InBUSINESS Q4 2014

InBUSINESS InB USINESS CONNECTING IRISH BUSINESS

Q4 2014

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UNDER

COVER

Friends First Chief Tom Browne on protection products and good business behaviour

FACE

OFF! A visit to the new Facebook HQ in Dublin Docklands

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THINGS ARE

START

Demystifying the

START-UPS TO WATCH IN

HEATING UP Internet of Things

ME UP! OUR TOP PICKS FOR

2015 23/12/2014 12:44

The Sum of its Parts Simple solutions are built on complex perfection.

Just like in business, what appears simple is often far more complicated and intricate than we imagined. That’s because complex perfection doesn’t just happen. It requires expertise, technological prowess and the experience of people who have seen it before.

At eircom Business Solutions we understand this. That’s why our business customers, large and small, trust in us. They know we have more technological and network experience than anyone else.

eircom. Driving Business Forward eircom.ie/business 231548_1C_Eircom_CMD_CIB.indd 1 P34597 EIR Watch CHAMBERS EDITORS 297x210 BG.indd 1

22/12/2014 16:31 02/12/2014 16:51

Managing Editor: Mary Connaughton Editorial Assistant: Amy Woods Commercial Editor: Conor Forrest

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Editorial Contributors: Franco de Bonis Conor Forrest Brian Kearns Valerie Jordan Olive Keogh Aoife Loy Rachel Murray Dean Van Nguyen Hans Zomer

Taking Cover

Friends First CEO Tom Browne on protection products and good business behaviour Words: Joseph O’Connor THERE MAY BE SOME DAMAGE DOWNSTREAM BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVEN’T FUNDED ADEQUATELY FOR THEIR RETIREMENT.”

COVER STORY

TAKING COVER

ow two years into his role as CEO of Friends First, Tom Browne took the reigns at one of Ireland’s oldest and most established life assurance companies not long after the life market began to stabilise. But that doesn’t mean the environment has not remained a challenging one. The sector itself is something of a bellwether of the wider economy; while sentiment is undoubtedly improving verified by GDP growth and revenue tax returns, the level of growth in the market is constrained by the continuing impact of austerity measures.

Browne is no stranger to the ebb and flow of market conditions having spent 24 years with Friends First, most recently acting as Chief Financial Officer. This year, he saw growth of 10 per cent in new sales but he views the continuing fall in disposable income rates as the main barrier to people choosing protection and pensions products. Latest CSO figures show a 7.8 per cent fall in average weekly earnings between the end of 2008 and the third-quarter of 2014, hardly the ideal environment to be convincing consumers to think about investing in their future. “The high level of personal taxation being paid by those in employment limits the available disposable income to spend on life assurance, savings and

Front Cover Photography: Colm McDermott 18

Production Executive: Nicole Ennis Sales Director: Paul Clemenson Managing Director: Diarmaid Lennon

Published by: Ashville Media Group, Old Stone Building, Blackhall Green, Dublin 7 Tel: +353 1 432 2200 Email: info@ashville.com Web: www.ashville.com On behalf of: Chambers Ireland, 3rd Floor, Newmount House, 22 - 24 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2 Tel: +353 1 400 4300 Email: info@chambers.ie Web: www.chambers.ie All articles © Ashville Media Group 2014. 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

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30 Food for Thought

The Bia Food Initiative is givng businesses a responsible alternative to wasting food Words: Valerie Jordan

We talk to founders of Greystones health food mecca The Happy Pear

His Spirit is Willing

Changing 36 Opinion: The Face of Africa Old attitudes towards Africa are hampering potential business opportunities Words: Hans Zomer

Jack Teeling of Teeling Whiskey spotted a gap in the market

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Face Off

Start Me Up!

A look at what Facebook can do for business

Ten innovative start-ups to look out for in 2015

Words: Valerie Jordan

Words: Dean Van Nguyen

86 The Last Word

Jerry Kennelly believes in schoolchildren being exposed to entrepreneurship at primary level Words: Joseph O’Connor [LIFESTYLE] 74 MOTORING: New offerings from Volvo and Ford 78 GADGETS: The Samsung Galaxy Alpha and a sefie stick

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• CONNAUGHT

Our Local Government 06 InBUSINESS Supplement continues O1 to look at the important role played by local authorities in Irish enterprise Limerick communities receive Pride of Place awards, Bandon Company Breaking Ground in London, and Killaloe company in US tourism blitz.

Donegal LEO hosts business showcase, Cavan Town recognised for responsible tourism, and Killybegs launches new tourism website.

Roscommon-based firm receives Leadership Award, Galway designated a UNESCO City of Film, and historic deal for Knock Airport.

A LEADING LOCATION Limerick City and County Council are working with Ardmore Studios in a bid to provide a major film production facilities hub in the county.

RECOGNITION FOR A KEANE START-UP

A software entrepreneur from South Dublin has been named ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’

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InBUSINESS | Q3 2014

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Are 22 Things Heating Up

Feature: 34 SME Happy Out Pair

Kildare brewer scales business, Rosie Hackett Bridge voted Engineering Project of the Year, and Navan Chamber and Council launch free WiFi service.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

[FEATURES]

Demystifying the Internet of Things Words: Dean Van Nguyen

THE LIFE ASSURANCE SECTOR TOOK A SIGNIFICANT HIT WHEN THE RECESSION KICKED IN AND IT STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO IN ATTRACTING THE CUSTOMER NUMBERS IT ONCE HAD. InBUSINESS CAUGHT UP WITH TOM BROWNE, CEO OF FRIENDS FIRST, TO DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES FACING THE MARKET AS WE ENTER 2015 AND THE IMPORTANCE OF DELIVERING ON TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY.

Art Director: Alan McArthur

Production Manager: Mary Connaughton

[REGULARS] 3 Business News 8 Movers & Shakers 11 Opportunity Ireland 12 Start-Up Central 37 Chambers Catch Up 88 The IB Index

Colm McDermott

Editor: Joseph O’Connor

ENGAGING WITH LEOS

A seminar has addressed In Association how Chambers can with effectively engage and develop a strong working relationship with Local Enterprise Offices.

In Association with

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80 TRAVEL: Brian Kearns gets down with the Beats in San Francisco 83 BOOKS: Never Try To Drink A Chinese Woman Under the Table 84 FASHION: Make the change from business to vent in minutes

23/12/2014 12:15

Visit Dublin

Ireland’s Cruise Capital www.dublinport.ie

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Cruise to the heart of Dublin city centre where the warm, friendly atmosphere will welcome you with open arms and give you an unforgettable experience.

22/12/2014 17:04

BUSINESS NEWS

BUSINESS

IT

consultancy firm E-MIT Solutions has announced the creation of ten new jobs at its headquarters in Santry, Dublin. The jobs are being created as part of a a650,000 investment to fund the expansion of technology services provided by the firm. This includes the development and enhancement of services such as IT Consultancy, IT Security, Cloud and Infrastructure Management.

Founded in 2003, E-MIT provides strategic management of a wide range of ICT solutions and services. E-MIT will begin recruitment immediately and plans to fill the ten new roles before the end of 2015. The new jobs being made available include technical consultants, IT service management and sales and marketing roles. The firm is also appointing Finbarr Crowley as a non-executive Chairman. Crowley is a founding partner of well known legal firm Crowley Millar Solicitors.

Finbarr Crowley, Non-Executive Chairman and Eamon Moore, Managing Director, E-MIT Solutions

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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23/12/2014 11:53

BUSINESS NEWS

Piketty’s ‘Capital’ Wins

Business Book of the Year

PARLEZ VOUS FRANCAIS?

Love/Hate characters soon will...

F

ollowing on from the recent ratings success of the Love/Hate season finale on RTÉ One, the State broadcaster has announced that Love/Hate will now be streamed on Netflix in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment on behalf of RTÉ has secured this multiyear subscription video-ondemand deal with Netflix.

The deal will result in all five seasons of the drama being dubbed into French and German, a first for the series. The award-winning drama has already been sold to 30 countries, including the UK, Norway, Australia, India, Singapore, South Korea and Israel.

COVER “THERE MAY STORY BE SOME P18 DAMAGE DOWNSTREAM BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVEN’T FUNDED ADEQUATELY FOR THEIR RETIREMENT.” Tom Browne, CEO, Friends First

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Capital in the Twenty-First Century, an epic analysis of the roots and consequences of inequality, has been named the 2014 Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year.

The £30,000 prize was awarded to Thomas Piketty’s controversial economics bestseller following what Lionel Barber, FT editor and chairman of judges, said was a “vigorous debate” about “an incredibly strong field” of six shortlisted titles.

The Business Book of the Year Award, in its 10th edition, is given to the book that provides “the most compelling and enjoyable insight into modern business issues, including management, finance and economics”.

For InBUSINESS’s selection of business books this quarter go to page 83

PREVIOUS WINNERS 2013: The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon

by Brad Stone 2012: Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power by Steve Coll 2011: Poor Economics by Abhijit Banerjeeand Esther Duflo 2010: Fault Lines by Raghuram Rajan 2009: Lords of Finance by Liaquat Ahame

Kinsale Bay Food Products

Food Company Lands Contract with Tesco KINSALE BAY FOOD COMPANY, an Irish owned and operated artisan food producer, has signed a significant contract with Tesco Ireland to supply its products into 73 Tesco stores. The agreement follows the company’s involvement in the Tesco Bord Bia Supplier Development programme and is worth approximately a1 million annually. As a result of this investment, the company has recently expanded its workforce by ten and now employs a total of 31 people.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:19

BUSINESS NEWS

SMEs Gather to

DISCUSS GROWTH

T

he theme for this year’s SME Assembly, which took place in Naples, Italy between October 1st and 3rd was ‘Growth Through Enterprise: Exploiting the Opportunities Ahead.’

As with previous years, the European Enterprise Promotion Awards

(EEPA) ceremony was a key feature of the Assembly which brought together SMEs, business organisations, European, national and regional government, academia and the media.

The SME Assembly takes place each year as part of European SME Week. This year more than 800 delegates participated in policy sessions, expert workshops, interactive discussion and an

Entrepreneur Expo, which featured entrepreneurs from across Europe. The event was also a useful networking opportunity.

The interactive badging system recorded around 10,500 contacts during the conference. This equates to an average of 15 new contacts for each delegate at the SME Assembly.

For details on the conclusions of the 2014 SME Assembly go to: http://blogs.ec.europa. eu/promotingenterprise/ 2014-sme-assembly

NEW AGENCY SET TO ‘MAKE MARKETS WORK BETTER’

Business

BITES S&P RAISES DEBT RATING

Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has raised Ireland’s long-term sovereign credit ratings to A, up from its previous rating of A minus. The firm also upgraded the country’s short term debt to A-1, up from A-2 and said it had a stable outlook on both categories.

MUELLER IN MALAYSIAN MOVE

The Chief Executive of Aer Lingus Christoph Mueller has been picked to head the successor company to Malaysian Airline System, which is being taken private following two separate air disasters.

TWITTER COULD BECOME A BOOKSTORE

MINISTER FOR JOBS, ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION, Richard Bruton, has announced that the Competition Authority and National Consumer Agency have amalgamated to form the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. The Commission is the new statutory body responsible for enforcing consumer protection and competition law in Ireland.

Isolde Goggin, Chair of the new Commission said: “The mission of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is to make markets work better for consumers and businesses. We will do this by helping to create open and competitive markets where consumers are protected and able to assert their rights when they need to.”

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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Isolde Goggin, Chair of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission with Minister Richard Bruton

The Hachette Book Group is testing whether a tweet from an author can directly trigger a sale. Hachette announced recently that it would partner with Gumroad, a company that allows creators to sell their products directly to their social media followers without leaving the Twitter platform.

ROAMING COSTS ON THE RISE

Mobile network operators have doubled the cost of roaming outside the European Union since early 2013, according to telecoms regulator ComReg. Making a call in the US cost a1.10 per minute in March of this year compared to 54c in the same month of last year.

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23/12/2014 11:53

THE BURNING QUESTION

?

How can Ireland become more competitive in 2015?

TOM BROWNE

UPC uzzing

After Acquisition

CEO, Friends First The focus should be on strictly managing wage growth and in return Government should commit to a gradual reduction in the personal tax burden, particularly through the USC. I also believe that other costs of doing business such as commercial rents, commercial rates, professional fees and energy costs must be controlled.

JERRY KENNELLY Founder and CEO, tweak.com Every person who receives benefits and jobseeker’s allowance should give something back to society. These people have a huge contribution to make to our society and to our competitiveness. We need to stop corrupting unemployed people by giving them money for nothing and free services that are more attractive than work.

KIERAN HANNON CMO of Belkin

Gavan Smyth, UPC Ireland’s Vice President of Business Services and Shane Deasy, Managing Director of Bitbuzz

U

PC Business has acquired one of Ireland’s leading WiFi operators, Bitbuzz. The move further strengthens UPC’s presence in the hospitality, health and education markets.

Bitbuzz is a WiFi network operator providing a range of managed services to hotels, airports, café bars, pubs and other public locations throughout Ireland and the UK.

RETAIL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

I encourage people to really rethink, ‘What can I do in the lab? What can I do that’s not being done today? What experiences can I create?’ Map those experiences out and go and develop the product that delivers that experience.

The team from Arboretum, Carlow celebrate winning the National Store of the Year Award at the Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2014

CIARAN QUILTY Regional Director, SMB for Facebook across Europe I think our track record is the greatest indicator to our future success. We can access multi-lingual talent and that’s why companies move fast here and why Dublin works for Facebook. That’s what I hear from other execs too.

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THE WINNERS OF THE 2014 RETAIL EXCELLENCE IRELAND AWARDS were named at a gala ceremony in Galway on November 1st attended by over 500 retail industry representatives from around Ireland. Winners included: National Store of the Year: Arboretum in Carlow

E-commerce Website of the Year: mcelhinnys.com

Company of the Year: Tiger

Manager of the Year: John Burke of Caulfield’s SuperValu, Loughboy

Rising Star of the Year: Aisling Murphy, from McCabe’s Pharmacy

InBUSINESS InBusiness | Q4 Q2 2014

23/12/2014 12:16

AWARDS 2015

6 categories. 1 big prize Tell the world about your company’s great idea.

It could win you a prize worth 150,000.

Find out more at:

www.irishtimes.com/ Joint Partner

230851_1C_IrishTimes_CMD_BIRL.indd 1

innovationawards

in association with

22/12/2014 16:32

MOVERS & SHAKERS

MOVERS SHAKERS NOEL MULHAIRE

BLAINE TRIPP

ELAINE GILL

DEREK REILLY

NEW TITLE: General Manager EMPLOYER: Lough Rea Hotel & Spa PREVIOUS ROLE: Resort Manager, Ballykisteen Hotel and Golf Resort

NEW TITLE: Head Chef EMPLOYER: Electric PREVIOUS ROLE: Head Chef, Farm Gate Café

NEW TITLE: Media and Entertainment Team EMPLOYER: Mazars

NEW TITLE: Culinary Director EMPLOYER: Aramark

Noel Mulhaire has been appointed General Manager of the Lough Rea Hotel & Spa. Mulhaire gained extensive experience both in Ireland and London before joining the Lynch Hotel Group followed by the Clare Inn Hotel. Most recently, Mulhaire held the position of Resort Manager for the Ballykisteen Hotel and Golf Resort in Tipperary.

Blaine Tripp qualified as a chef in 1988 and worked in New Zealand for a number of years in junior chef positions.

Tripp spent a couple of years honing his craft in London and Australia before moving to Ireland in 2000. His most recent appointment has come after time spent as Head Chef of the Farm Gate Café in The English Market.

Elaine Gill has been appointed to the film finance team within Mazars’ Media and Entertainment Division. She will be working with film and TV production companies in conjunction with the Film Finance Partner, Paul Mee. Together, they will help companies adapt to the new film corporate tax credit system.

Aramark Ireland has announced that Derek Reilly has joined the company as Culinary Director. In his role, Derek will be responsible for driving all culinary development across Aramark’s food services division, leading food innovation and working closely with suppliers to promote the use of seasonal and locally sourced products.

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InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 10:38

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NEW APPOINTMENTS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY NATIONWIDE

MICHAEL KAVANAGH

EOIN KEATING

JAMES MCEVOY

CHARLIE NOLAN

NEW TITLE: Head of Litigation EMPLOYER: LK Shields

NEW TITLE: Head of Defined Contribution Portfolio Management EMPLOYER: Irish Life Investment Managers

NEW TITLE: Country Executive Ireland EMPLOYER: Alter Domus

NEW TITLE: Senior Investment Analyst EMPLOYER: Lioncourt PREVIOUS ROLE: Chartered Accountant, KPMG

LK Shields has appointed Michael Kavanagh as Head of Litigation, seeing him lead a twenty-one strong team of commercial litigation solicitors. Kavanagh joined the firm in 1994 and was made a Partner in 1999. He has significant expertise acting in large and complex disputes before the Commercial Court and other divisions of the High Court.

Irish Life has announced that Irish Life Investment Managers has appointed Eoin Keating to the position of head of Defined Contribution Portfolio Management. In his new role Keating will be responsible for working with trustees and company sponsors to develop tailored solutions for their members’ retirement planning needs.

Alter Domus, a leading European provider of Fund and Corporate Services, has announced the appointment of James McEvoy as Country Executive Ireland. McEvoy will be responsible for the overall management and development of the team and building new client relationships in the region.

McEvoy has more than 13 years of experience working in the Dublin financial market.

Charlie Nolan has been appointed Senior Investment Analyst at Lioncourt. A chartered accountant, he joins from KPMG Corporate Finance.

Previously Nolan worked with Goldman Sachs in London following his graduation with a degree in Business and Economics from Trinity College Dublin. Nolan’s role at Lioncourt will include the origination of new investments, due diligence and portfolio management.

Call (01) 432 2200 Visit www.ashville.com Email info@ashville.com Follow @Ashvilleteam

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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22/12/2014 16:29

JOB CREATION COMPANY: Avaya COMPANY: Bausch & Lomb SECTOR: Pharmaceutical

SECTOR: Technology

LOCATION: Galway

ANNOUNCEMENT: Business communications and engagement technologies company Avaya will create 75 new jobs with the expansion of their R&D facility.

COMPANY: NightOwl SECTOR: Technology

LOCATION: Waterford

LOCATION: Dublin

ANNOUNCEMENT: Pharmaceuticals company Bausch & Lomb is to create 50 jobs within the next 18 months with plans to invest F41 million in manufacturing capacity at its Waterford facility.

ANNOUNCEMENT: NightOwl, which specialises in discovery management, is establishing its European centre in Dublin with the creation of 25 jobs in legal and technology.

Opportunity IRELAND InBUSINESS highlights some of the companies that are expanding operations and generating new employment opportunities around the country.

COMPANY: Vulcan Solutions SECTOR: Technology LOCATION: Galway ANNOUNCEMENT: Vulcan Solutions has announced the creation of 15 new positions in the areas of sales, R&D and consulting as the IT customers relations management company expands into the British market.

SECTOR: Healthcare LOCATION: Nationwide

COMPANY: Xanadu

SECTOR: Technology

LOCATION: Cork

ANNOUNCEMENT: The residential care company is to create 25 nursing jobs in locations across the country.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Global technology and services provider Xanadu has announced the creation of 120 highly skilled technology roles at its base in Cork.

Q3 SEES EMPLOYMENT GROWTH InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

COMPANY: Nua Healthcare Services

The results of the latest Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) reveal that Irish employment growth re-accelerated in the third quarter. Total employment in Ireland rose by 0.5 per cent q/q following 0.2 per cent q/q growth in Q2. This resulted in an annual increase of 1.5 per cent, down slightly on the 1.7 per cent y/y growth in Q2. This is due to the fact that the 0.5 per cent quarterly gain realised in the third quarter was not quite as strong as the punchy 0.7 per cent gain realised for same period in 2013.

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START-UPS

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

HOW IT ALL STARTED

PAUL DOHERTY

Founder and Managing Director of Software Design How did you fund your business initially?

We initially funded the business using our savings and the cash flow generated from our first projects.

What’s the best advice you were given?

Look after the downside – the upside will look after itself.

What was the most important lesson you learned starting out?

Avoid over-promising and underdelivering.

Your biggest make or break moment?

We haven’t had a single big moment; our success and growth to date has been achieved in many small steps. Perhaps that moment is still ahead of us.

Would you change anything in hindsight?

My background and primary expertise is in software and engineering. Learning how to run a business by just diving in can be slow and painful. If I’d to do it all over again I’d take an appropriate course or partner up with someone with those skills.

Company: Software Design Limited Location: The Digital Hub, Dublin Product: Web, Mobile & Software Development Staff:

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Website: www.softwaredesign.ie

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FOODCLOUD FOUNDERS NAMED TOP SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien, founders of Foodcloud, have been crowned Ireland’s top young social entrepreneurs at this year’s Join Our Core competition.

Join Our Core is Ben & Jerry’s and Ashoka’s annual competition to celebrate young people who are creating new models for sustainable business to help make a difference in communities.

Winners Iseult and Aoibheann’s business is a super innovative virtual foodbank that connects businesses that have too much food with charities that have too little.

For more on Foodcloud, turn to page 32.

To highlight the ongoing inventiveness of Irish start-ups, this issue of InBUSINESS focuses on some of the best young firms across a variety of sectors.

Go to page 32 to see our top ten picks for 2015.

Niamh Bushnell, Dublin Start-up Commissioner with Leonora O’Brien, Founder and CEO, Pharmapod at the opening of the new headquarters of Pharmapod in Leeson Street, Dublin

Pharmapod Secures Major Industry Tenders

An innovative Irish start-up has secured two major national tenders to provide unique software and training for the Irish pharmacy profession. Pharmapod won the tenders with the Royal College of Surgeons and the newlyestablished Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP) which was founded to promote excellence in the areas of patient care, professional standards, education and research in pharmacy practice.

The tenders involve creating products that will drive excellence in the profession of pharmacy.

€5.875m The funding to be made available to Irish start-ups by European micro-cap venture capital firm, Hoxton Ventures, which has joined forces with Enterprise Ireland to launch the fund as part of the Government’s a700m Seed and Venture Capital Scheme.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 10:41

START-UPS

BUTTER THE BIG WINNER AT JUMPSTART

The Learning and Innovation Centre (LINC) at the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB) announced Improper Butter as the winner of their annual business competition ‘JumpStart 2014’. Improper Butter is a range of ‘udderly delicious’, premium brand, Irishflavoured butters that inspire creativity at mealtimes. From Clonskeagh, Improper Butter was founded by 24-year old Elaine Lavery who graduated from UCD in 2012 and set up the company in 2013.

Elaine Lavery, Founder, Improper Butter

IRISH FIRM TESTING TREATMENT FOR EBOLA Hemanua Limited, an Irish startup company, in collaboration with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, have announced that they are in advanced testing of Hemanua’s ProBlood CP product for treatment of Ebola Virus Disease. The ProBlood CP has the capability to enable the harvesting and the transfusion of convalescent plasma (CP) without electricity and driven only by gravity, thereby providing a real advantage in remote and less developed regions such as West Africa.

The Creative Nation Management Team

START-UP PROFILE: CREATIVE NATION Creative Nation, a digital media company and YouTube MCN (Multi-Channel Network) was first established in November 2013 and its entertainment network now sees 500 million views every month across 5,000 aggregated YouTube

channels. Creative Nation also makes its own YouTube videos which are available on its YouTube channel called ‘FACTS’.

The channel enjoys monthly views of 1,600,000 and has 17,000 subscribers.

Making videos for YouTube and gaining revenue from them is an industry currently experiencing explosive growth and Creative Nation is well positioned to benefit from this upswing.

The Creative Nation impression is one of freshness and youth. Shane Corry, founder and the driving force behind the company, is just 17 years old. Corry started his career in this sector early

having worked for another YouTube MCN as a talent scout and achieved great success, growing that network by over 30 million views in a matter of months. At that stage, he decided that setting up his own rival MCN was the way forward and the rest is history.

Creative Nation currently operates from its office in Dublin’s Digital Hub. The current staff of seven in Dublin (having grown from two) have all joined in the last three months and presently the company is interviewing for new positions. Creative Nation plans to employ 75 people by the end of 2017.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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23/12/2014 10:41

FEATURE

Spirit

HIS

IS WILLING

Jack Teeling, Founder and MD, Teeling Whiskey, tells InBUSINESS about the current state of the Irish whiskey industry, spotting a gap in the market and how you just can’t beat a glass of one of your own whiskeys at the weekend.

ublin was once the epicentre of a golden era for Irish whiskey back in the 19th century when Ireland produced what was then the most popular brown spirit in the world.

Due to the downturn in Irish whiskey during the 20th century, the last Dublin distillery shut 14

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its doors in 1976 and since then the rich heritage and provenance of distilling in Dublin has been slipping away. Teeling Whiskey aims to change all that and reinvigorate Dublin’s offering to the sector, putting it firmly back on the map with the opening of the first new distillery in the capital in over 125 years. We spoke with Jack Teeling about his plans to revive his old family mark.

Q: Could you tell me about the latest developments on your planned distillery for the Liberties?

A: We started the process for bringing distilling back to Dublin in the summer of 2012 when we secured our site in Newmarket.

However it took us from September of that year to January 2014 to secure planning permission and a further eight months to get to the stage of breaking ground. We are now well and truly on our way as we have all our distilling equipment arriving on site over the coming weeks and the steel frame for our

adjoining visitor centre is currently being erected. It’s very exciting to see it finally take shape and we are really looking forward to opening the doors to the public in 2015.

Q: Dublin was once associated with world class whiskey. How did that change?

A: Dublin whiskey was famous for its quality and always sold at a premium to other types of Irish whiskey due to its “smooth character”. During the 19th century some of the largest distilleries in the world were based in Dublin, and particularly in the Liberties.

There was such a cluster of distilleries in the area that it became known as the “Golden Triangle”. Unfortunately due to the downturn in Irish whiskey during the 20th century the last distillery in Dublin shut its doors in 1976.

Q: Could you tell us about your distilling heritage that dates back to 1782?

A: Teelings have been crafting Irish whiskey since 1782 when InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 10:42

FEATURE

I believe that we are at the start of a long-term up-trend for the category, however we need to ensure that Irish whiskey has the breadth and choice whiskey drinkers of today are looking for.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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23/12/2014 10:42

FEATURE

Walter Teeling had a small pot still distillery in Marrowbone Lane in the Liberties. At that time there were 37 other operational distilleries in Dublin and out of these small distilleries came the large distilleries that put Irish, and in particular Dublin, whiskey on the global map during the 19th century. Walter passed his distillery on to his son John Teeling who expanded production. However, the Act of Union with England in the 1800s led to a rationalisation of the number of Dublin distilleries with only a handful of proprietors surviving and unfortunately the Teeling Distillery was subsumed as part of this. Our recent pedigree and how I got involved in the industry was through Cooley Distillery which was set up by my father John. I worked there for over 12 years until it was acquired by the American company, Beam, after which I left to set up the Teeling Whiskey Company and revive our old family mark of Irish whiskey.

Q: How would you describe the current state of the whiskey industry and how well is Ireland placed on a global scale?

A: We are at a very exciting and buoyant time for Irish whiskey.

There is a new generation of consumers discovering Irish whiskey driven by millennial consumers in the US and Central and Eastern Europe. I believe that we are at the start of a longterm up-trend for the category, however we need to ensure that Irish whiskey has the breadth and choice whiskey drinkers of today are looking for. While I don’t think Irish whiskey will be overtaking Scottish whiskey any time soon, I do feel that we can have a bigger slice of the overall whiskey pie. Irish whiskey has been growing for the last 10 to 20 years in the existing mature markets such as the US and Continental Europe but is nonexistent in the emerging markets so there is still plenty of other growth opportunities to tap into.

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Q: With such strong Irish whiskey brands already present, what made you think there was a gap in the market for another player?

A: Irish whiskey has been dominated by the large mass market brands which have provided the oxygen for the recent growth of the category, however we are beginning to see the market segment as people start to look for something different and more unique within the category. Similar to what has happened with craft beer, Irish whiskey consumers, as they mature, are beginning to look for something with more flavour and brands that are more relevant to them, which as an independent Irish whiskey producer we hope to be able to cater for.

In particular, I felt there was a gap in the market for someone to create an Irish whiskey with more character and flavour to enable people to trade up in terms of taste from what was currently available and start them on a journey of discovery with regard to what Irish whiskey can deliver in terms of taste. Consumers of today are not as brand loyal as in years gone by and are more inquisitive in nature so I believed if we could make it

look and feel like a whiskey they would want to try and produce the most unique and flavoursome whiskey we could, we were always in with a chance of succeeding.

Q: How was 2014 for Teelings and what do you forecast for 2015?

A: 2014 was a great year for us as our new distillery started to come to life and we launched a range of new expressions of whiskey as well as launching in around 12 new export markets including the US, but we have even higher expectations of next year. 2015 will truly be our landmark year as the spirit of Dublin is revived when we fire up our new pot stills early in the New Year.

Q: So what’s your tipple of choice at the weekend?

A: It depends who I am with and what I am doing. I would say I do like a craft beer or two as well as being a fan of almost all New Zealand wines, but sometimes you just can’t beat a glass of one of your own whiskeys.

MY START-UP TO WATCH: Allogen Biotech Besides being run by my cousin Ben Teeling, Allogen Biotech has really come up with some interesting food contamination and allergen-testing technology which could have a big role to play in the food industry in the future. www.allogenbiotech.com For more on start-ups to watch in 2015 go to page 32

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 10:42

Fåilte Ireland – partnering with businesses, communities and Chambers Ireland to grow tourism in a sustainable manner throughout the country.

We look forward to working together in the years ahead.

233990_1C_FailteIreland_CMD_CIB.indd 1

22/12/2014 16:34

COVER STORY

TAKING COVER THE LIFE ASSURANCE SECTOR TOOK A SIGNIFICANT HIT WHEN THE RECESSION KICKED IN AND IT STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO IN ATTRACTING THE CUSTOMER NUMBERS IT ONCE HAD. InBUSINESS CAUGHT UP WITH TOM BROWNE, CEO OF FRIENDS FIRST, TO DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES FACING THE MARKET AS WE ENTER 2015 AND THE IMPORTANCE OF DELIVERING ON TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY.

ow two years into his role as CEO of Friends First, Tom Browne took the reins at one of Ireland’s oldest and most established life assurance companies not long after the life market began to stabilise. But the environment remains a challenging one. The sector itself is something of a bellwether of the wider economy; while sentiment is undoubtedly improving verified by GDP growth and revenue tax returns, the level of growth in the market is constrained by the continuing impact of austerity measures.

Browne is no stranger to the ebb and flow of market conditions having spent 24 years with Friends First, most recently acting as Chief Financial Officer. This year, he saw growth of ten per cent in new sales but he views the continuing fall in disposable income rates as the main barrier to people choosing protection and pensions products. Latest CSO figures show a 7.8 per cent fall in average weekly earnings between the end of 2008 and the third-quarter of 2014, hardly the ideal environment to be convincing consumers to think about investing in their future. “The high level of personal taxation being paid by those in employment limits the available disposable income to spend on life assurance, savings and pension products,” says Browne. “Spending on our products will continue to 18

018 InBusiness Q4 2014_Cover Story.indd 18

23/12/2014 10:45

Colm McDermott

THERE MAY BE SOME DAMAGE DOWNSTREAM BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVEN’T FUNDED ADEQUATELY FOR THEIR RETIREMENT.”

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018 InBusiness Q4 2014_Cover Story.indd 19

23/12/2014 10:45

“AS THE ECONOMY AND REAL INCOMES IMPROVE WE

NEED TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS ON THE NEED FOR

Colm McDermott

CV: Tom Browne ROLE: Chief Executive, Friends First LIVES: Blackrock, Co Dublin FAMILY: Two children (17 & 13) CURRENTLY READING: Downturn Abbey

by Ross O’CarrollKelly FAVOURITE FILM: Some Like it Hot HOBBIES: Golf, watching rugby, reading

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018 InBusiness Q4 2014_Cover Story.indd 20

improve in 2015, but we believe these factors will limit the level of market growth to ten per cent. This is good growth but it is coming from a low level as compared to 2007.”

Concern has been expressed within the sector that many consumers are now taking a shorter term view on funding for their retirement. Browne points to the latest figures compiled by Friends First. “Research that we complete each year indicates that 40 per cent of households in Ireland do not have any private pension cover,” he says. “We’re concerned that when people look at their finances, insurance products and funding for old age are not coming out very high on their list of priorities. It’s a choice each person has to make, but we think that there has been an excessive short term focus, and there may be some damage downstream because people haven’t funded adequately for their retirement.

As the economy and real incomes improve we need to continue to educate consumers on the need for long term financial planning.”

One step in the right direction has been the move to reduce and eventually abolish the pensions levy, as announced in this year’s Budget. The reduction in the controversial levy which has siphoned more than r2 billion from private sector pensions in the past four years was universally welcomed. Finance Minister Michael Noonan announced that a reduced charge of 0.15 per cent would apply to private sector pensions from the beginning of 2015, with the levy being abolished entirely

at the end of that year. The phasing out of the measure is expected to provide savers with greater certainty and encourage additional workers to save for their retirement.

GOOD BUSINESS BEHAVIOUR Of course, coupled with offering the right package to consumers is the need to build trust. We don’t have to look to the distant past to recall the damaging effect which a company’s lack of honesty and integrity can have, often impacting customers who have invested in their products. Browne spoke recently at the Responsible Business Forum, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) conference presenting inspirational talks from some of the world’s largest companies and practical workshops on how trust, reputation and culture can be built with key stakeholders.

According to Browne, the two main areas that Friends First have focused on making more transparent are product charges and investment risk. “In relation to product charges these needed to be understood better by customers and reduced by providers and this has happened in recent years,” he says. “Understanding the investment risk and reward trade-off is more important for customers as the outcome of their savings, investment or pensions policies is determined to a large extent by how and where their monies are invested. So customers need to understand what – if any – are the risks of their investment falling in value and by how much, and whether they could lose all of their monies or some. The risk of an investment in cash declining significantly in value is much less than a stock or a share.”

He continues: “In summary, what a customer invests in determines how much their investment will grow or decline. This type of transparency is far more important

LONG TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING.”

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 10:45

for customers over the long term.

The industry has now introduced a standard approach to categorising investment funds in terms of volatility and we believe this is a major step in the right direction.”

A robust policy of good business behaviour based on non-negotiable core values is essential to the sustainability of any business and under Browne’s leadership, Friends First is doing its bit to follow best practices. More and more senior business leaders are now realising the moral and business impetus for a code of conduct and that reinforcing transparent, efficient management practices not only safeguards a company’s reputation but, significantly, creates long-term value for shareholders.

Regulation in the industry is strengthening too. Ireland is currently awaiting final ratification of European regulation on disclosure of product charges and adviser commissions, expected to be passed by the end of 2015 and enacted in Ireland in 2016/17.

These disclosures will be displayed prominently to customers in a short document called a ‘Key Information Document’. This will ensure a customer is clear as to what they are paying for at point of sale, through commissions and charges deducted from their product by the product provider. “We welcome this development,” says Browne, “as it should ensure clients are aware of both the cost and value of the advice provided to them over the term of the product. Secondly, it will encourage insurers to simplify the charging structures of products so that clients can more easily understand the level and frequency of charges.”

THE YEAR AHEAD Looking at the year ahead, Browne says it is not Friends First’s intention to announce new products or services but to focus on getting back to basics. He believes it is critical that far more consumers start taking a long term view and make proper

financial provisions for their future.

“As a company that only distributes its products through independent financial brokers, we advocate that customers engage with a broker to receive independent, unbiased financial advice and develop their plans with them. It’s not about buying products, it about having a clear and funded road map to ensure that they can meet their long-term financial and life goals.”

For Friends First 2015 will be more focused on making improvements to its existing suite of products and services targeted at both its customers and financial brokers. According to Browne, the company is focused on enhancing three of its major product lines: Group Life and Income Protection, Individual Income Protection and its Pensions and Investment Proposition. “In Group Protection we will be passing on improved pricing to targeted employee groups and schemes,” he explains. “We are the leader in Ireland in Income Protection and will make further improvements to this product which will benefit our customers and we will increase the promotion of this much needed cover. We will continue to enhance the investment options and funds available through our range of pension and investment products.

“We will also focus on developing our online capability making it easier for our brokers and customers to obtain not only information online but also added value assistance and tools. Friends First will continue to develop this type of functionality which is both relevant and helpful to brokers and their clients.”

As for Browne, he seems happy to continue at the helm and ensure Friends First builds on the positive figures seen in 2014. “I’m enjoying it immensely,” he says, “especially the interaction with colleagues, brokers and customers. I’m very positive about the next few years as the country and our industry gets back on their feet.”

Tom’s Trusty Measures

Following the negative effects of the financial crisis and recession on customers, Friends First is contributing to the restoration of trust by taking the following measures: • Reducing the prices of all its protection products • Reducing the charges and in turn the cost of pension and investments funds and products • Introducing tools and information to enable customers to better understand the risk and reward trade-offs for the asset classes available on its products • Reducing the level of upfront commission payable to financial brokers and spreading these to align them more with customers • Improving the level of communication with customers and access to information online • Helping to upskill and improve the businesses of financial brokers so that they can improve the advice and service proposition to customers • Implementing a fully integrated Corporate Social Responsibility programme including a charitable and community programme

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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FEATURE

THINGS

ARE HEATING

UP The Internet of Things looks set to be the next digital revolution that significantly impacts not just the day-to-day lives of people all over the world, but the tech industry at large as companies clamour for their own piece of the pie. Dean Van Nguyen breaks down the Internet of Things, what it can do and how Ireland could be at the forefront of its development.

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022 InBusiness Q4 2014_Internet.indd 22

he phrase ‘Internet of Things’ doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.

It’s a clunky expression that, to the uninitiated, sounds more likely to come from an ill-informed technophobe than the head of a major technology firm. And yet, it has been dubbed “the second internet revolution” by Intel Vice President Philip Moynagh after the establishment of the web itself, and the development of Internet of Things (IoT) technology looks set to dominate the sector for the foreseeable future.

With potentially huge economic benefits to be had, Ireland is jumping headfirst into this rapidly expanding market which, according to IT research agency IDC, will be worth an estimated a5.5 trillion between now and 2020. Intel recently announced a pilot project with Dublin City Council to make the capital the world’s first ‘IoT city’ and the company, plus others, are talking up the prospect of Ireland being a major player in the future development of Internet of Things.

“The intellectual knowledge that’s being created around it really puts Ireland in a wonderful position to capitalise on what some people say is the most promising industrial revolution to ever happen,” says Kieran Hannon, the Californiabased CMO of consumer electronics company Belkin. “So to think that

Ireland could be at the forefront, and rightly should be at this forefront, is very exciting for the country.”

IoT is not just a powerful force for business though. It will have a huge influence on society and how we interact with the world around us.

But what exactly is Internet of Things? Simply put, it’s the concept whereby physical objects can connect to the internet. Currently, the majority of people’s interactions with the web are via screens – PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets etc. What IoT technology does is connect other entities to the internet, allowing them to send and receive data without human involvement.

If the internet as you know it is the ‘Internet of Screens’, then giving everyday items network connectivity is the ‘Internet of Things’.

Really there is no limit to what can be fitted with IoT sensors.

Cars, health monitors, classrooms and household appliances, for example, can all be equipped with the technology. Whirlpool has developed a washing machine with wi-fi that allows it to be controlled via a smartphone app. The machine can even text or email its owner when their clothes are ready to dry.

In the UK, tech SME In Touch have forged the ‘Smart Streets’ venture that has seen IoT sensors installed on lampposts and in drains around the country in order to collect data on traffic flow, weather and road maintenance. The information allows for a more efficient management of the roads. Some major car manufacturers are even exploring the possibility that IoT could lead to driverless cars.

IOT IN IRELAND As is the case with Smart Streets, IoT technology allows a huge amount of data to be collected – data that can be very useful in understanding the world around us. Intel’s plan to make Dublin the most densely sensored city in the world will see 200 sensors

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:01

FEATURE

installed to gather data on air quality and micro-climate conditions.

A scheme that recently displayed how similar data can be obtained and utilised was the CitySense project, which saw 30 courier bikes in Dublin city centre fitted with IoT equipment to gauge air quality, air temperature and pollution. A collaboration between the Tyndall National Institute, TSSG Waterford and the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), the bikes included both a GPS and environmental sensor that could accurately measure carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, smoke and particulates in their given location. Once the data was collated, the team could then map information on environmental pollution and traffic congestion.

“On those days you had a granular map of the city of Dublin based on these bikes and the constant update of data on all those environmental parameters,” says Kieran Drain, CEO of the Tyndall National Institute, a University College Cork-based research centre dedicated to information and communications technology. “For me it’s a good example of the Internet of Things.

You made that bike a smart thing.”

Drain is quick to assert that the CitySense project is far from the zenith of what IoT technology could achieve, and the centre is currently looking at what it could do for Ireland’s agriculture sector. “The area where we can grow in and really drive some of the industrial internet in a unique way – a global leadership way – is in our agricultural space because it’s an area that’s just ripe for technology investment,” he says. But IoT is not just about hardware. As with CitySense, a lot of the technology’s value comes from analysing the data that can be recorded. A potentially huge amount of analytics on the public’s activity patterns could be acquired. What’s important is that meaning can be extracted from the data.

“More than anything else what

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022 InBusiness Q4 2014_Internet.indd 23

“THE

INTELLECTUAL KNOWLEDGE THAT’S BEING CREATED AROUND IT REALLY PUTS IRELAND IN A

WONDERFUL POSITION TO CAPITALISE ON WHAT SOME PEOPLE SAY IS

THE MOST PROMISING INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

TO EVER HAPPEN.” Kieran Hannon, CMO of Belkin

Whirlpool has developed a washing machine with wi-fi that allows it to be controlled via a smartphone app.

The machine can even text or email its owner when their clothes are ready to dry.

the Internet of Things will generate is enormous amounts of data, and extracting sense from that data will be key to exploiting the Internet of Things’ value,” says Dr John Barrett of the NIMBUS Centre for Embedded Systems Research, also based in Cork.

“If you want to be able to manage traffic or you want to be able to manage electricity distribution or logistics of the delivery system of a large supermarket chain, then it’s all very well to have sensors in the trucks, but that’s all useless unless you can extract meaning from the data that’s been delivered from those sensors. So the Internet of Things is as much about data as it is about interconnections.”

Similarly, in the consumer electronics industry, firms are getting to grips with new machinery in an attempt to bring products to market that will appeal to the public. One such corporation is Belkin, who have developed WeMo, a simple wi-fibased home automation network that has been installed in a variety of products, including a slow cooker that can be remotely accessed. The company invested much effort into making the system as user friendly as possible.

“The technology is only as good as the user experience is easy, convenient and intuitive,” says Hannon, an Irishman who uprooted to the US almost 30 years ago. “Our DNA is always about creating superior user experiences with the person front and centre.”

IOT:

The Business Challenges

Enabling customer privacy & property rights

Over-reliance on technology

Managing vast amounts of data

Meeting customer needs and expectations

SECURITY Recent initiatives have come at a time when the public is seriously questioning the impact the internet has on their privacy. The past 18 months has seen a number of high profile news stories centred on digital security, including former NSA contractor Edward Snowden’s revelations into the PRISM web spying programme, the leak of Hollywood stars’ private photographs, and the public posting of hundreds

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23/12/2014 12:01

FEATURE

IOT:

The Business Opportunities

Address real-time needs, threats and opportunities

More effective forecasting

Improved customer service and customer personalisation

Improved and accelerated process optimisation

of thousands of images sent via the photo messaging app Snapchat.

With security on established communication devices a major talking point, the thought of connecting just about everything else to the internet may be a daunting prospect for some.

“The potential of what we call your digital footprint becoming absolutely enormous is certainly there,” asserts Barrett. “In an uncontrolled evolution of the Internet of Things, the concept of privacy becomes almost meaningless, and that’s one of the risks because what’s happening at the moment is that regulatory and governance issues are lagging far behind the commercial evolution of the Internet of Things.”

With companies racing to claim their share of the pie, Barrett believes that issues like privacy sometimes get left behind. “There’s a lot of concerns throughout the world as to how that can be better governed and better regulated,” he says. “The internet developed more or less as a free for all which was free from regulation, and the risks of data theft on the internet are quite considerable as a consequence of the way it’s evolved and being very lightly regulated. At the moment it seems the Internet of Things is heading in the same direction, but given the experience of the internet, there’s a much greater consciousness in governments and regulators that something needs to be done before this gets out of control.”

EDUCATION As the development of IoT technology settles at the forefront of major tech companies’ thinking, there’s a huge opportunity for Ireland to get in on the ground floor. But according to Barrett, who has been a lecturer and researcher at the Cork Institute of Technology since 1999, Ireland is currently suffering from a shortage of graduates in the industry.

“In recent years, particularly during the Celtic Tiger, there was a drift away from science and

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022 InBusiness Q4 2014_Internet.indd 24

“THE AREA WHERE WE CAN GROW IN AND

REALLY DRIVE SOME OF THE

INDUSTRIAL INTERNET IN A UNIQUE WAY

– A GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

WAY

– IS IN OUR AGRICULTURAL SPACE BECAUSE IT’S AN AREA

THAT’S JUST RIPE FOR TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT.” Kieran Hannon, CMO of Belkin

In the UK, tech SME In Touch have forged the ‘Smart Streets’ venture that has seen IoT sensors installed on lampposts and in drains around the country in order to collect data on traffic flow, weather and road maintenance.

Kieran Hannon, CMO of Belkin

technology subjects in the third level sector and there was more interest in construction, finance and marketing courses. This has potentially left Ireland weak in terms of the number of technology graduates that it can supply to support the Internet of Things. But I think there is also a consciousness of that in the third level sector and there are quite a large number of courses now coming up in the area of data analytics and cloud technology which are producing graduates.”

Creating a talent stream in the immediate future may well be crucial for Ireland positioning itself as a worldwide leader in the field.

Internet of Things, after all, is not something in the pipeline, and is certain to become increasingly visible as practical new systems are developed. As Drain points out, “People talk about the Internet of Things as coming and I keep saying: ‘It’s coming in greater waves but it’s already here’.”

“If you’re not in you can’t win, so you have to participate,” adds Hannon. “The knowledge base that resides in Ireland, the type of companies here, and the attractive nature of the work of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, we have the ideal makings to capitalise upon the Internet of Things.”

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:34

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@AshvilleTeam

Filler Ad_Ashville ISSUU.indd 1

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22/12/2014 17:14

FACE OFF

FEATURE

Ciaran Quilty, Regional Director, SMB, EMEA at Facebook tries to persuade Valerie Jordan, a millenial who’s grown tired of Facebook, why it’s still best for business.

A Facebook Dublin office

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026 InBusiness Q4 2014_Facebook.indd 26

fter seven years – and, according to an online calculator, a month of my life wasted – on Facebook, fatigue set in. A few months ago I quit – cold turkey – and haven’t looked back. Still, the opportunity to see inside the new Facebook HQ in Dublin’s Silicon Docks was exciting: For those of us outside the tech bubble it’s an intriguing world, though we’ve come to realise, despite a free-forall canteen, games rooms, walls to be written on and beanbags to be lounged on, it is a workplace in disguise.

A pretty good disguise at that.

The new office space is, in a word, cool. The space is open, vast and roomy. That might be because it has capacity for about 1,000 employees and current occupancuy is just over half – the new space, therefore, is a statement of Facebook’s commitment to Ireland. The interior reflects the youth and vibrancy of the company, with industrial features, punchy colours, lots of natural light and enough gimmicks to entertain but not distract.

Ciaran Quilty is in charge of promoting Facebook to small and medium sized businesses across

Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

He has been with the social media giant for five years and has headed up its gaming business for EMEA and launched some of Facebook’s emerging markets. These days he’s passionate about what Facebook can do for business.

“About two years ago Zuch’ called his top lieutenants in and said ‘the world is changing and the world is going to be mobile first’. We pivoted into a mobile first company. That was a big investment, but it was worth it. Sixty-four per cent of our global revenues are now from mobile, from zero less than 24 months ago. It’s a major achievement, but more importantly it’s an amazing insight into where the world is going. We’re always on, we’re always connected.

“Take Ireland,” he continues, “there are 2.3 million people on Facebook; that represents about 67 per cent of the internet using population. Every day there’s over 2 million people on Facebook and, most interestingly, every day there’s 1.5 million people on Facebook on mobile. The average person in Ireland will check Facebook on their mobile phone 11 to 14 times a day. Mobile is driving growth on Facebook and that represents opportunities for SMBs.” InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:02

FEATURE

Popular Platforms

HOW SOCIAL MEDIA SITES COMPARE

FACEBOOK The largest social networking site worldwide.

• Users share 1 million links every 20 minutes • 1.35 billion monthly active users

TWITTER Ciaran Quilty, Director of SMB for EMEA, Facebook

“FACEBOOK HAS Impressive numbers, startling even. But not everyone is happy with Facebook. Privacy issues, frequent changes to its interface and general Facebook fatigue are the common complaints. Has there been a move away from Facebook, and, if so, who’s bucking the trend?

Quilty responds in numbers: “There are over 1.3 billion people on Facebook and over 850 million are using it on mobile. In Ireland or the UK users are about 70 per cent of the internet population, and those numbers are growing fast. There’s a huge variety of people on Facebook.

From the youngest, aged 13 plus, to the middle aged to the elderly. It really is the entire market.

“Facebook has a lot of potential customers and all those numbers are growing. What’s driving the growth is mobile; there are 6.5 billion mobile devices in the world – pretty much the same number as there are toothbrushes.”

It’s hard to argue with figures like that. But how can small businesses position themselves to capture a slice of that audience? “It starts with a page,” says Quilty. “Facebook is the only product in the world where you post and you are instantly mobile.

You can reach customers irrespective of what device they’re on. It doesn’t matter if it’s an iPhone, Samsung InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

026 InBusiness Q4 2014_Facebook.indd 27

A LOT OF POTENTIAL

CUSTOMERS AND ALL

THOSE NUMBERS ARE GROWING.

WHAT’S DRIVING THE GROWTH IS MOBILE;

THERE ARE

6.5

BILLION MOBILE DEVICES IN THE WORLD

– PRETTY MUCH THE SAME NUMBER AS THERE ARE TOOTH BRUSHES.”

Galaxy, iPad, PC or smart TV. It starts with a page. From there, go to our self help where we have lots of advice, tips and tricks and case studies around how to get started.

“My major tip for businesses is to use it as you would use it yourself on Facebook. Think about what’s interesting to your customers, target the customers you want to reach, either new or existing customers, and share your story.”

A Facebook business page is free, but the best way to target potential customers is through paid advertising. Quilty says he sees businesses spend everything from a5 to a5 million per month on advertising. Ads can be set up to target customers by demographics such as gender, age and location.

Quilty says he sees three common uses of Facebook for business.

The first is small, local businesses, operating within a five mile radius, using Facebook to target new customers.

“Ruth Monahan of Apassionata Flowers tells me she views Facebook as her ‘online shop window’. She uses it in burst initiatives and says every

The micro-blogging site. Posts are limited to 140 characters.

• 500 million tweets are sent per day • 284 million monthly active users

INSTAGRAM Social sharing site for edited and filtered images and short video clips.

• 23% of teens consider Instagram their favourite social network • 200 million monthly active users

PINTEREST The virtual discovery tool lets users create and curate boards for projects and interests.

• 80% of users are female • 40 million monthly active users

SNAPCHAT Photo messaging mobile application.

• Approximately 70% of Snapchat users are female • 100 million monthly active users

27

23/12/2014 12:02

FEATURE

SMB Council meeting held in Dublin with Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook with companies such as CleverCards, Bunsen, Total Hockey, Starla, Irish Fairy Door Co.

“MY

MAJOR TIP FOR

BUSINESSES IS TO USE IT

AS YOU WOULD USE IT YOURSELF

ON FACEBOOK. THINK ABOUT WHAT’S INTERESTING TO YOUR CUSTOMERS,

TARGET THE CUSTOMERS YOU WANT TO REACH, EITHER NEW OR EXISTING CUSTOMERS, AND

SHARE YOUR STORY.”

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026 InBusiness Q4 2014_Facebook.indd 28

time she runs a small campaign she can drive a twofold increase into her shop,” says Quilty.

The second is a national or regional business who needs to find new customers further afield.

“Marrey Bikes in Mayo: It’s a great shop with great product. They sell everything from starter family bikes to high-end triathlon style bikes, but there are not enough customers in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo. They posted an ad which cost a80 on Facebook and sold two high-end bikes worth a8,000 to customers in Cork. It’s a great example of a small business using Facebook and reaching customers further afield.”

The third use is for export or reaching an international market.

“In the export category Niamh Sheridan of The Irish Fairy Door Company attributes about 80 per cent of her turnover to Facebook.

She is now in over 100 markets worldwide.”

The SMB team is available to help business owners get started or make the most of the opportunities on Facebook. “Any SMB can contact us via email and we’ll be doing a lot more to help SMBs. We listen to customers about what they’re using and how they’re using Facebook. We listen to how we can make their lives easier and a lot of the feedback we get drives our products.”

Quilty has seen plenty of trends during his tenure in the everevolving tech industry, and as part of a company who’s philosophy is to ‘move fast and break things’.

He says it’s time to prepare for the next big trend: “What we now see now is mobile unlocking what we

Ciaran Quilty, Director of SMB for EMEA, Facebook with Taoiseach Enda Kenny

truly believe will be the next wave of communication for people and businesses: Video. We are blown away by how fast video on mobile is being adopted. Cisco forecast that by 2018, 69 per cent of internet traffic will be video consumption on mobile; eMarketer said in the last 24 months, there was a 600 per cent increase in video; and we saw that data ourselves on Facebook. In June we had over 1 billion video views – up 50 per cent month-on-month.

The rate of increase is staggering and we’re starting to see that playing out in businesses too. We’ve just released video for business and we think it has great potential for SMBs.” A quarter of Irish businesses don’t yet have a website or an online presence, according to Amárach Research. For businesses embarking online a Facebook page is a good place to start. There are over 1.3 billion people using Facebook, compared to 284 million active on Twitter; there’s a captive Irish audience of 2 million on Facebook, and some of those are checking their feed up to 14 times a day. I’m not planning a return to Facebook, but I can’t deny it’s probably the best platform for growing a business.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:03

Untitled-2 1

22/12/2014 16:36

FEATURE

Giving Business

Food

It only seems logical that surplus food should be used to feed those who go hungry, but the logistics involved mean most surplus food goes to waste. The Bia Food Initiative was recently established in Cork to provide businesses with a responsible alternative to wasting good food. Valerie Jordan reports.

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030 InBusiness Q4 2014_Bia Food.indd 30

“I

n 2010 for the first time ever a billion people went hungry; in the same year 1.3 billion tonnes of surplus was thrown out.

What we’re seeing nationally and globally is surplus food while people go hungry,” says BiaFi Director Eoin McCuirc. “There are 5,000 families in Cork alone being supported by Vincent de Paul for food; one in ten people suffer food poverty in Ireland, and one in four children go to school or bed hungry every day. Charities are under pressure financially and we’re not meeting the demand that’s out there for our services.”

The Bia Food Initiative (BiaFi) launched last August to provide a bridge between charities and organisations with a food surplus.

The first 10,000 sq ft depot was established in Cork to serve the Munster region. Funding dependent, BiaFi aims to open depots in Dublin in 2015 and Galway in 2016.

“We know there is food available to do this,” says McCuirc. “We’re producing really good food and there will always be a surplus. That excess is being thrown out, and there’s a cost to throwing it out. Depending on what you’re disposing it’s between a100 and a150 per tonne. We’re looking for organisations to change this process. We provide a singlestop shop for organisations to deliver surplus food, we will guarantee the liability and we will move the food to people who need it.”

BiaFi is a professionally run operation. The depot has modern

for Thought

1 in 10 people suffer food poverty in Ireland

1 in 4

children go to school or bed hungry every day

1 million tonnes

of food waste is generated in Ireland annually

a4 billion

the cost of surplus food to the Irish economy

a10 billion the amount spent on food by Irish charities each year

infrastructure and suitable food storage, chilling and freezer units.

It offers accountability, traceability, and systems that can maintain the standards food organisations expect.

“There are difficulties,” admits McCuirc. The reason this hasn’t been done before is because it’s difficult. Businesses think, ‘How do I know my product is going to go to a charity? How do I know if I give this product to somebody they’re going to look after it? How do I know I won’t be sued?’”

The other issue for businesses is changing established processes, which can represent a cost.

“Health and safety regulations are very complex and you can’t just walk into the likes of Tesco and say ‘let’s do this’. It’s a big decision an organisation needs to make; they need to go to the top level and they need to manage how to fit it into their structure. We need champions in an organisation to see this is a great thing to do, and you need them at every level.

“However, it is a really valuable thing for our organisation to say they’re socially and environmentally aware; it’s a valuable thing for an organisation to say we care about the community and we’re prepared to work to give back to the community.

“They’re saving money by doing this as well. It costs businesses money to throw food away. Take a box of Cornflakes: You’ve to take the box to one place, the plastic to another, the food to another. It costs money to render and separate that. However, that one box of InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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FEATURE

Left to right: Brendan Dempsey, St Vincent de Paul, Ciaran Foley, Director Tesco Ireland, Eoin McCuirc, Director Bia Food Initiative at the Tesco launch.

Cornflakes, if it went to a shelter it would feed somebody. That’s what it was designed for and, I think, what the business would want it to do.

“It’s a win, win, win. Businesses win, the charities win, and the environment and society wins. That’s the idea.”

McCuirc estimates setting up and running each depot for a year will cost in the region of 250,000, 750,000 for the three, or “a hell of a lot of money”. The Cork depot, he says, couldn’t have been realised without the donations and support from businesses and the local community. BiaFi received an initial 60,000 from Tesco, the biggest benefactor, to seed fund the depot. The JP McManus Benevolent Fund donated 50,000, Community Foundation of Ireland gave 30,000 and the Ireland Fund provided 10,000. Tesco also provided logistical support, advice on health and safety, and storage facilities. Ford Ireland donated the delivery van, and Cross Refrigeration provided a chill and freezer unit.

BiaFi is currently negotiating with various retailers and suppliers for their food surplus.

Tesco, Musgrave, SuperValu, Kellogg’s, Aldi and Gala are among the organisations signed up, as well as several smaller suppliers around Cork.

“We’re only really in the process of signing up organisations now, so if anybody is InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

030 InBusiness Q4 2014_Bia Food.indd 31

There’s also an

that APPfor

BiaFi’s driver Leonard Murphy in delivery van donated

by Ford Ireland.

interested we are looking for food donors. This is a vital piece of infrastructure for a modern society that doesn’t really exist in Ireland, so we’re asking food organisations and businesses to come on board and support us.

“The depot in Cork can feed every person who’s hungry in Munster. We’ve moved 37 tonnes of food since the start of August – about 80,000 worth of food. We estimate that every week out of the Munster depot we could move 50 tonnes, or 3,000 a year, which would be 6 million worth of food. We’re not talking Mickey Mouse stuff here – no one would have to go hungry.”

For more information, or to find out about donating your business’s food surplus, visit www.biafoodbank.ie

The Bia Food Initiative is part of a wider movement to reduce waste and alleviate food poverty in Ireland. Award-winning Foodcloud also aims to bring businesses and charities together with an app that facilitates the sharing of surplus food.

• Business use Foodcloud to upload details of their excess food • A local charity receives text message notification about the food donation • The charity collects the donation from the business and serves it to those in need in their community • No good food goes to waste www.foodcloud.ie For more on Foodcloud go to page 32

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FEATURE

10 IRISH

START-UPS FORGING THEIR OWN PATH Recent years has not seen a favourable economic environment to start a business in Ireland, yet some innovative companies are managing to succeed with aplomb. Dean Van Nguyen examines ten noteworthy examples for you to look out for.

ADAM AND FRIENDS

Rathfarnham toy shop Adam and Friends provide support for parents of children with special needs by not just providing a huge range of specialist products, but offering friendly information and advice for those who come into the store. In addition, the company can install a range of multi-sensory rooms designed to encourage children to engage with their surroundings. Products are also available to purchase online via the company’s e-shop. www.adamandfriends.ie

FOODCLOUD

Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien have garnered much attention recently for their app-based social enterprise that allows businesses to donate their food surpluses to worthy charities and community groups. This year Ward featured in Time magazine’s second ever Next Generation Leaders series, while in November the duo received 10,000 in investment after being named Ireland’s top young social entrepreneurs by Ben & Jerry’s Join Our Core competition. www.foodcloud.ie

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S

tarting a company is an intimidating proposition at the best of times. At the worst of times, like Ireland has experienced in recent years, it can seem downright impossible. Yet this country is experiencing a rush of start-up dynamism, with new success stories emerging all the time.

With technology and how the public interacts with it developing at a rapid pace, many start-ups have been quick to position themselves at the forefront of the revolution, with groundbreaking new apps and software being launched. Others, however, have brought new ideas to traditional bricks-and-mortar retail, the food industry, clothing trade and a variety of other markets.

To highlight the ongoing inventiveness of Irish start-ups, here are ten of the best across a variety of sectors for you to look out for in 2015.

THE CARE TEAM

Founded by a syndicate of nurses, home healthcare company The Care Team provides a range of services from basic home health, such as meal preparation, through to complex multi-disciplinary care. Established in 2013, the start-up has grown from two to 75 people in a short space of time and clinical director Cora Murphy recently collected the Start-up of the Year gong at the Image Businesswomen of the Year awards after being selected by a Newstalk panel of experts. www.careteam.ie

KILLBILLER

KillBiller is a novel new mobile app that can analyse your smartphone’s logs and data to determine which payment plan best suits your needs (ie the cheapest). Founded by entrepreneurs Bart Lehane, Shane Lynn and Ciaran Tobin, the trio promote consumer transparency, and are quick to underline exactly what information the free app is taking so as not to alienate consumers who may fear their private communications are being snooped on. www.killbiller.com

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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FEATURE

KOOKY DOUGH

The snack food industry is one tough cookie to break, but Sophie Morris’s innovative raw cookie dough product that consumers can buy and bake in eight minutes has managed to find shelf space alongside other household favourites in Tesco, Dunnes, Spar and Supervalu, among other outlets. The young Dubliner’s vision was helped along by the more financially-minded Graham Clarke (who has since departed the company) and its success has ignited her media career, which has included the release of recipe book ‘Sophie Kooks’. www.kookydough.ie

RORGUITARS

RORGuitars founder Rob O’Reilly developed his ground-breaking Expressiv MIDI Guitar System while playing in his own band Hot Tramp.

Convinced there would be demand for the device – which gives existing guitars the ability to make new sounds – the Kerry-based entrepreneur has brought it to market with the help of a successful Irish Dragons Den pitch and lucrative Kickstarter campaign. The company’s online store now boasts seven products which are also available in a number of nationwide music stores including Waltons. www.rorguitars.com

SALASO HEALTH SOLUTIONS

Limerick start-up Salaso Health Solutions allows doctors and physiotherapists to recommend exercise programmes for people suffering with injuries. Through a computer and smartphone application, professionals can send their clients customised workout plans that draw upon a library of more than 1,000 demonstration videos. As the firm says via its website, “We bring value to the patient who gets better faster, the physiotherapist who can treat more patients more effectively and scale their practice, and to the healthcare provider as healthcare costs are much lower.” www.salaso.com

STUDIO POWWOW

Studio Powwow is attempting to capitalise on the rapidly changing way kids absorb their media by creating content that works across a variety of platforms, including television, smartphones and tablets. For example, earlier this year the company released its first entertainment franchise ShipAntics, which features a series of puzzle adventures, games and animated cartoon content. The series received positive reviews across the board, including enthusiastic write ups from the Irish Independent and USA Today. www.studiopowwow.com

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

032 InBusiness Q4 2014_Ones to Watch.indd 33

SLUGS AND SNAILS

It’s not easy to identify the demand for a product not currently in the market but mum Kathleen Redmond did just that by launching her own range of tights for newborn boys. The family-run company Slugs and Snails now produce a range of ecofriendly products sold in 22 countries around the world and has been featured in The Telegraph and The Guardian, among other publications, as well as scooping the silver prize at the 2014 Bank of Ireland Startup Awards. www.slugsandsnails.ie

XPRESO

Real-time courier app Xpreso allows customers of delivery companies to track their parcels while in transit, providing live map-based tracking and accurate arrival times. Launched in 2012, the company has gone from strength to strength, winning the Lift Off 8 competition which secured a 30,000 30,000 investment in December 2013 and, just recently, co-founder Eamon Keane accepted the award for Best New Start Up in the Dublin Regional Final of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur.

Xpreso currently operates out of NDRC’s Launchpad incubator, Ireland’s leading digital accelerator. www.web.xpreso.com

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SME FEATURE

Happy Out Pair

It took a round the world soul-seeking mission for Wicklow twins David and Stephen Flynn to discover what they really wanted to do with their lives. One half of Greystones health food mecca The Happy Pear, David Flynn, tells InBUSINESS about their own definition of success.

David and Stephen Flynn.

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034 InBusiness Q4 2014_Happy Pear.indd 34

Q: Where did the idea for your business come from?

A: We both studied business degrees and at that time our definition of success was being millionaires before we were 30. We always knew we wanted to do our own thing together but felt there had to be more to life than getting a ‘real’ job so, like a lot of our generation, we went travelling in search of ‘truth and meaning’! I went to South Africa with the idea of being a golf pro and Steve went to Canada to do tree planting. Coincidentally, we both ended up becoming vegetarians at the same time and spent a couple of years getting really into health and food.

We returned home after a couple of years with a new definition of success, where we wanted to do something around health, community and fresh food. We were really clear that we wanted to make the world a happier, healthier place starting with Greystones where we grew up. With that Steve walked in and offered to buy out the fruit and veg shop that our mother used to shop in when we were kids. And we took it from there. We wanted to start a healthy food revolution. We called it The Happy Pear as there was two of us and we were going to sell pears!

Q: Your business is focused on giving back to the community. Could you tell me a little about this approach?

A: We grew up in Greystones so once we started our business here,

community was always going to be a major part of it. Various aspects of our business keep the community at the heart of what we do. We have been giving away free organic porridge every morning for the last three years.

People really appreciate it and it doesn’t cost us a lot. Every year we take part in Healthy Eating Week in local schools to help encourage children to eat more fruit and veg. We run regular baking contests where people from Greystones and beyond gather with their goods on a Sunday.

There’s live music and lots of family fun. We also try to buy as much fruit and veg from locals as we can, often bartering their home grown produce for groceries. Buying and supporting local is where it’s at as far as we’re concerned.

Q: You have described your business as ‘having soul’. Could you explain what you mean by this?

A: A friend once said he believed The Happy Pear gave people a soul massage.

I don’t know if that’s true but we do our best to be an active part in adding health and happiness to people, whether in the shop buying veg, in our café getting food and coffee or through our online course. We are trying to do the same thing across the board where we feel we are adding to people’s lives rather than trying to get money out of them. Today, in this age of transparency, people are looking for businesses that stand for more than profit InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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SME FEATURE

and which have a soul. We do our best every day to be one of those.

Q: Are people in Ireland becoming more conscious about what they eat?

A: Definitely. When we started ten years ago what we were doing was way left of centre. We were two hippies starting a veg shop and a vegetarian café, so people thought we were mad. Today, healthy foods are cool. I think this is due to a few reasons; degenerative diseases are on the up and people are realising that what they eat is having a major affect on their health. Also, the fact that Hollywood celebrities are doing it means it filters down to the public.

Q: How much focus do you place on quality customer service?

A: A huge amount. I think the human aspect of our business is key. Lidl and Aldi are very effective businesses but I think there will always be room for businesses that are genuinely focused on the customer and community.

As part of our culture, we encourage our staff to get to know our customers and to go the extra mile.

It is key that customers have a positive experience and this all comes down to service.

Q: What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve received?

A: Follow your dreams, make decisions from your gut and get stuck in and start making mistakes.

The sooner you start to make them the more comfortable you’ll be with InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

The Happy Pear Greystones.

Left: David and Stephen Flynn, founders of The Happy Pear.

them and the trials and tribulations of business.

Q: As a small business what is your biggest challenge?

A: Trying to juggle all aspects of growing a business. Properly delegating projects so that they don’t come back to us like a boomerang is also a challenge. It can be difficult to focus on the core business as we often get distracted by the next shiny project!

Q: Are there any expansion plans on the horizon for The Happy Pear?

A: We have lots of dreams that we feed daily. We hope to expand our current site in Greystones in 2015 and hopefully some day we’ll open a branch in Dublin.

Education is a huge focus for us. One of our main skills is how to eat healthy foods and make them taste great. We’ve a wonderful team around us that run the shop so we’re focusing on education and helping people eat more veg. In

schools, colleges and universities, businesses wherever, we want to help you eat more veg and to be healthier.

Q: You have released a book of recipes and stories to mark ten years in business. Tell me a bit about that.

A: We’ve wanted to release a book for the last five years but it never happened. We had customers asking us for

recipes for years and this was the real motivation behind it. We were in business ten years in October so we thought it was a great milestone to celebrate with the release of a book. Penguin came along late last year and it has turned out to be a fantastic partnership.

Although the book is in our name it’s the work of all the wonderful people and chefs that make up the Happy Pear.

MY START-UP TO WATCH: Blanco Niño Having opened the very successful and award-winning Mexican street food restaurant Little Ass Burrito Bar in 2012, Dubliner Philip Martin has since been working towards bringing the Blanco Niño ‘tortilla revolution’ to the masses. www.blanco-nino.com For more on start-ups to watch in 2015 go to page 32

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OPINION

CHANGING The evidence is overwhelming that developing countries are making rapid progress, but old attitudes towards Africa are blurring our view of potential new business opportunities, writes Hans Zomer.

“W

hy did no one tell me this before?” The indignation was clear and his voice angry when a school student responded to a talk I had given. In the presentation I had mentioned that developing countries are making huge progress and that nine in every ten of the world’s children at primary school age now are enrolled in a school.

It was obvious that here was a young man who felt cheated. Cheated because throughout his childhood he had only heard one simple narrative about developing countries: Africa is poor and full of misery and suffering, and only charity can do something about that.

POSITIVE NEWS NOT BEING DELIVERED This student is not alone in his thinking. Recent research by Ipsos MRBI shows that while the vast majority of people in Ireland support the principle of overseas aid, more than half of us don’t actually think our aid is working.

When asked whether they thought Africa is worse off today than it was 20 years ago, over half of respondents in the survey said they believed things were not improving at all. Yet, there is overwhelming evidence that aid is in fact making a massive difference. But people in Ireland are not seeing its impact, and the positive news is not making headlines.

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036 InBusiness Q4 2014_Dochas.indd 36

Trade with Africa: The Stats Total merchandise trade between Ireland and Africa increased by

35%

from 2010 to 2013, from just over 1.7 billion to over 2.3 billion Growth rates across Africa have averaged 4.8 per cent for 2013 with projections for 2014 at

5.1%

The last three years have seen an increase of

25%

in Irish goods exported to sub-Saharan Africa and 27 per cent with the entire continent

13%

of Irish chief executives say they are actively targeting Africa as an export market, up from 9 per cent in 2013 (PwC Survey) Source: Africa Ireland Economic Forum 2014

the face of

After all, the media have a natural bias towards the sudden and the dramatic. The slow but steady improvement in living conditions, the gradual increase in school enrolment rates and the steady progress towards the goal to reduce extreme poverty are simply too protracted to make for good media stories.

So most people in Ireland are not seeing the enormous changes taking place in many countries in Africa; • Over the last 20 years, the number of people that live in extreme poverty has fallen dramatically: In 2010, one in five people in developing countries lived below the poverty line – down from almost half in 1990.

• Worldwide, for the first time in history, nine out of ten primary school-aged children are now in school.

• The number of people dying as a result of contracting malaria has been cut in half, as has the likelihood of women dying during childbirth.

MYTHS AFFECT INVESTMENT DECISIONS The general public may not be aware, but the rise of Africa is a live discussion among economists across the globe. Many business publications have highlighted that south of the Sahara, hopelessness and poverty are being replaced by growth and optimism. With an average growth of 4.8 per cent in the 2001InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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OPINION

Hans Zomer, Director of Dóchas

2011 period, sub-Saharan Africa is among the fastest growing regions in the world.

Terms like “Africa Rising” and “African Lions” are being used to illustrate the continent’s economic boom, with the World Economic Forum estimating that economic growth on the continent will average more than five per cent in 2014.

In 2040, Africa will have the world’s largest and youngest workforce. This fact, along with the falling rates of corruption, rapidly improving infrastructure and a growing middle class who are driving increased consumption, helps construct a comprehensive picture of a continent with great investment opportunities for Irish business. But the problem is that too many Irish companies are not aware that there is such a positive transformation underway.

“As long as our business leaders think of African countries as hopelessly poor and corrupt, they do not see the full picture of a dynamic and rapidly changing continent,” says Siobhán McGee, a lecturer in business and development at UCD. “With greater awareness of the changes, Irish businesses can both maximise existing opportunities and contribute to poverty reduction. It is time to re-think what we think we know about Africa.”

A NEW SERVICE In order to bridge this communications gap, Irish NGOs have launched a new service, aimed at changing the perceptions of InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

036 InBusiness Q4 2014_Dochas.indd 37

Merciana Uwamwezi has had amazing success since starting to grow and sell pineapple suckers. Her story features in the World’s Best News September 2014 Edition.

Meru Herbs pasta sauce is fully processed in Kenya and is stocked in Donnybrook Fair, The Food Centre and Fresh.

developing countries, and ‘busting the myths’ about global poverty.

Entitled ‘The World’s Best News’, the news service presents stories of change and innovation in what many in Ireland still call the Third World, but which in reality is a diverse group of countries.

We believe that anyone reading these stories, and hearing about the drive and vision of the people profiled in them, cannot help becoming enthusiastic and inspired.

Hopefully some of the stories featured will find their way into people’s consciousness and begin to erode the old stereotypes and myths about poor countries and poor communities. It would be even more beneficial if this new information encouraged Irish businesses to

explore new opportunities for new services and new partnerships for innovation and human development.

The stories featured on the social media service are inspiring examples of new technologies, personal courage and great resilience. For more information on The World’s Best News go to worldsbestnews. tumblr.com Hans Zomer is Director of Dóchas, the Irish national platform of Development NGOs. Through Dóchas, Irish NGOs work together to improve the impact of their work, and to apply their collective experiences to inform government policy and practice.

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234407_1C_Limerick_JR_CIB .indd 1

22/12/2014 16:37

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

CHAMBERS

CATCH UP CHAMBER COMMENT

AWARDS RECOGNISE

GREEN ACHIEVEMENTS ON NOVEMBER 12TH 2014, the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber announced the winners of the 2014 EnviroCom Awards at a Gala Awards Dinner honouring outstanding businesses and not-for-profit organisations for their environmental achievements in the county. Speaking at the event, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Alex White TD said: “We need local agents of change to drive the green economy. Not just global, but all of us working from the ground up.” Award winners included, UCD, St Michael’s Hospital, Cosgrave Development, An Garda Síochána and Future Fit.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

039 InBusiness Q4 2014_Chamber News.indd 39

DLR Chamber President Dr Josephine Browne, Minister Alex White, Malcolm Emery of Utilitywise and An Cathaoirleach Marie Baker of the DLR County Council.

“These figures provide further evidence that Ireland is enjoying a period of sustained growth, and that Irish businesses are confident about the future.

However, in order for the employment rate to keep rising, we must continue to focus on improving competitiveness and facilitating businesses in creating more jobs as a priority.”

Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot responding to the latest figures which showed the number of people signing on to the Live Register fall by 4,100 in November when compared to the previous month.

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23/12/2014 12:06

CHAMBERS NEWS

CHAMBER COMMENT “The Commission’s approach sends an important message at the start of the new term; stimulating private investment for strategic infrastructure is vital.”

POWERFUL PITCH CONVINCES JUDGES

at Start-Up Competition

Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot welcomes the new European Commission Investment Plan and its focus on leveraging private sector investment.

Collaboration Remains Key to Midwest Region A prosperous, strong region depends on everyone working together. This was the message from Cathal Treacy, President of Limerick Chamber when he addressed over 400 of the region’s top senior business and Government officials at the Limerick Chamber President’s dinner at the Strand Hotel on Friday November 21st and called on them to “recognise that there is strength in collaboration” and to “become a champion for our region.” During the gala evening, Treacy unveiled Limerick Chamber’s new 200th anniversary logo. In 2015, Limerick Chamber will celebrate its 200th year and has planned a year-long celebration programme for its bicentennial year.

40

039 InBusiness Q4 2014_Chamber News.indd 40

Ready Steady Go Business Start-up Competition Winners Robert and Louise Doyle of Irepak Ltd. with Ivan Yates, keynote speaker at the Enterprise Expo.

T

he producer of a new healthy product called ‘Powerful Yogurt’, Robert Doyle, was the winner of the Ready Steady Go Business Start-up Competition on November 5th. The announcement came after four finalists delivered their pitch at Keadeen Hotel in the afternoon of the Ready Steady Go Enterprise Expo, which was organised by Newbridge Chamber with the generous support of Kildare County Council and Kildare Local Enterprise Office. The competition prize included two places on a dedicated and customised executive management training programme with one of Europe’s most successful real estate and hotel groups, the Von Der Heyden Group.

NEW BOARD APPOINTMENT FOR SHANNON CHAMBER Shannon Chamber has announced that Julie Dickerson, managing director of Shannon Engine Support (SES), is to join its Board of Directors.

Welcoming Ms Dickerson to the board, Chief Executive Helen Downes said that her appointment brings a wealth of management experience in the aviation sector to an existing strong Chamber board. “Her appointment will add huge value to the Chamber’s undertakings at a time when the aviation sector at Shannon is poised for change. We look forward to working alongside Julie and will value her contributions on key strategic issues.”

Julie Dickerson

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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CHAMBERS NEWS

Punchestown the big winner at Kildare Business Awards John Savage, Business President, Kerry EMEA; Paul Carey, CEO, Kildare County Council; Sonia Flynn, MD, Facebook North Kildare Chamber hosted the inaugural Kildare Business Ireland; Allan Awards on Friday, November 28th in The K Club in front of a sell-out Shine, CEO, room of 300 Kildare business leaders. Businesses celebrated into North Kildare Chamber; the early hours at the event which saw Punchestown Racecourse William Doyle, win ‘Overall Business of the Year for 2014’. William Doyle, CEO of CEO, Newbridge Newbridge Silverware received the prestigious award ‘Outstanding Silverware; Dick Contribution to Business in Kildare Award’. Companies attending O’Sullivan, GM, the event included Kerry EMEA, Facebook Ireland, Ballymore Punchestown Properties, Kildare Village and GE Capital.

Racecourse

‘MUST-HAVES’ OUTLINED AT GALWAY BUSINESS LUNCH Pictured at the recent Galway Chamber Business Lunch were: Pat McDonagh, Supermacs; Chamber President Frank Greene; Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland and Galway City CEO Brendan McGrath

S

peaking at the recent Galway Chamber Business Lunch, Chamber President Frank Greene outlined certain ‘must-haves’ in order to create jobs. To a capacity crowd, including Mayor of Galway Councillor Donal Lyons, Frank Greene said that in order to continue the good news for Galway on the jobs front, there were certain fundamentals that must be addressed. He said that to achieve productive job creation there are three ‘must-haves’: the creation and attraction of talent; building dynamic and competitive city regions where the talent will thrive; and support for this talent to deliver connected, world-leading research.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

039 InBusiness Q4 2014_Chamber News.indd 41

Digital Marketers Recognised in Cork Cork Chamber Business School, Biznetcork Skillnet, announced the winners of the inaugural Cork Digital Marketing Awards on Thursday, November 6th 2014. The winning businesses, which were recognised for their innovative use of digital marketing, received their awards at a gala lunch at the Kingsley Hotel. “We were delighted to receive nearly 300 applications from organisations of all sizes and in virtually every industry,” stated Norma Lynch, Cork Chamber Business School Manager. Winners on the day included Hairybaby, Castlemartyr Resort, EIL Ireland, Hayfield Manor, Irish Made Gifts, On the QT and EazyCity.

CHAMBER COMMENT “The entrance of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, and eventually PTSB, to the SME lending market will add to the various credit facilities already on offer from the banks, and help support this renewed growth amongst SMEs.” Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot responds to the latest report from the Credit Review Office which shows that the recovery of Ireland’s SME sector is gaining momentum.

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23/12/2014 12:06

CHAMBERS NEWS CHAMBER EXECUTIVE FORUM

Minister Outlines Goals

at Executive Forum The final Chamber Executive Forum of 2014 addressed the issues of Government support for SMEs and the role of LEOs in local economic development.

C

hambers Ireland held the final Chamber Executives Forum of 2014 on Thursday November 27th. The Chamber Executives Forum is held four times a year and is an opportunity for Chamber executives from around the Network to come together to share best practice and co-ordinate future plans.

Given the particular relevance of his portfolio to the work of the Chamber Network, Minister of State in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with special responsibility for Small Business and Collective Bargaining, Gerald Nash TD was invited to address the Forum and outline his goals to support small businesses in Ireland. Of the many

topics discussed, one in particular resonated with Chamber executives as being of significant concern for their members. This was the prospect of increasing labour costs and the loss of competitiveness of Irish businesses.

There was an open and productive debate around the establishment of the Low Pay Commission, and the impact that direct taxation has had on workers’ pay packets.

Another area of discussion was the role of LEOs in local economic development and their relationship with Chambers. Constructive engagement between Chambers and LEOs was highlighted as a key goal for both Chamber executives and the Minister.

Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber, Minister for State Gerald Nash TD and Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland

The minister highlighted the work of Chambers Ireland on the Advisory Group on Small Business and the Retail Forum, and welcomed the contributions from the Chamber Network. The Chamber executives committed to further engagement with the Minister in order to help support the growth of Irish SMEs in 2015.

Minister for State Gerald Nash TD with CEO of Chambers Ireland Ian Talbot and CEO of Cork Chamber Conor Healy with Chamber Presidents, CEOs and Staff

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InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:07

CHAMBERS NEWS CHANGES AT CHAMBERS

CHANGES AT CHAMBERS 2014 has seen a number of changes in the team at Chambers Ireland. There have been new appointments for existing staff, as well as some new additions. We also welcomed a new President of the Board of Chambers Ireland.

NEW APPOINTMENTS Clive Bellows was appointed President of Chambers Ireland in September 2014. Clive has been working in Northern Trust since May 2011. As Country Head Ireland, Clive has overall responsibility for leading the company’s Irish operations in Dublin and Limerick.

Prior to joining Northern Trust, Clive was Managing Director at JP Morgan and responsible for EMEA asset management and hedge funds. During his 30 year career, Clive has also worked at Chase Manhattan Bank, Deutsche Bank and Barclays International. He also spent six years at Northern Trust London, between 1997 and 2003, as Head of Relationship Management for Global Fund Services and Investment Manager Liaison Group. He joined the Board of Chambers Ireland in October 2012.

Mark O’Mahoney was appointed Director of Policy and Communications in July 2014. Mark oversees Chambers Ireland’s public affairs team and

Clive Bellows

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is responsible for communicating and driving the policy agenda with Government, the media and other policy and decision makers. Mark joined Chambers Ireland in May 2007 and held the position of Product Manager, overseeing Chamber products and services, international projects and trade policy. Mark holds a BA (Hons) in History and Politics from the University of Limerick, an MSc (Econ) in International Politics from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and a Grad Dip in International Development from LSE. James Kiernan has been appointed Head of Relationship Management in Chambers Ireland. James will be responsible for maintaining existing relationships with the Chamber Network and corporate partners on behalf of the organisation. He is the main point of contact for all membership and commercial activity.

James has been with Chambers Ireland for over eight years. Prior to joining Chambers Ireland James worked in marketing and finance roles in Ireland and Australia.

NEW MEMBERS OF STAFF Emma Kerins joined Chambers Ireland in November 2014. As Project Officer, Emma has responsibility for co-ordinating international projects, trade policy, and export services.

Emma holds a law degree from the

Mark O’Mahoney

University of Limerick and an LLM from Queen’s University, Belfast. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in public relations from the European Institute of Communications. Prior to joining Chambers, Emma worked as a political assistant to a TD in the Houses of the Oireachtas and as Projects Co-ordinator with the National Women’s Council in New Zealand.

Aoife Nolan joined Chambers Ireland in November 2014 as Relationship Development Co-ordinator. In her role she is responsible for developing and strengthening relationships with all the Chambers in our network as well as commercial stakeholders. Aoife will assist local Chambers in a support function to help resolve issues they may have and support their ongoing work for members. Aoife holds a MA in Political Communication from DCU and a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Culture and Society also from DCU. While completing her Masters last year, Aoife worked as an intern in the Department of the Taoiseach.

Carly Mooney joined Chambers Ireland in November 2014 and is responsible for general administration and the day-today running of the front office. Prior to joining Chambers Ireland, Carly worked as an Office Manager and Personal Assistant for three years. Carly holds a diploma in Forensics Psychology.

James Kiernan

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CHAMBERS NEWS TTIP

Ireland

AND TTIP Any deal reached in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations could have significant implications for the European economy.

Emma Kerins, Projects Officer, Chambers Ireland, answers questions surrounding the transatlantic talks.

Q: What is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership?

A: The seventh and latest round of TTIP negotiations, this time held in Washington D.C., concluded in October and generated huge interest amongst policy makers and businesses on both continents. For context, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is a free-trade agreement currently being negotiated between the EU and US. The agreement has three main strands: improved market access; improved regulatory coherence; and improved co-operation when it comes to setting international standards.

Should the TTIP negotiations be successfully concluded, the European economy is predicted to grow by about a119 billion per year. After several years of economic recession, economies on both sides of the Atlantic need this kind of stimulus, which will help to promote growth,

After several years of economic recession, economies on both sides of the Atlantic need this kind of stimulus, which will help to promote growth, create employment and encourage investment.”

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create employment and encourage investment. The partnership will also have effects for the wider global economy, as increased trade will raise the demand for raw materials and components produced in other countries outside of the EU and the US.

Q: Where are the talks at now? What are the issues still to be worked out?

A: After the conclusion of the latest round of talks in October, further discussions were held on regulatory coherence, customs and trade facilitation, energy and raw materials, IPR, dispute settlement and SMEs. The European Commission clarified that publicly-funded health and social services, publiclyfunded education, water collection, purification, distribution and management services and film, TV and other audiovisual services would be excluded from the discussions. It has also been made clear that although increasing trade is of paramount importance, the need to ensure Europe’s high standards in the areas of the environment, health and safety, protection of

privacy as well as workers’ and consumer rights are vital, and thus will not be affected by the TTIP negotiations.

The negotiations have also further committed to increase transparency, public consultation and democratic oversight. A range of information on the ongoing talks can be easily accessed through the European Commission’s trade website.

Q: How can TTIP help SMEs?

A: Small and medium enterprises are significant contributors to the economy on both sides of the Atlantic, with 20 million SMEs operating in Europe and over 28 million in the US. Negotiators are working to ensure that SMEs are in a position to take full advantage of the opportunities that an agreement would provide. As part of this effort, there have been discussions on how best to frame the TTIP so it will be easily accessible and understandable to a company hoping to benefit.

Arnaldo Abruzzini, Secretary General of Eurochambres, stated in a recent publication: “When

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CHAMBERS NEWS TTIP

we talk about SMEs in TTIP, we have to differentiate between provisions in the future agreement that are so to say pure ‘trade’ provisions, and others which are more of a ‘tradesupporting’ nature.”

It is vital that negotiators on both sides establish mechanisms within the agreement that would easily facilitate SMEs’ participation in transatlantic trade after the TTIP takes effect.

Provisions could also include a committee that would engage with the small business community and the development of web-based information and other resources to help SMEs understand the provisions of the agreement and how they can benefit from it.

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Q: How can TTIP help Ireland?

A: Exports have performed strongly in Ireland over the past several years, even when other sectors of the economy have struggled.

It is for this reason that the TTIP could have massively positive implications for the Irish economy. The DJEI has reported that because the country already maintains strong trade links with the US, Ireland could benefit from TTIP more than double the European average and current projections estimate that more than 1.1 per cent could be added to Irish GDP. Successful negotiations could also add a800 million a year to the Irish economy and ultimately create 4,000 jobs. Sectors which would particularly benefit

Negotiators are working to ensure that SMEs are in a position to take full advantage of the opportunities that an agreement would provide. As part of this effort, there have been discussions on how best to frame the TTIP so it will be easily accessible and understandable to a company hoping to benefit.” in Ireland include key employers like life sciences, ICT and manufacturing.

Ireland’s goods and services exporters, particularly SMEs, would also see a benefit from reductions in tariff as well as non-tariff barriers.

Q: Where to go from here?

A: At present there is no timeframe for when negotiations are likely to conclude. However, it is imperative that Irish exporters are prepared

if they are to be in a position to fully take advantage of these proposals. Organisations like Chambers Ireland and partners such as Eurochambres and the International Chamber of Commerce will be working hard to brief our members on the ongoing negotiations and potential implications for Irish trade so that Irish business is best placed to fully reap the proposed benefits of the TTIP.

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CHAMBERS NEWS MEDIATION

Mediation

Meets Judges A new cross border project aims to encourage businesses to choose mediation as an alternative to litigation in the event of a commercial dispute.

T

he benefits of mediation are well known, in that it delivers confidentiality and costs savings, while offering parties an opportunity to reduce the risk of an adverse decision by allowing a degree of control over the process and its outcome. It is also well known that mediation, rather than litigation, is good for business. A significant benefit offered by mediation in consumer and commercial disputes is cost-effective access to justice.

Many consumer and commercial complaints are likely to be for relatively small sums of money and thus parties may not wish to spend large amounts in an attempt to resolve them. It is precisely for this reason that mediation can be so beneficial to business, particularly SMEs who often don’t have the same resources for legal expenses as larger corporations.

In Ireland, ADR processes, such as mediation and conciliation, already form part of many statutory codes, ranging from industrial relations to commercial litigation. In 2011, the Minister for Justice gave effect to the 2008 EC Mediation Directive to form the EC (Mediation) Regulations 2011 which outlines the way mediation can be used in cross border disputes for commercial and civil cases. The Government has also committed to publishing a Mediation Bill, based on recommendations made in a Law Reform Commission report, which will introduce legal structure to the use of mediation in Ireland. However,

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at the time of going to print, the Government has yet to announce when this legislation will be published, meaning at this point it will probably be early 2015.

However, in spite of legislative developments, mediation is still not used in Ireland, or in Europe, as broadly as it could be. While larger companies may be well aware of both the benefits and availability of mediation, SMEs often are not, and so find themselves embroiled in lengthy and expensive court proceedings. So why then is mediation, particularly in smaller commercial disputes, not used more?

Studies have shown that many legal practitioners do not confidently promote mediation because of an uncertainty as to how it works in practise. The absence of interaction between judges and mediators, as well as the difficulty in accessing clear and comprehensive information, also hinders the full development of mediation as a viable alternative to litigation.

It is for this reason that Chambers Ireland is currently working with a number of European Chambers of Commerce, as well as the European Association of Judges for Mediation, to develop a pilot mediation scheme that will be implemented across a number of partner countries in Europe to promote mediation in commercial cases. The project, ‘Mediation Meets Judges’ aims to encourage mediation as an alternative to litigation in the

hope of getting the message out, to SMEs in particular, that mediation should be the first option in a commercial dispute.

This wouldn’t be the first kind of pilot mediation scheme launched in Ireland. An initiative involving the Courts Service, the Legal Aid Board and the Family Mediation Service (FMS) at the District Court has been successfully operating for some years. The Courts Service in Dublin, in partnership with a number of community mediation centres, has also been operating a pilot mediation scheme for certain types of civil disputes since 2011.

As mentioned, we are still awaiting the publication of the Mediation Bill, which is necessary to consolidate existing statues and apply the EC Mediation Regulations to domestic disputes. In the meantime, Chambers Ireland will work with our European partners to launch the ‘Mediation Meets Judges’ pilot scheme with the aim of promoting ADR far more frequently in commercial and consumer disputes. We hope to see a much greater engagement with ADR in the future, to the benefit of both business and the courts.

This article has been produced with the financial support of the Civil Justice Programme of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Chambers Ireland and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:08

PARTNER PROFILE GLOHEALTH

FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH GloHealth CEO Jim Dowdall reflects on the company’s strong performance throughout 2014.

Q: Has GloHealth

A: Yes, very much so. It is almost two and a half years since we launched GloHealth and in that time we have had unparalleled growth which we are delighted with. 110,000 customers have now switched to GloHealth, a level of growth never before achieved in the health insurance industry.

This is even more impressive when you consider that this growth is happening in a contracting market. We are very proud of the fact that so many individuals and companies have determined that GloHealth best responds to their health insurance needs.

TripAdvisor, Kleinwort Benson Investors and Airbnb choose GloHealth as their health insurance provider is something we are very proud of.

When we launched GloHealth in 2012 we provided customers with the ability to tailor their health insurance to their own particular needs and in 2014 we continued to build on this by bringing more innovations to our market. In May, GloHealth launched the Net Plans which introduced the next generation of tailored health cover to the market followed by our Activate plans in August. The overall GloHealth product range offers our customers unparalleled control, flexibility and peace of mind.

Q: What are some of the

Q: Why do you think so

highlights from the past year?

many consumers and companies continue to choose GloHealth to provide for their health insurance needs?

continued to build on the strong position attained in 2013?

A: The fact that our business has continued to grow every single day is very satisfying. We are also delighted that so many companies are now selecting GloHealth, from the largest companies to the newest FDI companies that are setting up in Ireland. Having successful companies such as Facebook, Dell, Boston Scientific Ireland,

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A: Quite simply it is down to the quality of our innovative health insurance products – which let our customers tailor their benefits to suit their own needs, all of which is supported by market leading service. In 2014 we continued to set the standard and we are

Jim Dowdall, CEO, GloHealth

delighted to be recognised as the benchmark for quality health insurance.

As a result more companies select GloHealth because they get greater value from their health insurance spend and their employees have a higher level of appreciation for a very important benefit being provided to them.

is a simple process and a very positive experience for their employees. We expect that we will continue to see an increasing number of companies selecting GloHealth as their health insurer of choice.

Q: Where does GloHealth

A: Being recognised for the second year by InBUSINESS for an Editor’s Choice Award is very satisfying for all in our team. It is fantastic to get this recognition for what we have achieved.

For a young company like GloHealth to be recognised as the Best Private Health Insurer in Ireland is something we are proud of.

go from here?

A: We are determined that we will build on the record breaking success that we have achieved over the last two and a half years and we will continue to be regarded as the benchmark for quality health insurance. Companies now understand that changing health insurer

Q: Finally, your reaction to being nominated for the Editor’s Choice award for the second year running?

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS 2014

LOCAL

LEADERS RECOGNISED

LIMERICK CITY AND COUNTY COUNCIL SCOOPS TOP ACCOLADE AT THE 2014 EXCELLENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS. Limerick City and County Council received the overall Excellence in Local Government Award 2014 last November. They also scooped another two awards for their Smarter Travel sponsored by AECOM and Local Authority Innovations sponsored by AIB for Limerick County and City Council merging together creating a new agile public governance model.

Speaking during the event, Ian Talbot, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive said: “While 2014 has been a year of hugely challenging change and transformation for local Government, local authorities have embraced this opportunity to innovate and develop new approaches to sustaining and supporting their communities. It is an honour for us to host these awards and recognise the hard work that goes on at the heart of our communities on a daily basis. I want to congratulate not just the winners and shortlisted organisations, but just as importantly, the people who made all these projects and activities happen.”

THE WINNERS Local Authority of the Year sponsored by AECOM Limerick City and County Council Supporting Active Communities sponsored by EirGrid Wexford County Council - On Our Own Ground: Wexford’s Treasures, Parish by Parish Joint Local Authority Initiative sponsored by Zurich Fingal County Council National Building Control Management System (BCMS) Smarter Travel sponsored by AECOM Limerick City and County Council - Limerick Smarter Travel Supporting Tourism sponsored by Fáilte Ireland Galway County Council STONE WALL WORKSHOP - Féile na gCloch, Inis Oírr

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Supporting the Local Economy sponsored by EirGrid Cork County Council ‘Taste Cork’ Regional Food Marketing Initiative Health & Wellbeing sponsored by Healthy Ireland Cork City Council Functional Zone @ LeisureWorld Sustainable Environment sponsored by the European Recycling Platform Cavan County Council - Citizen Engagement Strategy for the Domestic Wastewater Assessments (DWWA)

Best Library Service sponsored by CBRE Mayo County Council Mayo Musical Instrument Lending Scheme

Local Authority Innovation sponsored by AIB Limerick City and County Council Creating a new agile public governance model through the merger of Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council

Best Practice in Citizen Engagement sponsored by ESB Waterford County Council - Waterford County Comhairle na nÓg

Sustaining the Arts sponsored by An Post Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council - Musical Memories

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23/12/2014 12:52

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS 2014

LOCAL AUTHORITY BEST PRACTICE OF THE YEAR: IN CITIZEN LIMERICK CITY ENGAGEMENT: AND COUNTY WATERFORD COUNCIL COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland; Conn Murray, Chief Executive of Limerick City and County Council; Cllr Kevin Sheahan, Mayor of Limerick City and County Council; Elaine Brick, Associate Director, AECOM; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD.

SUPPORTING THE ACTIVE ECONOMY: LOCAL COMMUNITIES: CORK COUNTY WEXFORD COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

Dr. Ned Culleton; Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland; Rosemary Steen, Director of Public Affairs, EirGrid; Celestine Rafferty, Wexford Local Studies; Fionnuala Hanrahan, County Librarian, Wexford County Council Libraries Services; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD; Cllr Fergie Kehoe, Chairman, Housing, Community & Environment SPC; Cllr. Malcolm Byrne, Cathaoirleach, WCC.

HEALTH & JOINT LOCAL AUTHORITY WELLBEING: INITIATIVE: CORK CITY FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland; Cllr Anthony Lavin; Mags Murray, County Mayor; Gerry Fitzpatrick, Zurich Insurances; MairĂŠad Phelan, Fingal CoCo; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD; Paul Read, Chief Executive, Fingal CoCo Cllr Grainne Maguire; Ted Leddy, Deputy County Manager.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS 2014

SMARTER TRAVEL: LIMERICK CITY AND COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland; Conn Murray, Chief Executive, LCCC; Siobhan O’Dwyer; Miriam O’Donoghue; Eoin O’Mahony, Associate Director, AECOM; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD; Cllr Kevin Sheahan, Mayor of Limerick City and County.

Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland; Catherine McConnell, A/Director of Services Planning, Community & Enterprise; Orla Carroll, Director of Dublin, Fáilte Ireland; Pat McAfee, Master Stone Mason, Galway County Council; Marie Mannion Heritage Officer, Galway County Council; Cllr Mary Hoade, Cathaoirleach Galway County Council; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD; Enda Ó Conghaile, Comhar Chaomhain, Inis Oirr.

SUPPORTING TOURISM: GALWAY COUNTY COUNCIL

BEST LIBRARY SERVICE: MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland; Anne Ronayne, Community Sports Development, Mayo County Council; Enda Luddy, MD, CBRE; Richie Hickey, Senior Executive Librarian, Mayo County Council; Austin Vaughan, County Librarian, Mayo County Council; Cllr Damien Ryan, Cathaoirleach, Mayo County Council; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD; Paul Benson, A/Director of Services, Mayo County Council; Cllr Seamus Weir, Mayo County Council.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS 2014

BEST PRACTICE IN CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT: WATERFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland; Cllr Jason Murphy, Waterford County Council; Aoife French, Waterford Comhairle na nÓg; Jamie Moore, Waterford Comhairle na nÓg; Paul Hickey, Manager, Systems and Sustainability; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD; Cal Franklin, Waterford Comhairle na nOg; Macdara ó Faoláin, Waterford Comhairle na nOg.

SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY: CORK COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland; Tim Lucey, Chief Executive, Cork County Council; Rosemary Steen, Director of Public Affairs, EirGrid; Alan Coleman, Mayor of Cork County Council; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD.

HEALTH & WELLBEING: CORK CITY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland; Ann Doherty, CEO of Cork City Council; Cllr Ken O’Flynn, Deputy Lord Mayor, Cork City Council; Kate O’Flaherty, Director, Department of Health; Christine Moloney, Chief Executive of Leisure World; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS 2014

SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT: CAVAN COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland; Ger Finn, Director of Services, Cavan County Council; John Brannigan, Senior Executive Officer, Cavan County Council; Yvonne Holmes, Head of Corporate Communications, ERP; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD.

Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland; Mihai Bilauca, Limerick City and County Council; Cllr Kevin Sheahan, Mayor of Limerick City and County; Annette O’Donoghue, Head of SME Market Engagement, AIB; Brian Kennedy, Limerick City and County Council; Conn Murray, Chief Executive, LCCC; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD; Carmel Kirby, Limerick City and County Council.

LOCAL AUTHORITY INNOVATION: LIMERICK CITY AND COUNTY COUNCIL

SUSTAINING THE ARTS: DUN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNCIL Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland; Kenneth Redmond, County Arts Officer, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council; Angus Laverty, Director of Public Affairs, An Post; Cllr Marie Baker, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS LIMERICK CITY AND COUNTY COUNCIL

ONE VOICE,

ONE VISION

Carmel Kirby, from Limerick City and County Council’s change management team, explains how they are innovating towards a new agile model of local government as a result of their merger.

I

n June 2011, the Government announced that a single local authority was to be created in Limerick. In August 2012, a single manager was appointed, followed by a single management team in October 2012. A senior change management team was then put in place in January 2013 to oversee the implementation of the merger programme. The new local authority was to be in place by the statutory deadline of June 1st 2014, and it would take a huge amount of effort to meet this deadline – requiring the planning and implementation of 11 integration programmes which in turn required the merger of people, policies, data, processes and systems across 500 services.

The vision is to create a professional, proactive and accessible local government structure which provides for citizen participation, continues to drive business development, cultural enrichment and educational opportunity, and which sees the Limerick region continue to compete with other European destinations. “The merger has been successful in the context that there has been no disruption to citizens. However, the real success of the merger will be as a result of the decision by the Chief Executive, Conn Murray, to not just merge, but to create a new organisation as described below which will result in improvements over time in policy implementation, access to, and deliver of, services, and overall trust in local government,” explains Carmel Kirby, a member of the change management team which oversaw the programme’s implementation.

The organisation was awarded

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local authority of the year at the 2014 Local Government Awards. “Limerick City and County Council is delighted to be awarded the Local Authority of the Year by the business sector. It is a recognition of the innovation that is taking place in Limerick’s local authority structure for the betterment of Limerick as a whole,” says Carmel. “The recognition is particularly important for the staff of LCCC for the considerable additional workload that was involved in merging, and for working together towards creating a new agile model of local government.”

Moving forward, the new organisation will strive to generate jobs, and create a healthy business environment in the region. LCCC will help build the local economy and will be a credible partner for business, including playing a role in focused activity in the wider economic area or city-region through formal arrangements and partnerships.

To this end, a new Economic Development Unit has been created, along with new local enterprise

offices to replace the city and county enterprise boards. Under Limerick 2030, the economic and spatial plan for Limerick, an ambitious development agenda has been set out, which envisions a transformed Limerick economy that delivers 12,000 new jobs by 2030.

“The next five years 2015-2019 will be central to the delivery of the plan. In this phase, job creation will be enabled by the imaginative development of strategic sites and locations that will anchor new clusters of economic development from financial services to creative industries,” explains Pat Daly, Director of Economic Development.

“The plan also seeks to build on the unique and progressive economic partnership model which has been developed and will target the further development of Limerick’s sectoral advantages in ICT, manu-services, sports technology, tourism/creative industries and pharma/health sciences, so the maximum socioeconomic benefits are delivered for Limerick for the future.”

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InBUSINESS EDITOR’S CHOICE FEATURE AWARDS

THE WINNERS Best in Financial Software: CoreHR – CorePay

Fleet Car of the Year: Ford Mondeo

Best Private Healthcare Facility: VHI Swiftcare

Executive Car of the Year: Audi A6

Accountancy Firm of the Year: Deloitte Best Life Assurance Company: Zurich Life Best Newcomer: Shannon Airport Best ICT Service Provider: eircom Business Solutions Business Law Firm of the Year: Eversheds Best Tourist Attraction: Fáilte Ireland – The Wild Atlantic Way Best Private Health Insurer: GloHealth

Best in Retail Excellence: Marks and Spencer Best in Green Energy: Energia Best in Financial Services: Zurich General Insurance Ireland Best Business School: Dublin Business School Best in E-Commerce: PayPal Business Airline of the Year: Aer Lingus Best Brand: Applegreen Best Support to SMEs: InterTrade Ireland

Best Marketing Initiative: Electric Ireland – #ThisIsMajor

Special Merit Award: eircom – Partnership with Special Olympics Ireland

Best in Pharma: Boehringer Ingelheim

Businessman of the Year: Ronan Foley, IPB Insurance

Best Financial App: AIB – Me2U

Businesswoman of the Year: Siobhán Talbot, Glanbia

Best in International Logistics: DHL Express

SPOILED FOR CHOICE

THE THIRD InBUSINESS EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARDS HONOURED EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN IRISH BUSINESS. 2014 marked the third successful year of the InBUSINESS Editor’s Choice Awards, which took place on December 10th at the Hibernian Club, St. Stephen’s Green. The event brought together representatives from a wide variety of businesses where awards were handed out in 27 categories.

The awards are run in association with Chambers Ireland and winners are chosen by the editorial team of InBUSINESS on the broad criteria of company growth, profile of business, range of services offered and business to customer relations.

Commenting on the awards, InBUSINESS Editor Joseph O’Connor said: “As the editor of InBUSINESS, I get to speak to a lot of business people and it has been really striking how much more upbeat they have become over the past 12 months. This year there was no shortage of companies to choose from who are doing great things for their customers and for the wider economy. Hopefully this is a good sign for 2015 and beyond.”

Company of the Year: CRH ☛ Anton Savage, Awards MC

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InBUSINESS EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARDS

PRACTICE BEST IN IN CITIZEN FINANCIAL ENGAGEMENT: SOFTWARE: WATERFORD COREHR – COREPAY COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, David Beausang, Head of Partnerships, CoreHR and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Anthony Brennan, CEO Ireland, Zurich Life and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

BEST PRACTICE ACCOUNTANCY IN CITIZEN FIRM OF THE YEAR: ENGAGEMENT: DELOITTE WATERFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

SUPPORTING BEST LIFE THE ASSURANCE LOCAL ECONOMY: COMPANY: CORK COUNTY ZURICH LIFE COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Brendan Jennings, Managing Partner, Deloitte and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

BEST PRIVATETHE SUPPORTING HEALTHCARE LOCAL ECONOMY: FACILITY: CORK COUNTY VHI SWIFTCARE COUNCIL

“WE ARE PROUD OF THE BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED HERE IN IRELAND, AND THIS IS A REFLECTION OF, AND TESTAMENT TO, OUR VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC PEOPLE AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY.”

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Gráinne McCormack, Accreditation Manager, VHI Swiftcare and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

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InBUSINESS EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARDS

BEST PRACTICE BUSINESS IN CITIZEN LAW FIRM ENGAGEMENT: OF THE YEAR: WATERFORD EVERSHEDS COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Alan Murphy, Managing Partner, Eversheds and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

SUPPORTING THE BEST NEWCOMER: LOCAL ECONOMY: SHANNON CORK COUNTY AIRPORT COUNCIL

“THIS IS AN EXCITING NEW ERA FOR SHANNON AND THE WIDER WEST OF IRELAND, AN AREA STEEPED IN AVIATION HISTORY, PRODUCING MANY WORLD-FIRSTS AND WITH A PIONEERING SPIRIT.”

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Neil Pakey, CEO, Shannon Airport and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

PRACTICE BEST ICT SERVICE IN CITIZEN PROVIDER: ENGAGEMENT: EIRCOM BUSINESS WATERFORD SOLUTIONS COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Aidan Sloyan, eircom Business Solutions and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Fiona Monaghan, Head of Operations, Fáilte Ireland West & Midwest and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

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BEST TOURISTTHE SUPPORTING ATTRACTION: LOCAL ECONOMY: FÁILTE IRELAND – CORK COUNTY THE WILD COUNCIL ATLANTIC WAY 57

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FEATURE InBUSINESS EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARDS

BEST PRACTICE IN CITIZEN APP: FINANCIAL ENGAGEMENT: AIB – ME2U WATERFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Fergal Coburn, Head of Strategy & Development, Direct Channels at AIB and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

Jim Dowdall, CEO, GloHealth

SUPPORTING THE BEST PRIVATE HEALTH LOCAL ECONOMY: INSURER: CORK COUNTY GLOHEALTH COUNCIL

PRACTICE BEST MARKETING IN CITIZEN INITIATIVE: ENGAGEMENT: ELECTRIC IRELAND – WATERFORD #THISISMAJOR COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Geraldine Moloney, Head of SME Customer Strategy, Electric Ireland and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

BEST IN SUPPORTING THE PHARMA: LOCAL ECONOMY: BOEHRINGER CORK COUNTY INGELHEIM COUNCIL

“I’M DELIGHTED TO WIN FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. OUR NEXT OBJECTIVE IS TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE IT A HATRICK! SO WE’LL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL NEXT YEAR.”

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Dr Colin Edwards, General Manager, Boehringer Ingelheim Ireland and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

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InBUSINESS EDITOR’S CHOICE FEATURE AWARDS

PRACTICE BEST IN IN CITIZEN INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT: LOGISTICS: WATERFORD DHL EXPRESS COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Brian Murray, DHL Express and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

SUPPORTING THE BEST IN RETAIL EXCELLENCE: LOCAL ECONOMY: MARKSCOUNTY AND CORK SPENCER COUNCIL

“WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO OUR BUSINESS IN IRELAND AND LOOK FORWARD TO OPENING A NEW FLAGSHIP STORE IN LIMERICK IN 2016, WHICH WILL CREATE 250 NEW JOBS.”

Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS, Carmel Breheny, Marketing Manager, Marks and Spencer and Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

BEST PRACTICE FLEET CAR IN OF CITIZEN THE YEAR: ENGAGEMENT: FORD MONDEO WATERFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, David Gregg, Ford Ireland and Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS

Alan Cowley, National Corporate Sales Manager, Audi Ireland

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EXECUTIVE THE SUPPORTING CAR ECONOMY: OF THE LOCAL YEAR: CORK COUNTY AUDI A6 COUNCIL

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BEST PRACTICE IN GREEN IN CITIZEN ENERGY: ENGAGEMENT: ENERGIA WATERFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS, Yvonne Boyle, Energia and Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS, John O’Connor, CFO Ireland, Zurich Insurance and Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

PRACTICE BEST BUSINESS IN CITIZEN SCHOOL: ENGAGEMENT: DUBLIN BUSINESS WATERFORD SCHOOL COUNTY COUNCIL

SUPPORTING THE BEST IN FINANCIAL SERVICES: LOCAL ECONOMY: ZURICH GENERAL CORK COUNTY INSURANCE COUNCIL

Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS, Gerry Muldowney, CEO, DBS and Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

BEST IN SUPPORTING THE E-COMMERCE: LOCAL ECONOMY: PAYPAL CORK COUNTY COUNCIL

“IT’S A HUGE HONOUR AND TOPS OFF A GREAT YEAR FOR US AT PAYPAL. I ACCEPT THIS AWARD ON BEHALF OF ALL THE TALENTED TEAMMATES AT PAYPAL WHO DRIVE OUR SUCCESS.”

Louise Phelan, Head of EMEA, PayPal

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InBUSINESS EDITOR’S CHOICE FEATURE AWARDS

BEST PRACTICE BUSINESS IN CITIZEN AIRLINE OF ENGAGEMENT: THE YEAR: WATERFORD AER LINGUS COUNTY COUNCIL

Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS, Alan Molloy, Aer Lingus and Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

“WE FIRMLY BELIEVE AS AN ORGANISATION THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE AT THE HEART OF THE ISLAND ECONOMY, AND WHAT WE TRY AND DO IS GIVE THEM THE SKILLSET, EXPERTISE AND CAPABILITY THAT TYPICALLY SMALL COMPANIES FIND DIFFICULT TO ACCESS. THE RESULTS ARE TELLING US THAT WHAT WE’RE DOING IS RIGHT, AND WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE OF THAT IN 2015.”

BEST SUPPORT SUPPORTING THE TO SMES: LOCAL ECONOMY: INTERTRADE CORK COUNTY IRELAND COUNCIL PRACTICE BEST BRAND: IN CITIZEN APPLEGREEN ENGAGEMENT: WATERFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS, Margaret Hearty, Acting CEO, InterTradeIreland and Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS, Joe Barrett, COO, Applegreen and Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

Carolan Lennon, Managing Director, eircom Wholesale

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SPECIAL MERIT SUPPORTING AWARD: THE LOCAL ECONOMY: EIRCOM – PARTNERSHIP CORK COUNTY WITH SPECIAL COUNCIL OLYMPICS IRELAND 61

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FEATURE InBUSINESS EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARDS

Siobhán Talbot, Chief Executive, Glanbia

(PHOTO: PAT MOORE)

BEST PRACTICE BUSINESSWOMAN IN OF CITIZEN THE YEAR: ENGAGEMENT: SIOBHÁN TALBOT, WATERFORD GLANBIA COUNTY COUNCIL

Jack Golden, Organisation Development Director, CRH

COMPANYTHE SUPPORTING OF THE YEAR: LOCAL ECONOMY: CRH CORK COUNTY COUNCIL

Jack Golden, Organisation Development Director, CRH with Ronan Foley, Chief Executive, IPB Insurance

“IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE CHAMBER THAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR, AND INDEED RECOGNISING, INNOVATION AND SOLUTIONS ELSEWHERE. IT’S GREAT RECOGNITION FOR IPB, THE STAFF, THE BOARD, AND THE DECISIONS THEY’VE MADE TO GET THIS SORT OF ACCOLADE. IT’S A GREAT HONOUR.”

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Joseph O’Connor, Editor, InBUSINESS, Ronan Foley, Chief Executive, IPB Insurance and Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

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BEST F OR BU SINESS Thank you for naming Aer Lingus Business Airline 2014

At Aer Lingus, we take great care in everything we do - from baggage handling, to catering, to customer care. The people you see, and the people you don’t, are all dedicated to making you feel welcome, every step of your journey. Great care on every level - it’s one of the many ways Aer Lingus takes care of you.

A smarter schedule: Aer Lingus has more daily flights to London than any other airline.

A smarter home: Our T2 homes in Dublin and London allow us to offer the best terminal-to-terminal experience in Europe.

A smarter selection: We have the best choice of flights to Europe.

The smart way to the U.S.A.: With us, you can pre-clear U.S. Customs in Ireland before you fly.

And not forgetting our new transatlantic Business Class service which will take off in March 2015.

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IB SURVEY PAYPAL

A HELPING HAND PayPal is proud to power the people economy, and provide support to start-ups.

P

ayPal is the safer way to pay and get paid online, in-store and on mobile. It began as a start-up and now, as the leading international online payments company, PayPal makes a big effort to support companies setting out on that journey.

For the second year running Braintree_Dev, an extension of PayPal, was one of the sponsors for the Dublin Web Summit, the largest tech gathering in Europe, which attracted over 22,000 people. Last year, PayPal used the Summit as an opportunity to launch its Developer Blueprint Programme which provides mentoring, support and free payment processing for eligible start-ups. This year, PayPal hosted 50 start-up companies from across Europe at their site in Ballycoolin, as part of the Dublin Business Innovation Centre’s ‘Silicon Stroll Bootcamp’ initiative for ICT innovators. PayPal supports a number of initiatives that benefit companies starting out and this year, they sponsored the Irish Internet Association’s ‘Rising Star Start-Up’ Award.

“SUPPORTING THE SMALLER GUYS IS IMPORTANT TO US” Louise Phelan, Vice President for Global Operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa for PayPal, explained why the company places such a focus on assisting other businesses.

“Supporting the smaller guys is important to us because that’s the space we came from. PayPal was once just a concept and today it employs over 2,400 people in Ireland alone.

Our business thrives when other businesses thrive,” she says. “That’s why we want to help start-ups and

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SMEs generate revenue. We do this by enabling small companies to open their business up to a global market.

We’re focused on helping businesses, and people, take control of their money so they can use it wherever and whenever they want – through seamless experiences they love. We constantly innovate to adapt to the changing world we live in.”

Louise Phelan, Vice President for Global Operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa for PayPal PayPal works with small and medium businesses to enable them mobile. 57 per cent of phones being to make the most of the online and used today in Ireland are smart mobile markets. Since it was founded, phones and half of those smart phone PayPal continues to be at the forefront users have made a purchase using of the digital payments revolution, their mobile phone. The ability to giving people and businesses direct provide anytime, anywhere shopping control over their money. Through its is essential for Irish businesses innovations, PayPal makes life better looking to grow their sales at home for its customers and its merchants. and abroad,” Phelan explains. “With It has more than 157 million active cheques due to be phased out over the accounts in 26 currencies and across next year or so, it’s more important 203 markets. It processes over 9 than ever before that companies to million payments daily. keep up with the changing world of money. When it comes to trading online, the best way to do that is to THE FUTURE IS MOBILE have a trusted payment source on Moving online and mobile enables your website. Simply displaying the small and medium businesses to PayPal logo on your site can increase capitalise on changing shopping your online sales. That is how we trends and to create experiences their are helping businesses to grow,” customers love. concluded Louise Phelan.

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LEINSTER • MUNSTER • Kildare brewer scales business, Rosie Hackett Bridge voted Engineering Project of the Year, and Navan Chamber and Council launch free WiFi service.

Limerick communities receive Pride of Place awards, Bandon company breaking ground in London, and Killaloe company in US tourism blitz.

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ULSTER Donegal LEO hosts business showcase, Cavan Town recognised for responsible tourism, and Killybegs launches new tourism website.

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A LEADING LOCATION Limerick City and County Council are working with Ardmore Studios in a bid to provide a major film production facilities hub in the county.

RECOGNITION FOR A KEANE START-UP

A software entrepreneur from South Dublin has been named ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’

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ENGAGING WITH LEOS

A seminar has addressed In Association how Chambers can with effectively engage and develop a strong working relationship with Local Enterprise Offices.

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Engaging with LEOs A seminar has addressed how Chambers can effectively engage and develop a strong working relationship with Local Enterprise Offices.

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n Thursday November 13th Chambers Ireland held a seminar on how Chambers can effectively engage with their Local Enterprise Offices. Chambers Ireland arranged for expert speakers to address the attendees on a range of topics related to local economic development and local enterprise support. The goal of the seminar was to ensure that Chambers have the information they require to build and maintain productive partnerships with local authorities and Local Enterprise Offices.

Chamber CEOs, presidents and staff members from across Ireland participated in the seminar.

Denis Conlon, Principal Officer in the Local Government Division in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government addressed the seminar on a range of reforms in local Government and how these reforms will affect Chambers and local businesses. The discussion also dealt with wider roles that local authorities are undertaking to support the development of their local economy. Tony Lambert of Fingal Dublin Chamber chaired a debate about how Chambers can effectively engage with LEOs. Lambert had a positive outlook on LEOs and how Chambers across Ireland can develop a good working relationship with them.

Tony Byron from Microfinance Ireland gave a presentation on Microfinance Ireland’s lending model and how they work in conjunction with LEOs. Danny McLoughlin, Chair of the County

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and City Management Association focused on how Chambers and local authorities should work together to improve their local business environment. The discussion provided many examples of how Chambers can work effectively with local authorities. McLoughlin also provided an insight into what LEOs’ role is in local economic development and how they benefit the local economy.

Tom Hayes from Enterprise Ireland spoke about how his organisation supports entrepreneurs and businesses and how LEOs can work to benefit the local economy.

The final speaker of the day was from Chambers Ireland. Mark O’Mahoney, Director of Policy, outlined Chambers Ireland’s core themes on the policy agenda for 2015 and how Chambers can contribute to the development of policy documents.

The seminar proved to be a success with Chambers from across Ireland in attendance. The diversity of speakers at the event gave Chambers information that they need to navigate the changing local authority landscape and work with their Local Enterprise Offices to support small businesses.

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WHAT’S ON IN

COUNTY DUBLIN

LEINSTER

29TH JANUARY - 1ST FEBRUARY Brigid of Faughart Festival Louth

7TH NOVEMBER - 9TH NOVEMBER Wicklow Gaol Break Half Marathon & 10km Wicklow Town 27TH FEBRUARY – 1ST MARCH Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fair Dublin City 18TH MARCH - 22ND MARCH Silk Road Film Festival Dublin City

www.flickr.com/infomatique

21ST FEBRUARY - 22ND FEBRUARY Irish Angling Show Swords, Co Dublin

ALL ROSIE

at Engineers Awards The Rosie Hackett Bridge which links the north and south banks of the River Liffey has been voted Engineering Project of the Year by the Irish public in an online vote in the Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards.

The Rosie Hackett Bridge by Dublin City Council, Roughan & O’Donovan, Sean Harrington Architects and Graham Projects Ltd is the newest bridge overlooking Dublin’s riverscape. The bridge delivers increased commuter connectivity and faster travel times for the public.

COUNTY KILDARE

KILDARE BREWING COMPANY SCALING FAST COUNTY KILDARE

CHAMBER AND COUNCIL LAUNCH FREE WIFI Navan Chamber of Commerce has launched its free WiFi initiative at the AIB, Market Square, Navan.

Since late November WiFi has been made available throughout the town and the streets thanks to the initiative by the Chamber and Meath County Council.

The initiative is sponsored by the Meath Chronicle, Apáche Pizza, Cusack Hotels and Smith Harrington.

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One year since it started operations, Rye River Brewing Company in Co Kildare has announced it is to grow its workforce from 36 to 50 by the end of 2015 and is opening a 5,000 sq ft visitors and conference centre next spring. To date over a3 million has been invested in the 40,000 sq ft facility in Kilcock and Rye River is already exporting its own brand of small brew beers McGargles to ten countries including Canada and the US, having just launched into 150 pubs in New York.

COUNTY WICKLOW

CATERING FIRM LOOKS TO EXPAND FOLLOWING A16,000 LOAN Wicklow-based Willow Grove Foods have secured a funding boost of a16,000 via the LinkedFinance.com platform. The company, which specialises in homemade, made-to-order catering, plan on investing the money in new equipment which will help the business to expand its operations and potentially provide employment opportunities in the Kilcoole area. Linked Finance facilitates peer-to-peer lending for Irish businesses.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS NEWS: MUNSTER COUNTY CORK

BANDON COMPANY BREAKING GROUND IN LONDON THE PREPARATION OF TAX RETURNS and the processing of payroll for a number of busy central London accountancy firms is now being carried out by a start-up company in Bandon, Co Cork. One of only a few companies of its kind in Ireland,

CPC Outsourcing offers specialist UK tax services to accountancy firms. Named as Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the North and West Cork Local Enterprise Office in October, company founder Caroline Crowley has big plans for 2015.

Limerick communities received two awards at the 2014 Pride of Place competition held in November. The Community Wellness Empowerment Leadership & Life Skills Project, King’s Island, Limerick scooped one of the Special Awards in the Cities Competition at the annual IPB Co-operation Ireland Pride of Place Awards in Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare. The aim of the CWELL project is to deliver a programme in well-being and lifestyle education in St Mary’s Community.

Meanwhile, Radharc na Cille Housing Estate in Kilmallock, Co Limerick picked up a prestigious runner up prize in the Housing Estates Category.

IPB Pride of Place is an all-island competition that acknowledges the work that communities are doing all over the island of Ireland. The competition focus is about people coming together to shape, change and improve daily lives in their communities.

COUNTY CLARE

KILLALOE COMPANY IN US TOURISM BLITZ

Tourism Ireland, together with a delegation of 20 tourism enterprises – including Secret Ireland Escapes, based in Killaloe – has undertaken a three-city trade and media blitz in the United States. The last of the 2014 ‘Jump into Ireland’ (JITI) events took place in the key cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. With the Aer Lingus service between San Francisco and Dublin due to become a daily service next summer, the sales blitz is an ideal opportunity to target influential travel agents and tour operators on the west coast of the US. InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

UPCOMING EVENTS

MUNSTER

28TH NOVEMBER - 4TH JANUARY Limerick On Ice Limerick City 8TH FEBRUARY Tipperariana Book Fair Festival Fethard, Co. Tipperary

23RD MARCH - 29TH MARCH Waterford New Music Week 2015 Waterford City

ABOUT THE AWARDS

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LIMERICK PRIDE

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Award-winning Pudding earns Kerryman a Knighthood A former construction boss who lost everything in the economic crash is to be knighted for his awardwinning white pudding.

John Paul O’Connor, who founded Sásta Sausages and Puddings with his wife, Kathleen, near Killorglin, Co Kerry in 2012, will travel to France to accept the award from the Commanderie des Fins Goustiers du Duché d’Alencon during a ceremony organised by a brotherhood which recognises Europe’s top gourmet meat products.

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COUNTY CAVAN

ULSTER

7TH JANUARY - 11TH JANUARY Cavan Traveller Stories Exhibition Johnston Central Library, Cavan 15TH JANUARY - 18TH JANUARY Transatlantic Connections Conference Bundoran, Co Donegal 14TH MARCH – 22ND MARCH Ballyshannon Drama Festival Ballyshannon, Co Donegal

COUNTY DONEGAL

NEW KILLYBEGS TOURISM WEBSITE LAUNCHED The Killybegs Information Centre has launched a new website www.killybegs.ie and blog in partnership with Donegal County Council. The new website has been designed to compliment Fáilte Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way tourism initiative and the home page of the new website features Donegal’s three signature discovery points at Fanad Head, Sliabh Liag and Malin Head. A Wild Atlantic Way video offers visitors a glimpse of the touring route that stretches along the west coast of Ireland.

COUNTY DONEGAL

DONEGAL FIRM A REAL TRAILBLAZER Donegal company Gartan Technologies has won a major contract with Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) in Australia, which is one of the largest fire and rescue operations in the world. Based in Letterkenny where it employs 20 people, the company develops specialised software which monitors the availability of personnel and manages their time.

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José Fernandes, Campo & Parque dos Sonhos, Her Excellency Maitha Al Mahrouqi; Undersecretary of Oman Ministry of Tourism, Joanne Hayes, Cavan Town and Lynne Kirby from Enable Holidays.

CAVAN TOWN RECOGNISED FOR RESPONSIBLE TOURISM CAVAN TOWN HAS WON JOINT first place in World Responsible Tourism Awards in the category ‘Best for People with Disabilities’ for 2014. The award is in recognition of the access works undertaken by Cavan County Council in the last seven years.

Buildings such as the Johnston Central Library, the Leisure

Centre and Castle Saunderson International Scouting Centre have all strengthened Cavan’s case as a forerunner in this area. The World Responsible Tourism Awards, which took place this year in London, were set up to encourage destinations across the world to develop responsible tourism practices.

DONEGAL LEO HOSTS BUSINESS SHOWCASE Now in its second year, a free business showcase event organised by the LEO Donegal took place in the Mount Errigal Hotel on November 28th. Over 70 businesses assembled for a networking opportunity and trade fair. The business showcase was the latest Doing Business in Donegal event organised by Donegal Local Enterprise Office.

Michael Tunney, Head of Local Enterprise, Seamus Neely, Chief Executive, Donegal County Council and Anthony Mc Glynn, Mc Glynn Graphics.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS NEWS: CONNAUGHT COUNTY GALWAY

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GALWAY DESIGNATED A UNESCO CITY OF FILM Galway has become the only Irish city, and one of only five cities in the world, to be designated a UNESCO City of Film. The winning of the title could prove enormously beneficial to the city’s ongoing bid to be named European Capital of Culture 2020.

The City of Film title, which was announced in Paris on November 30th by UNESCO director-general, Irina Bokova, is a permanent status and designation. It also represents an opportunity to expand economic, creative, and artistic opportunities in this field.

GALWAY CITY AND COUNTY’S FILM AND TV INDUSTRY EMPLOYS MORE THAN

600

PEOPLE FULL-TIME WORTH

72M TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY

“

It’s an extremely exciting development and one which we are looking forward to bringing to fruition over the next two to three months.”

Mayo County Council is to become part-owner of Ireland West Airport Knock in a move that will wipe out the airport’s debt and secure its future. At what was described by many councillors as a historic monthly Peter Hynes, Chief Executive, meeting of the council at IWAK, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council Mayo County Council Peter Hynes announced that the council, along with six other local authorities in the western region, is to take a 17.5 percent equity stake in the airport.

Mayo County Council will borrow 7.3 million to pay off a large portion of IWAK’s debt in return for the 17.5 per cent stake. The strategy forms part of a two-pronged approach to the airport’s debt and development.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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16TH JANUARY - 18TH JANUARY Music for Galway’s Midwinter Festival Galway City 6TH MARCH - 14TH MARCH Roscommon Drama Festival Roscommon Town 7TH MARCH Kinvara Rock and Road Half Marathon & 10K Kinvara, Co Galway 20TH MARCH – 22ND MARCH Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail Walking Festival 2015 Murrisk, Co Mayo

COUNTY ROSCOMMON

AURIVO WINS

SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

COUNTY MAYO

HISTORIC DEAL FOR KNOCK AIRPORT

16TH JANUARY - 18TH JANUARY Akumakon Anime and Manga Convention Galway City

Roscommon-based Aurivo Co-operative Society has taken the Leadership Award at this year’s Sustainable Energy Awards Ceremony.

The awards, hosted by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) recognise and reward excellence in energy management in organisations of all sizes. Aurivo’s Dairy Ingredients’ facility in Ballaghaderreen won the Sustainable Energy Leadership Award for its on-going energy efficiency and training projects.

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A Leading LOCATION

Limerick City and County Council are working with Ardmore Studios in a bid to provide a major film production facilities hub in the county.

L

imerick City and County Council has announced that it plans to work in partnership with Ardmore Studios, Ireland’s top film and television studios, to lay the foundations for the provision of a major film production facilities hub in Limerick.

This initiative is in response to a recent call from the Irish Film Board in conjunction with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for expressions of interest in relation to the provision in Ireland of dedicated audio visual content studio facilities including sound stages and related structures.

Having examined the experience and major success of the creation of such facilities in Belfast from a zero base and the impact on the local

community, the Council believes that drawing on the depth of expertise of Ardmore Studios could result in major sustainable employment for Limerick and is a logical legacy of Limerick’s year as National City of Culture 2014.

“There is a clear and urgent demand for large scale studio space and support buildings in Ireland, and in our analysis, many of the preconditions necessary for the creation of studios already exist in Limerick,” said Conn Murray, Chief Executive, Limerick City and County Council.

“There are a number of suitable sites and buildings in Limerick that can be upgraded and refurbished to the high spec standards that the industry requires and as the core infrastructure is in situ, this can happen over a short time period,” he said.

“From our research in Northern

“THERE IS A CLEAR AND URGENT DEMAND FOR LARGE SCALE STUDIO SPACE AND SUPPORT BUILDINGS IN IRELAND, AND IN OUR ANALYSIS, MANY OF THE PRECONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR THE CREATION OF STUDIOS ALREADY EXIST IN LIMERICK.” 6

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Ireland, it is evident that success is based on Government support, direct investment and commitment given to the vision of those involved.

We can commence this project with the existing highly skilled craftspeople from inside and outside the Midwest region and tap into the rich resource of our graduates that are coming out of our third level institutions with film and media qualifications that will support the long term success of the industry.”

Murray continued: “We’re delighted to be working with Ardmore Studios on this concept to develop the infrastructure for large film production in Limerick and create major sustainable employment as a result.”

LIMERICK’S LEGACY The legacy project for Limerick City of Culture, Film Limerick, has already set in motion the idea of Limerick as a location for film production. Two films have been commissioned and will be screened at international film festivals in 2015 as part of that legacy.

The proposed studio facilities in Limerick include the use of the 300,000 sq ft old Dell building in Castletroy, currently used as The Culture Factory for Limerick City of Culture 2014. The existing LEDP building in Roxboro, with refurbishment and development of studios and workspaces, is also a viable option.

Ardmore Studios, based in Co Wicklow, has over 50 years’ experience of managing studios and catering to the specific needs of international and national film

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The Tudors

productions as well television series. It is the largest and only studio in Ireland to offer five international standard sound stages with full support services on site. A brand that is recognised by producers throughout the world, it has been home to hundreds of international and national films and TV productions over the years including Braveheart; My Left Foot; Excalibur and in more recent

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times The Tudors; Moone Boy and Penny Dreadful. Productions at Ardmore have received 14 Oscars and many BAFTA, Golden Globe and Emmy awards.

Welcoming the initiative, Chief Executive of Ardmore Studios, Siún Ní Raghallaigh, said Limerick could gain substantially from the benefits of the newly enhanced film tax credit scheme. “There is growing international interest in Ireland as

a production location thanks to the positive tax incentives under Section 481. However, the missing piece of the jigsaw is the availability of appropriate full service studio space in the country,” she said.

“This is something that Limerick could potentially capitalise on.

We ourselves have had to turn away business in the past year because we simply do not have the required capacity. Studios are the essential enablers for the industry to scale. The potential for our industry to scale up and create thousands of quality jobs is at our fingertips provided we look at the bigger picture and create the right infrastructure to grow the industry.

“We are happy to help where we can through providing our advice and support. The creation of any new high spec full studios and support facilities that could cater Penny Dreadful’s for pent up demand would further assist Ireland’s ambition to grow first series was its film and television production estimated industry to the levels as identified to be in the Creative Capital report which worth a33 seeks to double production and million to employment in the sector by 2016,” the Irish economy.

Ní Raghallaigh concluded.

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Recognition for a

Keane Start-Up A software entrepreneur from South Dublin has been named ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’.

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wenty-eight year old Eamon Keane of Xpreso software in South Dublin has been named as Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur, winning a total a50,000 investment fund for his business. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton made the announcement in front of 350 guests at the first-ever national final, held at Google’s European Headquarters in Dublin on November 30th.

Keane, from Templeogue, cofounded the parcel tracking software company in 2013 after dropping out of his PhD studies and has already signed up Ireland’s biggest independent courier company.

The young entrepreneur also took the ‘Best Start Up’ award at the competition, which attracted over 1,100 entries when it was launched earlier this year through the Local Enterprise Offices.

Supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the nationwide competition forms part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 with an overall investment fund of a2 million awarded to county winners and national winners.

Minister Bruton also announced two other winners at the awards: the ‘Best New Idea’ award and a20,000 investment prize went to Philip Martin from Blanco Nino in Tipperary; the ‘Best Established Business with Add On’ award and a30,000 investment prize went to Dean Gammell from The Group System in Westmeath.

Each of the three finalists also wins a place at the Google ‘Adopt a StartUp’ programme next year. Meanwhile,

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the Google award for ‘Best Online Promotion of a Business’ went to Padraig O’ Scanaill, from Fund Recs in Waterford.

Congratulating all the winning entrepreneurs at the ceremony, Minister Richard Bruton said: “In Ireland we have great entrepreneurs – we just don’t have enough of them. Two-thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups and so we must encourage more young people to consider starting a business as a career choice – to become the job-creators of the future.

“We began the first-ever search for Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur last May, to support, encourage and celebrate the people who start the businesses that Ireland needs.

Over 1,000 young entrepreneurs responded to the call and 400 of those have participated in bootcamps and mentoring programmes around the country since then.”

All 31 Local Enterprise Offices ran the competition locally and organised

regional bootcamps for over 400 participants. Vincent Reynolds, Chair of the National Network of Local Enterprise Offices said: “Since the doors of the Local Enterprise Offices first opened for business earlier this year, we’ve been supporting thousands of entrepreneurs and new start-ups, helping them on their business journey. For those young entrepreneurs involved in this year’s competition and for anyone else considering starting a business, the doors of the Local Enterprise Office are always open.”

In all, 24 finalists from 17 counties competed for the overall title and nine of them made a live pitch to the judging panel at today’s final round at the Foundry in Google.

This year’s judging panel included two entrepreneurs: Sarah Doyle of Kinesense and Brian Crowley of the TTM Group, alongside Colin Goulding of Google, Mary Fitzpatrick of the Local Enterprise Offices and Tom Hayes of Enterprise Ireland.

Minister Richard Bruton, Dept. of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with Eamon Keane of Xpreso (supported by Local Enterprise Office South Dublin), Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur 2014 and winner in the ‘Best Start Up’ category.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:31

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS RPS GROUP

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Pristine Water PROVISION The recently completed water treatment plant at Ballymore Eustace has become the largest such plant in Ireland. the capacity to service generations to come.

BENEFITS

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ublin City Council (DCC) commissioned the first water treatment plant at Ballymore Eustace in the 1940s, with a capacity of 50 million litres per day. The plant was expanded in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s to a capacity of 250 million litres per day to become the largest water treatment plant in the country, supplying Dublin City, Kildare, Dun Laoghaire and South Dublin.

In 2004, growing regional water demand, together with an aging profile, posed a risk to the continued supply of quality water. To meet this, DCC appointed RPS to develop and procure contracts to refurbish and expand the plant to a capacity of 318 million litres per day output, with peak capacity of 400 million litres per day.

CHALLENGES The contract for Ireland’s largest drinking treatment plant, a critical component of our national infrastructure, posed significant engineering challenges as it was delivered within a live treatment InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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plant, supplying 55 per cent of the total Dublin region water demand, which could not be compromised or interrupted by the works.

The plant has a 400 million litre peak capacity and is the culmination of a 30 year plan designed to provide Dublin with state-of-the-art, costeffective water supply. The plant is not only capable of meeting the current demands, it can provide for the needs of the greater Dublin area for the medium term until a longer term new source is developed post 2020.

The civil works, which were substantially completed in 2013, included over 1,500,000 construction man hours, 40,000­­tonnes of concrete, 5,500 tonnes of steel and took over six years to complete.

The completed plant combines the robust engineering required of a national strategic asset with innovative engineering approaches, resulting in whole life cost value for the water utility provider, Irish Water, and their agent, Dublin City Council, and the provision of a pristine asset with

The completed plant combines the robust engineering required of a national strategic asset with innovative engineering approaches, resulting in whole life cost value for the water utility provider, Irish Water, and their agent, Dublin City Council, and the provision of a pristine asset with the capacity to service generations to come.”

Key project benefits are the provision of good quality water for the public health and economic development of the Dublin region. It also minimises energy consumption and CO2 emissions, through a low loss hydraulic design maximising gravity feed from the plant into Dublin City through 26km of gravity pipework.

It also produces drinking water at the consumer tap at a cost of 6.5 cent/m3, the lowest in the country, meeting the EU Drinking Water Directive Standards. A purpose-built sludge waste treatment facility ensures the environmental protection of the River Liffey to the approval of the EPA.

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23/12/2014 12:32

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS CMYK: 83 / 0 / 8 / 0

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Carlow capitalising on international connections Two County Council initiatives this year created international connections through reaching out to the Carlow Diaspora and international companies.

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he first programme is a follow-on from The Gathering funding for global events.

The importance of international connections cannot be underestimated for a county, according to Bernie O’Brien, Director of Services, Carlow County Council. Every year, Carlow welcomes a significant number of trade and tourist visitors and also has Diaspora associations in London, New York and Manchester.

One hundred companies from the county also benefited from a recent EU-backed programme, ACT (Advanced Communication Technologies). This was designed to help small businesses in Wales and Ireland make the most of social media.

The project set out to have a positive impact on SME competitiveness in the region. It aimed to boost SME capacity at the frontline of business, taking advantage of the opportunities that social media can offer. The initiative involved a number of cross-border exchanges, which include best practice sharing during 2014. The ACT is led by Tipperary County Council’s Strategic Projects Unit and Carlow County Council’s local enterprise office. Such ventures inject a new energy into communities and enterprises, making people think about how they can promote their localities, products and services, O’Brien said.

COLLABORATIVE CARLOW Carlow as a county provides an outstanding opportunity for businesses to start, develop and grow, according to local authority chief executive Tom Barry. Every effort, he said, is being made to ensure that the county is an ideal location in which to work, live

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and play.

The backdrop for business is highly attractive.

Carlow benefits from a highly educated workforce. It has two institutions of higher education as well as the National Crops Biotechnology Research Centre at Teagasc Oak Back row: John Brophy, president, Carlow Chamber; Bernie O’Brien, director, Carlow County Council; Tom Barry, chief Park. Substantial executive, Carlow County Council; Fergal Murphy, chief finaninfrastructural cial officer, Richard Keenan & Co; and Henry Shefflin, Bank of developments Ireland. Front row: David Walsh, Netwatch; and Kieran Comerand proximity to ford, Local Enterprise Office, Carlow County Council Dublin and the major transport hubs makes Carlow the perfect plant in Borris, which specialises in setting, Barry contends. Fostering an agricultural machinery. There is also entrepreneurial spirit and supporting ongoing development by indigenous jobs is a key objective. The County manufacturing and export companies Council’s local enterprise office is such as Burnside and PB Machines. proactive is collaborating with the “CECE Carlow has a strong retail business community. It also works and commercial sector, as evidenced closely with a network of national by centres such as Fairgreen Shopping and local agencies. “We provide a Centre,” said Barry. Other retail key enabling role through a myriad businesses that have grown include the of activities that have resulted in a renowed Arboretum Garden Centre in job dividend,” said Barry. Recent Leighlinbridge, recently named Retail announcements included Walsh Excellence Ireland Store of the Year at Whiskey Distillery’s a25 million the REI Awards 2014. “The cultural investment in Royal Oak. This will see development of the town centre is the development of a new world-class strong, with Carlow Museum and distillery and visitor centre, creating 55 the award-winning Visual Centre for jobs at Royal Oak, Co Carlow, and 70 Contemporary Art all doing well,” he temporary construction jobs. added.

Other organisations in expansion mode include Autolaunch automotive For 2015, the priority is to attract further industry and manufacturing plant investment and to ensure the continued in Bagenalstown, part of Magna development of industry, creating new Inc. and Keenan’s manufacturing employment opportunities.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:32

visit rpsgroup.com/ireland for more information and contact details

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22/12/2014 16:51

GALWAY COUNCIL COUNTY IS SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY THROUGH THE MADE IN GALWAY INITIATIVE

Déanta i nGaillimh For more information on the range of high quality products made in Galway, visit our website

www.madeingalway.ie 234437 Galway County IB 7.04.indd 1

17/12/2014 12:08

What’s on your

You’re not alone When it comes to coping www.turn2me.org

Forums, group support, 1to1 counselling, iphone enabled Turn2me Advert half page.indd 2

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22/12/2014 17:00

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS GALWAY COUNTY COUNCIL

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INVESTING FOR SUCCESS 2014 has been a positive year for Galway and, with the support of Galway County Council, 2015 will follow the trend.

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aking Galway the premier location to live, visit and do business remains a key objective of Galway County Council. To achieve this, the Council is investing significant resources in developing infrastructure to improve competitiveness, providing services to support economic development and directly assisting enterprises to grow to achieve their full potential.

Acting Chief Executive, Kevin Kelly, indicated that Galway County Council is investing over a100 million in capital infrastructure to develop the road and water networks in the county – the opening of the M6 has greatly increased connectivity between Galway and the east coast, while the western seaboard will experience similar connectivity in the near future, with construction on the development of the M18/17 due to start in Q1 2015, bringing improved accessibility to the Shannon and West Knock international airports.

The intersection of the M6 and M18/17 is strategically located near where IDA Ireland has a significant landbank and has plans to develop a regional pharma enterprise campus at Athenry.

SUPPORTING BUSINESS Fostering local enterprise is crucial in rejuvenating the economy in Co Galway. According to Mr Kelly: “Supporting micro enterprise to access new markets is the objective of the Made in Galway initiative being led by Galway County Council. The wide range of high quality products made in Galway are promoted through www.madeingalway.ie, trade fairs, overseas promotional campaigns and collective branding.

All producers are based in Galway; this initiative has brought small scale enterprises on the road to exhibit at events such as the National Ploughing Championships and Showcase Ireland. Made in Galway also encourages people to shop locally and support local enterprises in their communities.” Galway County Council is directly supporting startups through the new Local Enterprise Office, which offers grant aid, training, mentoring and advice.

Tourism remains a key employer in Co Galway. Long established in the west and growing in the east, Galway County Council is investing in tourism infrastructure through supporting the development of trails, beaches and water tourism infrastructure, including the Wild Atlantic Way and Galway Greenway.

Along with the development of

Tourism remains a key employer in Co Galway. Long established in the west and growing in the east, Galway County Council is investing in tourism infrastructure through supporting the development of trails, beaches and water tourism infrastructure, including the Wild Atlantic Way and Galway Greenway.”

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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Film-making in Co Galway

Galway as an adventure destination, the region has recently emerged as a culinary hub with an increased emphasis on local establishments serving local produce. The creative sector is also emerging as a strong employer. Companies like EA Games are leading the way in developing online gaming, while a number of film and media production companies based in the west of the county are building a strong national and international reputation. A website – www.screenwest.ie – has been established to showcase the range of services and facilities that support the film and media sector across Galway, while UNESCO City of Film status has been secured for Galway City and County.

Galway County Council is convinced that with Galway-based manufacturing companies consolidating their position, growth in food and tourism sectors and the emergence of a cluster of multimedia companies, green shoots are appearing throughout Co Galway.

“Optimism is creeping back into the air in Galway, and with new projects coming on stream in the coming months, this positivity is going to continue,” Kelly concludes.

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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 joseph.oconnor@ashvillemediagroup.com

In Association with

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23/12/2014 12:33

IB SURVEY MICROSOFT

DEFOGGING THE CLOUD Cloud computing is accepted but not always well understood, writes Art Coughlan, Microsoft.

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uring the last few years, cloud computing has become a mainstream term, but its benefits and advantages are still sometimes misunderstood.

If poorly understood, it could be poorly implemented and lead to unsatisfactory outcomes.

CLOUD COMPUTING DEMYSTIFIED When it comes to Cloud Computing, you could be forgiven for thinking it is just somewhere you store data with applications like OneDrive or Dropbox. But there are many benefits for businesses by moving to Azure, Microsoft’s Cloud platform. Globally, Azure is currently used by over 57 per cent of the Fortune 500, hosts over 300,000 websites and has over two million developers registered.

On average, more than 1,000 new customers subscribe to Azure each day. In Ireland, Azure is used by

organisations of all sizes across the public and private sector and adoption has grown by over 500 per cent in the last 24 months.

Microsoft Azure is an open and flexible cloud platform that organisations can use to build, deploy, and manage applications across a global network of Microsoft-managed data centres. It enables organisations to create applications using any language, tool, or framework and most importantly, allows easy integration with existing systems at an application, infrastructure and security level.

Public Cloud can enable you to bring new services and apps to market faster. Azure resources are available immediately, can provide infinite scale, and shorten typical project life-cycles by months. Cloud elasticity supports better responsiveness and clearly aligns costs with demand.

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technologies already in use in the majority of organisations. Technologies used today to develop, manage, operate and secure traditional IT can be easily extended to Azure; shortening adoption cycles, minimising risk and delivering a faster return.

Furthermore, Microsoft engages with independent industry bodies to provide verification of adherence to policy and standards such as EU Model Clauses, ISO 27001 and the Cloud Security Alliance.

FAMILIAR AND TRUSTWORTHY EYES WIDE OPEN The need to manage application performance, availability, user access and other security concerns remain in the Public Cloud. Microsoft Azure uses familiar tools, processes and

Art Coughlan, Cloud & Enterprise Lead, Microsoft Ireland

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

Ultimately, having a better understanding of what you need from the cloud will help you plot your path to cloud adoption.”

Globally and locally, Microsoft works with recognised partner companies – like SAP and Oracle, Accenture and Sogeti, along with a host of indigenous Irish partners. Through existing relationships with our customers and partners, we work to provide organisations with a clear roadmap to the cloud, on terms that make business sense and are supported by commercial agreements.

Ultimately, having a better understanding of what you need from the cloud will help you plot your path to cloud adoption. The breadth of offerings is vast, and the scale mindbending. Identify a priority for your organisation and assess whether cloud can improve how you deliver it.

Speed and agility are the primary drivers in my experience. Take a balanced view of the risks and rewards, and work with a trusted partner who can ensure that the cloud delivers everything and more that you have come to rely on from traditional IT.

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23/12/2014 12:20

IB SURVEY CBRE

Retail Recovery GAINING MOMENTUM 2015 will be pivotal for the Irish retail market, according to Florence Stanley, Deputy Managing Director, CBRE Ireland.

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he recovery in the commercial property market over the last two years has been nothing short of phenomenal, particularly in Dublin and other major cities, as demonstrated by significant increases in transaction volumes and improvements in property values.

Evidence of this recovery has been clear in the office occupier and investment sectors. However, with a strengthening economic backdrop and steady job creation leading to an improvement in consumer sentiment and retail sales activity, we firmly believe that 2015 will see the retail sector improving dramatically over the course of the year.

While high streets, dominant shopping centres and retail parks in the country’s largest cities will undoubtedly fare best, we expect to see signs of improvement being felt across the entire retail sector in 2015, both from an occupier and investor viewpoint.

Florence Stanley, Deputy Managing Director, CBRE Ireland

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The Marshes Shopping Centre, Dundalk, Co Louth

It will take time for many provincial high streets hit hardest by the recession to feel the benefits of this recovery.

However, it is encouraging that deals are increasing outside of Dublin and other major cities. Demonstrating this trend, TK Maxx are to open at the Quay’s, Wexford; Iceland in Midleton, Cork, having commenced trading in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary towards the end 2014; Boots have opened at McDonagh Junction, Kilkenny; Bestseller & Superdry on Patrick Street, Cork; Peacocks are to open new stores in Letterkenny and Waterford while Skechers have commenced trading in the former Awear store in Wilton SC, Cork (where planning was granted last year by An Bord Pleanála for a new Aldi store). In addition, a range of different retailers including Homestore & More, EZ Living, iConnect, Peacocks, DV8, Aldi, Superdry, Tiger & TK Maxx have active requirements for locations nationwide, which is encouraging.

It has been announced that Merchant’s Quay SC, Cork is to be redeveloped later this year and that extensions are being added to Kildare Village Outlet, Liffey Valley SC and The Square Tallaght during 2015. However, for the most part, we don’t expect to see any significant refurbishment or redevelopment projects in the retail sector for some time yet. Likewise, we are not anticipating any speculative retail

development over the next 12 months.

While retail rents have for the most part remained flat over recent years we expect to see some upward pressure on retail rental values in 2015, although this is likely to manifest itself in prime locations first as evidenced by the increase in rental values on Grafton Street, Dublin during 2014.

Interestingly, since the second half of 2014 there has been strengthening demand amongst investors for retail opportunities which saw several wellknown provincial shopping centres and retail parks changing hands including the Marshes SC, Dundalk; Poppyfields Retail Park, Clonmel; Blackpool SC Cork; Lakepoint Retail Park, Mullingar and the Showgrounds retail scheme, Clonmel. We expect to see a continuation of this trend in 2015 as NAMA and various banks continue to deleverage with several retail portfolios including many provincial assets likely to be sold over the course of 2015. Additionally, many of these retail properties will be improved as new owners commence asset management strategies.

Following the severe downturn experienced in the retail sector, we are confident that 2015 will mark a major turning point for retailing around the country and we urge local authorities and community groups to continue to do what they can to stimulate activity in their local areas to support this.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:20

IB SURVEY KPMG

GOING FOR GROWTH Although more women are setting up businesses in Ireland, there is still significant untapped potential. Going for Growth is an initiative to give women entrepreneurs a unique peer-learning environment with a focus on growth.

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ver 12,000 women in Ireland are setting up new businesses each year, but there is potential for more: just one in three Irish females has a positive view of her entrepreneurial capabilities and fewer women than men indicate significant growth ambitions for their businesses, (GEM Report 2013).

There is a clear requirement for business development initiatives for female entrepreneurs in Ireland.

One such initiative, Going for Growth, provides a unique peerlearning environment for women entrepreneurs with a focus on growth goals and defined milestones.

PEER SUPPORT Up to eight participants are selected by a Lead Entrepreneur to join her at a round table. Lead Entrepreneurs act as role models for the participants and share knowledge and experience with them on a voluntary basis. Lead Entrepreneurs taking part in the next Going for Growth programme include: Áine Denn, The TAS Group; Heather Reynolds, Eishtec; Miriam Byrne, City Analysts; Nikki Evans, Perfect Card Ltd; Siofra Flood, formerly of Swrve; and Susan Spence, SoftCo. Selection is competitive: successful applicants need to demonstrate significant aspirations for growth and should be working full time on the business, located in the Republic of Ireland. It is expected that the business will have been trading for at least two years. In exceptional cases, applications will be considered from those who have been trading for a shorter period, but those applicants must demonstrate that the business is highly innovative, has taken substantial time to develop and has InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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significant growth potential. The programme, which involves a time commitment of one half-day a month for six months, is free of charge to suitable applicants.

Six programmes have been Four participants from the sixth cycle at the 2014 National Forum: Julie Currid, Induction Manager; Barbara Anne Murphy, Equilume; completed Yvonne Brady, EVB Sport Shorts and Fiona Egan, Sasta Fitness. since the pilot in 2009 and over 350 women entrepreneurs, from all Speaking about KPMG’s over the country and involved in a sponsorship of the programme, diverse range of businesses, have Shaun Murphy, Managing Partner of been supported. Paula Fitzsimons, KPMG, said: National Director and Founder of “KPMG is delighted to be Going for Growth, says Irish women associated with the current have the talent and spirit to succeed: Going for Growth programme to “The Going for Growth encourage female entrepreneurship. initiative has been funded by the Ireland’s economy and prosperity European Social Fund (ESF) and is highly dependent on dynamic the Department of Justice and entrepreneurial activity and Equality under the Equality for entrepreneurs have a major Women Measure and by Enterprise role to play in delivering the Ireland. In making Going for Growth economic benefits and job creation available to ambitious women opportunities that successful entrepreneurs in 2015, we are businesses can bring.” delighted to welcome KPMG as a Going for Growth is calling for new sponsor. Women entrepreneurs applicants for 60 funded places on need encouragement and support its next programme, supported by to develop their businesses to their KPMG, which gets underway in full growth potential. Going for January 2015. Female entrepreneurs Growth is designed to do just that interested in applying can access by assisting them to fully exploit their information and register their interest entrepreneurial talent.” at www.goingforgrowth.com.

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23/12/2014 12:20

IB SURVEY MICROFINANCE IRELAND

Supporting Local Jobs THROUGH LENDING Microfinance Ireland is an alternative to banks for those micro-enterprises seeking a loan in Ireland – not a competitor. CEO Michael Johnson reflects on an encouraging 2014 and the ambitious targets they have set themselves for 2015.

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wo years after its inception, Microfinance Ireland (MFI) is looking optimistically towards 2015, while reflecting back on a successful 2014. In 2012, the company was set up as part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs in order to provide loans from a2,000 up to a25,000 to micro-businesses with less than ten employees and with a turnover of less than a2 million per annum. Their objective is to support the maintenance and creation of jobs in local communities throught Ireland.

100 per cent of applicants who apply to MFI have previously been declined facilities due to a lack of track record, insufficient security or levels of existing debt with their bank. To date, the organisation has approved over a6.2 million in lending, supported more than 400 micro-enterprises and 920 jobs, and approved 59 per cent of applications with an average 10-day turnaround.

“2014 has been a very encouraging year for us,” says CEO Michael Johnson. “We have basically doubled the amount of lending activity in 2014 than we did in the previous year, and we’re delighted that we now have supported over 900 jobs in microenterprises through the loans that we have approved. So, we’re very pleased with the progress we have made in meeting the needs of small business in 2014, and we feel we have really had a change of gear in what we do.”

The not-for-profit lender also works in partnership with Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) nationwide, which Johnson says has gone very well. “The LEOs are only operating since April, but we’re very

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Adrienne Rodgers, Head of Local Enterprise, Cork City LEO, Michael Johnson, Chief Executive, Microfinance Ireland and Veronica Kenneally, Veronica’s Snacks at the launch of the MFI and LEOs partnership.

We have basically doubled the amount of lending activity in 2014 than we did in the previous year, and we’re delighted that we now have supported over 900 jobs in micro-enterprises through the loans that we have approved. happy with the level of engagement we have received from the partnership with the local enterprise offices. By far, they are the people who have given us a very significant amount of the loan applications and we’re very pleased with the level of support we’ve received from them.”

While MFI offers fixed monthly repayments at 8.8 per cent APR to those businesses that apply directly, they offer 7.8 per cent to those who apply through the LEOs.

On the outlook for 2015, Johnson believes MFI’s services will be in higher demand: “There are a couple of factors that obviously impact on what we do. The overall appetite for credit among small businesses has continued to be low, though this will be true for the banks and every other provider of credit. There has been a reluctance among small businesses to take on additional debt and that is, in part, a consequence of the very difficult period that we’ve gone through for business.”

However, as the economy has picked up, MFI has set themselves the ambitious target of increasing lending activity to a6 million in loans next year and this, Johnson believes, will be in line with the needs of the market. “There is now evidence of people starting to move forward more confidently and we would expect that the demand for credit will be higher in 2015 as confidence builds among small businesses.”

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:21

IB SURVEY PORT OF CORK

Cork Cruise Business All Set for Growth Upgrading the current cruise berth and exploring a second berth option are part of the Port of Cork’s cruise strategy.

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ince the early 90s, the Port of Cork’s cruise business has seen significant growth year on year. 2014 saw 53 cruise ships calling to Cork, home to Ireland’s only dedicated cruise berth. Cobh and Ringaskiddy can handle some of the largest cruise liners afloat today, and this in turn brings high volumes of passengers and crew to the region. In 2014, a total of 119,000

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cruise passengers and crew stepped ashore in the Port of Cork, bringing a very welcome boost to the local economy. 54 cruise liners are scheduled to call to Cork Harbour in 2015, 20 of which are mega ships of 330 metres length and each carrying at least 3,500-4,000 passengers.

The Port of Cork is located within easy steaming time of other Irish and British cruise ports and is strategically positioned on the main repositioning sea routes into Europe. Speaking about the Port’s location, Commercial Manager, Captain Michael McCarthy says: “Cork is equally well placed for Northern European cruises

(including the Norwegian fjords and Iceland). It is also ideally situated for positioning cruises to and from the Mediterranean and the Caribbean and is on the Great Circle route to North America and Canada.

Most importantly there are no tidal constraints or ships draft issues in a sheltered deep water port, such as Cork Harbour – a genuine 24/7 destination.”

With ample water depth in Cobh, the Port of Cork is currently planning the upgrading of its current dedicated cruise berth, to be able to accommodate the requirements of the Quantum class of cruise liners due in Europe in 2015-2016.

23/12/2014 12:21

PORT OF GALWAY Calafort na Gaillimhe

Inspiration from the past, Innovation in the present, a Legacy for the future.

Le Soleal at anchor, 2013

Galway Bay, “The World”, Mutton Island & the iconic Galway Hooker

At the Port of Galway we are embracing the challenges of today’s highly competitive marketplace with the proposed extension of our port. This will herald an exciting transformation in the way we do business and this change will be reflected in our facilities, operations, partnerships, processes, performance and our people. For our proposed redevelopment we are taking INSPIRATION from our proud past, adopting INNOVATION for our present circumstances in the expectation of creating a lasting LEGACY for generations to come.

T: 00353 91 561874/562329 F: 00353 91 563738 E: info@theportofgalway.com W: www.galwayharbour.com Port Extension Website: www.galwayharbourextension.com

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3/9/14 09:42:21

IB SURVEY GALWAY PORT

The West’s PORT OF CALL Eamon Bradshaw, Chief Executive, Galway Harbour Company, tells InBUSINESS about the importance of an extension to the Port of Galway in competing for, and winning, new national and international business.

Q: Could you give me some background on the Galway Harbour Company and the group’s main objectives?

A: In the National Ports Policy published in 2013 by the then Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar, the Port of Galway was designated as port of regional significance. The policy stated that the port is considered an important strategic regional hub for petroleum importation, storage and distribution. In order to cater for this, the port’s extension is essential.

Due to the current restrictions of the port – it is a gated medieval port only open to shipping four hours per day and can only accommodate ships of up to 7,000 metric tonnes – it is clear that the port can no longer compete, on an even keel, with other commercial ports in Ireland. A planning application for a significant InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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extension is currently with An Bord Pleanala with an oral hearing expected later this year. This new infrastructure will allow unhindered sea and shore access and is planned for completion in late 2018.

Q: What are the main economic benefits of the port, both locally and nationally?

A: The port services the entire West of Ireland region extending north to Sligo, east to Tullamore and south to Limerick. It is the first port of call for the import and export of bulk cargoes from that area.

Cargoes carried include oil, bitumen, timber, limestone, steel, scrap metal, RDF and in more recent times, wind energy components from Germany. Trade is spread throughout Europe and beyond. Following the difficult economic times of recent years, the

port has shown a major increase in business over the past two years and is continuing in that vein in 2014. The existing port of 75 acres includes the Galway Harbour Company Enterprise Park which employs some 530 people.

During construction, it is projected that over 200 workers will be employed, while post-development will add in excess of 500 new jobs.

The Porcupine Basin is at the centre of the emerging oil and gas industry off the west coast. The Port of Galway is at the epicentre of these developments. With a track record of servicing this industry dating back to the start of Irish petroleum exploration in the ’70s, the Port of Galway is well-placed to serve the oil and gas sector. In Galway, we believe that the ocean is the next frontier and we are preparing the groundwork now to be in the starting blocks to harness our ocean wealth in a sustainable, economic and environmentally sound way.

Q: Could you tell me about the proposed redevelopment of Galway Port?

A: The port extension, over four stages, will consist of

24 hectares of reclaimed land, 660 metres of quay berth to minus 12 metres, berthing facilities for cargo vessels in excess of 30,000 tonnes, oil tankers, cruise liners and fishing vessels.

On the marine leisure side, a marina will be built consisting of 216 amenity berths capable of hosting major ocean going yachts.

The quays will be linked directly to the main Galway/ Dublin rail line.

Following the difficult economic times of the late 2000s, the Port of Galway has reinvented itself and now has a dynamic approach towards not only completing the port extension, but as important in attracting new and diversified trade to the port. The result is not only increased traffic through the port but a major spinoff in increased employment levels. The belief of the board of the port, its management/staff and the people of Galway city and its environs is that the enhanced port will be a fulcrum of increased prosperity and a continuation of commercial trade through the port that has survived many trials and tribulations over the past 500 years. In essence, the port extension is essential.

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IB SURVEY MALAHIDE CASTLE & GARDENS

Grounds for Discovery Visitor numbers at Malahide Castle & Gardens are on the increase and an improved visitor experience will see these rise even further.

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ith over 100,000 visitors to Malahide Castle & Gardens in its first year under the operation of Shannon Heritage, the expectation of further growth in 2014 was inevitable.

In 2012, Shannon Heritage were appointed by Fingal County Council to use their expertise in customer service, hospitality and event organisation to operate the site; one which is now offering a reinvigorated experience for visitors. Visitors enjoy guided tours of the main reception rooms of one of the oldest inhabited castles by one family in Ireland. In 2014, three main bedrooms were opened to the public, while audio

tours in six different languages have further enriched the tour.

As well as servicing tourists with a high-end visitor experience, the site is providing global corporate organisations with meeting room facilities in the visitor centre, deemed a welcome change of environment from the office boardroom. Together with its backdrop of the castle and gardens, its proximity to Dublin Airport and the facilities on offer, The Loft Room and The Project Room have proved to be a popular choice for companies seeking a different type of space in which to brainstorm.

Additionally, Avoca provides a unique on-site catering option from

country’s best known cafÊs, and a name which has featured in the Bridgestone 100 Best Restaurants since 1997.

In the evening, private guided tours of the castle have become an ever popular option for corporate and incentive groups. Private evening tours allow groups to have exclusive use of the castle for welcome drinks where guests can mingle and enjoy some soft background music from local musicans. Private dining and entertainment options for corporate clients is a growing demand at Malahide Castle & Gardens and is already showing a postive outlook for 2015.

For more information on private tours and evening events please contact the Sales & Marketing Department on +353 1 866 6784.

Discover the splendor of...

Malahide Castle & Gardens is the perfect location to impress your international guests, we can cater for a range of different events from

private Guided Tours of the Castle - drinks receptions & entertainment - private dining Options Team Building & incentive days - Meeting & Conference room Hire - On-site Catering Open daily all year rOund To explore your ideas further contact our Sales & Marketing department on +353 1 866 6784 or email pollardj@shannonheritage.com www.malahidecastleandgardens.ie 188x130mm.indd 1

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18/06/2014 13:13:12

23/12/2014 12:21

BUSINESS ADVICE SNAP (IRELAND)

How to be

KING IN E-COMMERCE Franco de Bonis, Director of Digital Marketing Services at Snap, outlines three issues to consider when establishing an e-commerce site.

I

’ve set up numerous e-commerce sites and in almost every case, the client’s verve and vigour to get the project completed was matched only by their lack of understanding for the scale of the task they were embarking on.

In their haste to get started on their new website, they forget that although their store is virtual, the elements and decisions required to deliver it are not, and while they go into great detail and lengths to get their physical store perfect, they don’t do the same for their virtual store.

So, what better way to explain the challenges of setting up an e-commerce site than looking at it from a physical store perspective? In this first part we look at three initial considerations:

YOUR STORE HAS TO LOOK NICE Nobody wants to shop in a cheap looking or dated store and the same goes for your e-commerce site.

However, don’t get bogged down in this. There are lots of other things InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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that will need your attention, so as much as talking design is fun, let your designer know what you like and don’t like and then let them get on with it.

If you’re on a budget then go for a template-based design, otherwise you can opt for a bespoke design.

Whatever you decide, be sure the design is fully responsive and mobilefriendly, because the volume of visits and purchases from mobile-based visitors will overtake desktop within a couple of years.

YOUR STORE HAS TO HAVE A LOGICAL LAYOUT If you were setting up a physical store, you’d create plans for how you would section the various products and then the layout for each section. You’d ensure that customers can easily navigate the aisles and ultimately find where they can pay. It’s no different for an e-commerce store.

You need to think about how you are going to categorise and subcategorise your products. It sounds so easy, but trust me, unless you are

selling a small handful of products, it will fry your brain.

On top of this, most store owners need to think about options and versions of products. If we’re talking clothing for example, a version is the same shirt/dress but in a different size, while an option is the colour choice.

In a real store, you wouldn’t have a separate rack for each size and colour/fragrance of product. Rather you would put the same colour garments on one rack in a smallest to largest configuration. You need to follow the same thought process with your e-commerce store, because nobody wants to scroll though thousands of products to find the exact combination for them.

Don’t try to short-cut or ignore this process. You are the expert when it comes to your categorisation. Too often, clients expect me to be able to give them the categorisation. Do not rely on your website provider to do this for you.

GET BACK-END SYSTEMS YOU CAN WORK WITH Store owners will pick tills, EPOS and accounting systems that meet their business requirements and are easy to use. Making the wrong choice can cost you a lot of money and lost business. Your choice of e-commerce system for your website is equally critical. Opensource or proprietary, hosted or self-host; these are all choices that need to be weighed up before making your final decision.

In the next edition we’ll discuss the remaining four key points covering promotion, security, customer experience and management.

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LIFESTYLE

WILD

A Drive on the

SIDE

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PRICE €37,995 RANGE STARTS AT €27,295

OLIVE KEOGH TEST DROVE THE NEW VOLVO V40 T5 R-DESIGN AND DISCOVERED A COMFORTABLE AND SOPHISTICATED HATCHBACK THAT JUST HAPPENS TO BE ABLE TO TURN ON THE POWER.

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he V40 T5 R-Design is Volvo’s stab at proving that it too can have a bit of a wild side. With its eye catching bodykit, powerful 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine (242bhp), rear spoiler and black alloys, it’s a long way from the sedate S60 or the family focused ‘X’ models that are the company’s mainstays.

The current V40 represents a design departure for Volvo, which ditched the former V40’s box-like silhouette in favour of a new hatchback design. With a sharpened driving feel and all the usual safety and comfort features from larger Volvos on board, the V40 is every bit the premium modern compact.

The R-Design version is at the top end of the V40 range and this is reflected in the price. Apart from additional performance, this premium also buys a bespoke interior with hip hugging leather seats, aluminium trim and R-Design upholstery and floor mats. Paddle shifts on the leather-trimmed steering wheel add to the sporty ambience. So too does the digital instrument display with its blue dials and the sports pedals. And it’s not all show either. The V40 T5 R-Design sprints

from 0-100 kmh in 6.3 seconds with some ease.

These are good times for Volvo. Since Hakan Samuelsson began running the now Chinese-owned carmaker in 2012, Volvo has been revitalised and the company’s global sales were up nine per cent to the end of October while its European sales for the same period were up 12 per cent. In fact Volvo is now growing at a faster rate in Europe than all of the German premium marques.

This growth is expected to continue into 2015 with the roll out of the second generation XC90. The new version is expected to play a key role in boosting Volvo’s annual sales worldwide to 800,000 units within the next five years. In Ireland Volvo is still a relatively small player with a 1.25 per cent market share. However it competes in the lower volume premium segment where its main focus is executive buyers.

What’s particularly appealing about the V40 R-Design is that while it has a distinctly sporty orientation, it is entirely liveable with on a day-to-day basis. It is not an urgent and jittery sports car champing at the bit, but a very comfortable and sophisticated hatchback that just happens to be able to turn on the power.

It may not offer a blistering

ENGINE 2.0 LITRE TURBOCHARGED PETROL CO2 EMISSIONS (g/km) 137g/km CONSUMPTION 5.9l/100km

seat of the pants driving experience, but the truth of the matter is that this is not something the majority of Volvo buyers are looking for.

While the designation T5 might suggest otherwise, the V40 R-Design actually travels with Volvo’s new fuel saving four-cylinder engine.

This is a quiet and refined unit married to eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. The handling is decidedly tidy, the grip is excellent and needless to say this V40 comes with all the usual Volvo safety credentials.

The R-design’s ride quality is comfortable but firm so if the road surface is poor you will know about it. The other minus is the bootspace. Because this is a compact hatchback it does not have the cavernous boot normally associated with Volvo products.

The R-Design version includes a bespoke interior with hip hugging leather seats and aluminium trim.

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23/12/2014 12:23

MOTOR ING: LIFESTYLE: motoring

Next Generation Going the Distance

THE FORD MONDEO HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MODEL OTHER MANUFACTURERS CHASED IN TERMS OF EMULATING ITS RIDE AND HANDLING. THE NEW MONDEO ZETEC CONTINUES IN THAT TRADITION, WRITES OLIVE KEOGH.

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losing a car plant is a messy business. It takes time and diverts attention and resources away from what should be the main event – rolling out and selling new products. The recent closure of Ford’s plant in Belgium delayed the launch of the new Mondeo by well over a year and it’s closer to two years since the new model made its debut in the US. The new Mondeo arrives just as the latest version of one of its archrivals, the VW Passat, is about to go on sale here. This should lead to some interesting offers in 2015. Ford is already staking its claim to 151 customers with a finance

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deal that makes the newcomer available at €299 per month.

The new model has been styled with a bold hand and this draws the eye forward towards the imposing looking front grille. Overall the defining lines are strong and give the car a muscular stance.

However, it still manages to look sleek rather than bulky. Inside, the cabin has been significantly reworked with more attention to fine detail and major improvements in quality and feel.

The Mondeo will be available in two series initially, Zetec and Titanium and body styles will include five-door and wagon versions.

In keeping with this continuing spirit of innovation, the latest Mondeo has the segment’s first adaptive full LED headlights.

The engine options are 1.6 or 2.0 litre diesels while Ford’s 1.5 litre EcoBoost small but powerful petrol engine will also be available. In 2015 Ford will launch a Mondeo hybrid with CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km. Standard spec on Mondeo Zetec models includes alloys, quick-clear windscreen, daytime running lights, trip computer, cruise control, auto start-stop and SYNC, Ford’s Microsoft-developed in-car entertainment system that also incorporates Bluetooth and internet access.

The other feature that may appeal to fleet/ business buyers is a new programmable gizmo called My Key. This allows whoever owns the car to control features such as the top speed while it can also be set to prevent incoming phone calls.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:24

PRICE €28,995 RANGE STARTS AT: ZETEC €28,995 TITANIUM €31,495 ENGINE 1.6 litre TDCI CO2 EMISSIONS (g/km) 109g/km CONSUMPTION Combined cycle 4.2 /100km

The Mondeo first made its appearance 21 years ago and with each successive version Ford has showcased new technologies. Today it seems odd to think that features we now take for granted such as power steering and ABS were ground breaking when introduced as standard on the Mondeo.

In keeping with this continuing spirit of innovation, the latest Mondeo has the segment’s first adaptive full LED headlights and Europe’s first rear seat inflatable seatbelts as an option. Their function is to reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear-seat passengers in a collision. Also optional but really useful for city driving is Active City Stop, a collision avoidance system that automatically applies the brakes if information from the car’s sensors suggest a forward impact is imminent.

The Mondeo has always been the model other manufacturers chased in terms of emulating its ride and handling. The newcomer continues in that tradition although a little of the sharpness has been lost in favour of more driver comfort.

That said, the Mondeo is still a refined, nimble car with a supple ride and generation four remains every bit the accomplished and long distance performer.

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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Motoring News: IRISH MOTORISTS NOT TURNED ON BY EVS THE IRISH MARKET FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EVs) is tiny. Year to date just 216 have been sold here according to figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry. The Nissan Leaf is the world’s best selling EV and it also tops the Irish sales charts with sales of 184 units to end October. BMW’s i3 is second with 17 units and Renault’s Zoe ZE is third with nine units. Range anxiety and charging hassle are often cited as reasons why more people don’t buy EVs. But range is constantly improving and the roll out of the public charging infrastructure is well underway. Home charging takes no more effort than plugging in a smartphone. For anyone doing short hop local mileage EVs are now a viable option with low running costs.

EUROPE’S TOP SELLING EVS IN 2014 Nissan leaf ..................7,127 Tesla Model S ...........5,409 BMW i3 ...................... 4,689 Renault Zoe ..............3,605 Smart ForTwo ............ 1,279 Bollore Bluecar ............ 531 Citroen C-Zero ............. 464 Mitsubishi i-MiEV ........ 343 Peugeot iOn................. 269 Renault Fluence ............ 58 Source: JATO Dynamics

New A6 is a thrifty buy “IMPROVED EQUIPMENT, lower running costs and attractive pricing make the new A6 an even more enticing prospect for the discerning executive buyer in 2015,” according to Audi Ireland boss, Christian Gussen. Gussen’s comments come as the latest A6 goes on sale here at an entry price of €44,750 for the 2.0TDI SE. With Audi’s PCP finance package, that works out at €429 a month. Gussen says the new A6 has segment-leading fuel efficiency with the 2.0 TDI (150bhp) and the 2.0TDI (190bhp) Ultra models consuming as little as 4.2l/100km. This equates to 67mpg.

The new A6 also features styling changes, standard xenon headlights and a choice of new equipment lines. There is also a new technology package option featuring MMI Navigation plus, Audi Connect, Bose surround sound, head up display and a reversing camera. Touchpad control allows the driver to scroll and zoom in on lists and maps while the Audi phone box connects the driver’s mobile to the car’s antenna for improved reception.

New and refreshed Mercs MERCEDES-BENZ HAS TAKEN the wraps off the second generation B-Class just in time for Christmas. Keen eyed car buffs will spot the revamped front end which includes new daylight running lights and high performance LED headlamps. The facelift continues inside the cabin where there is a new fascia design and instrument cluster.

There are three trim lines and eight engine options available but the one likely to attract the most attention here will be the B160 CDI (1461cc) Style which is likely to cost around €31,000. The petrol line-up begins with the B180 (1595cc) Style at around €33,000.

Also new to market are revised versions of the CLS Coupé and five-door estate.

Included in the line-up for the first time is a new entry-version CLS 220 BlueTEC diesel at €62,505. The nips and tucks include sportier styling, a redesigned centre console and the option of an “intelligent” multibeam lighting system that provides exceptionally bright illumination without dazzling oncoming drivers.

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LIFESTYLE: gadgets

Protect your privacy with fingerprint security

InBUSINESS takes a look at some of the most useful and eye catching gadgets on the market.

First Samsung Galaxy smartphone with a high-quality metal frame

Real-time HDR lets you take bright and vivid photos in tricky lighting conditions

AVAILABLE FROM

€559.99 SAMSUNG GALAXY ALPHA It could be said that the Samsung Galaxy Alpha is the first Samsung smartphone that values attractive design ahead of spec list box-ticking.

Whilst it’s not the finished article, it marks a welcome departure in an exciting new direction for the company. It’s also arguably the most balanced and comfortable-to-use premium phone Samsung has made since the Samsung Galaxy S2.

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Features a powerful Octa Core processor, which gives you a smooth and seamless experience

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:25

LIFESTYLE: gadgets

HUAWEI B1 Talkband The Huawei Talkband B1 is a fitness tracker watch. We’ve seen a dozen or more of these in the last twelve months but this one promises to be a bit different as it also doubles as a Bluetooth earpiece Available for €119.99 in Carphone Warehouse stores nationwide

Digital Digest Hollywood-produced film The Interview has been withdrawn from cinemas in the US as government officials there name North Korea as the source of the much reported cyber attack against Sony.

SONY BTN NFC Headphones

Whether you’re listening to music or making calls, this innovative pair of over-the-ear headphones delivers crisp dynamic lows, while tightly sealed earcups reflect your music back towards your ears for resounding audio. They come with a built-in rechargeable battery which gives you up to 40 hours of listening time.

Available for €49.99 in Carphone Warehouse stores nationwide

Selfie Stick Selfie sticks – handheld extendable poles for smartphones which help the user take better selfies and panoramas – are fast growing in popularity around the world. Available for €19.99 in Carphone Warehouse stores nationwide

InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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Netflix have said they will not be following the lead of other on-demand internet video streaming services by allowing subscribers to download shows for offline viewing

Business Insider has reported that social network Twitter is partnering with local search mobile app Foursquare to power location-based tweets. Twitter is eager to provide more relevant information to users by adding a location layer to its service.

It is expected that IBM will expand the number of data centres it offers clients around the world by 25 per cent to meet fast-rising demand for internet-based services, after what a company executive said has been a “breakthrough year” in 2014 for its cloud computing business.

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LIFESTYLE: travel

Bite Bay of the

IN THE MID-1800S, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DESCENDED ON THE SLEEPY CALIFORNIAN VILLAGE OF YERBA BUENA TO MAKE THEIR FORTUNE IN WHAT WAS AMERICA’S MOST SIGNIFICANT GOLD RUSH. THAT VILLAGE WHICH BECAME KNOWN AS SAN FRANCISCO IS EXPERIENCING ANOTHER GOLD RUSH,THIS TIME FUELLED BY TECHNOLOGY, MAKING IT ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE CITIES TO LIVE AND VISIT, AS BRIAN KEARNS DISCOVERED.

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T

he good news for those looking to visit San Francisco is that Aer Lingus have recently relaunched their direct flight to the city from Dublin, which will strengthen the existing links between these two tech hubs – a welcome move for Silicon Valleybound Irish executives and leisure tourists alike.

Whether you’re here for business or pleasure, San Francisco demands

to be explored. If you’re lucky enough to have a week in the city, it’s worth purchasing a CityPass which gives you unlimited 7-day transport on all buses, light rail, streetcars and of course the city’s famous cable cars. Also included is admission to the wonderful California Academy of Sciences with its living rainforest and planetarium, and for art lovers the de Young Museum, both located in the verdant Golden Gate Park. The pass also grants entry to the Exploratorium Science Museum, the Aquarium of the Bay, as well as offering discounts at other local attractions and InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

23/12/2014 12:25

LIFESTYLE: travel

WHERE TO MEET...

The Four Seasons If you’re downtown and want to impress then it doesn’t get much better than the Fairmont Hotel in Nob Hill - www. fairmont.com/san-francisco. If you find yourself in Silicon Valley then The Four Seasons Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto will help you seal the deal . www.fourseasons.com/ siliconvalley

EAT...

Boulevard Restaurant In this city of food, the world is your oyster but if it’s a special occasion try the Michelin starred Boulevard Restaurant which serves French influenced American cuisine in an Art Nouveau setting. www.boulevardrestaurant.com

SLEEP... retail outlets like Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. If restricted to a shorter stay, all are worth a visit in their own right.

San Francisco is a food lover’s dream with more restaurants here than anywhere else in the US. Every conceivable type of cuisine is available here due to the diverse blend of cultures and quality local produce sourced from the farms of California. The “city by the bay” has a deep connection with the sea so a trip to the bustling Fisherman’s Wharf is essential. While there, check out some of the many excellent seafood restaurants around Pier 39. Make sure to try InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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Aer Lingus fly to San Francisco five times a week year round and fares start at 329 each-way for travel from 1st November to 31st March

Check out sanfrancisco.travel for the best all-round guides on what to see and do. SF Weekly and the Bay Guardian are also excellent guides to what’s on when you’re there and are available all over the city

the Dungeness crab, supposedly the best crabmeat in the world.

Other local specialties include sourdough bread and Cioppino, a spicy seafood chowder-like stew. The latter you will also find around North Beach, the buzzing Italian quarter. This is where the Beat poets were based and here you’ll find Vesuvio Café, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg’s favourite hangout. Next door is the world famous City Lights Books and Francis Ford Coppola owns the building across the street adding to the area’s credentials. Take it all in over a few local craft beers or a glass or two

The Kensington Park Hotel The Kensington Park Hotel offers modern elegance in a Gothic style building right on the Powell Street Cable Car line and is said to have the best address on Union Square. Also less expensive than some of its higher end neighbours. www.kensingtonparkhotel.com

SEE...

Night-time Cruise A night-time dining cruise of the bay with Hornblower takes in the Bay Lights, the world’s largest LED sculpture with 25,000 individually programmable LED lights mounted on the Bay Bridge (Until March 2015) www.hornblower.com/home/sf www.illuminatethearts.org

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LIFESTYLE: travel

DOWNLOAD

The “city by the bay” has a deep connection with the sea so a trip to the bustling Fisherman’s Wharf is essential.

BEFORE YOU GO

SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL GUIDE All the must see locations of San Francisco in one app.

Offline map, weather info, nightlife and restaurants.

Lots of background info and great for sightseeing if new in town.

Available:

|

SF WEEKLY This app is your guide to where to go and what to see. Check out the Editors’ Picks of live music, art openings, tech and food events; concert reviews.

Available:

|

ROUTESY Public transport app including the Muni and BART services which shows you the closest stop or station near you, with real-time travel data.

Available:

San Francisco has the biggest and oldest Chinatown in the USA.

|

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San Francisco is such a fascinating and vibrant place where you’ll find gold among its 43 hills.

Make sure to try the Dungeness crab, supposedly the best crabmeat in the world.

of Northern Californian Zinfandel.

The iconic and art deco Golden Gate Bridge doesn’t fail to impress (once not shrouded in fog). Walk or cycle across it if you can but also be sure to take a cruise of the bay, taking in Alcatraz, the notorious prison island at its centre. Advance booking is recommended if you want to visit the island but it’s well worth it for a taste of what life was like for the prisoners on “the Rock”.

When back on dry land follow the Embarcadero

to the Ferry Building at the end of Market Street for an interesting slice of San Franciscan maritime history. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays you’ll also find a fantastic artisan food market selling local delicacies and great street food, as well as the established high end shops and eateries inside.

San Francisco has the biggest and oldest Chinatown in the country and a stroll through the Dragon’s Gate opens up 24 blocks of exotic shops, markets and temples. To experience

the more alternative side of the city, the colourful neighbourhoods of the Mission, Castro and Haight-Ashbury are all well worth a visit, although these days you are just as likely to bump into a young tech entrepreneur or Twitter employee here as a Jerry Garcia lookalike.

And it is this blend of the old and new, of traditional and cutting-edge that continues to make San Francisco such a fascinating and vibrant place. Whether you are here for work or simply working your way through your bucket list, you’ll find gold among its 43 hills.

Check out some of the many excellent seafood restaurants around Pier 39.

InBUSINESS InBusiness | Q4 Q2 2014

23/12/2014 12:26

LIFESTYLE: books

BOOKS ON A Most Respectable Meeting of Merchants

InBUSINESS looks at the latest business books offering great insights for executives, budding entrepreneurs, and other professionals seeking to acquire business skills and knowledge.

Never Drink A Chinese Woman Under The Table: Plus Other Fun and Practical Tips for Doing Business in China and at Home

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ever Drink A Chinese Woman Under The Table is a book about doing business in China, delivered with humour. The Chinese command one of the world’s largest economies yet routinely baffle foreigners who try to do business with them. According to authors Richard Bradspies and Jim Fox, trying to drink a woman under the table is one of the many ways you can blow it when doing business with Asians. You can also get grey hair waiting for your menu to come at a banquet in a Chinese restaurant’s private room. And do you really have to eat the ox tongue and tripe with roasted chili garlic black beans? And why can’t you get a glass of cold water? Richard Bradspies spent more than a decade as the Bank of China’s top American in the US. He and PR pro Jim Fox have authored a book about understanding the Chinese and other Asians in a business and cultural context.

AUTHOR: Richard Bradspies and Jim Fox PUBLISHER: Strategic Media Books RRP: 15 AVAILABLE: amazon.co.uk

YOUR TRAVEL COMPANION

AUTHOR: Jack Kerouac PUBLISHER: Penguin AVAILABLE: Everywhere!

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PUBLISHER: Londubh Books

RRP: Dublin 30 Chamber of AVAILABLE: All good Commerce is bookshops celebrating 50 years at its offices on Clare Street, Dublin 2, with the publication of a new book which chronicles the 230-year history of the organisation. Written by Enda MacMahon, A Most Respectable Meeting of Merchants tells the Chamber’s story from its establishment in 1783, following the advent of free trade, through to the present day. It also offers an insight into the history of business in Dublin and into the many interesting people who have coloured the Irish business scene over the past two and a half centuries.

Enda MacMahon spent more than two years researching the book, having previously written a book of biographies of Dublin Chamber of Commerce Presidents.

Small Change, Big Gains: Reflections of an Energy Entrepreneur

On The Road Whether you’re in San Francisco on business or pleasure, it’s the ideal time to acquaint yourself with, or revisit, the American modern classic On The Road.

In the book, Beat writer Jack Kerouac presents Sal Paradise, a young, innocent writer, and Dean Moriarty, a crazy youth “tremendously excited with life” racing around America, and testing the limits of the American Dream.

AUTHOR: Enda MacMahon

“Our environment is changing and we need to change our approach to help save it.”

AUTHOR: Thomas H. Stoner Jr PUBLISHER: Greenleaf AVAILABLE: amazon.co.uk

Thomas H. Stoner Jr spent 30 years working as an energy executive and as an investor in renewable energy assets. He is now combining his experience with some of the top scientists, business leaders, economists and researchers to examine the idea of how businesses can make small adjustments to their production, with minimal impact on the environment and a positive reflection on their bottom line. Small Change, Big Gains outlines a new sustainability model that is good for the environment and good for business.

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W

IN

ES S

EN

attire

Code

TE

R A

TI

LS

Look smart and keep warm in these winter must-haves.

MAKE THE CHANGE FROM BUSINESS TO EVENT IN A MATTER OF MINUTES WITH THESE ACCESSORIES.

travel meeting

Event season is in full-swing which means smartening up your attire. For business, keep it simple and professional in understated hues. For event, turn it up a notch or three in playful prints and patent shoes but keep it classic in blue.

1) 10) 4) 5)

2)

11)

6)

7) 12)

9) 3)

8)

1) O SBORNE brown wool buckle trim moulded fedora, €44 | Debenhams 2) P aul Smith colour block scarf, €105 | Brown Thomas 3) MY GLOVE leather stab stitch gloves, €90 | Ted Baker

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13)

4) Gold textured skinny tie, a10, Burton Menswear London | 5) White shirt, a25.94, Burtons Menswear London| 6) Givenchy gold plated adjustable watch, a1,001, Harvey Nichols | 7) Leather reversible belt, a70, Reiss | 8) Brown lace up brogues, a60, River Island | 9) Givenchy Gentlemen Only, a83, Brown Thomas | 10) Bow Tie in blue polka dot silk, a29.95, Louis Copeland 11) Cufflinks, a121.43, Ralph Lauren | 12) Michaelis Classic mens belt in light blue suede, a49, Louis Copeland | 13) Hugo Boss christallo chisel derby shoes, a300, Brown Thomas

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14)

Going from business to an event doesn’t always mean you need a complete outfit change. A simple dressing up of an already statement dress can sometimes be all you need. For business, keep your dress low-key by covering up your legs with knee boots. By night, change into heels, throw on a dark shade of lipstick, add a touch of jewellery and spray of your favourite perfume. That’s it.

R E TS

INNTIAL

WSSE E

Protect yourself from the winter weather while adding a touch of glamour with the most on-trend accessory this winter, the cape.

19)

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24) 21)

22) 25)

16) 26)

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17) 23)

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14) Dark Romance compact floral diary 2015, a8.69, Paperchase | 15) Porsche mikado ballpoint pen, a334, Amara | 16) Black and red Lulu Guiness lips tote bag, a450 Arnotts | 17) Carvela world, a180, Kurt Geiger | 18) Yves Saint Laurent black opium eau de parfum, from a68, House of Fraser | 19) DVF long sleeved leather wrap dress, a725, Brown Thomas | 20) Bobbi Brown lip colour, a26, Arnotts | 21) Kenneth Jay Lane hinged gold tone necklace, a236, Harvey Nichols | 22) Angular plated clutch, a110, Orla Berg | 23) Leone strappy shoe black and white, a195, Reiss

24) C APELL faux fur cape, €205 | Ted Baker 25) Berry Dent leather gloves, €95 | Clerys 26) Colour Changing Umbrella, €21.55 | House of Bath

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THE LAST WORD

BUSINESS SKILLS

NOT WASTED

ON THE YOUNG

Jerry Kennelly believes that giving schoolchildren exposure to entrepreneurship at a young age is the way forward in business.

Joseph O’Connor caught up with the serial entrepreneur to find out about a primary school initiative which is doing just that.

Jerry Kennelly, Founder, Tweak.com

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f there’s one person who knows what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur it’s photographerturned businessman Jerry Kennelly.

In 2006 the Kerry native sold his stock photo business Stockbyte to Getty Images for $135 million.

Not content to sit on his cash pile, Kennelly is busy building his latest venture, Tweak. com, which makes agency standard graphic design accessible online to business owners worldwide.

I first encountered Kennelly when he was

speaking to a crowd of business people in Dublin. A stroll past him in the corridor beforehand and there’s little about his unassuming manner to suggest he’s one of Ireland’s most successful entrepreneurs. All that changed, however, when he took to the stage to offer up his tips on how to make it big in the world of business. He provided plenty of no-nonsense advice to business owners such as the importance of identifying who the “gobshites” are in their companies and then having “the balls” to sack them. He was also critical of third level education in Ireland, claiming there are too many substandard schools that are putting students through three-year degrees that “aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on”.

It’s blunt advice no doubt but perhaps it’s the kind of rhetoric we need in order to support sustainable economic growth once again. One approach to achieving just that, which Kennelly feels passionate about, is investing in entrepreneurial talent at a young age. Of course, he refrains from using expletives when speaking to pupils in primary schools, but it is there that he helps empower children’s future as part of the Junior Entrepreneur Programme which he established in 2010. The primary school programme is an initiative aimed at creating entrepreneurial learning and classroom businesses. To date,

it has helped mentor some 6,500 pupils and it is expected to have a presence in 22 counties on the island by next year.

The programme, which is run over a 10-12 week period, is privately funded and is available free of charge in schools across the country. Each child in the classroom gets the opportunity to pitch a business idea to an established entrepreneur or ‘Dragon’. One project is chosen and the class is divided into teams which then proceed in bringing the idea to fruition. Small amounts of their own capital are put into the project and they conclude the programme with a school showcase day where they get to put the business into action.

“The response has been really good,” says Kennelly. “We haven’t had any situation where the children have lost their money. One project saw schoolchildren from Duagh, Co Kerry, make St Brigid crosses. They sold 1,500 of them and there were 15 or 16 children in the classroom. They made a profit of around €4,500.”

Kennelly sees great value in giving the children an alternative to the usual curriculum in schools and introducing them to the concept that you don’t have to take an entirely academic route. “The average length of time in a job is getting shorter and there’s much uncertainty in employment as there is in self-employment.

So it gives children an understanding of their InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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THE LAST WORD

own abilities and the fact they can take control of their own lives at some point. Part of the process is engaging entrepreneurs who come into the classroom and mentor them. There are 21 other entrepreneurs around the country who lead this programme in their own county so it’s a real collaboration. It’s entirely privately funded and overall it has a budget in excess of about €600,000 annually.”

Parents also have an active role to play in exposing their children to entrepreneurship, according to Kennelly. He says encouraging children to take up a summer or weekend job is crucial to giving them a taste of the real world. He also cites author Malcolm Gladwell’s ‘10,000 hours principle’, the idea that it takes roughly this number of hours of practice to achieve mastery in a field, as outlined in Gladwell’s book Outliers. “Myself and my brothers built a competence in a number of fields quite early in our lives. That stands to you. I think it really gives you a base to build on and it gives you enough confidence to work for yourself.”

His advice to parents is to avoid wrapping their children in cotton wool and to give them as much exposure to the real world as early as possible.

“It gives a child a sense of reality,” he says. “It gives them a means of measuring their own dreams and aspirations, and the more people they meet from a diverse InBUSINESS | Q4 2014

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Pupils pitching their business idea as part of the Junior Entrepreneur Programme

range of experience, it allows them to imagine what they might be able to do themselves.”

WHAT IT TAKES Obviously, not all children who participate in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme will go on to become serial entrepreneurs but it will help participating pupils to develop skills such as pitching ideas, budgeting, consumer awareness, storytelling, creative thinking and problemsolving among other things which will prove valuable no matter what career direction they take.

But some will undoubtedly go on to become entrepreneurs and inspire others through their passion and hard work. So what, according to Kennelly, are the key attributes that make these people successful in business? “I think the most important thing is to really believe in something,” he says “No matter what it is that you’re doing, you have to fundamentally believe

in it, that it is actually going to make life better for the people using your product or service. If you don’t have that deep, underlying belief, it’s very hard to have the tenacity to make a success of it.

You need to really understand that what you’re offering is a great thing, that it’s worth spending a huge amount of time on and worth all the persuading, the cajoling and experiencing all those hairy moments in order to get it across the line. If one is doing it for the money, you’re better off going into another business.”

That’s one thing which isn’t the driving force behind Kennelly’s latest project, Tweak.com, or his willingness to pass

on his entrepreneurial knowledge to the youth of today. “What drove me in business is the fact that as a photographer I was able to change the world of photography and did. We were the first digital stock photography company and we made a huge impact in terms of standards, in terms of creativity and in terms of customers being able to access great photography at a reasonable price. With Tweak, it’s an extension of that type of thinking.”

Here’s to game changers like Kennelly coming out of the Junior Entrepreneur Programme and helping to forge an exciting and innovative business community in Ireland for years to come.

MY START-UP TO WATCH: Fullhealth.ie Fullhealth.ie is run by Dr. Ann Shortt and Paul McCarthy. They’re demystifying medical checks and providing common sense health advice to tens of thousands of people throughout Europe. Not only is it a good business, but it saves lives.

For more on start-ups to watch in 2015 go to page 32

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THE InBUSINESS INDEX

GENEROSITY

In this issue, InBUSINESS explores data from the World Giving Index 2014.

3

4

7

1

7

1 10

9

6 5

Joint

Joint

1st

3rd

1st

Myanmar

USA

64

Canada

64 Joint

7th Australia

56

60 9th

7th Malaysia

UK

55

5th Ireland

60

Joint

6th

4th

55

New Zealand

58

10th Sri Lanka

54

Trinidad and Tobago

54

ABOUT THE IMD WORLD COMPETITIVENESS YEARBOOK The aim of the World Giving Index is to provide insight into the scope and nature of giving around the world. In order to ensure that giving is understood in its various forms, the report looks at three aspects of giving behaviour. The questions that lie at the heart of the report are: Have you done any of the following in the past month?

• Donated money to a charity

1st

4th

7th

MYANMAR

IRELAND

MALAYSIA

Myanmar’s position is driven primarily by an incredibly high proportion of people donating money. This reflects the strong Theravada Buddhist community within Myanmar, with its estimated 500,000 monks receiving support from lay devotees.

Ireland ranks as the most generous country in Europe and fourth most generous country in the world.

The biggest increase in volunteering in Ireland this year was found to be among the over 50s, where numbers increased from 31 per cent to 40 per cent.

Malaysia has experienced a significant improvement across all three ways of giving, resulting in a move from seventy-first place to seventh. This behavioral change is likely to reflect the humanitarian effort undertaken following Typhoon Haiyan in the neighboring Philippine archipelago.

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• Volunteered your time to an organisation • Helped a stranger, or someone you didn’t know who needed help This fifth edition of the World Giving Index presents giving data from across the globe over a five year period (2009-2013). The World Giving Index 2014 includes data from 135 countries across the globe that was collected throughout the calendar year of 2013.

For the full report findings go to: https://www.cafonline.org/pdf/CAF_ WGI2014_Report_1555AWEBFinal.pdf

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