InBUSINESS Recognition Awards 2016 by Ashville Media Group

5th December 2016 The Conrad Dublin, Earlsfort Terrace 000 Recognition Awards 2016_Cover.indd 1

30/11/2016 15:33

He’s not doing his banking. We are.

You free up time for what really matters when you let someone else take care of things – especially when you know they’re experts. So why not do the same for your banking? From executing simple, day-to-day tasks to providing ongoing financial advice, we can help. Talk to AIB Private Banking today. Call Michael Deegan, Client Director, on 086 835 2144 or visit privatebanking.aib.ie Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Typically our clients have an annual salary or income which exceeds €250,000.

06091RO Private AI 241196 AIB.indd 2 DPS.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:41

241196 AIB.indd 3

08/11/2016 29/11/2016 14:18 17:41

BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR Julie Sinnamon, Enterprise Ireland LIFE ASSURANCE AND PENSIONS Zurich Life

FINANCIAL SERVICES New Ireland Assurance COUNTY COUNCIL FOR FDI Mayo County Council STATE BODY NSAI

TOURISM Dublin Port

NEWCOMER Admailer.ie

ACCOUNTANCY Russell Brennan Keane

MARKETING INITIATIVE AIB Start-up Academy

E-COMMERCE PayPal

SUPPORT TO SMES Credit Review Office

EXPORTING CLdN

SPECIAL MERIT Bank Of Ireland Corporate Banking for CSR

BANKING AIB Private Banking BUSINESS SCHOOL Kemmy Business School ENERGY Bord Gáis Energy

BRAND Shannon Group BUSINESS BROADBAND Virgin Media

LAW FIRM Eversheds

BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR Joe Barrett, Applegreen

EXECUTIVE CAR Volvo S90

COMPANY OF THE YEAR Vodafone Ireland

The InBUSINESS Recognition Awards is an Ashville Media Group event in association with Chambers Ireland

n behalf of myself and everybody at ŠKODA thank you for joining us at the 2016 InBUSINESS Recognition Awards in association with Chambers Ireland. When I look at the prestigious list of businesses here today I can relate to many of you and your excellent achievements. Over the last number of years the ŠKODA brand in Ireland has persevered and grown through the most difficult of business environments. Ten years ago it was unthinkable that ŠKODA would be on the cusp of breaking into the top-five bestselling car brands in Ireland. As you well know success does not come easy. Innovation, investment, recruitment and the ability to adapt are fundamental to survival, let alone success. In the last few months new challenges have emerged to create uncertainty for us all. For ourselves in ŠKODA we will approach 2017 with optimism. Our dealer network is the most modern of any car brand in Ireland. We have some outstanding new products arriving supported by excellent financial products. Congratulations to one and all on a very successful 2016 and may I wish you prosperity and success in 2017. John Donegan Brand Director, ŠKODA Ireland IN ASSOCIATION WITH

002 Recognition Awards 2016_Contents.indd 2

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

30/11/2016 15:21

Julie Sinnamon, Enterprise Ireland Identifying Opportunity in Adversity

Zurich Life Assurance The Power Behind Irish Pensions

Dublin Port The Popular Port of Call

Russell Brennan Keane Going for Growth

New Ireland Assurance Taking Care of Ireland

Mayo County Council Investing in Mayo

NSAI Setting High Standards

AdMailer Data Driven Marketing

AIB Start-up Academy Helping Start-ups Succeed

PayPal Code for Success

CLdN Capacity for Success

AIB Private Banking Putting the Customer’s Financial Health First

Credit Review Office Helping SMEs Get Credit

Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking A Bank at the Heart of Communities

Kemmy Business School Building Blocks for Success

Shannon Group Strong Message from the Mid-west

Eversheds Lessons in Law

Joe Barrett, Applegreen At Your Service

Bord Gáis Energy Putting Energy Efficiency on the Business Agenda

Volvo Executive Class

Virgin Media The Business of Digital

Vodafone Ireland Investing in the Future

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

002 Recognition Awards 2016_Contents.indd 3

30/11/2016 15:21

APC were looking to expand globally. We provided the right formula. APC had the ambition to export its pioneering process research technology worldwide. Partnering with Enterprise Ireland and our network of over 30 international offices enabled them to rapidly access the world’s major pharma and biotech markets – and save countless lives in the process. If your business has the ambition, we’ll help you take it global. Go to ambition.enterprise-ireland.com

#GlobalAmbition

241195_Enterprise Ireland_1C_AMA_IBRA.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:41

JULIE SINNAMON, ENTERPRISE IRELAND

InBUSINESS caught up with this year’s Businesswoman of the Year, Julie Sinnamon of Enterprise Ireland, to get her thoughts on the Irish business landscape during this time of economic and political uncertainty. Q: How has 2016 been for Enterprise Ireland? A: It has been a good year for Enterprise Ireland and our clients. We published record export results breaking the 20 billion mark for the first time in 2015. Significant growth was recorded across all sectors and most territories. Exports to the USA and Canada increased by 27 per cent to almost 3bn; exports to the UK increased by 12 per cent to 7.5bn; and exports to Northern Europe increased by 8 per cent to 4.2 bn. We are compiling figures for 2016 at the moment, but last year our clients created over 20,000 jobs, with 64 per cent of them outside Dublin, which is a key focus. Q: What would you say are the main challenges currently facing Irish businesses? A: The Brexit vote and its impact on currency fluctuation has been a challenge for some Irish companies. Since the vote, we have been supporting clients on a one-to-one basis, providing information and guidance on key issues such as currency risk management, business plans, new market entry and operations. We have also increased our level of supports for helping companies improve their competitiveness, innovation and market diversification plans. Role models are important, and we recently launched our #GlobalAmbition marketing campaign to showcase companies successfully exporting and providing information to other companies about how to do it. The UK will remain a key market for Irish exporters but we are gradually reducing our reliance on that market with exports as a percentage of total overseas sales down from 45 per cent to 37 per cent in the past decade. But there is still huge opportunity there – in their public spending plans for instance in areas such as infrastructure – and we are still actively targeting that market. That said, our focus will also be on increasing exports in other markets in the eurozone, US and Asia. Q: How do you view the Irish business landscape in the near future and what precautions are Enterprise Ireland taking to protect Irish businesses? Ireland is a premium location for sourcing and investing. Our offering is based on innovative companies with highly skilled workforces, access to

BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITY IN ADVERSITY the EU and an excellent business environment. We have one of the world’s leading rates of entrepreneurship and start-up activity with a support structure among the best anywhere. Forbes magazine ranks us as the best country in the eurozone for doing business and fourth in the world. We will need to wait and see what happens in the US but companies will still need to service supply chains and reach global markets. The US will remain the second largest market for Irish businesses and we are maintaining our strategic focus there. Q: Any news Enterprise Ireland can share with us at this time? A: We are finalising our corporate strategy 2017-2020 which will be focused on scaling and increasing the global footprint of Irish business. We are also finalising our trade mission schedule, inward buyer visits and trade events for 2017. We are focusing on the US and Northern Europe where we see particular opportunity next year.

Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

005_Recognition Awards 2016_Enterprise Ireland.indd 5

30/11/2016 15:24

Clarity_Ad_InBusiness_Chambers_A4_1116.indd 1 241200_1C_Zurich_Chambers.indd 1

02/11/2016 17:43 15:31 29/11/2016

ZURICH LIFE

Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Ireland with Zurich Life, speaks about a successful 2016, and where the company goes from here. Q: Congratulations on your receipt of the award for Life Assurance and Pensions. In your opinion, why do you feel that Zurich Life is a worthy recipient? A: We are delighted to receive this award for a second year in a row. Zurich has a long tradition in the life and pensions market in Ireland spanning close to 40 years and over that period we have grown our market share significantly. It’s difficult to pin our growth and success to any one particular activity, instead we’ve focused on continually making improvements and innovations that collectively add up. We work very closely with financial advisors and employee benefit consultants and they tell us that they recommend Zurich to customers because of our award winning investment performance, our innovative product design, trusted brand and market leading competitiveness. All of these are core to our ongoing success. Q: Can you tell me about some of your successes this year? A: The overall improvement in the economic environment and in particular the increase in the number of people in employment has contributed positively to our new business, as more companies and their employees look to provide for the future in the form of pension provision or to protect their families against death or disability. 2016 has also been a great year at Zurich in terms of innovation as we continue to lead the way with our enhanced company pension solution, our consistent investment track record and our innovative investment solutions. Among the awards we have won in the past 12 months is Excellence in Financial Products from the Professional Insurance Brokers Association 2016 and Pension Management Firm of the Year by Business & Finance 2016. Q: Going forward, what do you think are the biggest challenges facing the market? A: In a recent interview with Zurich, the Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar, highlighted the challenges for State pension provision and bridging the pension divide. According to the Minister, “In 2016, approximately 7 billion will be spent on pensions,

LIFE ASSURANCE AND PENSIONS

THE POWER BEHIND IRISH PENSIONS which represents 35 per cent of [the Department of Social Protection’s] total current expenditure. Currently there are 5.3 people of working age for every pensioner. This ratio is expected to decrease by half by 2040.” This is definitely a challenge that we all face – ensuring that we have an adequate income in retirement, and the earlier we start Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Ireland making contributions the better chance we have of providing sufficient income during retirement. This can only be achieved through increased awareness and providing pension scheme members with relevant and informative communications at the appropriate time in their working life. At Zurich, we provide market leading member communications to pension scheme members, as well as online access to the current value of their pension fund, a projection of the future value, plus the retirement income that it is likely to generate. Q: So what’s next for Zurich Life in Ireland? A: We have a clear objective for 2017 and beyond to bring more clarity to company pensions for both employers and employees. Our company pension solution will keep things simple for all stakeholders and make Zurich easier to do business with. Our employee engagement tools are designed to bring pension schemes to life and help employees look forward to a great retirement. On the investment side, our recently launched innovative investment strategy, Personalised GuidePath, will make investing for retirement a much simpler process. This builds on our investment expertise and our product design capabilities to deliver a solution for all employees. Zurich Life Assurance plc is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

007_Recognition Awards 2016_Zurich Life Assurance.indd 7

30/11/2016 15:30

241139_Dublin Port_1C_AMA_EDA.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:39

DUBLIN PORT TOURISM

THE POPULAR PORT OF CALL InBUSINESS spoke with Pat Ward, Head of Corporate Services at Dublin Port, about how the port has become a marquee destination for international cruise lines and a popular call for passengers on cruise ship itineraries. Q: How has 2016 been for Dublin Port? A: It has been a very positive year. The port’s trade volumes have been growing rapidly in recent years, up 17.3 per cent in the years 2013 to 2015, and, in the first nine months of 2016, they grew by a further 6.8 per cent to 26.0 million gross tonnes. The current pace of growth means Dublin Port is on course for a record year for the third year in a row. It has also been a record-breaking year for cruise tourism with 113 cruise calls scheduled, bringing 180,000 visitors to the capital. Highlights include the return of MSC Splendida, the longest ship ever to visit Dublin Port, Disney Magic’s maiden call to Dublin Port, hosting over 200 delegates from leading cruise destinations at the 2016 Cruise Europe Conference in Dublin, and the launch of Cruise Dublin, a new marketing development agency to promote Dublin as a premier cruise destination. In addition, 2016 saw the launch of two major arts initiatives; the first a commission of new music from Irish artists called Starboard Home, the second a visual arts commissioning programme called Port Perspectives – all inspired by the Port’s relationship with the city and River Liffey.

Pat Ward, Head of Corporate Services, Dublin Port

experience the city’s sights and attractions. For the year to date, ferry passenger traffic rose by 0.5 per cent with 1.4 million ferry passengers and over 400,000 tourist vehicles passing through the port as holidaymakers and Ireland soccer fans took advantage of direct routes to France and Britain. This builds on the 5.1 per cent increase in ferry passenger traffic recorded in 2015, placing Dublin Port on a par with major national airports including Cork and Shannon.

Q: In terms of tourism, what is the significance of the port’s central location? A: The port’s close proximity to the city is one of the reasons why Dublin Port has become a marquee destination for international cruise lines and a popular call for passengers on cruise ship itineraries. Our location offers passengers easy access to a vibrant European city. Once the port’s 230m ABR Project is complete, Dublin Port will have enhanced infrastructure and capacity to meet market demand to routinely accommodate increasingly larger ships.

Q: Any news or developments for 2017 which you can share with us? A: Promoting Dublin as a home port for turnaround cruises is one of the priorities for 2017, given the port’s proximity to the airport which means that passengers can fly into Dublin and commence their cruise from the city. The luxury cruise line Celebrity Cruises has just announced it will become the first major cruise line to confirm Dublin Port as a home port for early summer 2018.

Q: How have the cruise and ferry industries been performing? A: Every year in recent years has been a recordbreaking one for cruise tourism at Dublin Port. In 2015 we announced 93 cruise calls and this year we scheduled 113 calls, bringing 180,000 visitors to

Q: Finally, your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Tourism? A: The award recognises the long-term planning, investment and innovation that Dublin Port has shown in developing cruise tourism for the city of Dublin in what has been a landmark year for Dublin Port.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

009_Recognition Awards 2016_Dublin Port.indd 9

30/11/2016 15:33

Chartered Accountants

As Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants, with an international outreach through our membership of LEA Global, Russell Brennan Keane offer a full suite of business services from our offices in Dublin, Athlone and Roscommon. Our expert business services include:

Audit & Assurance

Payroll Solutions

Taxation

Accounting Solutions

Corporate Finance

Business Applications

HR Consulting

Company Secretarial

Specialist Financial Recruitment

Wealth Management

Corporate Services

Corporate Recovery

Technology Solutions

Personal Debt Solutions

David Gleeson Managing Partner T: (01) 644 0100 E: dgleeson@rbk.ie

Dublin l Athlone l Roscommon

241340_1C_Russell Brennan Keane_Chambers 9.04.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:45

RUSSELL BRENNAN KEANE ACCOUNTANCY

GOING FOR GROWTH Accountancy firm Russell Brennan Keane has had a busy year between mergers, recruitment and a move to new offices. InBUSINESS caught up with Managing Partner David Gleeson to find out more. Q: How has 2016 been for Russell Brennan Keane? A: It has been very positive. We have achieved growth in excess of 15 per cent before taking into account the recent mergers we had in the last 15 months. We have increased our presence in the Dublin market through these mergers, we have recruited exciting and talented staff and we have just moved into our new bespoke 10,000 square foot offices in Clonskeagh. So in a nutshell, it’s exciting times at Russell Brennan Keane. Q: Which services have been most in demand this year? A: I would say the transaction support services; corporate and personal taxation, corporate finance and wealth management are the services most sought after by our clients. Q: How have the recent mergers played into the wider business? A: Over the last 15 months we have been involved in two mergers - Andrew Partners back in August 2015 and then PGL Chartered Accountants in February 2016. So we have increased our presence in the Dublin market. In addition to what would be known as the traditional accounting and audit services, we are now able – particularly in the Dublin market – to offer specialised services like corporate finance, taxation, restructuring services, forensics, wealth management, payroll, specialist financial recruitment and HR solutions. Q: How does Russell Brennan Keane view the Irish business landscape in the near future? A: With Brexit impending and the Trump era on the horizon, there is a certain amount of uncertainty out there and unfortunately, uncertainty drives fear and fear is the enemy of business. We are encouraging our clients to be proactive, to take a positive view, meet up with their main stakeholders – especially banks and their key customers – and work through any issues they have. By doing this at least they are giving themselves the best opportunity in dealing with these uncertainties. Unfortunately, uncertainty can lead to paralysis and that’s the worst position a business can find itself in,

David Gleeson, Managing Partner, Chris Ball, Corporate Finance Partner, James Fitzmaurice, Audit & Business Advisory Partner

they need to be proactive rather than reactive. In terms of Brexit, it will impact a number of our clients. Obviously some sectors will be hit more than others. The real impact to date is the sterling devaluation which is hitting some sectors such as agriculture which exports a significant amount of their products and services to the UK. These businesses’ profit margins have diminished and they need to try and deal with this and steady the ship . Q: Any news Russell Brennan Keane can share with us at this time? A: We have plans to further expand and copper-fasten our position as Ireland’s largest independent branded accountancy firm. We are actively recruiting staff – whether that’s in corporate finance, taxation or audit personnel – so that we can continue to improve our service offering to the marketplace. Q: Your response to being awarded the 2016 InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Accountancy? A: It’s a great honour and it really means a lot to us, particularly to our talented team that works so hard to provide a first-class service. We’d also like to thank our clients – without whom we wouldn’t survive – for their business and providing us with the opportunity of working with innovative and forward thinking business leaders.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

011_Recognition Awards 2016_Russell Brennan Keane.indd 11

30/11/2016 15:34

Grow your business online through PayPal.

paypaljobsireland.com 1800 944 570

239658_Paypal_1C_AMA_IBRA.indd 1 239657_1C_PAYPAL_JR_Chambers.indd 1

29/11/2016 21/07/2016 17:39 17:15

PAYPAL E-COMMERCE

CODE FOR SUCCESS A recent hackathon organised by PayPal – this year’s recipient of the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for e-Commerce – addressed five Irish charities’ most pressing digital needs, enabling them to increase awareness and revenue potential.

s a successful and growing business in Ireland, PayPal has also increased its focus and commitment to work with local Irish charities and communities this year. It supports charity partners both financially and through the enthusiastic volunteering services provided by many of its 2,600 employees in Dublin and Dundalk. Always looking at new and innovative ways to serve the third sector, PayPal recently launched Opportunity Hack - its first ever charity hackathon in Ireland. The event, held at Dublin’s Castleknock Hotel, saw 15 teammates from PayPal’s offices in Dundalk and Blanchardstown build and develop digital resources for five Irish charities over a 24-hour period. Led by Jonathan Davies, an Integrations and Optimisation Manager at PayPal, the tech specialists were a mix of computer programmers and those with expertise in software development, including graphic designers, interface designers and project managers. They were challenged to address five charities’ most pressing digital needs, enabling the non-profits to increase awareness and revenue potential. The judging panel consisted of members of PayPal’s senior management in Ireland, Guy Thompson, General Manager of the Castleknock Hotel, and Tony Lambert, CEO of Fingal Chamber of Commerce. Prizes were awarded to the best projects delivered within the 24-hour hackathon, with the team behind The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation’s project winning the top spot. The PayPal techies built the charity – which provides funding for families of young children with brain damage – a bidding app that could be used for a public art auction. The hackathon resulted in new websites for the National Exotic Animal Sanctuary, Dundalk Dog Rescue and BeLonG To, a non-profit for LGBT young people. PayPal teammates also helped Move4Parkinson’s digitise its dance classes and streamline its database. Speaking about the hackathon, Maeve Dorman, PayPal’s new Head of Global Operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “This latest charity initiative reflects our strong commitment to

Jonathan Davies, Integrations and Optimisation Manager, PayPal; Maeve Dorman, Head of Global Operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Tommy Garvey, Chair of PayPal Gives

support the communities in which we operate. Our teammates in Ireland have great technical skills, and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to apply them and address real problems for local charities.” Hugo Jellett, CEO, Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, said: “To mark our 20th year helping children in every parish in Ireland, The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation is embarking on an ambitious public art project in partnership with PayPal. The project aims to raise an estimated 65,000 for the charity – and it will all revolve around our new bidding app, created by PayPal’s finest technical minds. Thanks to their brilliant work, we now have a clever, cogent and user-friendly digital gallery platform that will allow us to make this auction a success.”

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

013_Recognition Awards 2016_PayPal.indd 13

30/11/2016 15:35

241198_1C_CLDN_AMA_ECA.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:42

CLDN EXPORTING

CAPACITY FOR SUCCESS Koen Vanhentenrijk, CLdN Commercial Route Manager for Ireland, gives us an insight into the year that’s been for the freight company. Q: Could you give us some background on what CLdN provides, and the primary markets you serve? A: CLdN operates various short sea connections between the continent and the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Portugal and Spain. All lines are operated with 24 company owned vessels which can accommodate the regular containers, tanks and trailers. Furthermore, we can assist with the shipment of mobile machinery and static cargo. Our vessels can accommodate 12 drivers of accompanied units and have the facility to plug in temperature controlled units on board. The main deck clearance height of 7 metres offers the flexibility to receive out of gauge units and arrange shipments to the continent of specialised cargo which would previously have been laboriously and expensively transported via the UK. Our capacity for volume shipments of imported cars and vans is an added bonus which is currently being well recognised by the industry. Q: Has 2016 represented a positive period for the company? A: We are pleased to say that 2016 has been a year of lots of developments and investments. We increased the capacity on various routes, but most significantly on our Irish services, where two departures were added in March 2016. Knowing that we already added sailings to our Ireland schedule year-end 2014 and mid-2015, the total of eight current departures from the continent into Dublin give a good indication of the economic growth we see. This growth is not only the case on our services from/to Ireland. CLdN’s ro-ro services from/to Iberia were extended in 2016. We added an extra sailing to Portugal to now offer in total three weekly departures from Rotterdam to Leixoes and vice versa. Furthermore, we also added a call in Spain to connect Santander with Rotterdam with two weekly sailings. In addition to the service to/from Spain we have split out our service to Scandinavia. Where we first only offered sailings to Scandinavia from Zeebrugge, we now also offer departures from/to Rotterdam. This development enables us to easily and frequently connect the south of Europe with the north of Europe.

Q: Can you tell us about some of the major challenges currently facing the sector? A: As in all sectors monitoring costs is always part of the process. Our ro-ro vessels sail on very expensive marine gas oil, so keeping the most economic speed is of utmost importance. Furthermore, we believe that investments are essential in order to extend our services and allow our customers to develop their business too. Q: Any news or expansion plans you can share with us? A: As announced last year CLdN will welcome two new built 8,000 lane metre vessels with a length of 235 metres in its fleet by the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018. These vessels are twice the capacity of today’s larger short sea ro-ro vessels and will be followed by more vessels of classes ranging between 4,700 and 8,000 for which the orders will be spread across various yards in Europe and the Far East. Furthermore, C.RO Ports, the stevedore who manages the terminals in Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK where the CLdN vessels are operated, are investing significantly to prepare the terminals for the continuously growing services and increasing volumes.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

015_Recognition Awards 2016_CLdN.indd 15

30/11/2016 15:37

6,500 2,500 attendees across

10 awards ceremonies per year

companies enter across

32 counties

Sponsorship opportunities available contact Tracey Carney, Event Director E: tracey.carney@ashvillemediagroup.com â&#x20AC;˘ T: 01 432 2206

OPTION 1 IN 3 FORMATS

and Investor AWARDS 2016

Ashville Events Advert.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:38

AIB PRIVATE BANKING BANKING

PUTTING THE CUSTOMER’S FINANCIAL HEALTH FIRST Philip Kearney, Chief Investment Officer with AIB Private Banking, reflects on 2016 and looks ahead to 2017. Q: How has 2016 been for AIB Private Banking and what is your outlook for next year? A: It has been a very positive year for AIB, for Private Banking and for the economy as a whole. For Private Banking, each new customer that joins us is a testament to the service we provide and more than 500 new customers have joined us this year. From an investment perspective the outlook for 2017 has just become more uncertain given Donald Trump’s recent presidential victory. Despite the Republican electoral clean sweep it is very likely that Congress will dilute a significant amount of the new President’s more radical proposals. The ultimate political outcome could be closer to status quo than campaign trail bluster may indicate. The path of monetary policy will also be a crucial determinant of market direction over the medium term. The Trump victory increases uncertainty here but it is possible that this could be supportive for markets despite Trump’s hawkish tone on the campaign trail. Q: Have your customers’ investment needs and requirements changed in recent times? A: Our investors’ needs have changed significantly and most investors are now much more conscious of risk. They are more sceptical about investments that are short term or of a speculative nature and more realistic about the levels of return that can be achieved. Given the lessons of the financial crisis, investors now wish to discuss the possible downsides associated with their investments and search for genuine advice rather than the latest product. They take their time in selecting a provider rather than rushing into an agreement simply to meet a product deadline. Custody arrangements also feature, given problems in some boutique investment firms in recent years. Taking all that into consideration, we clearly need to address a number of factors if we are to meet the modern investor’s needs. We have to provide clear and independent investment advice and tailored investment strategies that meet investors’ individual circumstances; put risk rather than aspirational return at the centre of our investment strategy; and provide

transparency around our investment approach and all associated costs. Q: What would you say sets AIB Private Banking apart within such a competitive industry? A: We are clear in our focus on where we can add value in our customers’ lives by making day to day banking easy and providing wise Philip Kearney, Chief Investment Officer, AIB Private Banking counsel on a range of investment and wealth needs under one roof. We truly believe that a sustainable banking relationship is one focused on helping our customers succeed financially in the long term. With this as our guiding principle, everything we do puts our customer’s financial health first. Our new goal based financial planning service has been very well received to date. This service helps us provide them with a holistic view of their financial affairs, allowing them make informed, joined-up decisions to secure their future. Q: Any company news you can share with us? A: Dave McLaughlin has recently been appointed as the new Head of AIB Private Banking and joins AIB from RBC where he led their Private Bank within Ireland. Dave, myself and all the team are very grateful for this award recognition, it really does mean a lot. Thank you. For further information on AIB Private Banking visit www.aib.ie/privatebanking.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

017_Recognition Awards 2016_AIB Private Banking.indd 17

30/11/2016 15:37

KEMMY BUSINESS SCHOOL CONNECTING WITH INDUSTRY AT POSTGRADUATE, UNDERGRADUATE & RESEARCH LEVEL

www.ul.ie/business • 241608_University of Limerick_1C_AMA_IBRA.indd 1

/BusinessAtUL •

/kemmy-business-school-kbs-alumni 29/11/2016 17:51

KEMMY BUSINESS SCHOOL BUSINESS SCHOOL

BUILDING BLOCKS FOR SUCCESS Dr Philip O’Regan, Dean, Kemmy Business School (KBS), reflects on a positive year which has culminated in the school being awarded the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Business School.

his year has represented a very positive period for Kemmy Business School (KBS) – CAO points have increased dramatically alongside an increase in student intake, and revenue has also grown significantly as a result, allowing KBS to expand into new areas. One issue that has been particularly important to KBS is its student employment rate and this has grown substantially, much higher than the national average for the other universities, which boosts the school’s credentials and entices more students to come and study in Limerick. “In KBS an increasingly important measure of progress is the level of international accreditation we’ve been securing. In the last few years we’ve secured AMBA, which is a major endorsement of our MBA programme, while at the same time progressing towards AACSB, which is the major business schools accreditation available. The reputational benefits of these are huge and are reflected in a big increase in the number of international students we have here now,” explains Philip O’Regan, Dean at KBS. The school’s employability record is also very important – the fact that classes are diverse and international, and programmes are very market-friendly, means that KBS students emerge ready to join the market and are very attractive to potential employers. “We make a point of working with employers to design programmes that are attractive to the market, including new online offerings. And of course the fact that our undergraduate students all graduate having had work experience as part of their programmes gives them a huge advantage,” O’Regan adds. As the University of Limerick (UL) is a relatively new institution, and because student employability is key, the university maintains a close relationship with business. UL boasts a very strong internship cooperative education programme which is the largest in Ireland, and which means that all undergraduate students are placed with industry or professional practices as part of their programme. It also means that both UL and KBS are constantly interacting with business and representative organisations to gauge the needs of the market.

Philip O’Regan, Dean, Kemmy Business School

“We have a very strong relationship with Limerick Chamber. For instance we run a number of business breakfasts which are co-hosted with them,” O’Regan explains. “We also sponsor a number of scholarships for Limerick Chamber members on our MBA programme. And we work closely with the Chamber on a number of local initiatives such as those that reflect the important links that exist between UL and the city.” KBS is not resting on its laurels by any means, and aims to continually build on its successes. Take, for example, its focus on developing a strong alumni network, which includes an annual awards ceremony and a recently launched KBS Alumni LinkedIn page in order to develop links with students in all parts of the world in tandem with the university’s own initiatives. “We have a new strategic plan that will bring us to 2020. This is focused on increasing our teaching and research impact and in doing so in an international context,” says O’Regan. “So the next few years will be ones that see us engaging with businesses and business issues in an increasingly global context. The achievements of KBS over recent years put us in a really strong position to achieve our ambitious plans.”

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

019_Recognition Awards 2016_Kemmy Business School.indd 19

30/11/2016 15:38

241257 Bord Gais.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:45

BORD GÁIS ENERGY ENERGY

PUTTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY ON THE BUSINESS AGENDA Bord Gáis Energy continues to offer customised, competitive solutions to suit the needs of its customers, as Sean O’Loughlin, Business Category Controller with Bord Gáis Energy, explains.

e’re delighted to have received the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Energy for the second year in a row. As the helpful energy company, we have been working hard to support our customers and offer added value when we can. 2016 has been a particularly busy year and our focus has been on offering customised, competitive solutions to suit the needs of our customers. We introduced our first discount-led offer for businesses, the ‘10 for 10’ campaign, which has proven to be successful. Our commitment to both customers and non customers has been that in return for ten minutes of their time, we could save them at least 10 per cent on their energy bills. I’m delighted to say that thousands of our current customers have taken time out to make strong savings this year; joining the thousands more who chose to switch to BGE for lower cost gas and electricity rates and superior customer service. In 2017, we will continue to work closely with our business customers and build on our product and rewards offerings. We’re not only speaking to our customers about getting the best value possible, but also discussing how they can manage their consumption to be more cost effective. We’re now supporting a record number of customers through our grant funding scheme, which offers funding for energy efficiency projects. Energy efficiency is something that often gets pushed off the agenda as businesses don’t fully understand the positive impact that smarter energy management can have on the bottom line. In fact, implementing energy saving projects can actually reduce operating expenses and increase productivity. Some measures don’t cost a thing and are quick to implement, while some require more consideration and investment. Through our industry partnerships, our customers have access to cutting edge technologies and value propositions such as UrbanVolt’s ‘Light as a Service’ model. This partnership offers SMEs an opportunity to dramatically reduce their energy costs through LED upgrades, without having to make any upfront investment – delivering an immediate benefit to our

Sean O’Loughlin, Business Category Controller, Bord Gáis Energy

customers’ bottom line. Bord Gáis Energy provides financial support to help fund the upfront cost of the LED installations. UrbanVolt then funds the cost of the lighting assets over five years, only taking their payment from the savings generated. LED lighting retrofits are available to both Bord Gáis Energy customers and non-customers. In addition to lighting, Bord Gáis Energy can support a range of energy efficiency projects including boiler or chiller replacements, high efficiency pumps and drives, building management systems, process improvements and renewable energy technologies. Through active participation in these initiatives, companies could expect to save up to 30 per cent off the capital cost of their energy efficiency project. For more information visit bgebusinesshub.ie or email energyservices@bordgais.ie.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

021_Recognition Awards 2016_Bord Gáis Energy.indd 21

30/11/2016 15:38

Taking your business further The law firm with local knowledge and worldwide reach

With 55 locations across the world including our Irish office in the commercial heart of Dublin, one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading international law firms is here for you. Our dedicated team gives you a single point of contact for all your legal issues, regardless of size, nature, or jurisdiction. We build lasting client relationships that grow with your business. Whether your commercial ambitions are focused on Ireland or youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to grow internationally, we have the innovative advice, knowledge and resources to help make it happen. For a law firm without limits, contact: Alan Murphy Managing Partner & Chairman, Eversheds International +353 1 6644 289 alanmurphy@eversheds.ie

eversheds.ie Corporate Law Firm of the Year Business & Finance B2B Awards 2016

241172_Eversheds_1C_AMA_IBRA.indd 1

Public Sector Law Team of the Year Irish Law Awards 2016

European Pensions Law Firm of the Year European Pensions Awards 2016

29/11/2016 17:40

EVERSHEDS LAW FIRM

LESSONS IN LAW In the wake of a successful 2016, Eversheds has received the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Law Firm. We spoke with Alan Murphy, Managing Partner and Chairman of Eversheds International, to discover more. Q: Has 2016 been a positive period for Eversheds? A: Eversheds is one of the largest law firms in the country, with over 250 personnel in Dublin. The firm offers a combination of domestic legal excellence with global outlook and resources that no other Irish firm can match. The international business has 55 offices in 28 countries, offering the full range of business legal services to commercial and public sector clients, local government, statutory and other public institutions. We have been experiencing circa 15 per cent growth year on year for the last three years, and we’re delighted to say that 2016 has followed that upward progression, with significant focus on our corporate, banking, litigation, property and public sector practices, areas of the firm which we have focused our attention on in recent years to capitalise on the growth potential in the economy. We have also nurtured strong growth in our Data and IP practice, and we expect further growth in this important area in 2017 as the issue of data protection advances, with Ireland playing a central role. We have also been delighted to represent a number of our clients in the area of mergers and acquisitions during 2016, including Couche-Tard’s takeover of Topaz Energy and Fintrax Group Holdings’ acquisition of e-Taxfree Nordic Oy. Q: Has the Brexit vote impacted on the firm in any way? A: We work closely with our Eversheds UK counterparts and will maintain these links as the Brexit process unfolds. We have set up a dedicated Brexit unit within Eversheds in Ireland to advise our clients in the run up to Brexit and, of course, also in the aftermath. Led by Sean Ryan, one of our most experienced partners, our Brexit unit will be maintaining a watching brief on all of the issues, and advising our clients on the legal consequences. While it is impossible as yet to quantify the impact we anticipate that there will be a myriad of legal aspects to work through for our clients and we will be there to ensure their needs are anticipated and managed as quickly as possible, while also leveraging our unique insights into the UK market through our UK colleagues. Q: What are the biggest challenges for the legal sector? A: There is no doubt that Brexit will be a big challenge during 2017. It is reasonable to expect that by the end

Alan Murphy with the newly promoted Senior Associates and Associates, Eoin MacAodha, Mary Kiely, Ciara White, Robert Vard, Alison Murray, Jason O’Donnell and John Coary

of 2017, there will be a strong degree of clarity as to how the whole process of separation will be achieved. In terms of disentangling the UK from the European Union, nothing of this scale has been attempted before. We will be monitoring developments and determining the legal implications for our clients, so that we can advise with clarity and authority. In our own business, recruiting and retaining talent remains a challenge and we will continue to focus on running the best possible programmes for our trainees and offering them the added advantage of international placements in one of our Eversheds locations around the world. Q: What will 2017 bring for Eversheds? A: While Brexit and the change of administration in the US have brought a degree of uncertainty back into the mix, we still believe our growth path will continue during 2017. In the immediate future the Eversheds teams are extremely busy helping public sector clients with the roll-out of major infrastructure projects (such as the DIT campus in Grangegorman, the social housing PPP programme and the new National Children’s Hospital). We also launched a new consultancy unit during 2016, Eversheds Consulting, bringing finance, legal and management consultant skills together for the first time as a unique law firm offering. During 2017, we will focus on developing this service for our client base.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

023_Recognition Awards 2016_Eversheds.indd 23

30/11/2016 15:41

A NEW KIND OF LUXURY. The Volvo S90 D3 from €43,900.* Our new executive sedan was designed with a single aim in mind; to create a car that would redefine the idea of luxury. The result is the new Volvo S90; a blend of the best Scandinavian design and advanced technology in safety and power to give you a new, unforgettable driving experience. This is how a modern luxury sedan should be. This is the new Volvo S90. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL VOLVO DEALER TO ARRANGE A TEST DRIVE. *Delivery and related charges not included. Terms and conditions apply. Model is shown for illustrative purposes only. Fuel consumption for the Volvo Range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 35.3 (8.0) – 68.9 (4.1), Extra Urban 58.9 (4.8) – 85.6 (3.3), Combined 34.4 (8.2) – 156.9 (1.8). CO2 Emissions 215 – 48 g/km. All new Volvo cars come with a 3 year warranty and 2 years’ roadside assistance.

241251_1C_Mindshare Volvo_Chambers.indd 1 P38657 VOL S90 Chambers Ireland A4 AD.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:43 27/10/2016 14:49

VOLVO S90 EXECUTIVE CAR

EXECUTIVE CLASS InBUSINESS spoke with Stephen Teap, Corporate Sales and Used Car Manager at Volvo Car Ireland, to discover more about their stunning and innovative S90. Q: Why is the Volvo S90 an attractive proposition for the executive market? A: We believe that the best executive buy on the market is the new Volvo S90. It is available in the D3 150PS Manual from 43,900. The S90 comes with Pilot Assist (semi-autonomous drive) as standard. This is an amazing system which is the future of autonomous drive and brings us closer to our 2020 vision that nobody will be killed or injured whilst driving a new Volvo car. The interior styling of the car is the epitome of Scandinavian design. All trim levels come with a 9-inch touchscreen which allows ease of access to all the systems in the car. The S90 also comes with the high level of safety specification you would expect in a Volvo, such as city safety and pedestrian and cyclist detection. There is even a large animal detection system for country roads!

The new Volvo S90

Q: In terms of technology and safety features, what are the S90’s standout features? A: The main standout feature is that we have is Pilot Assist, our semi-autonomous drive system as standard on the S90. Pilot Assist works at speeds of up to 130km on motorways and offers a safer and more convenient way to drive. The car also benefits from city safety which includes pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection and front collision warning with full auto brake. The controls of the car are managed via a 9-inch touchscreen which allows the customer to easily access all functionality. The exterior of the car is differentiated by the distinctively shaped LED headlamps.

Lowdown: The New Volvo S90

Q: Can you describe the response to the S90 thus far? A: We have had a fantastic reaction to the car from customers and motoring journalists in Ireland. They are particularly impressed with the Scandinavian styling which really differentiates it from the competition. The S90 offers a real alternative to the traditional executive saloon with intuitive technology and safety standards beyond expectations.

cent year on year and we launched our new executive saloon, the Volvo S90, along with the estate variants – the Volvo V90 and V90 Cross Country. We are also going through a redevelopment of our dealer showrooms, the first of which customers can see in Dublin towards the end of 2016.

Q: Looking back on 2016, has it been a positive period for Volvo in Ireland? A: We have had another successful year in terms of growth and car launches. Our volumes are up 30 per

• Engine: 2.0L diesel • Power: 190bhp • 0-100km/h: 7.9 seconds • Fuel economy: 4.4L/100km (64 mpg) • Price: Starting from a43,900 • Technology: Park Assist Pilot, 360° camera, Pilot Assist

Q: How pleased are you to see the S90 pick up the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Executive Car? A: Winning Executive Car is a fantastic achievement for us and really makes a statement about how the car has been received by our customers.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

025_Recognition Awards 2016_Volvo S90.indd 25

30/11/2016 15:41

Founded in 1918, New Ireland is a leading life and pensions company in the Irish Market providing 500,000 customers with solutions for:

 Investment

 Savings

 Pensions

 Life Insurance

For more information on New Ireland and our financial solutions talk to your Financial Broker or Advisor, or go to newireland.ie

241260_1C_New Ireland_AMA_ECA.indd 1

30/11/2016 14:16

NEW IRELAND ASSURANCE FINANCIAL SERVICES

TAKING CARE OF IRELAND Denis Kelleher, Director, New Ireland Assurance, on why New Ireland Assurance is a worthy winner of the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Financial Services. Q: How pleased are you to have been awarded the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Financial Services? A: We are so grateful to be recognised, and to accept the InBUSINESS Award for Financial Services. It’s been another exciting year for New Ireland, where our staff, once again, illustrated unwavering dedication to the cause of servicing the customer. At the end of a busy year it’s great to be recognised through these awards and without doubt serves to motivate us to continue to better serve the SME market to exacting standards into 2017. Q: What attributes make New Ireland Assurance an award-winning company? A: I believe it comes down to the customer immersion culture we have built within New Ireland and of course the vital role played by our nationwide branch network, which allows us to live and work within the communities we service. We very much value our 500,000 customers and the 2,000 financial brokers and advisors operating around the country who are firmly focused on providing the best advice possible in helping everyone build the right financial plan for the future. We’ve also been around nearly 100 years now and we’ve learnt how to continuously evolve and adapt by putting the customer at the centre of everything we do. Q: Has 2016 been a positive year for the company? A: Yes it’s been another positive year for New Ireland, where we’ve enjoyed many highlights. Recent recognition has been a welcome note to finish the year on. As well as the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Best in Financial Services, we recently secured the Financial Excellence Award from the Professional Insurance Brokers Association (PIBA), for the fifth year in succession. Looking back, we started the year on a strong note as our iFunds range and Property Fund each reached 1bn in funds under management. We then went on to launch some product and service developments we are very proud of, including a new passive investment range

– PRIME – and New Ireland Online, our new customer online portal. 2016 also presented its own changes and challenges. Brexit and the US election created some market and economic uncertainty. The decline in interest rates has also led to more detailed discussions on the future of pension provision. Without doubt we are facing into a ‘pensions Denis Kelleher, Director, New Ireland Assurance time-bomb’ as the demographics see a large swath of people reaching retirement in the next 20 years. Q: What are some of the challenges you’re seeing in the life assurance market at present? A: The use of technology and how people interact with technology poses a challenge for the life and pensions industry. There are varying levels of tech adoption within the population and there are so many development opportunities. New Ireland will need to continue to be agile in order to meet our customers’ needs. At the same time, we take pride in our personal, local approach and continue to be recognised for this having recently won the Team of the Year accolade at the Customer Contact Management Association awards. The evolution of technology is not a unique challenge to the life and pensions industry, but if Ireland becomes the European home of Fintech it could turn into a great opportunity for New Ireland, and Ireland.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

027_Recognition Awards 2016_New Ireland Assurance.indd 27

30/11/2016 15:43

45 MAGAZINE TITLES ▲ 10 EVENTS ▲ 3.6 MILLION REACH

DID YOU KNOW

Ashville Media Group is Ireland’s largest publishing and events company. You’ve almost certainly read our magazines or attended our events. Our mission is to connect your brand with the largest audience in Ireland.

(01) 432 2200 ▲ info@ashvillemediagroup.com

Ashville Iceburg Advert.indd 1 Ashville LAM 2016 Ad.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:38 26/01/2016 09:04

MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL COUNTY COUNCIL FOR FDI

INVESTING IN MAYO Having driven a focused initiative on promoting Mayo as a location of choice for national and international trade into the region, Mayo County Council are the winners of this year’s InBUSINESS Recognition Award for County Council for Foreign Trade Investment.

his year has been a positive one for Mayo County Council, particularly in the areas of local enterprise growth and the promotion and positioning of Mayo in the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI). By providing a multitude of resources for regional companies, Mayo County Council has generated a thriving entrepreneurial culture within the region. “The Local Enterprise Office provides a suite of supports ranging from advice and guidance, to financial support to specialist training and mentoring support,” says Peter Hynes, Chief Executive, Mayo County Council. According to Hynes, this entrepreneurial culture has only been further strengthened both by the attention to FDI and the provision of direct support by the Council’s Enterprise and Investment Unit to international businesses that are considering establishing an operation in Ireland. “This support is delivered in an integrated way and regularly sees Mayo taking the national lead role in specific sector development,” he adds.

PARTNERSHIP One way the Council cultivates enterprise opportunities is by partnering with well established and proven organisations like Enterprise Ireland and the IDA. “Mayo County Council has an excellent working relationship with both organisations at both a local and regional level. The development of the Leeson Enterprise Centre in Westport is an example of the Council working in partnership with Enterprise Ireland to deliver much-needed enterprise development space for West Mayo,” Hynes explains. The Council also strives to promote business in Mayo by supporting corporate visits to the region, investing in promotional material and maintaining a database of available property for potential business use. Hynes notes that these efforts, in combination with its highly skilled labour force, excellent transport systems and high quality infrastructure, make the county an attractive prospect for investment. He also highlights the Council and surrounding community’s openness to new opportunities, which represents a significant draw for investors to Mayo.

This focus on support for both international and indigenous business will continue throughout 2017 as Mayo County Council continues to work with enterprises who wish to invest in the region. To launch this drive next year, the second Mayo Business Appreciation evening will be held in January to highlight the quality of existing world-class business already present in the county. Commenting on the event, Hynes says that it reflects the Council’s ongoing appreciation of the commitment local businesses have to the county, and the Council’s determination to help them consolidate and further expand their operations in Mayo. As to why Mayo County Council was chosen for the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for County County Council for Foreign Trade Investment, Hynes points to the many projects and initiatives the local authority has worked on including the efforts by Mayo County Council in the delivery of the AE Connect Transatlantic Cable Network, together with the opportunities presented by the Ireland West International Trade Centre in Rhode Island, USA. “Although at an early stage of development, participating companies report significant market opportunities,” says Hynes. “The success to date of the centre reinforces the sense that Mayo has a strong cohort of companies with growth potential, which strongly complements our inward investment message and offer.”

Mayo County Council senior management team: Joe Loftus, Peter Hynes, Joanne Grehan, Tom Gilligan and Peter Duggan

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

029_Recognition Awards 2016_Mayo County Council.indd 29

30/11/2016 15:44

241588_NSAI_1C_AMA_IBRA.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:50

NSAI STATE BODY

SETTING HIGH STANDARDS NSAI is Ireland’s national standards body. As a centre of excellence for certification and the development of standards, NSAI provides leadership in global standards that enable enterprise and protect the public. The agency is this year’s chosen State Body.

tandards impact every aspect of our lives and in 2016 NSAI received a top international award for a new innovative standard it developed for the tourism sector. I.S. 373:2013 ‘Universal Design for customer engagement in tourism services’ helps tourism providers to make their products or services more accessible by improving various types of communication such as written, verbal and electronic. This Irish standard and free toolkit, developed with the National Disability Authority (NDA), is the first of its kind in the world. It enables tourism providers to communicate more effectively with a wider range of tourists, helping to improve customer services and increase revenue. This Irish standard was named Most Innovative Policy at this year’s Zero Project Awards in Austria. It has proven to be so effective that tourism providers overseas have now begun enquiring about how it can be adopted in their own countries. However, awareness of standards is not always as it should be and during the year NSAI launched a campaign, ‘Check Your Insulation Products and Installers are NSAI Certified’, which was named Best Public Sector PR Campaign at the Excellence in Public Relations Awards. The aim of this campaign was to try and make consumers aware of the importance of high standards in retrofit insulation work and warn them of the potential dangers of not using certified insulation products and installers. The NSAI also hoped the campaign would highlight to traders the benefit of being a registered NSAI insulation installer and encourage others to register. Since the campaign was launched, 24 new insulation installers have been certified. There are now 293 insulation installers on the NSAI register. Traffic to the List of Registered Installers page on the NSAI website grew by over 147 per cent. The promotion, awareness and adoption of standards is central to NSAI’s remit and according to a new Behaviour and Attitudes study, 88 per cent of Irish firms are now using standards within their

Minister Pat Breen presented 30 organisations from the private, public and SME sectors with their certificates to achieving world class standards at a special ceremony at NSAI Headquarters in November

organisation. This compares to 69 per cent from a similar study conducted in 2012. Almost half of all SMEs who use standards have reported an increase in turnover by an average of 20 per cent. With Brexit looming, now more than ever, certification to international standards such as Quality Management, Environmental Management and Occupational Health and Safety will be crucial when exporting or seeking business opportunities abroad. With this in mind, NSAI held a series of over 16 free roadshows or workshops for businesses in 2016 on how to implement international standards in your firm. Over 1,300 organisations from a variety of sectors attended the information seminars in 2016 in venues across the country. Due to popular demand, NSAI plans to hold more free roadshows on these standards for organisations in the New Year. Dates and venues will be announced before Christmas 2016. Keep an eye on the website NSAI.ie for further details.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

031_Recognition Awards 2016_NSAI.indd 31

30/11/2016 15:46

This is direct marketing like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen it

Finding new customers just got easier.

AdMailer.ie winner of the Best Newcomer 2016 award at the Chambers Ireland InBusiness Recognition Awards 2016

Direct business marketing with An Post. Visit AdMailer.ie to grow your business today. 241396_1C_An 1 240787_1C_An Post_Chambers.indd Post_Chambers 9.03.indd 1

29/11/2016 06/09/2016 17:47 16:29

ADMAILER NEWCOMER

DATA DRIVEN MARKETING AdMailer from An Post offers next generation self-service marketing, providing a cost effective and data-rich route to market.

esigned and developed in Dublin, AdMailer 2.0 is disrupting and transforming how businesses market their products. The game-changing platform combines the ease of digital with the power of physical to pinpoint audiences through customer selection using enriched data, and to market to them directly in one transaction. Campaigns are designed and ordered online, with physical direct mail delivered to homes and businesses across the country – offering a cost-effective marketing tool with easily quantifiable returns. “You’re doing everything online. You select a target audience, you enrich that data with information around lifestyle or industry, while you can also select from pre-designed templates and upload your own artwork. Simply pay and three days later your campaign is delivered,” says Fiona Heffernan, Head of Post Media with An Post.

have targeted, where, and what artwork they have used. Ireland is their target audience, and they can choose when and how they want to talk to their customers. It’s just a matter of clicks.”

PLATFORM POWER

BOTTOM LINE

AdMailer’s key strengths are its ease of use and the power of the data behind the service, and its uniqueness lies in the rapid delivery, geographic and demographic data, and a ‘create your own’ capability’, all allowing businesses to design whole suites of direct marketing assets using AdMailer’s bespoke technology. This technology makes it simple to identify and target specific customers using an intelligent self-serve platform which is owned by An Post and has been rebuilt over the past year to provide accessibility for businesses of all shapes and sizes, from the local corner shop to a multinational trading across continents. And, as the data is managed by An Post, the risks and challenges posed by effective data management are removed from the equation. Irish business owners have already seen results in trials, with one high street retailer achieving response rates of more than 10 per cent. “We believe that the power is in the data. AdMailer provides access to segmented data but it also cleans, stores, refreshes and segments data online so that the users don’t have to be concerned about any of the risks involved in data management,” says Heffernan. “It’s all done for them on the AdMailer system. Users also have access to all of their previous campaigns – who they

The redeveloped service can also make a significant impact on your bottom line, and provides a way to manage marketing spend. With a fixed price to professionally design, print and send high quality marketing materials direct into the homes and businesses of customers you want to reach, AdMailer cuts out the waste by targeting very specific demographics. Heffernan gives the example of a gym which used AdMailer’s audience selection tool to focus on stay at home parents in a bid to boost their trade during off-peak hours. AdMailer also offers an avenue for testing new products or services, allowing businesses to quietly test a small segment of the target market, which can then be quickly scaled if successful. In addition, the service can be used to create alternative routes to market by driving customers online – 54 per cent of Irish consumers will get online on receiving a piece of relevant direct mail. “This is next generation marketing, accessible 24/7 across online devices. Nowhere else can you find that level of data in real time, online,” says Heffernan. “Businesses are in control every step of the way, and its pinpoint accuracy ensures there is no wastage – www.AdMailer.ie is an incredibly powerful tool.”

Fiona Heffernan, Head of Post Media

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

033_Recognition Awards 2016_AdMailer.indd 33

30/11/2016 15:47

STEP UP START-UP FOR YOUR

The AIB Start-up Academy gives entrepreneurs the chance to take their start-up to the next level with invaluable mentoring and networking initiatives. In 2017, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hosting four summits around the country. Come along and see how your start-up could benefit. Find out more at aibstartupacademy.ie

BACKING BRAVE

Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

241429_1C_AIB 1 06165RO Start-upStartup_Chambers Academy A4.indd 9.04.indd 1

29/11/2016 17/11/2016 17:48 16:22

AIB START-UP ACADEMY MARKETING INITIATIVE

HELPING START-UPS SUCCEED Now in its third year, the AIB Start-up Academy is going from strength to strength. Its strong and engaging marketing campaign has earned it the 2016 InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Marketing Initiative.

he AIB Start-up Academy is a programme of events and mentoring for start-ups in Ireland, developed by AIB to provide Ireland’s entrepreneurs with support, information and valuable training and networking opportunities. In recognition of the initiative, determination and bravery required to take the initial steps in starting a business and making it a success, AIB has developed a year round programme of events and mentoring to back start-ups on their journey. Now in its third year, the AIB Start-up Academy is going from strength to strength with more startups getting access to industry leaders and mentors, as well as more networking events taking place nationwide. The national competition offers finalists an eight-week training programme with Irish Times Training and the chance to pitch for a share in an amazing prize fund valued at over 200,000. 2016 AIB Start-up Academy winner Martin O’Connell, founder of Nasal Medical, says: “This is a life-changing prize for me. It is a pivotal time for our business and we have grown so much, now I know we are going to just explode. “The eight weeks with the AIB Start-up Academy have been an invaluable experience and I would recommend any start-up to apply for it. A lot of hard work has gone into this company and I’m delighted that the judging panel believes in its potential.” “At AIB we are delighted to have the opportunity to back our customers and the development of the AIB Start-up Academy is our way of fostering networking and learning to help more start-ups succeed,” says Tom Kinsella, AIB Chief Marketing Officer. “The Academy celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit in Ireland, champions our start-up customers and provides a platform for entrepreneurs to share their experiences with fellow start-ups and industry leaders.” The AIB Start-up Academy comprises of the national Start-up Academy competition in partnership with The Irish Times, a series of four summits in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast, over

Martin O’Connell, founder of Nasal Medical

About Nasal Medical Kerry native Martin O’Connell has developed a medical device which encourages healthy breathing and helps people who suffer from snoring or sleep apnoea. The unique device fits inside the nasal cavity and is both comfortable and discreet. Martin’s pitch for the AIB Start-up Academy displayed a depth of knowledge of the medical device industry, an understanding of his target market and a strong desire to develop his product and business.

70 start-up bootcamps throughout Ireland with The Entrepreneurs Academy and ongoing support throughout the branch network. To find out more about the competition and events happening around the country visit www.aibstartupacademy.ie. For more information on how AIB backs start-ups visit www.aib.ie/startup. Join the conversation: #backedbyAIB. Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

035_Recognition Awards 2016_AIB Start Up.indd 35

30/11/2016 15:47

241151_1C_Credit Review_CCIYRBK.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:40

CREDIT REVIEW OFFICE SUPPORT TO SMEs

HELPING SMES GET CREDIT InBUSINESS caught up with John Trethowan, Head of the Credit Review Office, to discover how the lending landscape for SMEs has been in the past 12 months. Q: How did you view the SME economic climate during 2016? A: Overall, the outlook is positive – economic conditions have remained favourable for small businesses since the start of 2016, and the SMEs that use the CRO service have generally seen improved trading. Banks for their part continue to approve the majority of the applications for credit being made to them. However, there are some emerging challenges for businesses with the main ones being the impact of Brexit on individual farms and businesses, which is as yet unclear, and the uncertainty in the global economy regarding American trade and tax policies following the election of Donald Trump. Irish SMEs are particularly vulnerable to changes in the Euro/ Sterling exchange rate, and uncertainty in global markets can impact consumer confidence, which is bad news for domestic-focused SMEs.

have resulted in the banks agreeing to make 38.8 million in credit available to SMEs and farms, helping to protect or create 2,481 jobs. In addition to undertaking formal reviews the Credit Review Office also operates an informal helpline service where the reviewers engage directly with SMEs/ farmers who have credit/ banking related issues providing information and guidance.

Q: Have we seen any significant increase in the levels of lending to SMEs in Ireland this year? A: According to the Central Bank’s most recent SME market report, the stock of SME credit continues to decline but more slowly. This is due to repayments outstripping new lending, revaluation and bank loan portfolio sales. The demand for lending remains subdued – there are less SMEs applying for credit, and the number of SMEs with no debt is increasing. However on the positive side, new lending to SMEs is increasing, and the loan performance of SMEs is also improving with the number of distressed/ defaulting loans declining. Both AIB and Bank of Ireland are reporting record levels of new money being sanctioned.

Q: Any news that the Credit Review Office can share with us? A: The Credit Review Office is approaching its 7th anniversary, but remains as relevant today as it did in the dark economic days of 2010. The challenges today are different from those in 2010. SMEs have moved from a hand to mouth survival need, to recovery and growth. This is now providing its own challenges for some SMEs in securing a good and supportive working relationship with their banks. We see a future, and difficult, requirement to assist those SMEs whose loans have been sold on to investment funds and hedge funds, when repayment is demanded and they need to secure refinance facilities from the remaining banks servicing the SME market.

Q: How has the work of the Credit Review Office enabled more SMEs to access credit? A: Since inception in 2010, we have received 742 formal applications. Of these, 492 reached final conclusion and the Credit Review Office has upheld appeals in favour of 266 borrowers (over 50 per cent), including those with a commitment to reassess the lending in the future if agreed performance hurdles are met in the short term. The upheld appeals

John Trethowan, head of the Credit Review Office

Q: Your response to being awarded the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Support to SMEs? A: We are delighted that the Credit Review Office is being recognised for our core mission of helping as many SMEs as possible to obtain the credit they need to achieve their objectives, and for helping businesses in Ireland to grow and develop.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

037_Recognition Awards 2016_Credit Review.indd 37

30/11/2016 15:49

BANK OF IRELAND CORPORATE BANKING SPECIAL MERIT

A BANK AT THE HEART OF COMMUNITIES As a business that has been serving Irish communities for more than 230 years, a socially responsible business approach is integral to the way we operate in Bank of Ireland.

ank of Ireland is a founding member of Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) and in May 2016, we were delighted to be accredited with BITCI’s Business Working Responsibly Mark. The award is Ireland’s only recognised certification for responsible and sustainable business practices, aligning to international standards for excellence (ISO26001) and is independently audited by the National Standards Authority of Ireland. The Mark is only awarded to those who achieve best-in-class CSR ranking and currently, the bank is one of 23 companies in Ireland to hold this accreditation. Give Together There is a strong ethos of giving among colleagues in Bank of Ireland that can be traced as far back as the 1940s with the introduction of the bank’s first payroll giving scheme, the Florin Fund, designed to alleviate the hardship experienced during the Emergency period in Ireland. Since this time, colleagues have volunteered their time and supported hundreds of causes, most notably Special Olympics in 2003, Millennium Scholars

Bank of Ireland colleagues working with St Vincent de Paul, one of the Bank’s flagship charities.

Trust, and through the provision of mentoring and sustainable projects for communities in the developing world through the Staff Third World Fund. In more recent times, the bank has operated its charity and community investment initiative, Give Together, which is employee-led and is supported by the bank through the provision of paid volunteer leave, matched fundraising and payroll-giving. Since its establishment in 2007, Give Together has resulted in fundraising totalling over 28m for good causes with more than 50,000 hours volunteered by colleagues throughout the past 10 years. Alongside the causes chosen by colleagues, the bank works with four flagship charities in Ireland – St Vincent de Paul, Barnardos, the Irish Cancer Society and Pieta House – which helps to galvanise larger-scale volunteering and fundraising efforts. Our colleagues come together to develop innovative and creative ways of supporting these flagship charities and getting behind these causes. Recent highlights include The Big Blue Box, which raised 83k for St Vincent de Paul, supporting communities along the Wild Atlantic Way, and our Be our Inspiration project, in which colleagues developed their talents and raised over 100k for Barnardos. Commenting on the generosity of her colleagues, Audrey Nolan, Head of CSR at Bank of Ireland said: “Throughout the bank’s history, our colleagues have always shown incredible support for good causes, through various fundraising initiatives and volunteering opportunities. As well as support for our flagship charities, colleagues can also choose to support their own local causes, which means that hundreds of charities and community organisations across Ireland receive support from the bank.” Be at your Best As a people driven business, a core aspect of the bank’s CSR strategy is a commitment to creating a sustainable workplace that provides opportunities IN ASSOCIATION WITH

038_Recognition Awards 2016_ Bank of Ireland.indd 38

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

30/11/2016 15:52

BANK OF IRELAND CORPORATE BANKING

for learning and professional development – and one that supports the physical and mental wellbeing of all those who work for Bank of Ireland. With this objective in mind, Bank of Ireland formally launched its Be At Your Best programme in 2014, a workplace wellbeing programme developed around three pillars of wellbeing: mind, body and career. The bank wanted to create a culture that supports colleagues to increase their overall physical health and mental wellbeing, and develop increased resilience, allowing them to survive and thrive in an increasingly competitive, challenging and changing working environment. The programme is underpinned by a Be At Your Best champion structure across every business unit in the company. There are over 150 champions, who have been actively engaged in promoting and encouraging participation. This has been an important factor in ensuring the initiative is properly communicated and supported throughout the company. The continued success of the programme is owed to strong staff engagement and a comprehensive communications programme and, now in its third year of existence, Be At Your Best is firmly embedded within Bank of Ireland’s culture. “Wellbeing initiatives are on the increase and businesses are responding to the need to create value and meaning for employees in the workplace beyond the job description,” said Julie Sharp, Head of Group Human Resources at Bank of Ireland. “Across the bank we see our colleagues actively participating in a whole array of initiatives such as fundraising for our flagship charities, running in our Couch to 5k challenges or participating in one of our lunchtime mindfulness meditation sessions.”

Bank colleagues participating in a couch to 5k physical well-being programme which culminated in a 5k event in Leopardstown, Dublin.

Enterprise Town The bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility approach is underpinned by a commitment to ensure that the

The Responsible Business Report available to download from our website: www.bankofireland.com/ responsiblebusiness.

SPECIAL MERIT

At the Bank of Ireland Enterprise Town Thurles are Denis O’Reilly, proprietor of Premier Meats Butcher and Jenny McCormack, owner of Jenny’s Jams.

communities in which it operates are sustainable, and as Ireland’s largest lender with 250 branches nationwide, Bank of Ireland is a core part of the communities it serves. We strive to continually improve our business and its impact on our customers and the communities where we live and work. Bank of Ireland’s Enterprise Town programme is an example of one such community initiative helping to invigorate and re-energise communities, showcasing what is on offer in these towns and supporting economic growth and development. The programme, which was launched in 2013, is aimed at helping people grow their local economies, and at the same time, fostering a renewed sense of purpose and identity for the whole community. It has grown to a nationwide programme of business and community expos in 100 towns in 2016, representing an investment of over 1 million by the bank this year. Over 600 Bank of Ireland staff are involved in supporting the initiative, with 7,000 businesses, almost 4,000 sports and community groups, and some 200 first and second level schools participating in 2016. “In every town we reach, local people tell us it provides a spark that is igniting further action in the community,” says David Merriman, Head of Enterprise at Bank of Ireland. Today, CSR in Bank of Ireland is firmly embedded across our business. Bank of Ireland publishes an annual Responsible Business Report that presents a comprehensive account of what happened across the group throughout the previous year, through the lens of customers, communities, colleagues, and the environment, as well as our approach to governance. The report has become a catalyst for creating strategic engagement, and improvement programmes across the bank. What we have found is that telling the story is in itself a powerful thing to do.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

038_Recognition Awards 2016_ Bank of Ireland.indd 39

30/11/2016 15:52

All together better Four strategic businesses focused on delivering economic benefits for the west of Ireland and the wider national economy.

For more information please visit shannongroup.ie

241567_1C_Shannon_Chambers 9.04.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:49

SHANNON GROUP PLC BRAND

STRONG MESSAGE FROM THE MID-WEST Continued expansion and investment, rising passenger numbers and a continually improved experience across their entire portfolio – it’s not hard to see why Shannon Group plc is the recipient of the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for brand.

hannon Group, comprising Shannon Airport, Shannon Heritage and Shannon Commercial Properties, is a major driver of the economy of the mid-west and beyond. The group is experiencing growth in passenger traffic, turnover and profitability and has embarked on a major capital investment programme to position itself to drive growth opportunities. “Our investment plans will deliver long-term benefits for each of our divisions, but crucially will deliver broader benefits for our region, providing global leisure and business connectivity, creating compelling visitor attractions and delivering outstanding business accommodation for Irish and overseas companies to locate and flourish,” says Matthew Thomas, CEO, Shannon Group plc. During the year the group embarked on the first phase of an ambitious investment programme at the Shannon Free Zone. As the largest business park in its portfolio, the zone employs over 7,000 people across 150 companies. This investment programme will add a new 40,000 sq ft new grade A office block, a new 30,000 sq ft advance technology manufacturing unit and an upgraded suite of existing business accommodation. All of which significantly strengthens the portfolio of property solutions that the development agencies can offer to attract major investments and enable job creation in the region. At Shannon Airport total passenger numbers have grown by 22 per cent since 2013 when the airport was made independent. Passenger growth and route development remain key priorities for Shannon and the airport has recently announced two new routes to Stockholm and Frankfurt for summer 2017. “Currently from Shannon you can fly to 35 destinations in 11 countries,” explains Thomas. “Our transatlantic services provide a gateway for the business and leisure industry to link with Boston, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia, and with our US pre-clearance facilities it takes the hassle out of transatlantic travel. “We are committed to delivering an outstanding customer experience and we have been working

hard to enhance and expand our offering. We have completed a major upgrade of our airport terminal building, improving the look and feel. Equally, we fully understand the responsibility we have to our community and in particular those who may require additional assistance. The entire airport community has recently come together to introduce Matthew Thomas, CEO, Shannon Group plc a wonderful initiative to help parents of children with autism and special needs.” CSR and community engagement are integral to Shannon Group and the desire to give something back is strongly embedded in its corporate culture. The group’s sustainability strategy reflects its determination to build a successful long-term business as it moves to improve energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint. Employees at Shannon Group are facilitated to contribute positively to society by actively participating in community fundraising initiatives. Among Shannon Group led initiatives, run on a volunteer basis by its employees for its designated charities, is the Bank of Ireland Runway Night Run, Ireland’s first ever mass participation event on an Irish runway. “CSR and community engagement are an integral element of our core values. They permeate every area of our operations. We are delighted to have been awarded the Best Brand award, which is a tribute to the work of our staff who immerse themselves in our community and continually strive to provide excellence in customer service,” concludes Thomas.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

041_Recognition Awards 2016_Shannon Group plc.indd 41

30/11/2016 15:54

162894 Virgin Media Business_InBusiness_A4_2811.indd 1 241486_Virgin_1C_AMA_IB.indd 1

28/11/2016 12:05 29/11/2016 17:48

VIRGIN MEDIA BUSINESS BUSINESS BROADBAND

THE BUSINESS OF DIGITAL InBUSINESS spoke with Aidan D’Arcy, Head of Division at Virgin Media Business Ireland, to discover how the company is contributing to the digital transformation of Ireland’s society and economy. Q: How has Virgin Media Business contributed to Irish business in 2016? A: Virgin Media Business is a major contributor at the heart of Ireland’s digital connectivity efforts. One of the biggest initiatives the business launched this year was the Virgin Media Business #VOOM 2016 entrepreneurs competition which searched for the most innovative and exciting businesses across Ireland and the UK. Entrepreneurs and small and mediumsized businesses were given the opportunity to pitch their ideas to Richard Branson to win a slice of a prize fund worth over 1.2 million. FoodCloud, an Irish company, made it to the finals, from a total field of 20,000 registrations involving 750,000 votes, a 29 hour pitchathon and a two minute final pitch. Q: How is the company enabling and boosting the digital economy in Ireland? A: The digital economy continues to be crucial to Ireland’s future growth. Online spending is set to almost double in value in the next five years by Irish consumers – there are opportunities for digitalsavvy Irish SMEs and start-ups to capture their share of the fastest growing sector in the economy, but they have to act fast. The ability to develop a more customer centric approach will decide the winners during the next wave of the digital economy. Playing its role in supporting businesses in Ireland, Virgin Media Business can play an integral part in the digital transformation of Ireland’s society and economy. Q: Why should Irish businesses choose Virgin Media Business as their broadband partner? A: SMEs make up a large part of the economy and Virgin Media Business deems it necessary to support them as they grow by allowing each business of any size to provide even better services to their customers and reduce their costs. It offers ICT solutions to a diverse group of customers and the company’s dedicated network delivers the fastest widely available broadband speeds to homes and businesses across Ireland. The Virgin Media Business network is present in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, while

Aidan D’Arcy, Head of Division at Virgin Media Business Ireland

serving 14 regional towns on fibre. However with licensed radio, we can provide services to the entire country, with speeds varying from 100Mb up to 400Mb. In addition, each speed is bundled with superfast speeds for unbeatable prices, includes phone service bundles with two call pack options and two lines included with no line rental fee attached. Ensuring businesses are connected in and out of the office, Virgin Media Business offers BitBuzz, a WiFi network providing a range of managed services, to hotels, airports, cafe bars, pubs and other public locations throughout Ireland and the UK. Q: What can we look forward to from Virgin Media Business in 2017? A: Creating opportunities for our customers to do more online is a priority for us. Virgin Media Business is the challenger on the broadband stage with speeds of up to 400Mb available to all our business customers across our cable footprint. We are committed to continuing to provide our customers with the fastest broadband network. We’re also looking forward to expanding our network reach in towns and cities across Ireland. Expect to see and hear more about Virgin Media Business Hosted Voice, SIP and more exciting dedicated business services. And… watch out when we launch the Virgin Media Business #VOOM 2017 next year.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

043_Recognition Awards 2016_Virgin Media.indd 43

30/11/2016 15:54

applegreenstores.com 241542_1C_Petrogas_Chambers 9.04.indd 1

29/11/2016 17:49

JOE BARRETT, APPLEGREEN

Joe Barrett, Chief Operations Officer with Applegreen, has been instrumental in developing the petrol retailer’s partnerships with international food brands as well as its expansion into new markets abroad. InBUSINESS checked in with this year’s Businessman of the Year. Q: Can you fill us in on your business background? A: I joined the group in its second year of operation with a strong background in retail and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) having worked for Tesco and John West Foods. With over 20 years’ experience in the retail industry I have key responsibilities for management and developing the group’s retail and food offerings. I was instrumental in developing the group’s partnerships with its international food brand partners Burger King, Costa Coffee, Subway and Lavazza. Applegreen, which will be 25 years old in 2017, is expanding into new markets abroad and I am closely involved in this expansion, most recently in the acquisition of sites in the United States. Q: What’s your personal motto or ethos in business? A: I wholly believe you get out of business the energy and enthusiasm you put into it. You need to show commitment and willingness to take risks and stand by your decisions once made. My personal motto is ‘cherish the entrepreneurial spirit you have, and keep it to the core of what you do’. Q: Has this year represented a positive period for Applegreen? A: Yes, it has been a very positive year. We have continued our growth strategy of expansion throughout the estate with strong like for like performance in Ireland and in the UK. We have continued our investment in the network and have developed new franchise partnerships with Freshii in Ireland and 7-Eleven in the US. Q: How would you describe the current business environment in Ireland? A: The overall environment in Ireland so far in 2016 has shown a reasonable first half to the year, followed by quieter activity in quarter three and over the past few weeks. Various elements may have impacted on the slowdown of retail activity including strike action in our transport network, the Brexit vote and the general public waiting to avail of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR

AT YOUR SERVICE

Joe Barrett, Chief Operations Officer, Applegreen

Q: Is there any company news/developments for 2017 which you can share with us? A: We will continue with a strong growth strategy for the coming year, with a high proportion of this network development happening in our UK estate. We aim to forge new relationships with exciting new franchise partnerships, ensuring we move and adapt with customer trends and emerging technologies that will benefit both our customers and the company alike. Q: What advice would you have for young, ambitious people looking to make it to boardroom level? A: Remain entrepreneurial, enthusiastic and open to opportunities that may come your way. If you can aim to get a mentor – whether in your company or someone you aspire to be – approach them and meet for a coffee to discuss your career aspirations. It is important to have a career goal and a career path. Identify areas of improvement required to reach your goals and ensure you meet those areas head on with further education. And finally, don’t be afraid to recruit people who have stronger skills than you have for parts of your business. Q: Your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Businessman of the Year? A: I am thrilled to have won the award. With over 20 years‘ experience in the FMCG industry it is an honour to be recognised as Businessman of the Year and I continue to involve myself in retail groups and relevant causes to pave the way for many more years in the retail industry both in Ireland and abroad.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

045_Recognition Awards 2016_Applegreen.indd 45

30/11/2016 15:55

V5102K04384_ VF Ready Business_Explained 2_A4_InBusiness_V1.indd 1 241361_Vodafone_1C_AMA_IBRA.indd 1

25/11/2016 29/11/2016 16:43 17:46

VODAFONE IRELAND COMPANY OF THE YEAR

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE This year has been a busy one for Vodafone Ireland. From significant investment in infrastructure to the launch of Vodafone TV and sponsorship of the Irish rugby team, Anne O’Leary, CEO, Vodafone Ireland, fills us in. Q: Vodafone Ireland recently announced plans to invest a250 million in 2016 and 2017 in a network and IT transformation programme. Could you tell us more about the announcement and how the company is playing its part in creating a ‘Gigabit Society’ in Ireland? A: Since entering the Irish market, Vodafone has made significant investment in its network and in supporting technologies and infrastructure. We believe that having the best quality network is what will provide our customers with the best experience. Vodafone plans to be here for the long-term and will continue to invest in the future and to drive an agenda for a Gigabit Society in Ireland. We want to bridge the urban-rural digital divide by ensuring all citizens have equal access to one gigabit broadband speeds through 100 per cent fibre optic broadband. We strongly believe that wherever you live or work in Ireland – from the biggest city to the smallest village or beyond – you should be entitled to top quality high speed internet access. Q: How would describe how 2016 has been for the company in general? A: 2016 has been an incredibly exciting year for Vodafone Ireland. It has been a year that has seen Vodafone independently awarded best network in test by P3, our customer mobile data usage increase and our fixed business grow. We also successfully launched Vodafone TV, announced our sponsorship of the Irish rugby team and published our Connected Futures Report. As a result of Vodafone’s significant investment in the company’s IT infrastructure we also announced that we will add an additional 60 technology and digital specialists to the business. Q: How do you get the best from your team of 2,000 workers? A: At Vodafone, our objective is to generate a culture that empowers employees to think, feel and live well by providing a holistic and accessible approach to wellness. We have created an innovative wellness programme that puts our employees at the heart of our organisation and enables them to live a balanced

life. We are also embracing new ways of working, trying to knock down barriers to limit isolation in the workplace and create employee inclusion. Q: Any company news you can share with us at this time? A: We are very excited about the Internet of Things (IoT) space and recently announced that Vodafone Ireland is one of the first Vodafone operating companies to launch a commercial Narrow-band IoT (NB IoT) network which will go live in 2017. NB-IoT will act as the catalyst for companies to consider connecting things that would not have been viable with existing technologies. Q: Your response to Vodafone Ireland being named Company of the Year at the InBUSINESS Recognition Awards? A: Vodafone Ireland is absolutely delighted and honoured to have been awarded Company of the Year by Chambers Ireland InBUSINESS magazine. I am proud of everyone who works for Vodafone Ireland as this achievement is very much a testament to a workforce that continues to bring their best to work every day. We are no longer just a mobile company, we are a total communications provider and we will continue to invest and empower communities across Ireland through digital technologies well into the future.

Anne O’Leary, CEO, Vodafone Ireland

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

InBUSINESS | Recognition Awards 2016

047_Recognition Awards 2016_Vodafone Ireland.indd 47

30/11/2016 15:56

TRAVEL IN STYLE. TRAVEL IN SPACE.

The ŠKODA Superb. From €309 per month including three years servicing. Imagine a car that blurs the line between beauty and functionality. Where style and spaciousness are in perfect harmony. Where there’s room for everything, except compromise. We imagined such a car and we call it the ŠKODA Superb. Longer, wider, taller, lighter and packed with the latest technologies, the new Superb represents 120 years of forward thinking. From €27,500, the Superb will continue to be one of the most talked about cars in 2017. Call into your local ŠKODA dealer and see the fantastic Superb for yourself.

skoda.ie

Clever inside The most popular Superb model, the Ambition, is available with a host of standard features such as: Bi-Xenon Headlights with LED day time lights

Smartphone compatible with latest Infotainment Systems

Largest interior in its class

Terms and conditions apply. RRP prices displayed exclude dealer delivery and related fees. Typical Finance Example: Superb OTRP €28,100. Deposit / Part Exchange €8,164.95. 36 monthly payments of €309 (Including service plan of €13.99 per month). Optional Final Payment €11,000. Total cost of credit €1,835. Total hire purchase price €29,935. Minimum deposit is 10%. Subject to lending criteria. This offer is made under a hire purchase agreement. ŠKODA Finance is a trading style of Volkswagen Bank GmbH Branch Ireland, authorised by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority in Germany and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. Images used for illustrative purposes only.

Travel in Style A4 November.indd 1 1 239410_Skoda_1C_AMA_IBRA.indd

24/11/2016 17:47 13:10 29/11/2016

IBC Recognition Awards 2016.indd 1

30/11/2016 15:29

000 Recognition Awards 2016_Cover.indd 2

30/11/2016 15:18