simon McAllister, EY Ireland Strategy and Transactions Partner. InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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19/10/2023 16:06

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18/10/2023 10:42

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05/08/2020 09:09 18/10/2023 16:48

CHAMBER FEATURE

Skills for Sustainability With a growing demand for sustainability professionals, what are the key skills we need to be developing in our organisations?

Types of skills

hambers Ireland has been working with its partners, Ireland’s Knowledge Centre for Carbon, Climate and Community Action (IKC3) which includes Munster Technological University, Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin, to identify the current and emerging sustainability skills needs business should consider.

The growing demand for sustainability skills At national and international levels, research predicts an increase in sustainability-related jobs but also reveals a shortage of people with experience and skills to fill these roles. For example, The International Labor Organization estimates the impact that the transition towards energy sustainability by 2030 will have on employment will create almost 25 million jobs. That’s good news and this growth InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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"We are keen to hear from business about the key skills needs they are faced with when planning for their sustainability. This will help us develop appropriate solutions and programmes to meet these needs." prediction is also mirrored by a yearly 8% growth in green job postings on the LinkedIn platform in the five years leading up to 2022. Meanwhile, the global share of green talent has only grown by 6% each year. In effect, at current (international) rates there is not going to be sufficient human capital to meet climate targets. Similarly, in February this year the World Economic Forum analysed global job adverts and found a tenfold increase in the number of jobs with ’sustainability’ in the title over the last decade.

With current skills shortages, employers may increasingly have to look to upskill themselves and their teams. Naturally, specific skills needs required to move towards net zero is likely to vary from sector to sector and size of organisations, but there are common skills needs identified by the IKC3 research. These include knowing how to get started on your sustainability journey so project management, planning, leadership, reporting and being aware of forthcoming regulatory requirements are vital. Other skills include creative and systems thinking to help problem solve and find solutions, Life Cycle Analysis, utilising digital for sustainability and gaining an understanding of areas such as the Circular Economy and Bioeconomy. “Skills for sustainability is fast becoming an in-demand skillset,” says Dr Helena McMahon, Head of IKC3. “We are keen to hear from business about the key skills needs they are faced with when planning for their sustainability. This will help us develop appropriate solutions and programmes to meet these needs." We will be covering this topic in future editions and welcome members views. if you are looking to upskill your team or yourself through accredited programmes or wish to arrange an informal discussion about sustainability skills needs within your organisation, contact David Williamson, Industry Liaison, at IKC3.ie or via e-mail david. williamson@mtu.ie

19/10/2023 16:06

CHAMBER FEATURE

An unforgettable day

The House of Waterford is the beating heart of Waterford’s crystal manufacture

he House of Waterford stands proudly as Waterford’s flagship store and showcases Waterford’s key values of craftsmanship, allowing visitors to experience the beauty of Waterford from the initial concept to the final product. The factory is the beating heart of Waterford’s crystal manufacture, crafted since 1783, and is where the most intricate, authentic and masterful crystal pieces come to life. The factory is located in the heart of Waterford city in Ireland, a Viking city built in 914 AD and surrounded by a cluster of museums which detail the proud history of this great city. Explore the intricate process of crystal manufacturing through the guided factory tour which allows visitors to experience the exceptional skill of their elite Master Blowers, Cutters, Sculptors and Engravers, some of whom have been honing their skills for over 40 years. Witness how the crystal masterpieces are crafted using centuries-old techniques, transforming molten crystal into glistening

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"Witness how the crystal masterpieces are crafted using centuries-old techniques, transforming molten crystal into glistening works of art"

works of art. With the largest collection of Waterford crystal in the world, the opulent 12,000 sq ft retail store gives you the opportunity to remember an unforgettable day by choosing a piece of crystal to take home. Inside the retail store you can explore Waterford’s full catalogue of products, including the Lismore pattern which has been a staple of Waterford’s since 1952. The trophy display allows visitors to experience the beauty of some of the world’s most recognisable sporting trophies like the Irish Open Trophy. The Waterford Café offers visitors an opportunity to relax and enjoy luxurious treats served on the finest Wedgwood China. The Waterford Bar is a stylish place to perch before a factory tour or linger at the end of a leisurely day, offering a selection of champagne, fine wine and soft drinks served in Waterford glassware. waterfordvisitorcentre.com houseofwaterfordcrystal@fiskars.com Tel: 051 317000 InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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18/10/2023 16:26

CHAMBER FEATURE

Accelerating growth in Brazil The challenge of sustainable growth in an age of uncertainty

t a time of increased social and economic dislocation caused by pandemics, climate change and geopolitical turmoil close to home, the world economy is faced with a unique dilemma. Rising costs resulting from derisking global production chains, tight commodity and energy markets, together with rising security concerns, are dampening prospects for robust growth worldwide. Could we therefore fall victim to the temptation of jettisoning our hard-fought commitment to environmental sustainability for the sake of short-term economic relief? The risk is real and the world community must collectively recognise that the ecological transition we have embarked on is not a threat, but rather the best path to long term prosperity for all. This means bringing to bear cutting-edge environmentally friendly technology to foster neo-industrialisation and innovative agriculture, alongside social inclusion and poverty eradication. With a view to these challenges, Brazil has just launched an ambitious US$350 billion public and private investment programme. Called The Growth Acceleration Program or PAC, in its Brazilian acronym, it aims to boost economic growth that combines job and income creation that target poverty and social and regional inequalities. Most significantly, it will do so by investing in infrastructure critical to long term competitiveness and sustainability. Most of the projects envisioned will take the form of public-private partnerships focusing on several core areas.

Liveable cities Given that roughly three-quarters of all Brazilians live and work in urban areas, it is not surprising that roughly half of these investments totalling US$124 billion will go to making cities more liveable and resilient. A premium will be put on building quality and affordable public housing, together with replacing substandard homes, thus rationalising energy and construction costs. Finally, by earmarking resources for the

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"A premium will be put on building quality affordable public housing, together with replacing substandard homes, thus rationalising energy and construction costs."

modernisation of urban transport, sanitation and solid waste management, as well as natural disasters prevention (such as slope stabilisation and flood control), the most vulnerable social groups will be shielded from increasingly common extreme weather events.

Clean energy In our increasingly energy-hungry world, access to clean electricity generation is crucial. US$110 billion has been allocated, with 80% going to bringing onstream renewable sources as we transition away from fossil fuels to low-carbon alternatives. Again, vulnerable communities are a top priority. Brazilians in the North and Northeast will be provided with reliable service while the roughly three million consumers living in isolated, sparsely populated regions such as the Amazon, will be connected to the national power grid and no longer dependent on outdated, wasteful and polluting diesel-run generators.

Transitioning to energy sustainability Brazil already reaps the benefits of its largely clean energy profile – 83% is renewable including hydro (63.8%), wind (9.3%), biomass e biogas (8.9%) and solar (1.4%). However, there is still a role for fossil fuels. Investments in Brazil’s abundant and competitively priced deep-water reserves will expand production capacity for low-carbon fuels, of which Brazil is already a world leader. This mix will guarantee the necessary energy diversity required for Brazil to transition to sustainable long term economic growth, safely and responsibly. InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

19/10/2023 16:07

Water and food for all Brazil is privileged in that one-third of the world’s freshwater flows through the Amazon basin. But in an age of ever scarcer water resources, Brazil is investing heavily (US$5 billion) in water quality. One immediate goal is to guarantee adequate access to those living in Brazil's drought-stricken areas. On the other hand, as Ireland well knows, revitalisation of watersheds through integrated preservation, conservation of river basins and recovery initiatives are crucial to a competitive and sustainable agricultural sector. Together with world-class farming innovation, these investments have made Brazil the world’s third largest food exporter and thus a major contributor to keeping global commodity prices down. At a time of growing food insecurity in many parts of the globe, Brazilian agriculture is helping ensure that food is not weaponised for political purposes.

Physical and digital connectivity An additional US$70 billion will go to improving highways, extending railroads lines and modernising ports, airports and waterways. Reduced consumption and pollution together with enhanced safety are the hallmarks of a sustainable transportation network. No less important, production costs will be slashed and Brazil's competitiveness will be bolstered. In the information age, digital connectivity is equally important. US$6 billion will be earmarked to bringing high-speed connections to all public schools and health care services. The introduction of 5G networks will dramatically improve access speed and quality for most consumers, while expanding 4G will bring isolated and remote communities into the 21st century.

A healthy and educated citizenry Quality healthcare and education are critical to improved living standards. Over US$6 billion will go to new health facilities including basic care units, polyclinics, maternity hospitals and ambulances. Tele-health, research and vaccination facilities are equally decisive in the face of the growing threat of pandemics. US$10 billion will go to fund new daycare centres, full-time education and the modernisation and expansion of tertiary level institutions. The benefits will be measured in improved school attendance, higher literacy rates and scientific innovation. An additional US$500 million will go to cultural, sports and leisure facilities that foster social integration and reduce urban violence. InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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Joining hands through regulatory transparency These goals cannot be achieved without a strong partnership between the public and private sectors, each contributing roughly half of the necessary resources. To work efficiently together, a joint commitment has been made to improving the regulatory environment. Greater legal transparency and predictability will allow for simplified and streamlined licencing procedures, with no loss to environmental and safety criteria. This will enable a regulated carbon credit market that issues sustainable sovereign bonds and sets up a climate fund to bring down emissions. By making forests more valuable standing than cut, deforestation will be curbed. The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, summed up the ambitious goal Brazil has set itself with the PAC: “We'll accelerate growth in our country and help stop degradation of our planet.”

"The introduction of 5G networks will dramatically improve access speed and quality for most consumers, while expanding 4G will bring isolated and remote communities into the 21st century."

19/10/2023 16:07

CHAMBER FEATURE

European Engagement So far, autumn has been a very busy period for our international outreach

Ian Talbot addressing meeting of Eurochambres Presidency Committee

Eurochambres Meetings in Madrid As part of its EU Presidency activities, the Camara de Comercio de España (Spanish Chamber of Commerce) hosted meetings of Eurochambres in Madrid in September. Among the matters discussed were Eurochambres members’ priorities for the forthcoming European Parliament elections and new Commission in 2024, the priorities of the current Spanish Presidency of the EU and an update on the forthcoming European Parliament of Enterprises event on 14 November 2023. Xiana Mendez, Secretary of State for Trade, also addressed the group on the Spanish economic situation and aspirations for the EU Presidency. In addition, His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain hosted the Presidents and Deputy Presidents of Eurochambres and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce for a discussion on the future potential of the European economy at his residence at Palacio de la Zarzuela.

Ian Talbot meeting King Felipe VI of Spain

Xiana Mendez, Spanish Secretary of State for Trade

Roundtable discussion led by King Felipe VI of Spain

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Meeting with the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade (INTA)

Outreach to overseas Diplomatic Missions

Chambers Ireland met a high-level delegation of the European Parliament's Committee on INTA led by Chairman of the group Bernd Lange MEP and including Barry Andrews, MEP for the Dublin Constituency. The meeting was primarily to discuss progress on the Windsor Framework and its implementation, but also included discussion on our concerns about State Aid developments within the EU and ensuring that smaller countries are not disadvantaged.

Over the last few years, Chambers Ireland has been increasing our visibility with diplomatic missions and Irish Chambers of Commerce overseas. During this period, some examples were Ian Talbot meeting with the Irish Embassy in Madrid and briefing Ireland’s Ambassador to Finland, Ruth Parkin, in advance of her meeting with Päivi Pohjanheimo, International Director of our Eurochambres colleagues, the Finland Chamber of Commerce.

Bernd Lang MEP and Ian Talbot

Päivi Pohjanheimo Finland Chamber and Irish Ambassador to Finland Ruth Parkin

Visit of President of Employers’ Group of European Economic and Social Committee In October, Chambers Ireland’s representative on the EESC Peter Byrne invited Stefano Mallia, the President of the Employers’ Group, to Dublin for a series of meetings. A former President of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Stefano has served on the EESC for 13 years, the last three as President, and is an expert in EU Affairs specialising in structural funds and SME financing. With a particular message about ensuring the competitiveness of the EU economy, meetings were held with representatives of Ireland’s National Economic and Social Council, the Department of the Taoiseach, Noelle O’Connell, CEO of European Movement Ireland, Frances Ruane, Chair of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, Barbara Nolan, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, local media and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary. InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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Stefano Mallia, Minister Dara Calleary, Peter Byrne and Ian Talbot

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CHAMBER FEATURE

Taking stock

Shane Conneely, Director of Policy at Chambers Ireland, casts a critical eye over Budget 2024

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he consensus across the Chambers Ireland network is that Budget 2024 was very much a pre-election budget. It is clear to our members that the target of Budget 2024 is potential criticism which may be received on the doors. Therefore, it was also a budget that was focused on households which are suffering from increasing costs of living. For the business community, there were a number of policy elements that are very welcome. The small business commercial rates rebate will be of benefit to smaller businesses throughout the country and members of Government parties will be able to point directly towards ways in which Budget 2024 will have put more money into businesses.

Corporation Tax From an FDI business perspective, the big policy shift in Budget 2024 is the move to the 15% corporation tax rate, which Ireland agreed to under the new OECD/G20 BEPS Pillar Two rules. This represents a marked shift in enterprise policy for Ireland, which has sought to improve our attractiveness to FDI on the world stage through the application of lower levels of taxation on traded goods since the ‘special rate’ of 10% for manufacturing was first introduced in 1980. It is unclear as to how the imposition of a tax rate floor will impact Ireland over the longer-term and also the tax receipts in the short-term; most of our corporation tax revenue comes from a very small number of firms that have a wide range of freedoms when it comes to the rationalisation of their tax liabilities. There is the potential that the increase in the base rate of corporation tax may raise the monies garnered from these firms, or alternatively the increase in costs may induce these businesses to engage in complex forms of regulatory arbitrage to reduce their effective rate of tax by shifting assets to other jurisdictions. It is likely though that the changes to R&D tax credits should enable businesses to continue investing in Ireland in a tax efficient manner.

Equity and Investment From a more strategic perspective, the delivery of changes to the Key Employee Engagement Scheme (KEEP) should help some smaller firms retain staff through sharing the equity of the firm once they have been legislated for. For those investing in Ireland, the alterations to the Employment Investment Incentive (EII) scheme, the Start-Up Capital Incentive and the Start-Up Relief for Entrepreneurs may be of benefit. Similarly, the moves on Angel investors are welcome. However, the concern with many of these schemes is that they will still be too complex. We have welcomed the news that the Minister of Enterprise will be working with finance officials and the Revenue Commissioners to create a working group that aims to simplify such schemes, but the more cynical within the network have InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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CHAMBER FEATURE

a sense that their complexity is deliberate and acts as a demand control measure which ensures that they will remain too limited to be useful. There is a significant hidden burden for businesses in this complexity. Whereas the Revenue Commissioners may lose taxes on paper when a scheme is too ‘successful’ in its application, we saw last year with the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) that the instinct to make schemes complex can preclude businesses that need support from getting it.

Commercial Rates This is why we have been supportive of the commercial rates rebate which should be of benefit to qualifying firms. Many of the regulatory changes which are to be implemented in 2024 will disproportionately impact smaller firms in hospitality, retail and tourism. The increases in minimum wage, extra leave entitlements, the recent rise in the 9% level of VAT and pensions auto-enrolment are all likely to affect the businesses that were disproportionately affected by the Covid lockdowns. While the commercial rates rebate for smaller firms is not likely to fully compensate businesses that are affected by these regulatory changes, there will be a welldefined benefit to each of these smaller and micro businesses which ought to be a useful tool when politicians are knocking on doors in advance of next year’s elections.

Inflation At a national level, Chambers Ireland remains concerned that Budget 2024 will be inflationary and so will further undermine our economy’s competitiveness. Changes such as the reduction in Universal Service Charge will reduce Government income by €400 million in 2024, while leaving people earning €50,000 p.a. with €3.70 extra in their pocket per week. At an individual level, this is not likely to have a major effect on wellbeing but is likely to push up inflation which is another form of tax, overall.

Green Transition On the big ticket items, there was little that was surprising in Budget 2024. Much of what was announced had already been budgeted for in the National Development Plan, with €13.5 billion in infrastructural development expected in 2023. In the context of the higher-

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than-expected growth in population that was identified in the 2022 Census, the increasing ambitions in the Climate Action Plan and the lost decade of public investment, it may have been wiser to invest in closing our investment gap more quickly. While there is a fine balance to be struck with inflation, the reduction in commercial property investments that has accompanied the increase in interest rates suggest that there may be more spare capacity in the construction sector than we previously anticipated. For domestic firms, the extension to the accelerated capital allowances will be useful for businesses that have the capital to invest in energy saving equipment, though some of our members have raised concerns about the availability of SEAI triple-E rated products on the market, given the high level of demand.

Housing There are numerous challenges in the area of housing that the Government need to tackle. The budget increased this year but given the underspend in recent years, the capacity to turn funding into housing is an issue for the State. We strongly welcome Government achieving its national targets for new home builds in 2022 and the 2023 outlook remains strong. However, discussions in the ongoing National Planning Framework review are centred on how the population projections for 2040 were too conservative and that our housing targets need to be more ambitious too. InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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CHAMBER CEO Q&A

members with different and potentially conflicting requirements that want you to lobby for different policies to benefit their business – you must try and find common ground between everyone.

How is the Chamber responding to the needs of its members?

Tommy Hogan, CEO, Athlone Chamber

Big Ambitions Athlone Chamber’s new CEO Tommy Hogan chats to InBusiness about his new role When did you take up the role of CEO at Athlone Chamber? I took up the role on the 1st of March this year. Previously, I ran the family business in Clara, Co Offaly for several years. At the end of 2022, I decided it was time for a change. The CEO role at Athlone Chamber ticked all the boxes so I decided to go for it and luckily, I was successful.

How are you finding the CEO role? It's a wonderful, extremely varied role. There are so many different sides to it and I’ve met so many different people even in the short time I’ve been here. That’s not to say that it hasn’t been challenging, but the learning curve has been very rewarding. There have been a lot of firsts – speaking on the radio was particularly challenging but is something I now enjoy.

What are the main challenges facing the Chamber? Striking a balance between so many diverse members can be difficult. When you have InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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"We're a growing Chamber and we want to continue to grow. For that to happen, we have to offer good value to our members and we do this by having a broad range of activities which are delivered in a professional, efficient manner."

We’re constantly representing our members on key issues such as housing, staffing and infrastructure. For example, we recently made a very detailed submission to the Department of Enterprise on the availability of work Visas for key skills and we actively sought out our member’s input to ensure that submission was as detailed and informative as possible. As a very active Chamber and part of Chambers Ireland, we have the capability to reach the most influential decision-makers in the country. We also work hard to make the broader community in Athlone aware of the products and services our members provide. We're a growing Chamber and we want to continue to grow. For that to happen, we have to offer good value to our members and we do this by having a broad range of activities which are delivered in a professional, efficient manner.

How is business in Athlone? In general, business sentiment is good. Like the rest of the country, we’re faced with a housing shortage and issues around infrastructure and inflation. Staffing is also a significant problem for our members. However, business people are by nature very resilient and the people of Athlone are positive. There's a good vibe about the place. We have a lot going for us and I believe the Chamber is having a very positive impact on the region.

Athlone is also a town that attracts tech-driven firms due to its location and transport links Absolutely. We have a wonderful spread of industries across the area, with a strong presence of pharmaceutical and finance companies. We're also evolving as an attractive tourism destination – the River Shannon is an increasingly popular destination for both Irish and international tourists. The Chamber also played a key role in launching athlone.ie recently, which gives visitors to the town a huge amount of information on what to do, where to go, key tourist destinations and facts about this growing, vibrant town.

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SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS IMPACT AWARDS

Championing Sustainability The Sustainable Business Impact Awards celebrate business achievements in engaging with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, championing sustainability and integrating environmentally friendly practices

ntel has been awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Sustainable Business Impact at Chambers Ireland’s Sustainable Business Impact Awards 2023 by demonstrating commitment to sustainability in its company values and consistently meeting key judging criteria across all aspects of sustainability. The Sustainable Business Impact Awards celebrate business achievements in engaging with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, championing sustainability and integrating environmentally-friendly practices. The twentieth annual Awards ceremony was kindly sponsored by BAM Ireland. The Department of Rural and Community Development sponsored the Social Enterprise category, One4all sponsored the Excellence in Workplace Award and ESB the Communications category. Each winner was presented with a specially commissioned trophy designed by Waterford Crystal. Commenting on the Awards, Alasdair Henderson, Executive Director, BAM Ireland said: “It gives us great pleasure to sponsor these awards once again. Congratulations to all the inspirational participants and particularly to Intel Ireland. “Every year the quality of submission goes up and judging the "Every year the SBI Awards becomes more difficult. quality of It was an honour and a pleasure submission goes up to be part of the judging panel and judging the SBI again this year and I would like to Awards becomes applaud Chambers Ireland and all more difficult" the participants on their principled insistence that businesses must positively impact people and planet.” There were a number of awards presented on the night with companies of all sizes recognised for their work with charity and volunteering initiatives, their positive impact in their communities and for initiatives which look to tackle climate change.

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Winners Intel awarded Outstanding Achievement in Sustainable Business Communication (LIC) AIB – 2022 AIB Sustainability Conference Communication (MNC) Aldi Ireland – Tackling Food Poverty: an ALDI and Barnardos approach Partnership with Charity (LIC) Kerry Group – Realigning Agriculture to Improve Nutrition (RAIN) in Niger Partnership with Charity (MNC) Aldi Ireland – ALDI and Barnardos partnership Environment (LIC) Uisce Eireann – Sustainable Water Services Environment (MNC) Intel Ireland – Water Efficiency through Nanofiltration Volunteering Matheson – Legal community unites to support Ukrainians on Maynooth University campus Partnership with a Social Enterprise DPD Ireland – Lough Ree Access For All 'Resilience' Boat Initiative Special Initiative Supporting A Social Enterprise Irish Prison Service, Eco Mattress & Bounce Back - Recycling InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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Community Programme (LIC) ESB – ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund Community Programme (MNC) Three Ireland – Making Arranmore the most connected island in the world Workplace Irish Life Group – Life Matters | Series of Policies and Programmes Supporting our People Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (LIC) Bus Éireann – Inclusive Recruitment: A Career Built Around You Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (MNC) Workday – Workday's 'Future Females in Tech' initiative Sustainable Impact by a Small Business One Step Closer – Trinity College Dublin – student, staff and community sustainability engagement Sustainable Impact by a Medium Business Lárionad Acmhainní Nádúrtha LAN CTR Cill Ulta – Sustainable Community Horticulture Outstanding Achievement in Sustainable Business Impact Intel Ireland 53

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SBIA PARTNER PROFILE SBIA INTRO

Rewarding Sustainability Action The Sustainable Business Impact Awards celebrate businesses that are engaging with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, championing equality, diversity and inclusion, and integrating sustainable business practices

fter a year in which the effects of climate change feel very real and present, the impetus to integrate sustainable behaviours across business practices carries more urgency than ever. Chambers Ireland’s Sustainable Business Impact Awards are guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) laid down by the United Nations (UN), and reward companies who have aligned their business, fundraising, volunteering, and pro bono practices with these goals to make meaningful impacts. The UN SDGs have set the global agenda for sustainability up to the year 2030 and lay out a framework which aims to end poverty, improve global health and education standards, reduce inequality, drive economic growth, tackle climate change, and preserve our oceans and forests. Each and every shortlisted company nominated in these Awards is recognised for their commitment to these goals and to furthering them in their initiatives. This year the Awards took place on Thursday, 14th September in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin Airport, and saw Intel take home the Outstanding Achievement in Sustainable Business Impact Award, for

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THE PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES DEVELOPED BY BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES CONTINUE TO EVOLVE EVERY YEAR AND HAVE BECOME EVER MORE PROACTIVE AT ADDRESSING CURRENT SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES demonstrating commitment to sustainability in its company values and consistently meeting key judging criteria across all aspects of sustainability. Intel had been shortlisted across two categories: Communication (MNC) for their work on shaping stakeholder engagement through strategic communications; and Environment (MNC) for water efficiency through nanofiltration. In their communications initiative Intel developed an annual communications

strategy that features signature themes, including environment and sustainability, which saw increases of up to 50% in reach and engagement. Their shortlisted initiative in the environment category saw Intel Ireland install a new nanofiltration system to significantly increase the amount of water reused on-site, resulting in at least 484 million litres of mains water being conserved per year. This twentieth annual Awards ceremony was kindly sponsored InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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SBIA PARTNER PROFILE SBIA INTRO

by BAM Ireland. The Department of Rural and Community Development sponsored the Social Enterprise category, One4all sponsored the Excellence in Workplace Award and ESB the Communications category. Each winner was presented with a specially commissioned trophy designed by Waterford Crystal. Commenting on the Awards, Alasdair Henderson, Executive Director, BAM Ireland said, “It gives us great pleasure to once again sponsor these awards. Congratulations to all the inspirational participants and particularly to Intel Ireland. “Every year the quality of submission goes up and judging the SBI Awards becomes more difficult. It was an honour and a pleasure to be part of the judging panel again this year, and I would like to applaud Chambers Ireland and all the participants on their principled insistence that businesses must positively impact people and planet.” Speaking at the Awards ceremony, Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland said: “Congratulations to Intel Ireland and the winners of the award categories, whom we recognise for their achievements. Our Awards reveal how the benchmark of quality among projects implemented by businesses across Ireland continues to be driven upwards. The programmes and activities developed by businesses of all sizes continue to evolve every year and have become ever more proactive at addressing current sustainability challenges. The winning projects have demonstrated engagement with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals which is important as we move closer to the 2030 deadline for achieving the goals.” InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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THE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS IMPACT AWARDS CATEGORY WINNERS ARE: Communication – LIC* – AIB – 2022 Sustainability Conference Communication – MNC* supported by ESB – ALDI Ireland – Tackling Food Poverty: An ALDI and Barnardos approach Partnership with Charity – LIC – Kerry Group – Realigning Agriculture to Improve Nutrition (RAIN) in Niger Partnership with Charity – MNC – ALDI Ireland – ALDI and Barnardos Partnership Excellence in Environment – LIC – Uisce Eireann – Sustainable Water Services Excellence in Environment – MNC – Intel Ireland – Water Efficiency through Nanofiltration Volunteering – Matheson – Legal communities unite to support Ukrainians on Maynooth University campus Community Programme – LIC – ESB – ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund Community Programme – MNC – Three Ireland – Making Arranmore the most connected island in the world Workplace – sponsored by One4All – Irish Life Group – Life Matters Business Partnership with Social Enterprise supported by the Department of Rural & Community Development –DPD Ireland – Lough Ree Access for all ‘Resilience’ Boat Initiative Supporting Social Enterprise supported by the Department of Rural & Community Development – Irish Prison Service, ECO Mattress and Bounce Back Recycling – Purchasing wisely for social and environmental good Diversity & Inclusion – LIC – Bus Eireann – Inclusive Recruitment: A career built around you Diversity & Inclusion – MNC – Workday – Future Females in Tech Initiative Sustainable Impact by a Small Business – One Step Closer – Trinity College Dublin – Student, Staff and community sustainability engagement Sustainable Impact by a Medium-Sized Business – Lárionad Acmhainní Nádúrtha LAN CTR Cill Ulta – Sustainable Community Horticulture Outstanding Achievement in Sustainable Business Impact 2023 – Intel Ireland LIC – Large IndigenousCompany

MNC– Multinational Company

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SBIA PARTNER PROFILE INTEL IRELAND

Outstanding in their Field The nanofiltration system is the most significant water conservation project to ever be implemented at the Leixlip campus and came into operation in Summer 2022. Currently approximately 88% of the water taken in at the Intel campus is returned to the River Liffey.

Leading the way with its integrated ESG strategy, Intel Ireland took home the award for Outstanding Achievement in Sustainable Business Impact

ntel was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Sustainable Business Impact Award at Chambers Ireland’s Sustainable Business Impact Awards 2023, demonstrating commitment to sustainability in its company values and consistently meeting key judging criteria across all aspects of sustainability. Intel’s vision stretches far beyond its Irish campus; it has committed to Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions in its global operations by 2040. Its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts are integrated throughout the business through a unified ESG framework, RISE. Sarah Sexton, Public Affairs Director, Intel Ireland, explains the RISE strategy: “It means responsible, inclusive, sustainable and enabled by employees.” The strategy incorporates a wide variety of focus areas, from

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a commitment to volunteering, to diversity programmes, however, Sexton explains, they chose two areas to highlight in their submissions for the Awards this year: the nanofiltration project to increase water efficiency, and their communication with stakeholders. WATER EFFICIENCY One of Intel’s key sustainability targets is to achieve net positive water use; by 2030, the aim is to put more water back into the external water network than is taken out. Intel Ireland installed a nanofiltration system to significantly increase the amount of water reused on-site. The new system results in at least 484 million litres of mains water being conserved per year through on-site water reuse, freeing up capacity in the local water supply, and also in local wastewater treatment systems.

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS With a workforce of around 5,000, employees coming from all over the country, and sitting in the midst of the community, Intel wanted to highlight its communication and stakeholder engagement as something that is vitally important to how they operate in Ireland. “It's a little bit different to some other businesses in the sense that we don't sell products directly to customers here in Ireland,” Sexton says. “Lots of people use Intel products in their devices, but we don't necessarily have a direct relationship with them.” This means the brand’s presence is mainly felt through its physical presence in Leixlip. “And so, a lot of our stakeholder engagement is centred around this idea of our licence to operate, making sure that we are working in synergy with the local community." Building their communications strategy around signature themes-based on ongoing engagement, conversations and feedback from employees, local communities, and industry partnershas produced strong increases in engagement on social media, internal communications and content published to the external newsroom. The most important stakeholder? Always the staff. “The first stakeholder of any of our communications is our employees, because they're our greatest advocates in terms of telling our story.”

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SBIA PARTNER PROFILE UISCE ÉIREANN

Delivering Sustainable Water Services Uisce Éireann has made significant sustainability improvements across all aspects of its business, embedding sustainability into everything it does as an organisation

Eimear Christian, Head of Sustainability & Innovation, Uisce Éireann, Charlie Coakley, Senior Sustainable Business Manager, Uisce Éireann)

isce Éireann was awarded for Excellence in Environment by a Large Indigenous Company (LIC) at the recent Sustainable Business Impact Awards, recognised for its work on creating sustainable water services. It was also shortlisted in the Communication (LIC) category for the Uisce Éireann Water Stewardship Programme. “We were delighted to be awarded and recognised for the significant sustainability improvements we have made and

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continue to work on across all aspects of the business. Uisce Éireann embeds sustainability into everything it does as an organisation,” said Eimear Christian, Uisce Éireann. “The reasons to integrate for sustainable business impact actions are compelling for every sector, but particularly for us as stewards of a crucial natural resource," she continues. "Uisce Éireann recognises that safeguarding the ecosystems where we reside and operate is at the core of our mission. We are deeply committed to fulfilling our vital role in discovering effective measures to

provide sustainable, dependable water services while simultaneously preserving the environment for present and future generations." said Charlie Coakley, Uisce Eireann In 2022, Uisce Éireann made significant progress to improving its sustainability and businesses and communities through a range of measures, including implementing an Energy Efficiency Programme, achieving over 30% improvement; implementing low carbon, nature-based solutions, installing innovative sustainable, sludge

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SBIA PARTNER PROFILE UISCE ÉIREANN

reed beds and Integrated Constructed Wetlands, planting 130,000 native trees, implementing biodiversity enhancement measures on 200 sites nationally; progressing a circular economy model for sludges; partnering with An Taisce’s Green-Schools programme, involving over 300,000 student and teachers; and acting as expert water students in GAA Green Clubs programme. SUSTAINABLE WATER Sustainability is at the core of everything Uisce Éireann does. The provision of water and wastewater services impacts on the environment, its customers, society and the economy. Uisce Éireann is rising to the challenge of climate breakdown and the biodiversity crisis, integrating and embedding sustainability, significantly improving the sustainability of water services. The organisation is responsible for finding effective solutions that ensure a sustainable, secure and reliable water service. It's also responsible for safeguarding the environment, now and for future generations. Uisce Éireann manages infrastructure that is located within a range of habitats including species-rich grassland, woodland, scrub and wetlands, and its infrastructure interacts directly with freshwater, estuarine and marine habitats. Uisce Éireann’s approach protects and enhances biodiversity at all its sites whilst also providing additional community benefits.

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TOWARDS NET ZERO Uisce Éireann’s sustainability approach builds towards a low-carbon resilient future, as it sustainably plans, designs, builds, operates and maintains Ireland’s water and wastewater assets. The aim of all its sustainability initiatives is to support Uisce Éireann’s journey towards sustainability, sustainable development and Net Zero carbon by 2040. Plans for Net Zero carbon include further development of solar PV, hydro, wind and biogas across its asset base, and to reach a target of 40% of its energy demand to be met by installed renewables by 2035. This is the equivalent of electricity to power over 45,000 homes for a full year. A strategy to provide an energy efficient low carbon fleet includes a commitment to replacing all light commercial vehicles with battery electric vehicles to ensure decarbonisation of Uisce Éireann’s transport energy. Plans to install nature-based solutions, such as innovative sustainable, low-

carbon, sludge reed beds and integrated constructed wetlands, biodiversity enhancement on 300 sites and woodland planting of 45,000 native trees in 2023 will all help to achieve a sustainability target of biodiversity net gain by 2030. The ongoing progression of moving sludges towards a circular economy model continues at pace, recognising that they provide a sustainable source of precious finite materials. From a starting point of 70% of sludges going to landfill, in a dramatic turnaround, now 90% are going into circular economy outlets. COMMUNITY IMPACTS The location of nature-based solutions such as Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICW)—a sustainable, natural wastewater treatment system that is designed to look and function in a similar way to a natural wetland—are immediately adjacent to communities, providing a sustainable environment rich in biodiversity and haven for wildlife. They provide the local community with an ecosystem where they can engage with nature providing mental wellbeing and physical benefits. Uisce Éireann also provide information and educational sign across sites to educate locals and visitors on the processes and the rich biodiversity. Through the Green Schools programme Uisce Éireann invests in tomorrow’s water advocates today. During 2022, over 300,000 students and teachers took part in the Water programme. The water theme aims to increase awareness of water conservation among primary and secondary school students. In a year school children across

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SBIA PARTNER PROFILE UISCE ÉIREANN

Ireland saved over 203 million litres of water, the equivalent of over 350 million cups of tea. Uisce Éireann also provides expert advice and guidance to the GAA on how to conduct water audits and conserve water as partners in the Green Clubs programme. They also provide clubs with reusable water bottles to eliminate single use plastic. WATER STEWARDSHIP Uisce Éireann’s Water Stewardship Programme is the first of its kind globally. It is an innovative approach to address the water crisis by educating businesses on how to optimise water use while minimising negative impacts on the environment. With training on how to lower water consumption and reduce operating costs while protecting the environment, the Water Stewardship Programme is essential for any business seeking to implement sustainable water usage practices, positively impact climate action goals, and ultimately, deliver cost benefits. The programme comprises a comprehensive eight-week course accredited by the European Water Stewardship (EWS) Standard, which is internationally recognised as best practice in water stewardship. The Certified Water Stewardship Programme is delivered by 20FIFTY Partners and Uisce Éireann, through the Water Stewardship Ireland and Lean & Green Skillnet platforms and is aimed at those responsible for water management

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within their company. Facilitated by online mentoring and support workshops led by sustainability experts, participants receive a detailed introduction to the basics of water stewardship, mapping water usage within the business, identifying opportunities for conservation and guidance on developing and implementing a strategic action plan. The Water Stewardship Programme addresses a variety of environmental concerns related to water resources, such as water scarcity, water pollution, and water conservation. By providing education and training on responsible water management practices, such as reducing water waste and minimising pollution, businesses and communities can better manage their water resources and help protect the environment. Water stewardship training can also have a positive impact on the wider community. Through improved water management practices, communities can reduce their overall water usage and minimise the negative impacts of water pollution on the local river catchment area and ecosystems. In addition, greater awareness of water issues can lead to increased public support for conservation efforts and strengthened policies for protecting water resources. Overall, water stewardship training helps businesses to become more responsible and sustainable in their water use, and to contribute to the conservation and protection of this vital resource for future generations.

New Linked Initiatives such as the Annual Water Stewardship Membership Scheme provide ongoing support to companies that have graduated from the programme so that they can make ongoing improvements to the way they manage and report on water. The supports include: regular training updates and access to e-learning modules, research opportunities, access to water stewardship tools, access to peerto-peer Community of Practice events, benchmarking your site, recognition and promotion of sites’ efforts. There has been huge interest from over 80 organisations to date in joining the scheme in 2023 to continue their water stewardship journey with Uisce Éireann. Another spin off is the Catchment Excellence Programme, a new multistakeholder initiative developed by Water Stewardship Ireland and funded by the Lean and Green Skillnet that provides catchment stakeholders (businesses, community and leisure groups and individuals) with a comprehensive overview of water protection and conservation at a Catchment level. By implementing water stewardship practices, businesses can potentially help to protect and restore the health of aquatic ecosystems, restore degraded wetlands, maintain the quantity and quality of water, and safeguard the human communities and wildlife that depend on water resources. The project has made a great impact, thanks to strong participation in training with over 600 trained to date. This has been the catalyst for over 420 new Water Conservation Projects in 2022 and 70% had no Annual Water Stewardship Target/KPIs but are now introducing them on foot of the programme. Overall, the programme is an innovative approach that is critical in promoting sustainable water management practices. Its holistic approach, collaboration, and diverse teaching methods make it suitable for addressing the complex challenges facing our water system.

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SBIA PARTNER PROFILE IRISH LIFE

Better Futures Irish Life is proud to be recognised in the Sustainable Business Impact Awards for helping build better futures for its people, customers and communities, supporting them every day

rish Life, one of Ireland’s leading financial services groups, is very proud to have been recognised in the Workplace category for Life Matters, our suite of Policies and Programmes, demonstrating our commitment to Sustainable Business in practice. These initiatives are also a reflection of how Irish Life delivers on our core purpose - to help people build better futures. BETTER FUTURES At Irish Life we believe that we’ve a responsibility to go beyond what our core business is about and to find ways to proactively support and positively impact our people, our personal and corporate customers, and our wider community for the better. We are committed to creating an environment of inclusion and growth to help people achieve their potential. This begins with everyone within Irish Life knowing that diversity of thought and perspective are celebrated, so we can bring our whole selves to work and all our people always feel valued. SUPPORT EVERY DAY We’ve developed a comprehensive range of supports for our people based on extensive research, that identified people’s changing needs at different stages of their lives. These supports are part of our continuous focus on the development of our DEI strategy and practices. We worked closely with partner agencies to inform our approach and to provide specific training and awareness sessions for our line managers and employees.

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Barbara O’Malley (Chief People Officer, Irish Life Group), Oisin O’Shaughnessy (Managing Director, Irish Life Corporate Business), Michelle Wilson (Senior Manager - Employee Relations & IR, Irish Life Group) Margaret Gribben (Head of DEI, Irish Life Group), Declan Bolger (Chief Executive, Irish Life Group), Susanne Kane (DEI Specialist, Irish Life Group), Stacey Machesney (Head of Wellbeing, Irish Life), Maria O’Neill (Marketing Specialist MyLife, Irish Life), Sarah Kerrigan (CSR & Climate Engagement Manager, Irish Life Group)

NEW BENEFITS INCLUDE LEAVE FOR FAMILY CARERS, ENHANCED COMPASSIONATE LEAVE, SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ABUSE, AS WELL AS EXTENSIVE SUPPORTS FOR FERTILITY, PREGNANCY LOSS, SURROGACY AND MENOPAUSE Over the last year, at Irish Life we’ve also introduced a new suite of Life Matters benefits to provide extensive additional assistance - during times when people may need extra support in their lives and to give further flexibility where people can work from. These new benefits include leave for family carers, enhanced compassionate leave, supports for people experiencing domestic violence and abuse, as well as extensive supports for fertility, pregnancy loss, surrogacy and menopause. In addition to supporting employees during difficult circumstances, new benefits such as ‘Working Away’ give greater flexibility and work-life balance,

including the potential to work overseas for up to four weeks a year. Speaking about the introduction of these benefits, Barbara O’Malley, Chief People Officer Irish Life Group said: “At Irish Life we want to support our people to have a better life today and into the future. We were delighted to launch our suite of ‘Life Matters’ benefits that give access to supports when our people may need it most.” We are very proud to be recognised at these awards that reflect Irish Life’s ongoing commitment to Sustainable Business and to helping build better futures for our people, our customers and communities.

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

19/10/2023 10:31

SBIA PARTNER PROFILE LAN CTR – CILL ULTA

Strong Roots in Donegal A community horticulture project in Donegal is putting down strong roots when it comes to sustainability and food production

árionad Acmhainní Nádúrtha (LAN CTR), or Cill Ulta, as it is more colloquially known took the award for Sustainable Impact by a Medium Business home to the Donegal Gaeltacht. Based in the townland of Cill Ulta, Falcarragh, Co. Donegal, the social enterprise is a centre for sustainable food, energy, research, and Irish language preservation. The site was once a thriving tomatogrowing enterprise in the 1960s, until the oil crisis of the 1970s made it no longer commercially viable to heat the glasshouses, and it went to ruin. In 2003, the community-led organisation assembled and brought it back to life, managing to salvage a one-acre glasshouse and install new polytunnels. Now, apart from growing salad and vegetables that supply local shops and restaurants, they work with over 70 community groups as well as national, regional and local partners and educational institutions, including UCD and TCD, across a range of sustainability and biodiversity programmes.

using regenerative farming methods “It's amazing the work that the farming community have put into the project themselves. And they really need to be credited for trusting us with their land and for working with us,” says Mairead Nic an Iomaire, who works on Research & Development with Cill Ulta. One example of a new use of the land is growing blueberries which are thriving in the acidic soil, fed with natural fertilisers made from seaweed by local producers Donegal Seaweed and Oilean Glas Teoranta (OGT). SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS Another project is Preab San Úir, a youth participation paid work experience programme, funded by An Pleanáil Teanga Cloich Cheann Fhaola and Údarás na Gaeltachta, which teaches 14-17-year-olds about cultivation skills and biodiversity through Irish and aims to interest young people in sustainable food systems at an earlier age, and “perhaps entice them to look at careers in sustainable circular economy food systems”. The development of a sensory garden

is underway at the moment. They are also demonstrating use of solar panels and anaerobic digestion to the community (feeding food waste into a MyGugg which turns it to biogas). Apart from supplying shops and restaurants with vegetables for sale, they began supporting 80-90 disadvantaged families in the area, during Covid, and have kept up supplying them with fresh vegetables since. “The work that has been going on, under the management of Eithne Nic Lochlainn is incredible,” Mairead says. “It's very rewarding working with a group where you can see the benefits on the ground.” With an impressive range and breadth of projects on the go, it’s impossible to mention them all here, but the common thread of their vision is to find solutions to challenges of climate change and agricultural import dependency, whilst supporting culture, language and the population of Donegal’s Gaeltacht.

BLUEBERRY FIELDS They have recently been working with a group of farmers who signed up to regenerate the soil health of around 60 acres of land which had been lying unused. With funding from European Innovation Programme (EIP) they have been focusing on bringing the abandoned land back into cultivation

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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18/10/2023 16:37

SBIA PARTNER PROFILE BUS ÉIREANN

Driving change Bus Éireann is actively working to address female underrepresentation in the transport sector while increasing the diversity profile of its workforce

reland’s national bus company, Bus Éireann is working to build a more diverse workforce with particular focus on increasing the number of female applicants to this traditionally male-dominated sector. Just 10% of Bus Éireann’s workforce is female, but through its recent campaign, the company is actively trying to encourage more women to put themselves forward for a variety of roles.

mechanics. The company’s aims were to help attract and select more female apprentices as well as apprentices from underrepresented groups. Job information was gathered through several workshops from key job experts within Bus Éireann, yielding a newly designed selection process with practice test material, meeting requirements and feedback reports. The initial aim was to improve awareness of apprenticeships at

THE CAMPAIGN IS INTENDED TO MAKE POTENTIAL RECRUITS AWARE THAT THEY DON’T NEED SET EXPERIENCES OR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS – THAT THE COMPANY IS INTERESTED IN FINDING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GOING ON A NET ZERO JOURNEY TOGETHER Not only is Bus Éireann looking to increase representation for women in transport but also to create a pipeline of talent for mechanics and engineering roles. Meanwhile, cultural diversity is predominantly in the driver category and the company would like to see this more represented in other areas of the business, particularly engineering. With apprentice application numbers declining, Bus Éireann examined the selection criterion and recruitment process for apprentice heavy vehicle

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Bus Éireann, widening access for underrepresented groups and increasing the applicant pool. A marketing campaign was created, showcasing a young female mechanic surrounded by hi-tech tools and parts of an electric bus in the classic Airfix style, symbolising that the perfect career is built around the candidate. The ‘Career Built Around You’ messaging was intended to make potential recruits aware that they don’t need set experiences or

educational backgrounds to apply for a job at Bus Éireann – that the company is interested in finding the right fit overall, individuals who are interested in going on a net zero journey together. The team at Bus Éireann could see that set educational requirements were limiting applications and wanted to ensure that everyone felt welcome and the selection process did not disadvantage the right candidate. Bus Éireann now accepts the SOLAS equivalence of qualifications for applicants to the programme, facilitating all those who didn’t hold the traditional Leaving or Junior Certs to apply. Following the campaign, Bus Éireann received 2.4 times more applications this year than in 2022 and more than 7% female applicants for heavy vehicle mechanic apprenticeships. The campaign also received positive feedback from employees. And Bus Éireann was awarded the outstanding diversity initiative from the Irish Centre for Diversity for its work with underrepresented groups. In addition, its World of Work programme provides 2nd year post-primary students with an opportunity to meet employees from Bus Éireann as well as insight into the many roles available.

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

18/10/2023 16:35

SBIA PARTNER PROFILE ONE STEP CLOSER

Award-winning Sustainability Engagement One Step Closer is a purpose build engagement platform proven to elevate sustainability storytelling

ost organisations today implement diverse sustainability initiatives but often fail to tell their story, thus not fully leveraging their hard work, resources, and potential. Involving stakeholders in micro-actions, tied to your organisation's broader sustainability commitments is the natural next step, directly empowering stakeholders and offering exciting brand-building opportunities. One Step Closer is a voting platform, specifically designed for sustainability initiatives. It enables organisations to invite audiences to digitally vote on select parts on their sustainability actions. Participants get instant results and feel part of the positive impact achieved.

AWARD-WINNING CAMPAIGNS One Step Closer won a Chambers Ireland Sustainable Business Impact Award for its work with Trinity College Dublin, transforming sustainability engagement with 19 digital campaigns over four years. From plastic-free restaurants to funding for Green Laboratories, each of the 19 campaigns at Trinity gave students choices to vote for, linked to the wider Sustainable Development Goals the university was targeting.

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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The most contentious campaign – to rewild the 400-year-old lawns at the entrance to Trinity College in the heart of Dublin – garnered nearly 14,000 votes from students and the wider community and resulted in positive media coverage in over 50 outlets in Ireland and around the world. Trinity received over 55,000 votes over four years, sparking debate on campus, and raising awareness of Trinity’s overall sustainability strategy. The One Step Closer campaigns helped Trinity become a Top 3 university in the world ranking for climate action and delivered real engagement data for sustainability reporting and for honing ongoing strategies. A PROVEN APPROACH Founder Joanna Mulkeen explains: “As well as providing the technology, we also help clients to extract meaningful campaigns from their sustainability strategies and transform them into simple, action-focused engagements that people love to connect with.” From supermarkets, businesses or consumer brands wanting to connect with customers, to large employers engaging with employees, associations involving members or universities and local authorities reaching out to communities, One Step Closer offers a powerful tool for sustainability awareness-raising, inclusion and

ultimately for co-created positive action. The platform is proven to deliver a 10-fold increase in stakeholder engagement. Recent campaigns in Ireland have included engagement campaigns for Dublin City Council, supporting the international event Circular Economy Hotspot Dublin 2023, as well as working with Bord na Móna to support biodiversity and nature regeneration initiatives. HOW IT WORKS One Step Closer supports its clients’ sustainability and communications teams. The platform provides a dedicated engagement campaign space for each client, with curated and easily shareable campaign collateral. Clients promote QR codes or unique campaign links through employee/ customer emails, social media, or in-store, and then benefit from live campaign data. Stakeholders taking part see instant campaign results and receive updates on the tangible sustainability impacts their votes help achieve. Mulkeen explains, “This isn’t just another Facebook poll or corporate survey tool; it’s a dedicated platform committed to transparently cocreating sustainability impact, adding substantial credibility to our client’s sustainability messages.”

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Who cares about card payments? Elavon does! We see payments as more than transactions, we see them as experiences. A chance to connect with customers on new platforms, in new places, bringing people back time and again.

Elavon Financial Services DAC. Registered in Ireland – Number 418442. Registered Office: Block F1, Cherrywood Business Park, Dublin 18, D18 W2X7, Ireland Elavon Financial Services DAC, trading as Elavon Merchant Services, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

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Business starts here

Visit Elavon.ie to learn more.

18/10/2023 16:27

DLR INTRO

DLR Future Focused Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown contains a multitude, from the mountains to the sea, Dublin’s most affluent established suburbs to its newest town development

rom the foothills of the Dublin Mountains down to the waves lapping at the newly redeveloped Dun Laoghaire Baths, the catchment area of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Chamber contains a multitude. There are well-established suburbs and all the amenities that serve them, with major retail centres in Dundrum, Stillorgan and Blackrock, as well as village centres in the many southside suburbs. Then there is the beating economic heart of the Sandyford Business District, and its younger, but

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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growing sibling in Cherrywood, site of the development of a whole new town centre. DLR Chamber members, from multinational businesses to sole traders, are at the heart of this thriving community. The membership spans every sector imaginable, from hospitality to retail, manufacturing to healthcare, IT to arts and entertainment. The Chamber gives them an opportunity to lobby, to network and to do business with their neighbours. The area is also rich in culture and home to a vibrant creative community, as well

as an impressive talent pipeline being fostered in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT). On top of this, DLR County Council has a strong track record investment in the cultural capital, with a wide array of festivals, exhibitions, residencies, school projects and public art programmes which have all played a part in growing and sustaining local arts development. With a focus on placemaking, such as the greening of urban areas in Dun Laoghaire town, and new parks and development of sports pitches on the agenda, it remains one of the most coveted locations in Ireland to live, work and do business.

18/10/2023 16:05

IB PARTNER PROFILE

From the Mountains to the Sea As CEO of Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber, Gabby Mallon has a broad range of members, but above all else, loves connecting businesspeople together

ún LaoghaireRAs CEO of Dun LaoghaireRathdown Chamber of Commerce, Gabby Mallon has a broad remit, with a broad geographical spread— “literally from the mountains to the sea”—and a wide variety of businesses, from the villageesque suburban shops lining the main streets of Blackrock and Glasthule, to the multinationals in Sandyford Business District and Cherrywood Business Park. Some of the businesses have been with the Chamber since its inception in 1949, some are newer arrivals. The richness of the Chamber’s current Board exemplifies the thriving commerce and longstanding stalwarts of the area with the Royal Marine Hotel, Nutgrove Shopping Centre and Frascati Shopping Centre all represented, and new Chamber President John O’Toole who is Director of Operations and Sustainability at Airfield Estate. The catchment continues to grow and evolve, with the development at Cherrywood. “When that opens fully, all the infrastructure will be in place, with a park, schools and the Luas line. It will be a new village within the county.”

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STREETSCAPE UPGRADES Upgrades to the town of Dun Laoghaire are important and she credits the council with efforts to create a vibrant and engaging streetscape. “There’s a lot of renovation going on and the county council are doing a lot of upgrades which is fantastic. The cutting-edge street art of Dún Laoghaire Anseo has also added another layer to the sense of place with well-known mural artists who “painted the walls with beautiful scenes of characters and things that reflect Dún Laoghaire…when people are walking around the town, they can chance upon them”. Another promising development is the new Plaza being worked on in front of DL shopping centre, which brings a much-needed boost after the loss of Argos, one of the core tenants in the area. “It’s really giving a new vibrancy and vitality to the area, and drawing people down the town as well,” she says. CONNECTING PEOPLE Events are highlights in the Chamber’s calendar, and the International Women’s Day event is one of the highlights each year. “A former President of the Chamber, Liz Ferris, formed an organisation called Women in Business Alliance

Gabby Mallon, CEO of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Chamber of Commerce

I LOVE MEETING PEOPLE; I LOVE LISTENING TO THEIR STORIES; I LOVE HOW THEY’RE BRAVE AND THAT BELIEF IN THEMSELVES (WIBA) in 2011, the purpose of which is to bring women’s issues to the fore and create a forum for them to discuss what they need.” Every year, WIBA celebrates International Women’s Day with a theme-based lunch, which is always well-attended with a turnout of 200-300 women making the most of the InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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IB PARTNER PROFILE

opportunity to network and start the process of doing business. When we spoke, Mallon was busy working on the Chamber’s Business Awards to take place at the start of October, which will include two Green Awards this year, highlighting the increasing importance of sustainable business. The Chamber has, she says, “been ahead of our time in that regard” since 2007 when they began working on promoting green business, good waste management and water conservation practices. Planning is also underway for the annual President’s Lunch in December. “The big events go to the hotels that are corporate members of the Chamber,” she notes. “We rotate them around the Talbot Hotel, the Royal Marine in Dun Laoghaire and Fitzpatrick Castle.” She’s glad to have events up and running again after working at InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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home during the pandemic. “We’re so used to going out, meeting people, listening to their concerns and connecting people together, because that’s a big part of what the Chamber is about--serving our members, connecting them together, so that the businesses work together and collaborate.” CHAMBER GOALS “Part of the major goals of the Chamber is to serve all the members and to work with partners and stakeholders, to engage with them,” Mallon says. The CEO Forum has been a great success and one they plan to replicate again next year. “It gives our corporate members an opportunity to have a meeting to discuss what’s on their agendas, what they need us to focus on through lobbying local and national level on their behalf.” Housing and VAT unsurprisingly were the main

issues that came up at the latest instalment of the CEO Forum. Energy costs and staff shortages are other issues that have been raised from business owners across the board this year, and they are also campaigning around Local Property Tax on behalf of their members. “I have an open-door policy,” Mallon says, always eager to listen to the needs of her Chamber’s members. For Mallon, getting to know the Chamber members is truly the best part of the job for her, as she admits, “I love meeting people; I love listening to their stories; I love how they’re brave and that belief in themselves.” It’s all about making connections: “Our members understand that the Chamber is a great place to meet people, to make those connections and to grow their business. And it’s lovely to see it in action.”

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IB PARTNER PROFILE

Dún LaoghaireRathdown open for business! From the mountains to the sea, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown is thriving and growing

of Dublin and has some of the best natural, cultural, and sporting amenities in Ireland.

GROWING SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBOURHOODS It is anticipated that the population of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown will grow to 250,000 by 2031. Frank Curran, Chief Executive at Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council says, “Our recently adopted County Development Plan (CDP) will ensure there is enough zoned land to accommodate up to 26,000 new homes over the next six years. It also includes growth in the existing neighbourhoods, the new

ún LaoghaireRathdown County Council (DLR) serves a population of 233,000 in an area stretching from the mountains to the sea with vibrant villages, such as Dalkey, Foxrock, Monkstown, Rathfarnham, Shankill, Sandyford and Stepaside, all with their own unique identity. The county is home to 20 per cent of the population

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mixed-use district of Cherrywood, the strategic employment location of Sandyford and in new residential communities at Old Connaught, Rathmichael, Woodbrook, Shanganagh, Kiltiernan, Glenamuck and Ballyogan. The vision of the CDP centres around the ten-minute neighbourhood concept which aims to ensure that people can walk, cycle or use public transport to access their day-to-day needs and services.” Ireland’s largest urban infrastructure project is currently under construction in the Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone (SDZ). The new town of Cherrywood is currently InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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under construction and is projected to have a future population of 25,000 residents, more than 8,000 new homes, a retail-led town centre, six new schools and three major parks, as well as three LUAS stops.

companies. SBD is a very important national economic driver because of its ability to attract foreign, private and public capital which in turn delivers employment and commercial rates totalling €21.6 million for DLR.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT In the region of 95,000 people are employed in the county, based mainly in the Sandyford Business District and the larger towns of Dún Laoghaire, Stillorgan and Blackrock, with DLR providing over 1,000 services ranging from housing and planning to transport, infrastructure and parks, all from a budget of €218 million.

A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE Last year, DLR were proud to receive the Great Town 2022 award for Dún Laoghaire Town, which was chosen by the Great Places Urbanism Awards for the Coastal Mobility Cycle Route, which encourages local commuter and recreational cycling, and public realm improvements, connecting urban villages, bathing places, walks and

THE VISION OF THE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN CENTRES AROUND THE TEN-MINUTE NEIGHBOURHOOD CONCEPT WHICH AIMS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE CAN WALK, CYCLE OR USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO ACCESS THEIR DAY-TO-DAY NEEDS DLR has a focused Economic Development Section which aims to facilitate economic activity across the county and assists with developing specific initiatives to promote the area as a place to invest, work and do business. Initiatives include the shop front improvement scheme, commercial rates reduction on occupying long-term vacant buildings, the street furniture grant, and additional seasonal and grant funding to business representative organisations. The DLR Local Enterprise Office (LEO) is also an essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. DLR LEO works with client companies across DLR in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice and financial supports to small businesses. The area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown also includes the Sandyford Business District (SBD) – a strategic employment location where 1,000 companies and businesses generate a €1 billion wage bill, among them 13 Fortune 500 InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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parks along the coast. A total of €24 million has been allocated for cycling infrastructure this year. The Sandycove to Booterstown Coastal Mobility Route has been a huge success for the area, with 12,500 users per week. There is also an emphasis on accessibility and inclusion across a range of projects particularly Smart District Accessible Parking which places sensors in disabled parking spaces, which are connected to an app which helps drivers to find an empty space. The Council also regularly collaborates with the Third Level Institutions in the

county – the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) and University College Dublin (UCD) across many different areas including research and innovation in order to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors to the county. In addition, DLR have won several RIAI awards for public buildings, public spaces and urban design, Green flag awards for the parks in the area, gold medal winner at Bloom and a European award for Cycling infrastructure. Future plans for Dún Laoghaire Harbour include a National Watersports Campus. Over 85 cruise ships have visited the Harbour this year which further creates the synergy between the town centre and the waterfront. Works will also be completed this Autumn on a new public plaza at Myrtle Square Dún Laoghaire which is a nature-focused project with 66 new trees which will attract wildlife. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE DLR now have blended working in place for staff which aims to improve their quality of life and contribute positively to the climate. The Council also promote Digital First and are working to put as much as business and applications processes on-line as possible. Curran concludes, “Our biggest challenges are climate action and housing. However, we have a realistic and achievable Climate Action Plan and a buoyant housing market delivering private, social, affordable, and cost rental units in our existing built-up areas and in new compact growth areas along transport corridors.”

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IB PARTNER PROFILE

Future of Smart Business Ger Corbett, Chief Executive Officer of Sandyford Business District, on how harnessing the spirit of collaboration can Beckon the Future of Smart Business

andyford Business District has long established itself as a world class destination in which to live, work, invest and visit. The District acts as a nucleus for innovation; and harbours a host of Fortune 500 companies, including: Mastercard, Google, Meta, Microsoft and Vodafone. The District prides itself on its continued ability to attract and retain significant inward investment – in part, due to its prosperous environment and commitment to promoting enterprise and facilitating networking opportunities. This autumn SBD will host a number of events, including SBD Innovation Summit in November.

“Businesses are constantly grappling with new challenges. Recently we have departed almost entirely from traditional ways of working. Globalisation has ensured a competitive business environment, but geopolitical disruption means that operational and other challenges persist”. Sincere and sustained collaborative efforts can address these issues. As Ireland’s preeminent hub for investment, SBD is driven by a desire to create an optimal business environment and this forms the hallmark of the District’s engagement with Dún Laoghaire -Rathdown Chamber of Commerce.

“Our partnership with Dún LaoghaireRathdown Chamber of Commerce complements our work in serving our extensive network of multinational and indigenous businesses. In this regard, I extend my sincere gratitude to the Chamber’s former President, Dermot Ferris; and look forward to bolstering our collaborative efforts with his successor, John O’Toole. Working in tandem, we can Beckon the Future of Smart Business”.

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Photo: John Byrne,Owner Maynooth Bookshop, Trócaire Supporter. Charity Reg. No. CHY 5883

InBUSINESS | SPRING 2023

09/12/2015 11:54 a.m.

20/10/2023 09:48

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Digital payments and e-commerce advice Payments experts Elavon have advice for business owners accepting digital payments and selling online

Patrick Doyle

Brian Kinsella

CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS Payments experts Elavon have advice for business owners accepting contactless payments from customers who are using digital wallets. Many business owners don’t know that contactless limits can be far higher than €50 when your customers use a digital wallet. “Digital wallets, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, are the fastest growing payment method in the world and link a bank account or payment card to a smartphone or smartwatch,” says Patrick Doyle, Vice President of Point-of-Sale Solutions for payments experts Elavon. The limit for digital wallets is set by your customer’s bank or their available funds. Identification is securely verified through biometrics (such as facial recognition or a thumb print) or an in-app PIN. “So, if your customer doesn’t have a card but is paying using a phone or watch, then anyone taking payments for your business should know this, so you aren’t needlessly putting off customers wanting to spend over €50,” says Doyle.

E-COMMERCE FRAUD If you have an e-commerce site, Elavon have advice to help stop fraudsters targeting it. Carding is the process where stolen or cloned card details are used to make a small online purchase, to test if a card is valid and active. Often, a piece of automated software will try to make potentially thousands of small transactions until one is successful. Those details can then be used for larger fraud elsewhere. If it later turns out that the larger fraud was carried out because of carding on your site, you could find yourself exposed to reputational and legal implications. You could also face additional fees for excessive authorisations and declines from card brands. Brian Kinsella, Senior Regional Fraud Manager at Elavon, says: “We often see the types of businesses that fall victim to carding attacks are small companies that may not have invested heavily in website security. “By taking a few simple, low-cost steps, you can prevent your business from falling foul of carding and any card fees for excessive declines.”

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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STOP CARDING ACTIVITY There are many ways you can protect your business from fraudulent carding activity. • Having a good ‘captcha’ test on your website could frustrate carding attempts. A ‘captcha’ is a way to tell the difference between a human and a robot. • 3-D Secure is the umbrella name for Visa Secure and Mastercard SecureCode, which have been introduced to add extra security for online shopping. By adding 3-D Secure to your e-commerce, you can fully authenticate the cardholder. While 3-D Secure cannot and does not eliminate chargebacks entirely, it does vastly reduce the incidence of fraud. • Removing the copy and paste function on your payments page makes it harder for an automated script to test transactions. • Ask your payments gateway provider about other fraudmanagement products they have available, to identify and block attacks. To find out how Elavan can support you with secure payments, visit elavon.ie or scan the QR code below. Elavon Financial Services DAC. Registered in Ireland – Number 418442. Registered Office: Block F1, Cherrywood Business Park, Dublin 18, D18 W2X7, Ireland. Elavon Financial Services DAC, trading as Elavon Merchant Services, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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IB PARTNER PROFILE

Indulge in Luxury The 4-Star Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire combines timeless elegance with exceptional amenities

xperience elegance and style at The Royal Marine Hotel, our luxury 4-star hotel, where history and modernity merge seamlessly. Our landmark hotel is a breathtaking sight on the Dún Laoghaire skyline, boasting 228 bedrooms, a conference centre, health club and spa, all steeped in rich history. Our variety of classic rooms, executive rooms, junior suites and presidential suites offer a wide range of luxurious accommodation options. All rooms include free broadband internet and air conditioning and some even feature

a balcony with stunning views of Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Our conference and banqueting facilities are second to none, with the Carlisle Suite serving as the centrepiece, accommodating up to 490 people for gala dinners. The Martello Suite is perfect for conferences and gala dinners, accommodating up to 150 and 140 guests respectively. Additionally, our 10 meeting rooms, many located in the original building, offer magnificent views

of Dublin Bay and can accommodate two to 100 guests. Our luxurious sansanaSPA features six treatment rooms, unique waterbed relaxation, ‘float’ and ‘relax’ rooms, thermal suites, a lounge area and much more to meet your requirements. Hotel guests also have complimentary access to The Pier Health Club, equipped with state-of-the-art cardio and resistance equipment, an 18-meter pool, steam room, sauna and hydro pool. Savour a variety of dining options at our hotel, including contemporary evening dining with a relaxed atmosphere at Dún Restaurant, a more casual dining experience at Hardys Bar & Bistro, and daily afternoon tea served in the Bay Lounge with large bay windows and high ceilings, highlighting the grandeur and historic feel that is central to the hotel’s style. www.royalmarine.ie

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InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023 23/11/2011 15:07:58

18/10/2023 17:00

IB PARTNER PROFILE

Workplace waste made easy! A toolkit designed to take the uncertainty out of waste segregation for businesses is now available from MyWaste, Ireland’s official guide to waste

his governmentfunded initiative provides a free and extensive suite of signage and training materials to help workforces make accurate recycling decisions. This will assist Irish businesses achieve

Plastic bottles & containers

empower small and medium size businesses, particularly those in the retail, hospitality, manufacturing and corporate sectors, to further improve how their waste is managed. With clear language and visuals, the materials will make it easy for

THIS INITIATIVE WILL EMPOWER SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE RETAIL, HOSPITALITY, MANUFACTURING AND CORPORATE SECTORS, TO FURTHER IMPROVE HOW THEIR WASTE IS MANAGED greater circular economy performance through increased recycling and composting rates. A waste characterisation study carried out by the Enviornmental Protection Agency* found that 74% of waste placed in the general commercial waste bins should be placed in either the recyling or food waste bins. By improving waste segregation, more waste materials can be diverted into the correct waste streams, which is an action that supports Irelands transition to a circular economy. Speaking on behalf of the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices, Kevin Swift, Connacht Ulster Region Waste Office said: “This initiative will InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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recycle

staff to quickly understand what waste goes in what bin. This should help significantly increase the amount of recyclables and food waste diverted from the general bin and correctly placed in the recycling and food waste bins.” Assets include posters, bin labels, brochures, checklists, training animations and testimonials and materials are available to order (while stocks last) or download free of charge from www.mywaste.ie/business/

Plastic tubs & trays

Soft plastics

clean dry & loose Cans & tins

Aluminium cans

Cardboard

Cartons

Paper & magazines

Visit mywaste.ie for more information

food

Raw food

Cooked food

no glass no plastics no metals

Paper towels & napkins

Compostable bags

Compostable packaging

Certified to EN13432

Unwanted leftovers

Tea bags & coffee grinds

Greenery & flowers

Visit mywaste.ie for more information

general

Non-compostable disposable cups

Wet wipes

Soiled aluminium foil & containers

no food no recyclables no batteries Broken crockery

Floor sweepings

Broken glassware

Contaminated items

Disposable face masks & gloves

Visit mywaste.ie for more information

18/10/2023 16:33

IB PARTNER PROFILE

Maximizing Your Retirement Nest Egg The benefits of additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) to your company pension scheme

lanning for a secure and comfortable retirement requires careful consideration and strategic financial decisions. One powerful tool available to employees is the option of making additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) to a company pension scheme. This practice offers a dual advantage, providing tax benefits while significantly enhancing one’s retirement fund. TAX ADVANTAGES One of the most attractive features is that it may be possible to get tax relief on your AVCs and then get some, or all, of your AVC fund tax-free when you retire. Your contributions are subject to Revenue maximum limits, but this can be a really smart way to boost your retirement savings plan. As an employee who pays top rate income tax (currently 40%) a €100 AVC only costs you €60 net. In addition, your AVCs grow tax-free, and you may be able to draw down some of your AVC pot tax-free. Your employer should operate a ‘net pay’ contribution approach which means that your tax relief is calculated and dealt with on your behalf. You can also make a one-off contribution after the end of the tax year and before your tax filing deadline. ENHANCED RETIREMENT FUND AVCs provide an excellent means to bolster your retirement fund. By

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making additional contributions, employees can accelerate the growth of their retirement savings. This can translate to a more comfortable lifestyle postretirement, with the potential to afford luxuries that might otherwise be out of reach. INCREASED FLEXIBILITY AND CHOICE AVCs offer a level of flexibility that allows individuals to tailor their retirement strategy according to their specific needs and goals. These voluntary contributions can be invested in various funds, including higher risk ones that might yield greater returns over the long term. This freedom of choice enables individuals to align their pension investments with their risk tolerance and investment horizon. CUSHION AGAINST INFLATION Inflation can erode the value of savings over time, potentially diminishing the purchasing power of retirement funds. AVCs can act as a cushion against inflation by increasing the overall size of the pension pot. The additional contributions, when invested wisely, have the potential to outpace inflation and maintain the real value of the retirement fund. COMPOUND INTEREST MAGIC The magic of compounding is a cornerstone of successful retirement planning. Additional

Mark O’Connor, Head of Corporate Pensions, Bank of Ireland

voluntary contributions magnify the impact of compounding, as they provide more capital to generate returns on. This can lead to a snowball effect, where the contributions made today grow into substantial sums by the time retirement arrives. The advantages of making additional voluntary contributions to a company pension scheme are multifaceted. AVCs not only benefit from tax incentives but also create an opportunity to help secure a financially sound retirement. The enhanced retirement fund, flexibility, protection against inflation, and the power of compound interest all underscore the potential positive outcomes of AVCs. By embracing this proactive approach, both employers and employees can look forward to a more prosperous retirement journey. InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

18/10/2023 15:46

IB PARTNER PROFILE

Is your business ready to go global? DHL Express highlights crucial factors for your business to consider before entering new markets

elling your product internationally is the most efficient way to gain more customers, and going global is a simple choice for most SMEs. However, there are several crucial factors to consider and tasks to complete before embarking on this exciting journey. GET PREPARED According to the DHL Global Connectedness Index, global trade in goods reached 10% above pre-pandemic levels in 2022. While the DHL Trade Growth Atlas also points to huge opportunities to grow trade further, and the overall trend remains upwards, it is forecast to slow over the next decade. Before you go global, you might want to adjust your long-term forecasts to take account of this and think about solving potential problems in advance. RESEARCH NEW MARKETS Thorough market research can take part of the risk out of going global. Key factors to research include cultural differences, laws and regulations, the locally established competition, costs, and the most appropriate marketing channels to reach the right audience. BUILD A STRONG LOCAL NETWORK If you’re expanding internationally, it pays to build strong local networks. Setting up in a different culture is always tricky, and contacts who understand the procedures, and even the subtle nuances, can prove invaluable. Put in the effort to build positive, trusting relationships with your overseas staff and suppliers and take time to learn about their different customs. InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS The demands and expectations of overseas customers vary by country and depending on the type of product. Whatever you decide will have an effect on both overall cost and speed of delivery. Your options will include truck, rail, ocean and air, as well as multi-modal combinations of several transport choices – depending on where your market and your warehouse is located. Do your customers expect free returns? In some countries, having to pay for returns is a deal-breaker, so you need to uncover consumer attitudes as part of your market research and build free returns into your costs if necessary. COMPLY WITH CUSTOMS Customs regulations vary from country to country. Local business association websites are great resources for helping you to understand customs compliance, but it’s up to you to find out what might be banned in your target destination. You may decide to hire a broker to act as your agent during the shipping process, to help you prepare documents and clear merchandise for customs. It’s

worth knowing that DHL Express does this every day for its customers by acting as a broker on their behalf. DHL will keep your customs paperwork relevant and accurate before handing shipment information over to the appropriate customs authority. Their export and clearance experts can assist with trade agreements, filing shipment declarations and tariff classifications, as well as calculating duty and tax prior to your goods moving across borders. If you would like more information, advice and tips on expanding your small business then scan the QR code below to take you to our dedicated website. Alternatively you can contact ie.ecommerce@dhl.com to speak with a representative.

18/10/2023 15:56

IB PARTNER PROFILE

Great time to reward employees As we near the year-end and welcome the winter season, it’s vital to strengthen your employee engagement strategy through rewards and recognition

id you know, as a business owner, you can now gift an employee up to €1,000 tax-free? “A significant development for business owners came into effect at the end of last year through benefit-in-kind (BIK), which might just be the answer to bolstering employee morale and loyalty,” says Nicola Roche, Senior

Sales Development Representative at One4all Rewards. You can now gift an employee up to €1,000 tax-free, thanks to the increase in the BIK limit. This change allows businesses to reward their employees with up to €1,000 per annum in One4all Gift Cards, exempt from tax, PRSI and USC charges, potentially saving up to €1,313.54* per employee. Investing in your employees fosters belonging and loyalty, positively impacting retention rates and reducing recruitment and training costs. “Appreciating and acknowledging your staff isn’t just a nice gesture; it’s fundamental. In the dynamic world of business, nurturing a motivated and engaged workforce is key. Celebrate your employees, as they are the heart of your accomplishments,” says Nicola. The One4all

Gift Card can be loaded from €15 to €150 and its digital counterpart can be tailored with a personalised video message from you on behalf of your business or customised with a photo of your company logo; easily sent by text or email. For higher value loads over €150, the One4all Chip & PIN option is available in physical or digital reloadable format. Gift cards over €150 currently require photo verification as part of customer due diligence. If employees already received one of these cards last year, their photo verification is valid for up to four years from date of validation. For more information, email corpsales@ one4all.ie or visit www.one4allrewards.ie to place your order today.

Just BIK-cause... It’s rewarding to say thanks.

BIK increase to €1,000

With One4all Digital, reward instantly via email or text, and personalise with a photo or video message.

Supporting Irish retail

Gift Card is issued by GVS Prepaid (Europe) Ltd. GVS Prepaid (Europe) Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Registration Number: C189313 Marketing Ref: GVSE23052

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18/10/2023 17:04

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82 New €3m stateof-the-art National Surf Centre opens in Strandhill; Great Western Greenway 5km extension from Achill Sound to Cashel opens; €2.5m investment in Sports Energy Support Scheme

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Launch of Irish Community Archive Network empowers Co Cork’s heritage; innovative rain garden system unveiled in Cobh; Limerick Regional Athletics Hub opens in Newcastle West

CONNACHT

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Fingal business picks up with innovative eCargo bike trial schemes; Donabate and Portrane projects progress with appointment of consultants; €9.79m funding for Project Carlow 2040

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Proposed development of Letterkenny Cultural Corridor; Belfast City Council wins award for innovative approach to tackling single-use plastic; €246,000 forest park funding for Cavan

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ECARGO BIKE TRIAL SCHEMES IN FINGAL

iCAN LAUNCHES IN CORK

BELFAST CITY COUNCIL WINS AWARD

Enhancement works and accessible wheelchairs for Tip O’Neill Trail Donegal County Council announced a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to building an inclusive and accessible community in the county with the introduction of two all-terrain/beach wheelchairs and enhancement works on the beloved Tip O’Neill Trail in Inishowen. The project was made possible through the contribution of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme in Inishowen, where Donegal County Council and the Local Community Development Committee have been able to empower individuals and communities to engage in physical activity and outdoor pursuits, resulting in significant improvements in health and wellbeing. These specially designed Hippocampe wheelchairs are equipped to handle a variety of terrains, ensuring that individuals can safely and comfortably traverse the trails or beaches. In addition to the wheelchairs, Donegal County Council has undertaken enhancement works along the Tip O’Neill Trail to improve accessibility for all residents and visitors. These enhancements included the upgrade of over 1km of trail. “Our mission has always been to create a healthier and more vibrant, inclusive community, one that everyone can enjoy, regardless of their mobility. With the addition of two all-terrain/beach wheelchairs, individuals with limited mobility will now have the opportunity to explore the stunning beauty of the Tip O’Neill Trail and our wonderful natural assets in Inishowen,” says Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Martin Harley.

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[ FINGAL ]

€9.79m funding for Project Carlow 2040

Carlow County Council welcomed the announcement by Minister Darragh O’Brien that €9.79m has been awarded under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund for key projects identified in Project Carlow 2040. When combined with Carlow County Council’s match funding, this will see an overall regeneration investment of €13m into Carlow Town over the coming years.

In partnership with Fingal County Council, Driveyou has earmarked 12 suitable locations across Blanchardstown, Swords, Malahide, Sutton, Rush, Balbriggan and Skerries where a community car sharing service would integrate with the day to day needs of people in these areas. Dave Storey, Director of Services for Environment, Climate Change & Active Travel at Fingal County Council says: “Car share is a key action of the Fingal Climate Action Plan and adds another sustainable transport option alongside public transport and active travel by walking or cycling.”

Fingal business picks up with innovative eCargo bike trial schemes

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ollowing the success of the eCargo Bikes for Business Scheme, Fingal County Council is launching two new opportunities for businesses and organisations to try out eCargo bikes. eCargo bikes are ideally suited for use by business and community organisations. They offer faster delivery in busy urban settings, with no fuel costs, no need for car insurance and no parking costs. There is also no requirement for a licensed driver, meaning that people of all ages can use the bike. Most importantly, organisations that use eCargo are making a better choice for the environment and contributing to positive climate action by reducing emissions. Fingal County Council launched two new schemes, inviting businesses and organisations to apply online and join the eCargo revolution: the eCargo Bike Trial scheme and the eCargo Hosting Scheme. Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy says: “Now is the time for businesses to make the leap to sustainable transport. eCargo is affordable, better for the planet and a great way to get your business noticed. I am really looking forward to seeing more eCargo bikes become a feature of doing business in Fingal.”

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Donabate and Portrane projects progress with appointment of consultants

ingal County Council has appointed Roughan and O’Donovan, a leading multidisciplinary consultancy firm, to provide engineering, planning and environmental services for the Donabate Transport Projects, which comprise a number of major projects with the objective of improving transport and active travel infrastructure and road safety on the Donabate-Portrane peninsula. The projects are being progressed by the Planning & Strategic Infrastructure Department with support from the National Transport Authority as part of the implementation of the NTA’s Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network and from Transport Infrastructure Ireland. These projects include: Phase 2 of the Donabate Distributor Road project, to improve access to Donabate and Portrane from the M1-Lissenhall Interchange for all road users, particularly vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists; Blakes Cross Junction Upgrade, to provide a safer junction layout that caters for both motorised traffic and active travel modes of transport such as walking and cycling; a study of the M1-Lissenhall Interchange, in collaboration with TII, to assess all technical and operational traffic issues associated with this strategic motorway junction; and Donabate Active Travel Routes which encompass a number of related local projects which aim to increase local connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists. Work on the initial datagathering and concept development stages of the Donabate Transport Projects will commence immediately. Further stages of design work will follow on subsequently in the new year.

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[ COUNTY MEATH

Mayor of Navan Cllr Eddie Fennessy with Robert Collins, SEO Meath County Council; Peadar Golden, Ireland Country Manager, TIER; and Cormac Ross, Meath County Council Resident Engineer.

nextbike by TIER in partnership with Meath County Council has launched a multimodal bike service in Navan, its first to feature push-bikes, e-bikes from TIER and eCargo bikes all through a single customer app. This is TIER’s third location launch in Ireland, following the launch of its Limerick offering earlier this year and the TIER-branded service in Fingal.

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[ COUNTY CORK ]

Launch of Irish Community Archive Network Empowers County Cork’s Heritage

he County Cork Heritage Unit announced the launch of the Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN) in County Cork, a collaborative initiative led by the National Museum of Ireland in partnership with the Heritage Council. This network aims to provide a digital platform for local community organisations to share and preserve their valuable archives, including photographs, documents, videos and oral recordings, ensuring that the rich heritage of localities is accessible to people both at home and abroad. The County Cork Heritage Unit, as the point of contact for iCAN in County Cork, is proud to bring together four prominent local groups in this initiative: Bere Island Projects Group, Kilmurry Historical and Archaeological Association, Kilshanning Heritage Group and Youghal Community Archives. Formally launched by the Mayor of County Cork, Cllr Frank O’Flynn, the launch event featured presentations from each of these groups, showcasing their work and contributions to the iCAN network. “The Irish Community Archive Network represents a pivotal moment for preserving and celebrating the unique heritage of County Cork. With this digital platform, our local communities can showcase their historical treasures to the world,” says Mayor of County Cork, Cllr Frank O’Flynn.

Innovative Rain Garden System Unveiled in Cobh

new green drainage system designed to capture and purify rainwater run-off from roads and footpaths has been unveiled at East Beach in Cobh by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Cork County Council. The ‘Nature Based Solution’ National Pilot Project will help manage rainwater run-off using urban trees and rain gardens with plants and soil specially chosen to act as natural filters, cleaning dirty water before it’s released into waterways or the sea. This innovative approach to surface water management not only reduces flood risk, but also enhances water quality, fosters biodiversity and improves the built environment. Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD joined Cllr Alan O’Connor deputising for the Mayor of the County of Cork to launch the first stage of the Pilot Project in Cobh; a temporary demonstrator rain garden at East Beach to test and monitor the quality of rainwater run-off and bio-retention soils used for water filtration. The next step is a permanent rain garden at Westbourne Place and Five-Foot way, creating beautiful and sustainable public spaces to promote leisure and wellbeing. The project aligns with the new River Basin Management Policy 2022-2027 and has been funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with an allocation of €2m spread over the course of four years.

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[ COUNTY LIMERICK ]

€6m investment by Britvic in Ballygowan

Britvic Ireland says the investment of €6m in its Ballygowan facility in Newcastle West, Co Limerick “will help to grow the site’s production capacity by over 20% in order to meet growing consumer demand for Ballygowan mineral water.” It will provide additional bottling capacity for the equivalent of 50 million fully recycled and recyclable 500ml bottles of Ballygowan.

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Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank O’Flynn visited Barnane Walk and Trail following significant improvement works to the popular amenity in Fermoy. The trail, which forms part of the Blackwater Way, has benefitted from a series of upgrades, including pathway improvements, fencing, landscaping and the installation of new steel pedestrian bridges to help ensure safe and convenient crossing. Extensive improvement works and repairs to the historic stone wall along the Barnane Walk have also been completed. The improvement works between Barnane and Glenabo Woods were completed by Cork County Council in partnership with Avondhu Blackwater Partnership. The project received funding of €200,000 from the Department of Rural and Community Development through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme as part of the Government’s ‘Our Rural Future’ strategy, with additional funding provided by Cork County Council.

Limerick Regional Athletics Hub opens in Newcastle West

aoiseach Leo Varadkar officially opened Limerick’s Regional Athletics Hub in Newcastle West, Co Limerick with the Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Gerald Mitchell and special guests. The worldclass facility, developed and operated by Limerick City and County Council, is endorsed by Olympians Thomas Barr and Carolyn Hayes, a native of Newcastle West, who can see the new athletics track from her bedroom window. This state-of-the-art athletics hub represents a significant investment in the region’s sporting infrastructure. With a total project cost of approximately €4.2m, this ambitious endeavour has been made possible through the dedication and collaboration of multiple stakeholders. “This is an incredible facility for the community which will benefit existing athletes and encourage many more people to get involved in sport,” says Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. “Physical

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Photo by Keith Wiseman

activity and sport should be open to everyone, no matter their age, background or personal circumstances, so the Government has invested more than €1 million in this Limerick Regional Athletics Hub. Limerick has

an outstanding sporting tradition, most recently with local athlete Sarah Lavin breaking the national 100m record in Switzerland and I know this hub will help to produce many excellent athletes for the future.”

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[ COUNTY SLIGO ]

New €3m state-of-the-art National Surf Centre opens in Strandhill

€2M

given to Sligo to end long-term vacancy and dereliction

The Government announced a €150m fund to end long-term vacancy and dereliction in towns and cities across the country, with €2m allocated to Sligo. Announced as part of the quarterly Housing for All progress update, the funding will be available to local authorities for towns and cities eligible for the Urban Regeneration Development Fund.

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he National Surf Centre in Strandhill, Co Sligo was officially opened in June by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD and Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys TD, in the company of Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Gerard Mullaney. This unique visitor experience, which has been developed by Sligo County Council, Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development, is Ireland’s first purpose-built surfing facility and will see Strandhill emerge as a worldclass surfing destination. The project received an investment of almost €3 million and aims to attract over 50,000 visitors annually by 2033. “The investment of €1.3 million by Fáilte Ireland in the National Surf Centre will open Strandhill and the surrounding areas to a significant number of new visitors who want to experience the exceptional surfing culture that this area is known for,” says Minister Catherine Martin TD. “Fáilte Ireland anticipates the visitors attracted to the National Surf Centre, Strandhill will generate revenue exceeding €34 million in the Sligo region by 2033, creating new economic opportunities for local communities and indirectly supporting 21 jobs annually.”

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[ COUNTY MAYO ]

Great Western Greenway 5km extension from Achill Sound to Cashel opens

inister of State at the Department of Transport and at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Jack Chambers TD officially opened the extension of the Great Western Greenway from Achill Sound to Cashel. This extension sees an additional 5km added to the existing 44km length of the greenway, which now links up Westport to Cashel on Achill Island and will further enhance the tourism offering in Mayo. One of the major highlights of this

new greenway extension is the unique and bespoke 400m of boardwalk that traverses a portion of blanket bog – this is the widest greenway boardwalk currently in use in the state and was constructed using sustainable and environmentallyfriendly products. “The Great Western Greenway has enjoyed tremendous success since its opening in 2011, attracting significant

numbers of visitors to this part of County Mayo,” says Minister Jack Chambers TD. “Approximately €4 million has been spent to date by the Department of Transport in relation to the construction of this extension to Cashel. Work is underway to continue this extension by another 4km, providing an almost fully segregated cycleway from Westport to Keel. I look forward to its completion in due course.”

€2.5m

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investment in Sports Energy Support Scheme

Minister of State, Dara Calleary TD officially opened the new N17/R320 Lisduff Upgrade Road Project. The official opening was performed by Minister of State Calleary, alongside Cllr Michael Loftus, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council. The upgraded junction is the largest project funded to date by Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s Safety Section. The junction upgrade will see a reduction of direct access and the elimination of right hand turns on the N17 in the vicinity of the upgrade, improving safety for all road users by reducing the frequency and severity of collisions.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD and Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD announced a €2.5m investment under Phase II of the Sports Energy Support Scheme. This will provide support to over 1,900 clubs, community-led sports facilities, national facilities and major stadiums in Ireland to meet the rising energy costs associated with the provision of sport.

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[ COUNTY DONEGAL]

Donegal County Council has opened a consultation process on the proposed development of Letterkenny Cultural Corridor, a project to improve the existing pathway and public spaces between An Grianán Theatre, the Regional Cultural Centre and Donegal County Museum to create a vibrant Cultural Quarter in the town. The project focuses on the creation of a theatrical door-to-door experience to improve the sense of arrival between each cultural venue and to Letterkenny Tennis Club and Letterkenny Boxing Club. It includes: widening of existing pathways where possible as well as installation of public lighting and signage; improvements to John McLaughlin’s Way; artwork at the Boxing and Tennis Clubs to clearly identify the groups; better pedestrian and maintenance access to Letterkenny Tennis Club; a new civic space at the front of An Grianán Theatre linking in with planned outdoor dining space; other moments for rest and public space along the route including amphitheatre seating near the Regional Cultural Centre and Tennis Club; construction of

Proposed development of Letterkenny Cultural Corridor a new short and direct pathway from the Regional Cultural Centre to the Museum on High Road; and improvements at High Road to widen footpaths, slow traffic speeds and install a pedestrian crossing point. The planning scheme has been prepared in partnership between

Donegal County Museum, the Regional Cultural Centre, An Grianán Theatre and Donegal County Council’s Regeneration and Development Team, together with Pasparakis Friel Architects who were appointed in 2020 to create the original concept under the Irish Architectural Foundations ‘Reimagine’ programme.

Donegal County Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council seek PEACEPLUS funding for Riverine Cross Border Community Park

onegal County Council as Lead Partner and Derry City & Strabane District Council as Project Partner prioritised the submission of a funding application for consideration under the PEACEPLUS Programme for the delivery of the Riverine Community Park Project. The application was made under Investment Area 1.4 Re-Imaging Communities, which is a programme of transformative

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reimaging projects that will create a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared space and services to embed peace and prosperity. It will result in an increase in the number of individuals and groups regularly accessing new shared spaces, which have been co-designed on a crosscommunity basis; and spending recreational time or accessing services therein. The total budget available under Investment Area 1.4 Re-Imaging Communities is €75 million. It is envisaged this investment area will fund 10 transformative projects and a maximum award to any one project up to €15 million. Fully committed to the delivery of a new shared space linking the communities of Lifford and Strabane, Donegal County Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council collaborated over the past number of months to prepare and finalise the funding application for the significant cross border and cross community project.

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[ COUNTY ANTRIM ]

Belfast City Council wins award for innovative approach to tackling single-use plastic

elfast City Council has been recognised by environmental charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful for its free reusable period products initiative. The council won the Behaviour Change Award for its ‘impactful and pioneering’ pilot project which tackles single-use plastic. The award category was open to all Northern Ireland councils to recognise commitment to changing behaviours and habits related to single-use plastic consumption. Chair of People and Communities Committee, Cllr Micky Murray says: “Introducing small positive changes to all aspects of our everyday lives with a focus on tackling environmental issues can have such a positive impact. The amount of plastic within single-use period products is staggering. Encouraging the use of reusable, non-plastic period products is helping provide a long-term solution to dealing with plastic contaminating our general waste. It’s fantastic to see Belfast City Council recognised for implementing this scheme and leading from the front to normalise the use of reusable period products.” Chris Gourley, Waste and Pollutions Solutions Strategic Lead at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful says: “The judges for this award were thoroughly impressed by the efficiency and thoughtfulness of this project, which not only tackles plastic waste but also

addresses the pressing issue of period poverty. The project not only demonstrates concern for the environment but also showcases the council’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and sustainability within the community. By offering free reusable period products, the council have provided a practical solution to reduce single-use plastic waste, helped to break down stigmas and ensured that all individuals have access to essential products without compromising the environment.”

€246,000

forest park funding for Cavan

In collaboration with the National Museum of Ireland, Donegal County Museum has unveiled the Rainbow Revolutions digital podium which contains videos, photographs and archival collections that have been carefully sourced and curated to tell the stories of LGBTI+ people in Ireland and the growth of the Irish LGBTI+ rights movement. This material was first displayed publicly as part of the ground-breaking Rainbow Revolution Trail in 2019 at the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks.

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Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD announced funding of €3m to develop and upgrade over 300 forest parks, walking trails and outdoor amenities, including €144,000 for Killykeen Forest Park in Co Cavan and €57,600 for Deerpark Forest Park for car park and access refurbishments, while Coillte properties across the county will also receive maintenance funding totalling €45,504.

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Informing you about the work of local authorities in supporting the business needs of their community... To tell us what your local council is doing for business email denise.maguire@ashvillemediagroup.com

In Association with

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LIFESTYLE: Books

With numerous new titles on your Santa list but little time to spare, InBUSINESS chooses five 2023 books for you to cram in before the end of this year.

UNSCRIPTED

THE EPIC BATTLE FOR A HOLLYWOOD MEDIA EMPIRE

AUTHORS: James B. Stewart & Rachel Abrams PUBLISHER: Weidenfeld & Nicolson AVAILABLE: easons.com

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Tokens The Future of Money in the Age of the Platform By Rachel O’Dwyer

Exploring the history of extra-monetary economies, Rachel O’Dwyer shows that private tokens have long existed alongside the ‘real’ economy. Amazon’s Turk workers are getting paid in gift cards. Online streamers trade in wishlists. Foreign remittances are sent via phone credit. Bitcoin, gift cards, NFTs, customer data, and game tokens are the new money in an evolving economy. An essential read for anyone concerned with digital money, inequality and the future of the economy.

Easy Money Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud By Ben McKenzie & Jacob Silverman

This is the story of a small AI company that gave facial recognition to law enforcement, billionaires and businesses.

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

Suleyman, cofounder of the pioneering AI company DeepMind, sounds the alarm on the unprecedented risks to global order posed by a wave of fast-developing technologies like AI and genetic engineering. A stark and urgent warning on the unprecedented risks that a wave of fast-developing technologies poses to global order and how we might contain them while we have the chance. We’re about to cross a critical threshold in the history of our species. Everything is about to change. Are you prepared?

Increasingly, money is being replaced by tokens. Digital platforms are offering flexible and sometimes subversive routes to finance, amassing frightening levels of power. How fluent are you in this new financial language?

REDEFINING PRIVACY AS WE KNEW IT

Google and Facebook decided that a tool to identify strangers was too radical to release, but Clearview AI, helmed by Hoan Ton-That, an Australian computer engineer and Richard Schwartz, a former Rudy Giuliani advisor, forged ahead, sharing the app with private investors, pitching it to businesses and offering it to thousands of law enforcement agencies around the world. Facial recognition technology has been quietly growing more powerful for decades. This technology has already been used in wrongful arrests in the United States. Unregulated, it could expand the reach of policing, as it has in China and Russia, to a terrifying, dystopian level. Your Face Belongs to Us is a gripping true story about the rise of a technological superpower and an urgent warning that, in the absence of vigilance and government regulation, Clearview AI is one of many new technologies that challenge what US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once called “the right to be let alone.”

By Mustafa Suleyman & Michael Bhaskar

NEW MONEY

By James B. Stewart & Rachel Abrams

In 2016 the fate of Paramount Global, the multi-billion dollar entertainment empire controlled by the Redstone family, hung precariously in the balance. Its founder and head, 93-year-old Sumner M. Redstone, was facing a very public lawsuit brought by a former romantic companion, Manuela Herzer. ‘Unscripted’ is an explosive and unvarnished look at the usually secret inner workings of the company, its boards of directors and a wealthy, dysfunctional family in the throes of seismic changes, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists James B. Stewart and Rachel Abrams. Through the microcosm of Paramount, whose once victorious business model of cable fees and ticket sales is crumbling under the assault of technological advances and whose workplace is undergoing radical change in the wake of #MeToo, Black Lives Matter and a distaste for the old guard, Stewart and Abrams lay bare the battle for power at any price - and the carnage that ensued. A shocking inside story of the struggle for power and control at Paramount Global and the dysfunction, misconduct and deceit that threatened the future of the company.

THE COMING WAVE

AUTHOR: Kasimir Hill PUBLISHER: Random House AVAILABLE: amazon.com

In Easy Money, TV star Ben McKenzie enlists the help of journalist Jacob Silverman for an investigative adventure into crypto and its remarkable crash. Weaving together stories of average traders and victims, colourful crypto “visionaries,” Hollywood’s biggest true believers, anti-crypto whistleblowers and government operatives, Easy Money shines a light on a perfect storm of irresponsibility and criminal fraud.

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EAR TO THE Could you tell us about CEO Corner and why you created this podcast? I created CEO Corner to give those building their careers an opportunity to listen to the stories and learn from those who have succeeded. You don’t typically get to know how a CEO has gotten so far or know what struggles they encountered along the way.

GROUND

InBUSINESS RECOMMENDS THREE PODCASTS TO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS QUARTER.

What is the message/goal of the CEO Corner podcast? Listening to the reality of other people’s journeys and understanding their blueprint can give us practical tools to start or continue our own journey. What are some of the characteristics a person needs to be a strong leader? Self-belief, determination, strong communication, emotional intelligence, compassion and flexibility.

InBUSINESS SPOKE WITH SARAH MCGRATH, HOST OF THE CEO CORNER PODCAST, ABOUT INSIGHTS INTO THE BLUEPRINT OF A CEO’S JOURNEY AND THE CHARACTERISTICS A PERSON NEEDS TO BE A STRONG LEADER

Sarah McGrath

The CEO Corner podcast is available at 360search.ie/ ceo-corner/ and to download online.

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Is the journey towards leadership for everyone? No! I can see how it is attractive to want to be a leader, to be respected, admired and for people to speak highly of you. Leadership can make a person feel vulnerable in certain aspects. I have seen self-doubt, fear of failure and lack of clarity take over a person. It can get the better of people.

MADE IN IRELAND

THE BLACK & IRISH PODCAST The Black & Irish Podcast explores the lived experiences of black and mixed race people living in Ireland through conversations about culture, society and family.

How important is the concept of women supporting women in the world of business? Very! I believe women supporting women is the kindest and most empowering thing you can do for your peers. What are the positives you can learn from a failure or struggle on your business journey? I have made a number a of poor decisions along my journey. However, I have no regrets so far (well, apart from not working harder in school) but the positives I take away are that I’m more resilient, my decisions are shaped by experience and I seek advice instead of trying to prove something. What are some insights or lessons you have learned during the making of the podcast? You don’t always need a clear vision. Simply working hard, putting yourself forward and believing you can make it is part of the process. Even the most successful people have fears and doubts, however, they don’t let these hold them back. Is there anyone you would love to appear on the podcast? Whitney Wolfe Heard. I like her story and I admire what she has achieved and the innovation behind her dating apps.

NOT TO BE MISSED

RECIPE TO THE ROAD Eack week, Maria Hogan sheds some life on different aspects of travel through stories and information from people all over the world with different backgrounds, different budgets and different life experiences.

THE BUSINESS PICK

UNDERSTANDING MONEY Eoin McGee embarks on a journey of financial discovery to understand how current global events impact your money. With the help of experts, Eoin lays out the building blocks of sound financial planning and how understanding them will leave listeners in a better place.

InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2023

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