InBUSINESS Summer 2023

7 IN 10 USE WHATSAPP FOR WORK

New research from Excel Recruitment shows that more than seven in 10 workers use WhatsApp for workrelated communication, while over half have been contacted outside of working hours by their employer. The survey also found that seven in 10 said they would reply to outside hours contact from their employer, 58% of whom said they would do so for fear of being judged by their peers if they didn’t.

Commenting on these findings, Shane McLave, Managing Director at Excel Recruitment, said: “It’s important to set work boundaries for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Taking time out and not thinking about work is crucial for employee wellbeing. We’ve seen first-hand skilled and valuable employees resign as a result of this scenario, whereby they simply could not and perhaps were not facilitated to switch o from work.”

American approval

More than 95% of US multinationals have a positive view of Ireland as an investment location, according to a survey of American Chamber of Commerce Ireland members.

Business BITES

EMPLOYMENT

A third of Dublin businesses have reported they intend to o er apprenticeships this year as a means of accessing new talent pools.

ENVISAGE AND SAGE PARTNER UP

Envisage, a Sage partner in Ireland and member of the Noledge Group, has announced it will create 12 new jobs as part of a three year, €1 million investment to support its appointment as the first Sage partner in the country that will resell Sage Intacct. The partnership with Sage will support Envisage’s plans to grow its business and drive customer acquisition, while Envisage customers will benefit from automation, cost savings, smooth integration, e ortless data access across multiple systems and real-time insights for informed decision-making. The company expects to increase its annual revenues to €6 million and grow to a team of 34 people.

Shane McLave, Managing Director at Excel Recruitment

“We consistently perform well when it comes to customer service and delivery and continual investment in that side of the group will ensure that care is maintained.”

Emer Kelly, Head of Sales & Marketing, Virgin Media Business

(L-R): Sinéad Galligani, Group Marketing Director, Envisage; Paul O’Riordan, VP Partners & Alliances Northern Europe, Sage; David Burke, Technical Director, Envisage; and Steve Boyes, Director of Customer Care, Envisage

SKILLS-BASED HIRING CRUCIAL TO GENDER EQUALITY

IDA Ireland, in partnership with Microsoft and LinkedIn, has published its latest Labour Market Pulse, showing that companies are implementing evolving hiring practices and looking at flexible ways of working to improve female participation. In 2022, women were hired into 38% of open leadership roles in Ireland, up from 33% in 2016. The share of women applying to remote or hybrid jobs more than doubled between January 2021 and 2023. Adopting a skills-first hiring approach, which encourages companies to prioritise candidates based on skills requirements rather than job titles, opens doors to a wider pool of diverse and underrepresented candidates. LinkedIn estimates that a skills-first approach in Ireland would increase the overall talent pool by more than 6-fold and 20% more for women than men in traditionally male-dominated occupations.

Carbon neutrality

PICTURE THIS

Female Founders

Fibre broadband

A DataSolutions survey reveals that while 78% of tech companies have plans to achieve carbon neutrality, 65% have not yet measured their carbon footprint.

HYBRID WORKING

New data from LinkedIn shows Ireland has become a centre for hybrid working since Covid, with one of the highest shares of jobs that can be done from outside the workplace.

FINTECH

Last year funding into female-founded start-ups surged 120% to reach a record €230m, according to a TechIreland report published to coincide with International Women’s Day.

The UK has become Ireland’s second largest export for fintech and financial services, growing by 17% to €597 million in 2022. In 2022, 1500 companies recorded exports to the UK.

CONSTRUCTION

New data published by Comreg has revealed that fibre-to-the-premises technology in the Irish market is now on a par with cable broadband subscribers for the first time.

Enda McGuane, the new president of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, has said over 100,000 workers will be needed in the Irish property, land and construction sectors over the next decade.

LIBERTY IT OPENS NEW GALWAY HUB

LIBERTY IT has expanded its presence across Ireland with a new hub in Galway’s innovation space, PorterShed. The company, which already employs over 650 people across the country, also announced the creation of 100 new jobs. Tony Marron, Managing Director at Liberty IT, said: “Over the last number of years, we’ve grown significantly and have developed our capabilities, particularly in the areas of data science, AI and machine learning. It’s a di icult time for many across our sector, with many downsizing across Ireland in recent months. Liberty IT are dedicated to supporting the incredible tech talent across the country and I am pleased to announce that we will be recruiting 100 new jobs over the next two years.”

Granite Digital has acquired a majority stake (75%) in the digital division of New York creative agency, LCM247. Pictured are Robert Carpenter, Chief Commercial O icer at Granite Digital; Conor Buckley, CEO at Granite Digital; and Patrick Heaphy, Founder and President at LCM247. The acquisition is expected to boost Granite Digital’s revenues beyond €13m this year and provide Granite with a strategic foothold in the US.

Mary Buckley, IDA Ireland; Minister Hildegarde Naughton, TD; and Darren Muldoon, Liberty IT

MEDTECH VENTURE WINS NOVAUCD COMPETITION

NovaUCD has announced exVal, an early stage MedTech venture, as the overall winner of the 2023 NovaUCD Student Enterprise Competition. exVal has created a portable, modular device for fast and early detection of childhood pneumonia using an electrochemical sensor that detects relevant biomarker proteins in exhaled breath condensate. The non-invasive solution only requires an infant to breathe normally into the device via a mouthpiece and provides results based on breath condensate biomarker analysis. The three members of the exVal team, all students in the UCD College of Engineering and Architecture are Sarthak Jain, a postgraduate Biomedical Engineering student along with Simon Peter and Nathan Hens, both undergraduate engineering students.

POSITIVITY AROUND IRELAND’S FUTURE FDI SUCCESS

Ireland remains a highly attractive location for FDI, with seven in 10 (71%) overseas businesses currently operating in Ireland planning to increase investment in the coming year and almost half (46%) of global investors surveyed expecting Ireland’s attractiveness for FDI to improve over the next three years. Just 18% expect that it will decrease, according to the latest EY Europe Attractiveness Survey which found that the key to sustaining Ireland’s FDI success will be a focus on three core areas – Talent, Technology and Sustainability.

Julie Linn Teigland, EY EMEIA Area Managing Partner said: “The reality is that Europe has been set back by the shocks of 2022 and we are yet to see solid signs of recovery. We are now facing a series of eradefining challenges, including digital and sustainability, on top of serious competition from the US and emerging economies. Despite the challenges, confidence is high and now is the time for a strong political commitment and refreshed business case for Europe that reminds investors of its power.”

IT LEADERS DOUBT AI CAPACITY

Over half (54%) of IT leaders in Ireland believe their existing IT infrastructure is not fully prepared for the demands of AI technology, despite its widespread adoption across industries, according to the Equinix 2023 Global Tech Trends Survey. The survey showed that there is now widespread appetite among businesses in Ireland to benefit from the advantages of AI, with 85% of IT leaders reporting that they are already using it, or planning to do so, across multiple functions. Peter Lantry, Managing Director for Equinix in Ireland, said: “Ireland’s digital economy is growing and there is no question that AI will play a central role in its continued growth. From disease detection in healthcare, to fighting cybercrime in financial services, it will have a profound impact on our everyday lives, with every industry benefiting from its implementation. Without the right digital infrastructure underpinning it, AI cannot be intelligent and given the pace of change, businesses will quickly find themselves left behind.”

exVal team members Simon Peter and Sarthak Jain

PAYZONE TO SPONSOR BLEEPER BIKES

EPA LAUNCHES FOOD WASTE CHARTER

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new Food Waste Charter, calling on all businesses and State Agencies operating across the food supply chain to sign up and commit to reducing food waste. Businesses signing up to the Charter voluntarily commit to measure their food waste, set targets and report annually on progress. Laura Burke, EPA Director General, said: “With almost 800,000 tonnes of food waste generated in Ireland annually, meeting Ireland’s commitment to halve food waste by 2030 is very challenging and we don’t have much time. We need to work together; every business along the food supply chain and in the food services sector must play their part to reduce food waste. These businesses are called on to sign the Food Waste Charter and make a commitment to prevent food waste.”

Payzone has announced a new sponsorship agreement with Bleeper, Ireland’s first dockless bike-sharing service. The agreement will see Payzone sponsor 800 of Bleeper’s public bikes operated in Dublin City, Fingal and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councils. Payzone is also expanding its current range of services within its Parking application, making it easier for the travelling public to go about their daily lives using one single application.

NISBETS OPENS CORK SHOWROOM

GAA stars David Clifford from Kerry and Cork’s Shane Kingston officially opened Nisbets’ new customer showroom at the Blarney Business Park, Cork in June. Red FM DJ Colm O’Sullivan and the Red Patrollers were also on site to mark the occasion. Nisbets, which employs 60 people in Cork, Dublin and across the country, hosted a showcase event at the showroom to demonstrate new product innovation, with a strong focus on energy saving equipment and environmentally friendly products.

Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Laura Burke, Director General, EPA; and Ossian Smyth, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy

NEW MANAGED SECURITY SERVICE FROM

VIATEL

Viatel Technology Group has released details of its strategic partnership with ArmorPoint, a global managed security service provider. Viatel will deliver ArmorPoint’s best-in-class managed cybersecurity solutions into the European market. The partnership positions Viatel as the most comprehensive cybersecurity, cloud, connectivity and digital transformation solutions provider in Ireland, with a growing footprint of international customers at home and overseas.

Commenting on the move, Niall Tuohy, Security Product Manager with Viatel Technology Group, said: “Cybersecurity is becoming more complex. The threats get more malicious and pervasive with each passing day. Viatel’s Managed Security powered by ArmorPoint is the sole security solution any organisation needs. The beauty is in the simplicity and the peace of mind delivered.”

CWSI wins big at Tech Awards

Mobile and cloud security specialist CWSI was named Company of the Year at the 2023 Tech Excellence Awards. The company was recognised for its impressive growth and expansion across Ireland, the UK and increasingly in mainland Europe. Over the past year, CWSI received significant new investment to make strategic acquisitions in mainland Europe – BLAUD, a Dutch mobility and security specialist based in Utrecht and mobco, a workplace and mobility specialist based in Belgium and Luxembourg. In 2022, CWSI services reached 500,000 active end-users and it plans to double this to 1 million by 2025 through its enhanced service proposition, expertise and geographical reach.

CENTRIPETAL LAUNCHES CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Intelligence powered cybersecurity firm Centripetal has opened its Galwaybased European Cyber Intelligence Centre of Excellence to address cybersecurity opportunities in the UK, Ireland and Europe. The new Centre will serve as a central hub where new and existing customers can work with Centripetal to gain insight on the current European and global threat landscape and how they might be affected. According to the International Trade Administration, the cybersecurity market in Ireland is thriving, valued at €280 million. However, with economic crime and fraud on the rise in recent years, cybercrime is extremely disruptive in how it impacts the business community. With the opening of Centripetal’s Centre of Excellence, the company will bring its patented technologies to the European market to protect organisations from every known cyberthreat.

Pictured is Ronan Murphy, CEO, CWSI, alongside colleagues from the CWSI team

Corey Ayers, Director of Product Management, ArmorPoint and Niall Tuohy, Security Product Manager, Viatel Technology Group

L-R: Anne Marie Tierney Le Roux, IDA; Jonathan Rogers, Centripetal; and Minister Hildegarde Naughton

Green skills for a sustainable future

• Develop new skills in your team

• Green your business for cost savings, competitiveness and profitability

• Access highly subsidised flexible training boost skills – boost business

Contact your local Education and Training Board or visit skillstoadvance.ie

QUIET HIRING REPLACES QUIET QUITTING

According to a study commissioned by consultant Korn Ferry, by 2030, there is set to be a global human talent shortage of more than 85 million people, or to put that into context, roughly equivalent to the population of Germany. As employers desperately look for ways to circumvent the global skills shortage, business consultant Gartner predicts that the ‘quiet hiring’ trend will turn last year’s ‘quiet quitting’ on its head. When employees ‘quiet quit’, they stopped doing anything above and beyond in their role, so organisations kept sta , but lost capabilities. Now, with ‘quiet hiring’ employers are investing in upskilling the sta they already have, acquiring new skills and capabilities, without acquiring new sta .

THE HOT TOPIC

Skills Shortages

Commentary and news on the global labour and skills shortage

We’re hearing from Dublin rms that several factors, particularly childcare expenses and the lack of a ordable housing, are driving current labour shortages. Several rms have also noted that their growth postCovid is back on track, but during what should be a crucial recovery period, they are saying no to business opportunities, as they simply don’t have the sta needed to deliver the necessary outputs to meet demand. Dublin Chamber calls on Government to build more houses in the city region and to ensure that a more steady supply of accommodation comes from existing zoned and serviced land. More can be done to improve the labour force participation of women in particular, by removing the barriers preventing people from returning to work and reducing the cost of childcare.”

Aebhric Mc Gibney, Director of Public and International A airs, Dublin Chamber, commenting on Dublin Chamber’s latest Business Outlook Report

Recruiting Internationally

The Irish State’s general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of Ireland, the European Union and other EEA states. However, employment permits facilitate recruitment from outside the EEA of highly skilled personnel, where the requisite skills cannot be met by normal recruitment or by training. While the Government is focused on an integrated longterm approach, Damien English, Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, has stated that where shortages are clearly evidenced, “the employment permit system is flexible enough to address these shortages in a timely manner.”

NEW TITLE: Healthcare Director

EMPLOYER:

Danone Ireland

PREVIOUS ROLE: Head of Medical A airs and Market Access, Nutricia

Danone Ireland has appointed Anne O’Grady as Healthcare Director to lead its Specialised Nutrition category in Ireland, which operates under the Nutricia brand. Anne brings over 20 years’ experience to the role, having spent time in various marketing and medical roles at Nutricia, most recently as Head of Medical A airs and Market Access and previously as a healthcare professional within the HSE.

PAUL CLARKE

NEW TITLE: Managing Director for UK and Ireland, Packaging Division

EMPLOYER: DS Smith

PREVIOUS ROLE: Operations Director, Packaging Division

Paul Clarke has been appointed to the role of Managing Director within the UK and Ireland’s Packaging Division at DS Smith. Clarke is tasked with unlocking value across its end-to-end supply chain. New product development and innovation, design and research teams are also on his agenda, as is working with customers to develop market changing solutions with bespoke packaging and product development.

NEW APPOINTMENTS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY NATIONWIDE

SUSIE CRAWFORD

NEW TITLE: Head of Sustainability

EMPLOYER: Bank of Ireland Business Banking

PREVIOUS ROLE: Cairn Homes, ESG Manager

Bank of Ireland has appointed Susie Crawford into a newly created role as Head of Sustainability in its Business Banking Sectors team. Susie will provide insights into customers’ ESG risk profiles, identify risks and opportunities within customers’ ESG transition plans and develop ESG propositions for the SME business banking market. She will also create an integrated sustainability strategy for Business Banking.

SHANE SHARKEY

NEW TITLE: Chief Financial O icer

EMPLOYER: Quantum Group

PREVIOUS ROLE: Head of Tax and Treasury, Glenveagh Properties

Shane Sharkey has been appointed to the position of CFO at Kildare-based Quantum Group. With over 20 years of experience working in the real estate and financial services industry, Shane will oversee all financial, HR and IT aspects of the group, including the development of financial and business strategies, financial reporting, working capital and project finance and cost management reporting.

An increase in o ice-based working is leading to a rebound in public transport usage, according to the latest EY Mobility Consumer Index. 62% of workers and students are availing of public transport for work on a monthly basis, up 4% since the 2022 survey, while public transport usage for non-work activities is up 3% to 37%. Reliability and convenience have emerged as top concerns, while safety and hygiene are increasingly on the backburner as the pandemic recedes into the rear-view.

ANNE O’GRADY

PUBLIC TRANSPORT USAGE ON THE RISE

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

5,000

HOW IT ALL STARTED Aria Pour

FOUNDER AND CEO, BYNARIC

The number of early-stage entrepreneurs supported since the New Frontiers programme was established a decade ago; it is now delivered at 18 locations nationwide.

SPACED OUT

One small step for a startup… maybe one giant leap for mankind. Space Tech is a fastgrowing industry; the number of Irish companies that secured contracts with the European Space Agency (ESA) grew from 60 in 2017 to 97 in 2022 –an increase of over 50% in just four years.

The recent ESA Business Incubation Centre (BIC) Ireland showcase, which took place at NovaUCD, University College Dublin, underlined this, celebrating the achievements of the 29 companies that have participated to date in its business incubation programme – ESA BIC Ireland companies have already raised €37 million in equity funding and employ 165 people.

How have you funded the business to date?

Bynaric has been funded through bootstrapping from day one. We are actively exploring investment partnerships and we believe that partnering with the right investor will help us achieve our strategic objectives for an expansion into the UK.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

To stay lean and focused on creating value for our customers. This customer-centric approach has enabled us to establish ourselves as a trusted provider in the property management industry.

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

The importance of agility and adaptability. In the fast-paced and ever-changing technology industry, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the curve and embrace change.

Your

biggest make or break moment?

When we secured a major contract with a key client. It was a pivotal moment that validated our business model and showcased the e ectiveness of our solutions.

Is there anything you would change in hindsight?

I would invest more in marketing and sales e orts earlier on to accelerate our growth trajectory.

Company name: Bynaric

Location: Dublin

Product or service: Property Management Software Solution

Sta : 20

IRISH TECH PIONEERS

Irish start-up Vaultree was recently announced as one of the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers. The World Economic Forum selects 100 companies annually to work with society’s foremost political, business and cultural leaders to address issues facing people and the planet. The cybersecurity startup was also the only Irish company to get through the highly competitive selection process for the European Innovation Council (EIC) accelerator programme last year. Its ground-breaking, privacy-enhancing, data-in-use encryption solution is trusted by companies including Google; in the event of a data leak, Vaultree’s data-in-use encryption persists, rendering the data unusable to bad actors. www.vaultree.com

WHAT’S COOKING IN CORK

Cork Incubator Kitchens is a new state-of-the-art facility in Carrigaline Industrial Business Park, aimed at food ventures who need space to start, grow or expand their businesses. The initiative, established by Cork County Council, comprises two professional kitchens (one aimed at baking, the other suited to meat or fish-based products), fully equipped with fantastic equipment and storage areas. The kitchens can be rented at an hourly rate of just €15. Whether you want to film cooking demonstrations for social media, hold culinary classes or demonstrations, develop and launch new products or photograph new menus, they o er the perfect space for your food business.

REMOTE

HUBS IN SWORDS

The Drinan Enterprise Centre in Swords has recently opened a new creative media studio and remote working hubs to boost the o ering of its existing facilities, thanks to funding from the Connected Hubs programme. Studio Drinan provides technical equipment to enable businesses, students and community groups to harness the power of social media and digital marketing through the creation of podcasts, YouTube videos and more. Meanwhile, the new remote working suites o er a much-needed facility for remote workers in the Fingal area, adding to the 28 o ices, four light industrial units and three food units already present at the innovation hub. www.drinanenterprisecentre.ie

Irish agritech start-up

StrongBó has just closed a €750,000 seed funding round, which will enable the company to commercialise its Automatic Animal Weighing device, a hardware-enabled software solution, which they say is poised to revolutionise the beef production sector. StrongBó’s hardware automatically collects animal weights, without the need to bring the animals up and down to the yard for weighing. The information is analysed to provide the farmer with average daily gains - in other words, a business intelligence platform and decision support tool to plan for the future. As Co-Founder and CEO Micheál McInerney puts it, “You can’t manage what you don’t measure.” The investment round was led by New Zealand-based Gallagher, a global leader in animal management solutions; they also received funding from Enterprise Ireland via the High Potential Start-up (HPSU) programme as well as two Canadian sources, the 519 Growth Fund and the Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS).

StrongBó Agritech Co-Founders, Micheál McInerney and Marty Metzger, with a StrongBó automatic animal weighing device

Pictured: Cllr Anthony Lavin, Acting Chairman of the board of Drinan Enterprise Centre with Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage at the launch of The Studio Drinan

20 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

Taking place on the 29th of September, the Digital Media Awards offer agencies an opportunity to gain recognition for their outstanding work

Asone of Ireland’s leading platforms for recognising excellence in

digital media, the Irish Digital Media Awards acknowledge creativity and innovation across multiple areas of an ever-evolving sector which includes digital content creation, advertising and marketing, mobile media, social networking, app development, web design and development.

Showcasing the best of what Ireland’s digital media industry has to offer this year’s event, which is celebrating its 20th birthday, features three new categories – Best Big Data Implementation for the Digital Marketing Industry; Best AI Implementation for the Digital Marketing Industry; and Best AR or Virtual Reality Implementation for the Digital Marketing Industry. Created in response to the ever-changing needs of the industry, these three new categories are free to enter this year.

We received over 300 entries for last year’s event and we expect that figure to increase for the 2023 DMA’s. Deadline for entries is the 14th of July – there’s a category for every agency and company to showcase their best digital work. Get your entry in today!

DIGITAL MEDIA AWARDS: CATEGORIES

Best Agency

Best Small Agency (<15 staff)

Best App

Best Collaborative Campaign

Best Brand

Best Conversion Strategy

Best Creative

Best in Digital Financial Services

Best Integrated Media Strategy

Best in Government & Not For Profit

Best Native Campaign

Best Newcomer

Best OOH Digital Campaign

Best Podcast

Best in Retail & Consumer Goods

Best Search Campaign

Best Social Media Campaign

Best Strategy

Best Technology Innovation

Best Use of Mobile

Best Use of Video

Best Website Digital Student of the Year

(FREE TO ENTER)

Best Big Data Implementation for Digital Marketing

Best AI implementation for the Digital Marketing Industry

If you’re looking to make a splash in the Irish digital media scene, then sponsoring the 2023 Irish Digital Media Awards is a no-brainer! By sponsoring the event, you’ll be able to reach a highly engaged audience of digital media professionals and enthusiasts. Plus, you’ll be showing your support for the industry and helping to recognise and celebrate the best and brightest in Irish digital media. So why wait? Get on board and make a name for yourself in the world of Irish digital media by sponsoring the 2023 Irish Digital Media Awards today!

SAVE

29TH SEPTEMBER 2023

GROWTH PRIMED for

What inspired you to set up your first company, Vetinerary Advances?

I had spent many years working as a vet, specialising in equine surgery in both Ireland and the UK. A er a bad car accident where I injured by neck and shoulder, I couldn’t treat horses anymore. I had all this knowledge that I was unable to put into practice, so myself and my husband Kevin decided to set up Veterinary Advances. It’s a medicationrelated database for equine vets that’s now used as a standard tool by all members of the British Equine Veterinary Association as well as equine veterinarians in Ireland and Australia. In 2019, we set up EquiTrace which addresses the lack of data that has a ected the global horse industry for so many years.

How does that lack of data impact the industry?

It leads to poor medical records, not being able to trace horses, not knowing about horse injuries or about medication they’ve previously been administered. Up until recently in the US, there was no o cial requirement for recording what medication a horse was taking. For trainers, it’s genuinely hard for them to keep records. Most of their time is spent in the yard and you can’t have a laptop in a barn. at’s where the EquiTrace app comes into play.

Jennifer Corley has used the knowledge she gained as an equine vet to create an app that’s bringing the horse industry into the digital era

How does EquiTrace work?

It’s a very effective, very simple and very fast way of recording information about a horse. You simply upload the details of each horse on to the app and each time a horse is scanned, the app will record the location and time of the scan along with the identity of the person who scanned them, allowing the trainer to stay on top of all the information he or she needs to be compliant. Charities who rehome retired racehorses can also use the app to check the horse’s location and temperature. We’re one of only four companies globally that has an integrated platform like EquiTrace. In Ireland, we’re approved by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and it’s also used in Sweden, the UK and the US. The global equine industry is worth in the region of €300 billion. It’s an untapped industry, so the potential is huge.

How has engagement with Enterprise Ireland benefitted the company?

EquiTrace won the Best Overall Start-Up at Enterprise Ireland’s 2021 Innovation Arena Awards and I also completed two female entrepreneurship courses. I found the courses hugely helpful; anyone who takes up these programmes benefits from top quality information delivered by industry experts. We also conducted a survey with Enterprise Ireland into farm practices and found that 75% of Irish farms are still using pen and paper and that’s if they’re keeping medical records at all. That’s something we want to change.

Do you miss being a vet?

I do but I think I’ll probably end up helping more horses this way. EquiTrace isn’t just about recording information; it’s about providing the vet with the right information he or she requires to administer the medication the horse needs. It also makes sure the right horse gets the right medicine. You’d be surprised how often a horse is given medicine that was intended for a different horse.

What does the future hold for the business?

We’re planning on more closely targeting different customer groups such as studs and trainers, vets and sales and auction houses. We’re also looking to go into the veterinary sector with integrations into their practice management software, which would make it easier for them to gather data as they go. On a global level, there’s a lot of demand for traceability projects right now so we’re hoping to have a big announcement around that soon. Our aim is to serve the entire equestrian market. In the meantime, we’re very much focused on helping thoroughbred trainers in Ireland and the US to comply with the rules.

“We’re one of only four companies globally that have an integrated platform like EquiTrace. In Ireland, we’re approved by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and it’s also used in Sweden, the UK and the US.”

If you were to give an aspiring entrepreneur a piece of advice, what would it be?

Stop thinking about the thing you want to do and just go and do it. In veterinary we have a saying –there are more mistakes made by not looking than not knowing. In business it’s more of a case of, there are more mistakes made by not going for it. I don’t think there’s a better country in the world to be an entrepreneur than Ireland. As someone from the UK, I have been blown away by the Local Enterprise Office and by Enterprise Ireland. I would also say, don’t try and reinvent the wheel and learn as much as you can from other business owners. I’ve found that the majority of people are more than happy to share their experience and learnings.

What ’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?

Getting over that imposter syndrome, particularly for women, is a big one. It’s difficult not to see a successful female entrepreneur and think, I could never do that. It always looks so daunting, but it’s important to remember they have all had their challenges too. If you want to do it, you can make it happen.

COMPANY: ServiceNow

SECTOR: Digital experiences

LOCATION: Dublin

ANNOUNCEMENT: ServiceNow is creating 400 new jobs over the next three years as part of its growth plans across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The new roles will be across digital sales, engineering, research and development.

COMPANY:

ZF Group SECTOR: Software Technology LOCATION: Dublin

ANNOUNCEMENT:

The ZF Group, a technology company supplying systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology, is expanding its software technology hub in Dublin with plans to hire 25 new employees.

COMPANY: Envisage

SECTOR: Software LOCATION: Across Ireland

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Envisage has been appointed as a Sage Intacct partner in the Republic of Ireland. New jobs will be in the areas of sales, marketing, implementation and support, enabling the company to grow to a team of 34-plus employees.

OpportunityIRELAND

INBUSINESS

COMPANY: Vyta Group

SECTOR: IT recycling LOCATION: Across Ireland

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Vyta Group is creating 100 new jobs over the next two years. The company, which helps businesses to reduce the carbon footprint of their IT equipment, will grow its sta base to 220 by 2025.

COMPANY: Noodlee SECTOR: Chinese food chain LOCATION: Cork

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Chinese restaurant Noodlee has announced a €3m investment across Cork as it prepares to open 15 new stores in the coming months, resulting in the creation of up to 200 jobs.

US multinationals plan to increase Irish employment

According to the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, the majority of American multinationals with operations in Ireland expect to increase employment in the coming year. In a survey of its members conducted to coincide with 4th July celebrations, 70% of respondents said they plan to hire more sta at their Irish operations over the next 12 months. There are currently 210,000 people working for US firms across Ireland, compared to 160,000 in 2019. The vast majority of respondents said their corporate headquarters in the US had a positive impression of Ireland as an investment or growth location.

COMPANY: Apex Group SECTOR: Financial Services

LOCATION: Limerick

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Apex Group Ltd is opening a new Limerick o ice and creating roles in fund administration, accounting and corporate services industries. Growth is driven by demand from new and existing clients for Apex Group’s single-source solution in Ireland.

“The survey also showed that housing was cited as a major challenge for future growth – with 57% of US firms saying it was the main issue that had to be overcome in order for their business to expand.”

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

Emer Kelly, Head of Sales & Marketing, Virgin Media Business

Connections MATTER THAT

Building connections, empowering customers and investing in the future is what matters to Emer Kelly at Virgin Media Business

Ifthe past few years have taught us anything, it’s that the internet is an indispensable tool for doing business. Whether you’re a large enterprise, a small business, or a start-up, it allows you to connect with customers and partners all over the world, whilst providing you with a vast range of resources to help grow your business.

In 2022, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released the findings of a survey which showed that nearly all Irish enterprises (97%) have internet access. It also found that 15% of companies experienced an increase in sales via websites or apps during 2022, compared with 19% in 2021.

The bottom line is that the internet is a vital tool for doing business but to utilise the internet successfully, a business must choose a provider that can offer the right product and support services to ensure that success. For companies of all sizes, Virgin Media Business provides reliable and highspeed internet services along with data, fixed and mobile voice services.

At the end of 2022, Virgin Media Business announced that it’s planning to invest €200 million to upgrade its broadband network to full fibre over the next three years. The move, which will also lead to the addition of 500 jobs, will bring fibre to over one million homes and businesses and will enable speeds of up to 10Gbps (Gigabits per second), which is about 10 times faster than the top speed currently on offer. The plan also underlines the Virgin Media Business ethos. “We’re focused on building connections that really

“We’re focused on building connections that really matter, that’s really at the heart of what we do. This investment will reinforce our commitment to delivering the very best digital connectivity to consumers and businesses across Ireland.”

matter, that’s at the heart of what we do,” says Emer Kelly, Head of Sales & Marketing, Virgin Media Business. is investment will, says Emer, reinforce the company’s commitment to delivering the very best digital connectivity to consumers and businesses across Ireland. “We are committed to making the ordinary extraordinary and delivering superfast and reliable bre broadband services in new regions across the country. at is resulting in greater consumer choice and increased competition.”

Virgin Media Business’ partnership with Siro, which was announced in 2022, is increasing Virgin’s network reach to 70% of all premises in Ireland. “We’re futureproo ng the network, not just for ourselves but for our customers.” Delivering best-in-class connectivity to Irish businesses to enable them to grow is what we do every day, says Emer. “We want to increase our reach across the country and to achieve that, strategic partnerships and continual investment are key. We believe that every business should have access to reliable connectivity and the expertise that understands their needs.”

Virgin Media Business provides services to every sector of business in Ireland, from retail to hospitality and public sector to gaming. “No matter the size of the business, connectivity provides them with the exibility to operate e ciently, whether it is working from home or interacting with their customers and suppliers, businesses need to know their connection is meeting their needs. Broadband is a utility as essential as electricity and water and the past three years have shown how important a tool it is for keeping us all connected.” A commitment to delivering fast reliable broadband and helping our customers grow their business is the underlying ethos of the group. “We invest heavily in the research and development of our products to ensure we are bringing delightfully surprising technology to the market. We’re constantly searching out new technologies and testing new products - it’s part of our culture to be insatiably curious. Quality is at the forefront, and we strive to ensure we are delivering heartfelt service and value for money.”

e Virgin Media Brand in Ireland is synonymous with quality, but doesn’t mean the group rests on its laurels when it comes to looking a er its customers. “We consistently perform well when it comes to award winning customer service and delivery. Continual investment will ensure that excellence in customer care is maintained. We provide

Emer Kelly, Head of Sales & Marketing, Virgin Media

di erent packages for small, medium and large businesses, as well as solutions for the public sector and each of those packages can be tailored to the speci c requirements of the business.”

For small businesses, a fast-growing sector for Virgin Media Business, there are several products available that will give them the exibility to work how they want, when they want. With Broadband speeds o ered at 500Mb and 1Gb as standard, as well as voice o erings, TV packages and Wi-Fi to suit all shapes and sizes from small o ce to public house, Virgin Media Business can o er the tools

Business

“We consistently perform well when it comes to customer service and delivery and continual investment in that side of the group will ensure that care is maintained.”

to partner its customers to success. Virgin Media Business Mobile has also been growing steadily since its launch in 2018. Businesses can avail of a range of plans to cater to their speci c needs, along with an extensive range of handsets.

For medium and large customers, Virgin Media Business also provides a range of products that have been developed to cater to their speci c needs. “Dedicated Internet Access from 1Gb to 10Gb is available alongside our SIP Trunking Voice products. But we also o er everything from Carrier and Metro Ethernet products, Licensed Microwave and IP Transit that can dual

stack IPv4 and IPv6 for seamless connectivity across networks, made to measure Wi-Fi solutions and DDoS Mitigation services, all of which are available to match any business requirements in all corners of the country.”

For the last few years, Virgin Media Business has been the headline sponsor for the Gold Medal Awards, recognised as the leading independent awards program for the Irish hospitality industry. Last year, judges received over 460 entries in total to consider, from 150 hotels, guest houses, country houses, restaurants, cafés, bars and catering companies from across the country. On awards night, the mentions and activities about the event reached over four million people on social media platforms.

To maintain relationships with customers and provide them with the information they need to develop and grow, Virgin Media Business also produces a blog, regular newsletters and white papers to keep customers up to date on all things tech-related. “It’s just another way we have of staying in contact with our customers and passing on the knowledge we have in-house. We want our customers to grow, to succeed and evolve and we do everything we can to facilitate that growth. We’re hitting the right market demographic-wise and we’re communicating the value and quality that exists within the various plans we o er Irish businesses.”

In today’s tech-driven environment, businesses are looking for a reliable connectivity foundation, along with a trusted partner that’s in it for the long-term. “Our growth strategy reinforces our commitment to the Irish market on a long-term basis. We invest in the platforms and infrastructure that empower our customers to make the most of digital revolution. If a business is looking for a provider that’s capable of delivering best in-class business internet access, alongside mobile, Wi-Fi and voice services, then they should consider opting for our services.”

“Our growth strategy reinforces our commitment to the Irish market on a long-term basis. We invest in the platforms and infrastructure that empower our customers to make the most of the digital revolution.”

Going forward, the ambition at Virgin Media Business is to build more connections that really matter, made possible by the €200 million upgrade investment and its partnership with Siro. “No matter where a business is based around the country and regardless of its size, we can deliver best-in-class business broadband.

ere are three reasons why businesses choose us – our customer service, our network and our reliability. We strive to improve upon these three pillars every day and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”

MENTOR: CAROL BRICK

WISE

COUNSEL

At the height of the Celtic Tiger, Carol Brick decided to leave her secure, dependable job in banking, much to the despair of her parents. Originally from Kilmoyley in North Kerry, she had been working in group financial control at Bank of Ireland head office, but wasn’t enjoying the role. “I think I knew quite early on that accounting wasn’t going to be the job for me. My interpersonal skills were taking a bit of a hammering. I’m definitely more of a people person but that side was forced to take a backseat.” At a time when the country was experiencing an unprecedented economic boom, she decided to hang up her finance boots and go after a role she knew she’d enjoy. “An interesting role opened up at Contracting Plus in Cork. Contracting Plus provides payroll, accounting and tax services for selfemployed contractors and at the time, the founders were sending these very valuable, self-employed professionals out the door to the banks to get financial advice. These were clients that had moved from being full-time employees in well paid jobs with benefits, to self-employed contractors who now had to look after their own finances. It was more important than ever that they get the right advice and access to the right suite of products, but that just wasn’t happening.” Newly self-employed professionals were meeting people in the bank on a Monday, but when they returned a few days later, someone new had taken their place. “Banks were experiencing a huge staff turnover throughout that period. The quality of financial advice wasn’t there so in 2008, Contracting Plus decided to launch a separate wealth management company called CWM Wealth Management. I thought it was a great idea and a much-needed service, so I went for it. Fifteen and a

half years later, we’re still in business.”

Carol has held the role of Managing Director at CWM Wealth Management since the company was established. By her own admission, she wasn’t entirely offay with the world of financial advice but what she lacked in experience, she made up for in confidence and an eagerness to learn. “I was also anxious that it was the wrong time to start a business. The economy had slid into recession and I was only qualified three or four years at that point. But I’m a firm believer in getting out of your comfort zone and that risk-taking forms the basis of career progression; my instinct proved correct and within the first four months, we had 60 well-established clients and they just kept coming.”

In 2016, Carol launched HerMoney, a bespoke financial advisory company for women, by women. During her years spent advising both selfemployed professionals and noncontracting clients, she noticed an increasing number of female clients with huge gaps in their retirement and protection plans. CWM Wealth Management surveyed 106 selfemployed professional women and found that only 47% had private pension plans in place, 45% claimed to have pension policies from previous employment contracts, with 52% never having reviewed these policies. Only 20% had appropriate income protection cover in place. “I think there are a few reasons as to why women aren’t as likely as men to have robust financial plans in place. Unfortunately, the gender pay gap still exists and women also tend to spend less time in the workforce, due to time out to mind children or elderly relatives. Women actually need more in their pension pots than men; we live longer but it’s those gaps in employment that lead to gaps in

“Unfortunately, the gender

In order to thrive, business owners must get out of their comfort zones and not be afraid to take risks, says CWM Wealth Management and HerMoney Managing Director CAROL BRICK

pay gap still exists and women also tend to spend less time in the workforce, due to time out to mind children or elderly relatives.”

Carol Brick

pension pots.” Since its launch in 2016, HerMoney has taken o . “It’s the only service of its kind in Ireland. It’s extremely successful, so much so that we’re looking at separating it from CWM in the next couple of years.”

Both CWM Wealth Management and HerMoney have built solid reputations as nancial advisory companies that o er unbiased, quality advice. “We’re not tied to any one provider, so we’re able to provide completely independent advice. For me, it’s about being able to o er the client value, choice, advice and nancial counselling. Investing in

the relationship is just as important as the work we do and I think that’s something a lot of companies operating in this space don’t o er. I have clients that would ring or text me at the weekend for my take on something or to get some advice. We’ve become friends as opposed to just advisor and client. I think a lot of brokers are still just selling product as opposed to selling a relationship for life. We thrive on that relationship and that’s why we have so many word of mouth referrals.” Continual communication with clients is key, says Carol. “During Covid, markets

“It’s the only service of its kind in Ireland. It’s extremely successful, so much so that we’re looking at separating it from CWM in the next couple of years.”

slid overnight and there was, understandably, much confusion. I found a lot of brokers just didn’t know what to say to their clients and so said nothing. We took a different approach and communicated constantly with our clients, even if it was just to offer some reassurance or a chat. Ensuring those lines of communication remain open gives our clients peace of mind and helps build trust.”

Carol and the team at CWM are just about to launch a new arm of the business, Contracting Plus Mortgage Services. “We’re very lucky to have gotten Margaret Barrett, a mortgage

manager from Bank of Ireland, to run the mortgage side. Mortgages was the only box we hadn’t ticked up to this point, so we’re excited to launch that within the next few months.” In the past year, five new members of staff have joined CWM. “We’ve seen huge growth this past year. Once we open our mortgage department, there will be a period of minding the purse strings for a while. There are plans in place to rebrand the business to Contracting Plus Financial Services and that will probably take place next year. For now, it’s heads down as we continue to grow the two businesses.”

CAROL BRICK ON… TAKING RISKS

“Opening HerMoney was a risk. We invested into the business and recruited advisors, but it has paid off. I knew I could do it, I just needed to have confidence in myself.”

WHAT

INSPIRES HER

“My mother is the hardest worker I’ve ever come across. When we were young, she’d be up at 5am to milk the cows before looking after four children. She’s still doing the same thing today.”

NURTURING CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS

“We have forged really good relationships with our clients. We see ourselves more as hand-holding financial counsellors to a lot of our clients, rather than brokers eager to sell a product.”

“There are plans in place to rebrand the business to Contracting Plus Financial Services and that will probably take place next year.”

The team at CWM Wealth Management

Named the overall winner at this year’s SFA Small Business Awards, Mo ett Automated Storage is championing the Mo ett family tradition of innovation in modern industry. Managing Director Sam Mo ett outlines his plans for the future

Innovation in AUTOMATION

What services does Mo ett Automated Storage provide?

Sam Mo ett (SM): We’re an automated pallet storage provider. Put simply, we o er our clients a fully automatic warehouse for storing palletised goods. We manufacture and install the equipment ourselves and we have developed so ware for that whole system to operate in-house. We’re very much a solution provider; everything we manufacture is bespoke and developed speci cally for the client’s needs. e systems we manufacture deliver superb density of storage, so they save on energy and labour costs. ere are also bene ts around the safety of operatives and stock.

With so many skills in-house, you must have a significant sta count

SM: Right now, we have 60 sta members and I can see that number increasing to about 66 by the end of the year. Our turnover has doubled every year and will double this year, as we have order books out to June 2024.

Where did you get the idea for the business?

SM: Firstly, to give you some background on myself and my family, my father Robert Mo ett co-founded COMBILIFT, a Monaghan-based manufacturer of multidirectional forkli s. He also invented the

Mo ett Mounty [a type of forkli truck that can be mounted to a lorry] back in 1986. I le school at an early age to get stuck into the family business. During my time there, I project managed the largest manufacturing facility under one roof for COMBILIFT and played a part in various other projects so when it came to setting up on my own, I had that experience to call on. I could see that automation in warehousing was on the rise, so in 2017 I went out on my own, took on a design engineer and an automation engineer, and set to work on developing a new system. Our rst client was a third-party logistics company in Dublin in early 2019.

Was it always your intention to manufacture the systems in-house?

SM: Absolutely. I have zero interest in reselling someone else’s product. Manufacturing is my background, it’s all I know. When you’re selling a product manufactured by another company, you don’t have full control over it. You’re only as good as your supplier and that’s not something I would be willing to take a risk on.

How competitive is the industry?

SM: e system we have developed is quite unique and is setting the standard in the industry. Really, we have just one competitor but we're in business longer and we develop our own so ware - those advantages are standing to us. At the moment, we’re working across 14 di erent sites in seven di erent countries and that number is increasing all the time.

When did you start exporting your solutions?

SM: About 20 months into the business. e second installation we ever carried out was exported. Compared to Ireland, the European market is much more accepting of automation and there’s also a quicker return on investment. Our export rate is at about 85%. In Ireland, attitudes around automation are changing and Covid has accelerated that change. e pandemic pushed a lot of companies into automation and we’ve bene tted from that.

Have you engaged with Enterprise Ireland to help grow the business?

SM: When we rst began operating, we were successful in qualifying for EI’s Market Discovery Fund which helped us identify regions we should target and where the aws were in the business. At the moment, we’re focused on a number of R&D projects which EI is also helping us with.

Can you share any details about those R&D projects?

SM: I can’t tell you a whole lot right now! But we are looking to launch additional features to our existing systems and to launch completely new products. We’re not staying stagnant. Our plan is to continue to grow and to create more jobs in the not too distant future.

Aside from launching new products, how do you plan to develop the business?

SM: Today, we have systems in Belgium, Holland, Spain, the UK, Canada and America. To break into these countries, we have gone with lower margins and that strategy is working for us. e challenge is around getting that rst system into a country; once we’re in, we’re nding that the orders are coming through. Once you get your foot in the door, you’re halfway there.

You were named the overall winner at this year’s SFA Small Business Awards. What does an award like that mean to the business?

SM: We were shocked to be named overall winner. We actually received three awards on the night, which was amazing. It means a lot and it’s also gratifying to know we’re on the right track. I’m also a nalist in the 'Emerging Category' of the EY Entrepreneur Of e Year, which is very exciting. It would be nice to win, but there’s some very sti competition in there.

"We’re not staying stagnant. Our plan is to continue to grow and to create more jobs in the not too distant future".

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With the acceleration of AI technology, Irish businesses shouldn’t lose sight of the importance of human interaction

Put before CHATBOTS Customers

Following an explosion in interest in arti cial intelligence such as ChatGPT, the rush to embrace these types of disruptive technologies could lead to Irish businesses losing sight of the importance of human interaction with customers. At business connectivity provider Elio Networks, no chatbots are used in its customer service operations. “I think it’s important not to get so preoccupied with what you could do, that you lose focus on what you should do. When a customer has a question that is nuanced, no matter how a chatbot is con gured, it can’t answer,” says CEO David Russell.

Elio Networks recently launched in Cork, with new operations upcoming in Limerick and Galway. e move followed its rebrand earlier this year from ‘Host Ireland Business Broadband’

to Elio and the company acquisition last year by London Stock Exchange-listed, Digital 9 Infrastructure, for €60 million. AI, says David, can’t deliver anything like a proper response to customer queries. “We have to make sure customers are fully informed and feel that somebody is taking responsibility. Where we can maximise AI is in our internal processes, to remove bottlenecks and bureaucracy. en, when we have that rst conversation with the customer, we have all the data to be able to serve them in a timeframe that suits them.”

According to EY Ireland AI, when used properly, can help businesses to deliver seamless personalised experiences to customers, optimise production processes, uncover fraud and accurately predict relevant market events and trends. Research from EY shows that globally, the market for AI is expected to break the $500 billion mark by 2024 with a ve-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5%. Ireland is well positioned as a leader in AI readiness, ranking 17th out of 160 countries globally, according to the Oxford Insight AI Readiness report 2021. It’s how those opportunities are harnessed that’s key, says David. “We’re not ignorant to the opportunities of improving customer service, we’re actually embracing them. AI is evolving at a rapid rate but even as it advances to levels we haven’t yet truly grasped, it being used as a tool to assist human operatives will always o er more value than in replacing the empathy that comes with human interaction.”

The Opportunity

Although Elio is focusing on humans to deliver customer support, the business also recognises the bene ts of AI in operations, marketing and network. “We are rolling out AI systems to support those teams and ultimately provide a better customer journey. We’re a tech company, innovation is fundamental to what we do and we have always focused on technical solutions to o er better customer service. We’re constantly looking to see how AI and machine learning will better improve our customers’ lives. It’s clear however that any approach must be people-led.”

Security in the new world

Tristan Harris, founder of the Centre for Humane Technology, has cited that it only takes three seconds of a voice recording for an AI system to be able to mimic the voice on it. From there, it

can develop a full conversation. “ is presents security challenges but also issues around authenticity, which is crucial to any business. It’s an area that we have to take into account at Elio, as we’re a critical infrastructure business.”

AI poses an unknown threat when it comes to mimicking customers or employees and how data is managed. is is where human to human interaction holds a clear edge, as the nuances that come with it are vital for the overall customer journey. “AI has already found ways to bypass Captcha and it will, undoubtedly, nd ways to overcome any other security checks put up to detect fraud. at should make us think about why we have security in the rst place.” e most valuable asset with customers is trust. “It in uences every aspect of the relationship. Putting up these necessary barriers to AI should make us ask why whenever we deploy AI.”

We ask why for the bulk of business decisions without even thinking. Why do we buy paper for the printer? Probably because it’s running low. Why do we target speci c markets? It’s because we know there is potential for our products and services there. “We should consciously ask that why whenever it comes to relatively new technology like AI. at way, we can ensure it is used to work for us more than being a threat we need to be concerned with.”

Addressing the challenge

ere are positive signs that the Irish government is taking the challenges of AI seriously. It recently tasked the National Cyber Security Centre with providing guidelines to protect the public from malicious actors using chatbots. “I think Minister Ossian Smyth recognises that the advanced manner in which AI speaks directly with individuals can be used by scammers. is means that now, more than ever, customers need to be able to trust that who they are talking to is a real person, putting their interests rst.” ink of the bot as a tool to aid the support agent, or other sta member, in meeting the customer’s needs. “Garry Kasparov, the great chess champion, always said that while a computer can beat a human at chess, a human working with a computer will always beat a computer on its own.”

At Elio, values are all about putting the customer rst. “ at’s something any Irish business can relate to. If you adopt that line of thought to your AI strategy, you’re on the right path.”

David Russell, CEO, Elio Networks

Skills & Talent

Mind the(skills)gap

Attracting skilled labour is top of the priority list for a large number of Dublin businesses

Priorities

Earlier this year, Dublin Chamber published its latest Business Outlook Report which showed that attracting and retaining appropriately skilled labour is the single greatest threat facing Dublin businesses today. Almost three in four rms also stated that ‘attracting/retaining/upskilling sta ’ is their number one priority for 2023 for the second consecutive year. One in ve rms (19%) named ‘geopolitical/economic instability’ as the biggest challenge they face while one in ve rms (18%) identi ed ‘increased cost in my business’ as the single biggest threat facing their business.

e comprehensive survey also delved into emerging trends, nding that employee health and wellbeing, alongside employee diversity and inclusion, have become heightened concerns for

employers. Within Dublin Chamber’s Q4 Business Outlook Survey, when rms were asked to identify their primary concerns regarding remote working for 2023, the top three issues concerned the emotional welfare of sta . e number one concern was ‘cultivating a positive team culture’ (75%), followed by ‘onboarding new sta members’ (62%) and ‘isolation of sta or mental health’ (60%). It’s clear that the emotional welfare of sta is on the radar for employers; Dublin Chamber noted that it will be important to pay close attention to how this trend manifests in the coming months.

Commenting on the report, Dublin Chamber’s Director of Public and International A airs, Aebhric McGibney said: “We’re hearing from Dublin rms that several factors, particularly childcare expenses and the lack of a ordable housing, are driving current labour shortages. Several rms have also noted that their growth post-Covid is back on track, but during what should be a crucial recovery period, they are saying

The number one concern was ‘cultivating a positive team culture’, followed by ‘onboarding new sta members’ and ‘isolation of sta or mental health’.

no to business opportunities, as they simply don’t have the staff needed to deliver the necessary outputs to meet demand. Dublin Chamber calls on Government to build more houses in the city region and to ensure that a steadier supply of accommodation comes from existing zoned and serviced land. More can be done to improve the labour force participation of women in particular, by removing the barriers preventing people from returning to work and reducing the cost of childcare.”

Apprenticeships

A third of Dublin businesses also report that they intend to offer apprenticeships this year as a means of accessing new talent pools. When firms were asked what their main motivations for offering apprenticeships are, many noted it as a recruitment tool for new talent to meet the skills gaps of their businesses while encouraging company loyalty.

“We also asked firms that do not intend to offer apprenticeships this year to share why. The most widely chosen reason was that it is ‘difficult to identify an apprenticeship that meets the needs of our business/complements current activities’ (31%), followed by ‘NA/Unsure’ (28%), ‘our business can’t meet the needs of the apprenticeship curriculum/necessary learning outcomes’ (22%) and ‘limited knowledge of apprenticeship process/ supports in place” (13%). It is interesting to note from these results that the main reasons firms are not becoming apprentice employers has less to do with financial capacity, though undoubtedly a challenge, and more to do with a lack of knowledge and bureaucratic barriers. Dublin Chamber will continue to lobby for the needs of Dublin Chamber members in this area.”

Dublin’s Public Transport

Almost three in four Dublin firms (71%) do not believe that Government is meeting the urgent need to improve Dublin’s public transport. Improving Dublin’s public transport infrastructure is a key lobbying goal for the Chamber, particularly the delivery of the following projects:

» MetroLink and the DART+ Programme: Both projects are needed for a modern and integrated mass transit system to serve the capital

» BusConnects: Bus services remain the backbone of public transport in Dublin. BusConnects updates bus services by redesigning the network and introducing higher capacity bus corridors

» GDA Cycle Network Plan: Dublin requires a significant modal shift towards cycling and should aim for a 20% cycling share within the next decade

» Expansion of Luas Network: Dublin Chamber supports Luas Finglas as well as proposals for Luas Lucan, Luas Poolbeg and Luas Bray.

For more on Dublin Chamber’s latest Business Outlook Report, go to www.dublinchamber.ie

“More can be done to improve the labour force participation of women in particular, by removing the barriers preventing people from returning to work and reducing the cost of childcare.”

SKILLS REFRESH

Expleo, a global technology, engineering and consulting service provider, has launched the ‘Return@Expleo’ programme, an initiative that aims to empower female professionals seeking to return to work and fill job openings in the areas of quality assurance, business analysis and engineering at the company. In partnership with Women Returners, the programme is being targeted at professionals who have taken extended career breaks. Participants will be equipped with the resources they require to refresh their skills, re-establish industry connections and pursue their career progression. After completing the five-month paid career returners programme, successful candidates will, says Expleo, have a view towards permanency within the company.

In tandem with Return@Expleo, Expleo has also introduced an expanded leave policy and a comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) programme. These initiatives go a long way to helping women who may need help updating their skills to return to the workforce, says Eimear Fitzsimons, Head of Recruitment at Expleo. “Helping women to get back into the workplace is just one element of ensuring greater gender diversity in our industry. We understand that life happens and that is why we have extended our leave policies to include menopause leave and special leave, which can cover unexpected or unique events.”

Expleo has also removed gender-biased language from its job ads. “We’ve implemented internal mentorship programmes, we’re offering a flexible model for working parents called Expleo Fusion and we’re hosting impactful workshops and webinars. Our goal is to empower female professionals, dismantle barriers and foster an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive and make meaningful contributions.”

For more information or to apply for roles at Expleo, visit https://expleo.to/ReturnAtExpleoProgramme

Recognising Excellence

The winners of this year’s InBUSINESS Recognition Awards have shown innovation and resilience

WINNERS

◆ BEST IN THE COMMUNITY

An Post

◆ SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

Bord Na Móna

◆ RECRUITMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR

Excel Recruitment

◆ LOCAL AUTHORITY OF THE YEAR

Fingal County Council

◆ LOGISTICS COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Kuehne+Nagel

◆ ENERGY PROVIDER TO BUSINESS DCC Energy

◆ BUSINESS BROADBAND PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

Rural WiFi

◆ RETAIL EXCELLENCE OF THE YEAR

Meaghers Pharmacy

◆ WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Panda

◆ GREEN ENERGY COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Pinergy

◆ FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Zurich

◆ CYBER SECURITY COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Smarttech247

◆ BUSINESS BANK OF THE YEAR

AIB

Now in its 11th year, the InBUSINESS Recognition Awards celebrate the best of Irish business. Our awards program recognises organisations that demonstrate the core values of business innovation, product innovation, technological achievement and employee engagement via a set of established business and product award categories. This year’s winners were chosen across 24 categories based on a broad criteria including a profile of the business, the services it provides and the importance of customer care. All winners have demonstrated their ability to adapt and grow and all are very worthy of this recognition, setting the standard for business in Ireland today. Despite the challenges businesses have experienced over the past couple of years, along with current challenges including rising costs, inflation and a lack of skilled staff, the business leaders profiled over the next few pages have maintained and strengthened their focus on growth. Chambers Ireland, Ireland’s largest business organisation with a network of Chambers of Commerce in every major town and region in the country, actively engages in research and lobbying activities on a range of public policy issues of interest to our members. By drawing upon the expertise of our members and the businesses they represent, we are in a unique position to understand the concerns of all sectors of business from all regions of Ireland and are acutely aware of the different types of challenges facing business today. Supporting SME’s, facilitating trade and strengthening the Chamber Network to provide support at local level remain top priorities for us, as businesses continue to embrace new ways of working.

◆ LIFE SCIENCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR

AstraZeneca

◆ DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Nestlé Ireland

◆ ICT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Viatel

◆ FACILITIES MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Aramark Ireland

◆ FINANCIAL SOFTWARE COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Corlytics

◆ BRAND OF THE YEAR

Lily O’Brien’s

◆ MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Eli Lilly

◆ BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Rhonda Doyle, Schneider Electrics

◆ BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR

Colm Carroll, Carrolls Irish Gifts

◆ COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Panda

Trust Excellence

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and fresh approaches to its product development. Offering ‘easy access’ investment and savings products has helped to challenge the hold that traditional banks had on customers’ savings and deposits. This simple change, instigated by customer research, saw significantly more customers enter the savings and investment markets thereby giving customers the potential to generate better returns on their money.

DRIVING VALUE

Over the last decade Zurich Life Assurance plc has seen its market share almost double and has grown to become the second largest pension and investment provider in the Irish market, its reputation grows due to its active management strategy and the value it has to offer to larger companies. It has kept a consistent focus on supporting and helping customers to achieve their financial goals, delivering through a programme of year-on-year incremental improvements across different strands of the business including product development, technology, marketing communications and investment management.

In an industry perceived as resisting change, Zurich has helped break the mould by delivering new

“We drive value for our customers by appropriate default investment strategy and a constant track record of delivering outperformance on investment returns,” says Rose Leonard, Head of Corporate Sales and Customer Relationship Management at Zurich.

Whether it’s developing new ‘Master Trust’ retirement solutions for corporate and SME businesses, listening to life insurance customers’ needs for immediate funeral support, or providing female-focused cancer cover protection products, Zurich has never stood still. “The Zurich Master Trust is recognised in the marketplace as having a very high standard of governance and risk management,” Leonard notes.

The team at Zurich are focussed on making it easy for distributors and customers to partner with them, always looking for opportunities that make a compelling business

case. Technology and digitalisation are fundamental to this, with success stories including the Zurich Client Centre; online and apply for distributors; customer digital financial health check; and reducing post through online correspondence.

DELIVERING ON PROMISES

While Zurich operates primarily in the B2B arena, distributing products via financial advisors and corporate benefit providers, it retains a consistent focus on the end customer. Its B2B strategy emphasises long-term strategic partnerships rather than a focus on short-term transactional wins. When you become a customer of Zurich, you start a trusted relationship that could last for 40 years (or more) as you save, invest and retire with Zurich. While this relationship might have its infancy with a third-party distributor, Zurich ensures that its brand is there too.

Distributors recognise the importance of a long-term relationship and trust Zurich to deliver on its promises.

“It’s worth noting that Zurich doesn’t own an advisory arm,” Leonard concludes. “Many of our competitors do, but it is truly independent advisors who are recommending Zurich and the Zurich Master Trust.” And that says it all.

Professional financial advice should be sought if acting on the information contained in this article.

Rose Leonard, Head of Corporate Sales and Customer Relationship Management at Zurich, on why their active management approach is attracting more and bigger customers

Rose Leonard, Head of Corporate Sales and Customer Relationship Management, Zurich

Waste Not, Want Not

With a strong focus on how waste is processed and a ‘zero-disposal’ mission, Panda aims to help its customers be greener by committing to converting up to 100 per cent of black bin waste into energy.

Panda is a company within Beauparc Group, collectively managing 4 million tonnes of waste across Ireland, the UK, and the Netherlands per year, through collection, recycling, processing, and recovery. Brian McCabe, CEO of Beauparc Group in Ireland has been leading its growth since joining as managing director in 2005.

Appointed to the role of Beauparc Group CEO in 2019, he has been instrumental in building a strong management team along with the successful integration of multiple acquisitions.

“I’ve driven the company

forward to becoming the largest waste-to-resource operator in Ireland through a combination of organic growth, acquisitions, strategic infrastructure, investment and development,” he says.

This included the acquisition of their largest competitor Greenstar in 2016, which gave Panda a national presence and reach. In addition, he has led the growth in the UK from zero presence in 2016 to the major player it is today. This followed the same path as in Ireland with organic growth and acquisitions.

“I’m a keen lobbyist in steering policy and legislation that benefits the strategy of the waste industry,” McCabe notes.

“We are a circular economy company, seeking to create value from the waste we collect to improve our customers environmental performance,” he says. “The biggest single

Brian McCabe, CEO of Beauparc Group, on how the circular economy and extracting value is the future of waste management

issue facing our industry is how to achieve better recycling rates. We are embracing this challenge and are investing in exciting opportunities like UV-IR optical separation, robotics, and artificial intelligence as well as refining all of the separation techniques we have been employing over the past 20 years.”

SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

Under McCabe’s leadership, Panda is focused on two major sustainability goals—achieving net zero by 2040, and to increase recycling and recovery rates.

On net zero, he says, “This will be achieved through the increased use of renewable energy at our processing facilities and the deployment of new technologies such as increasing our existing fleet of battery operated vehicles and alternative fuels.”

To increase recycling and recovery rates, there is a threefold approach being pursued: the increased roll out of brown bins to commercial customers, the continuing education of customers on the use of segregated bins and the application of the latest technologies in recycling.

Panda makes use of innovative practices and technologies to improve sustainable processes.

“We are the first waste company in Ireland to properly map both our carbon footprint and measure our sustainability performance and to identify our short-, medium- and long-term sustainability priorities,” says McCabe. “We are also the leaders in the deployment of advanced technologies including the use of camera-based contamination detection systems in our collection vehicles.

“Another innovation I am particularly excited about is the deployment of Ireland’s first

battery electric powered bin trucks. We have successfully rolled out five of these vehicles to green bin collection routes in Dublin and we intend to gradually replace the vehicle fleet with new technologies over time.”

For McCabe, the move towards more sustainable practices in the wider world feels like something that has always been coded in the DNA of how Panda operates.

“We have been at the centre of the circular economy movement long before it was called the circular economy,” he states. “Our business was founded on the principle of collecting and processing waste to minimise the amount of waste going to landfill. We have continued this tradition gradually increasing the amount of waste that we divert from disposal and towards beneficial

Protection Agency (EPA) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA).”

Panda puts a lot of weight on measuring its impact on the environment and improving its performance. McCabe says, “The waste industry is complex and heavily regulated, far more so than at any time in the past two decades. We have teams of environmental professionals working across our business. These professionals collect and analyse data, report to government bodies, assess performance, audit, and engage with neighbours. Our environmental reporting allows us to inform our board of directors on business and environmental priorities and improve our overall performance.”

reuse over time. We feel that we have been leading in this space and are bringing our customers on board with the circular economy journey.”

ADVOCATES FOR CIRCULAR

Panda Waste Management engages with local communities, government bodies, and other relevant organizations to foster partnerships and address waste management challenges.

“We are enthusiastic advocates for the circular economy, and we actively engage with our customers and government bodies to achieve our sustainability goals and to help our customers achieve their goals,” he says. “We participate with the Government through its waste advisory group, and also with the National Waste Collection Permit Office, Repak, the Environmental

Looking to the future, McCabe sees the application of new technologies such as AI, robotics, and battery electric vehicles as the future of the industry. “We are already embracing all of these technologies and are excited by the opportunities that they offer. We are also fascinated by technologies such as chemical recycling. We think that this will revolutionise plastics recycling.” Without giving too much away, he reveals, “We are trialling an array of exciting new technologies.” The future of waste is minimising wastage, and he remains firmly focused on embracing the circular economy.

“It is our vision to extract value from the waste we collect and by doing so create value for our customers and the environment.”

IT IS OUR VISION TO EXTRACT VALUE FROM THE WASTE WE COLLECT AND BY DOING SO CREATE VALUE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.”

White Glove Logistics, Collaborating with Clients

Kuehne+Nagel Ireland offers its customers a collaborative white glove logistics service with a particular specialty in serving the biologics industry in Ireland

Since it first began Irish operations in 1996, Kuehne+Nagel Ireland has offered a full scope of freight forwarding and logistics services. The company’s experts provide integrated and competitive supply chain solutions, backed by state-of-the-art information technology tailored to customers’ specific requirements. Supported by Kuehne+Nagel’s global network, quality of service and integrated supply chain management solutions Kuehne+Nagel help its Irish customers turn their logistics challenges into a real competitive advantage.

With end-to-end supply chain expertise and dedicated industry specialists, the company fully understands what drives the sector, by carefully analysing the market and anticipating their logistics requirements. Included in its 510 staff working across 11 sites in Ireland, there are 34 ‘implants’ embedded at customer sites offering on-site logistics advice.

Kuehne+Nagel Ireland continues to invest in best-in-class Healthcare Logistics facilities with the opening of its latest site in Horizon Logistics Park, Dublin in July 2022. The site is strategically located near the Dublin airport and port. This new state of the art facility houses 34,000 pallet positions, stores between 15-25 degrees and

offers a whole range of value-add solutions to clients.

Additionally, Kuehne+Nagel Ireland have recently announced another new Healthcare Logistics facility in Cork, opening during Q3 2023 with 13,500 pallet positions in a brand new state of the art, sustainable facility with full temperature control between 15-25 degrees in place. The continued focus on investments in Healthcare ensures that Kuehne+Nagel are best placed to offer quality driven logistics services to our customers and their patients.

SEAMLESS HEALTHCARE LOGISTICS

Ireland’s life sciences sector has a global reputation for operational and innovation excellence, and Kuehne+Nagel works with leading industry names involved in complex biologic manufacturing with specific transport requirements and with providers of high value medical devices. They trust us to help them on every step of the journey. Kuehne+Nagel’s customisable solutions, implemented by fully certified healthcare experts, decrease write-off , mitigates risks and delivers a safe and positive patient experience. Kuehne+Nagel supports its customers across the full product life cycle from pre-clinical to commercialisation offering real end to-end logistics support for their life saving medicines and medical devices. With early process involvement and access to frequent and current information, Kuehne+Nagel plays a vital role throughout the supply chain and becomes an extension of their customer. This in turn enables them to focus even more firmly on their prime mission and concern: saving and improving lives

Adam O’Sullivan, Commercial Director, Kuehne+Nagel Ireland

CLINICAL TRIALS LOGISTICS

In 2018, Kuehne+Nagel acquired QuickSTAT, a market-leading provider of temperature and time-critical logistics solutions and an expert in managing global clinical trial logistics for all phases of the product lifecycle from research and drug development through to commercialisation. The company specialises in time and temperature shipping of clinical research samples, biologics, investigational drugs, clinical trial supplies and vaccines in order to help bring new drugs and medical protocols to market safely and quickly. QuickSTAT Ireland is a Center of Excellence for Direct-to-Patient, cell and gene therapy supply chains and is strategically located to provide logistics support for pharma and biotech companies across the country. Together, QuickSTAT and Kuehne+Nagel offer their expertise throughout the product life cycle, to remove logistics as a commercialization constraint to increase success rates and speed up scaling globally. Kuehne+Nagel is dedicated to playing its part in making drugs, therapies and medical devices accessible to patients worldwide-faster.

People Person

Changing industry to join Schneider Electric at the height of a global pandemic is something that Rhonda Doyle relished. A believer in lifelong learning with an innate sense of curiosity, she made connections, grew her networks and quickly flourished in her new role.

“I definitely have a belief in transferable skills,” she says. “People often ask me about changing industry; for me that wasn’t even a roadblock, or in my mind, because I had moved laterally a lot through eBay. I had got used to moving and starting on new things, starting with new teams, so I was probably a bit more open then to whatever came up.”

What came up with Schneider Electric was an opportunity to work for an organisation that felt inspiring to her. “I have always said, unless I’m really stuck to pay my bills, I need to work for a company where I believe in their overarching mission or vision. When I started to see what Schneider does, globally, for sustainability, and the purpose and mission, that was something I really bought into.”

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

Researching the company

she was impressed by their commitment to D&I and ensuring that this element of the company is promoted is important to her to ensure they continue to attract female candidates in what traditionally

was a male-dominated industry.

Prior to joining Schneider Electric, Rhonda had spent 17 years at eBay. She joined the company as a supervisor at a time when it was just setting up in Ireland, as one of the first employees where she grew her career, moving up through the ranks to Director of Global Operations and Programme Management. Whilst at eBay, Rhonda was the business Sponsor for eBay’s Diversity & Inclusion Charter, and this topic remains something that is very important to her at Schneider.

“As a business, we continue to focus on hiring for diversity. We’re constantly looking at our numbers. And for us, diversity is everything, but particularly with regard to rebalancing in the female space. Our numbers are looking really good for this year, which is great, but that takes

a lot of leadership, focus and commitment, and for that to be felt from the top down.”

One thing that can make a huge difference when it comes to helping women progress their careers is having a mentor, and maintaining an open door policy as a mentor and adviser is important to Doyle, cognisant of how much it has benefitted her in her career journey. “When I reflect back on my career, so many people supported me. Even when I didn’t report to them, they gave me their time.”

With the business in Ireland growing threefold, talent acquisition has been a focus of the past year. “It was really tough last year to hire, but we did rigorous planning as a leadership team,” she says.

“With the business growing, we were able to keep up with the right resourcing to deliver on that strategy.”

A SENSE OF CURIOSITY

Although Doyle advocates for careers in STEM, somewhat surprisingly her undergraduate degree is in Philosophy, something she credits with giving her a strong basis in critical thinking. A sense of curiosity is another attribute she recalls as being helpful to navigate her new role when she joined Schneider Electric in January 2021, at the height of the Covid pandemic.

Having been in a global role for some time at eBay, meeting her new colleagues mainly through the medium of a

Critical thinking has stood her in good stead, but it’s the power of making connections that is at the heart of Rhonda Doyle’s way of working

Rhonda Doyle, Senior Director Field Services Operations UK&I, Schneider Electric

computer screen didn’t phase her one bit. She credits her innate curiosity about how teams work, and her need to figure out how all the parts connected, with helping her to dig in and build her network within the company. That and making sure to build

improve operations and further increase people development, ultimately ensuring a best-inclass service. In November 2022, she was promoted to Senior Director and now leads Field Services Operations for the UK and Ireland. She also has full

in the office. Breakfast meetings and learning events “give people a reason to come in, and start to realise that they missed the collaboration with their colleagues”.

in time for “shooting the breeze” on every video call. “Working remotely and meeting remotely are absolutely skills,” she avers.

Initially tasked with leading the company’s Services, Projects and Back Office Operations teams in Ireland, maintaining service for customers in the region, Doyle’s role also included partnering with the Irish leadership team on strategies to grow the business,

responsibility for all back-office functions for the two regions, which covers a range of elements including order processing, invoicing and scheduling.

CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT

Now, with a flexible working policy still in place, she sees the challenge to lead teams effectively, in this new hybrid working world, as being how to create moments for connection

A big believer in continuous education, she is a qualified coach, and was so impressed with an INSEAD programme, focusing on innovation and strategy, that the company partnered on last year with global Schneider colleagues, that she is returning for more, after booking herself in to upskill further in Strategy and Finance to complement her already powerful soft skills attributes.

“I always say to people, as you develop in your role, if you want to become a senior leader, it becomes less about the technical skill, of course that is important, you need to know enough to get by - but it becomes more about business strategy, influencing people and leadership.”

WHEN I REFLECT BACK ON MY CAREER, SO MANY PEOPLE SUPPORTED ME. EVEN WHEN I DIDN’T REPORT TO THEM, THEY GAVE ME THEIR TIME

Excellence Across the Board

Innovation is at the heart of Eli Lilly, this year’s recipient of the Manufacturing Company of the Year award

Todd Winge, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Lilly Kinsale

Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) has two sites in Ireland – its high-technology manufacturing campus in Kinsale and its Global Business Solutions (GBS) centre in Little Island, Co Cork. A third Irish site in Limerick was announced recently. When it becomes operational in 2025, Lilly’s Limerick site will operate at 35% lower energy intensity, use 40% less water and produce 15% less waste when compared to traditional pharma manufacturing sites.

In Ireland’s pharmaceutical industry, Lilly’s campus in Kinsale is exceptional in that it consists of two different sites within the one campus boundary – one site uses chemical synthesis technology, and the other site uses biotechnology to make active ingredients for Lilly medicines. “Back in 2009, we made the decision to build a biologics or biotech facility next to our chemical facility. Biotech

has really come to the fore in the past 2 decades, so Lilly was keen to harness that potential and investigate what we could do with it,” said Todd Winge, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Lilly Kinsale. Having those two facilities on the one site makes Lilly unique in Ireland. “In the last few months, we have also added peptide technology. To have all three technologies within one campus boundary is exceptional, not just nationally, but on a global scale too.”

people develop. The “Emerge” programme looks to support people that are showing high potential. Before they move into leadership positions, they’re given the type of support that will empower them once they make that transition into leadership. For our early career professionals, we have our “L.E.A.P.” development programme in Kinsale which is all about learning through experience to advance your potential. We have an extensive and ongoing graduate

WITHOUT THE TALENT OF OUR STAFF, WE’RE UNABLE TO DELIVER UPON OUR OBJECTIVES, SO IT’S IMPERATIVE THAT WE ENCOURAGE THEM AND THAT THEY FEEL ENABLED TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN POSSIBLY BE.

Lilly has always maintained a strong commitment to operational excellence. “A good example would be one of our facilities in the biotech side of the campus, which is dedicated to making one of Lilly’s key medicines. Over the 11 years of its operation, every single gram of medicine completed in that facility has gone to a patient - that is a phenomenal record in our business. I think that example really demonstrates the operational excellence we have instilled across all facilities.”

Supporting staff throughout their career development is key, says Todd. “Lilly has a range of programmes available to help

recruitment programme for many years. Without the talent of our staff, we’re unable to deliver upon our objectives, so it’s imperative that we encourage them and that they feel enabled to be the best they can possibly be.”

A huge focus is also put on sustainability across Lilly Ireland. The Kinsale site boasts the largest solar farm in Ireland which provides solar energy to the facility. “We’re focused on trying to reduce our carbon footprint and improve our green credentials. We have several initiatives in place that reflect our commitment to sustainability and many more in the pipeline.”

Risk Taker

At age 17, Colm left school and joined the civil service in Merrion Street, following in his father’s career footsteps. While working there, he started a sideline of working in the markets at the weekends. During this whole period, he also played in a family Irish music group seven nights a week in Jury’s hotel.

In 1982, with just a €10,000 overdraft, Colm established Bargain King Discount Stores in Dundrum. After 12 months, he bought the freehold of the building and after a few years the name of the trading business changed to “Carroll’s of Dublin“. In 1986, Colm opened his first city centre store on O’Connell Street, which he later bought in 1996. Innovation and an ability to transition has been at the heart of the business from the beginning; In the early noughties, Colm took notice of Dublin’s growing reputation as a tourist destination.

the helm. Again, that was a deliberate move to bring the company forward and ensure it continues to evolve and innovate for the future.”

The market was being poorly served at retail level and so he pivoted the business to selling souvenirs. “That decision to leave his stable civil service career was brave. That willingness to take risks, along with the ability to adapt and evolve, is the reason why our business has survived despite economic downturns and pandemics,” said Peter Hyland, Group CEO. Peter took over as CEO almost five years ago. “Colm made a decision to move to a Chairman role and bring in an external CEO to take

When Covid hit, Ireland’s tourism industry came to a standstill. “As well as our 19 stores, Carroll’s also has a significant property portfolio. Both businesses were negatively affected by the pandemic. At that stage, our shops were 95% tourism based so we knew we had to adapt the retail model.” A huge effort was put into refocusing the business onto what Carroll’s does well, which is Irish gifts. The look and feel of all stores were transformed, with the focus very much on the Irish domestic gifting sector. “Traditionally, Carroll’s was associated with Irish souvenirs such as magnets and keyrings. Colm softened the brand image and began reducing our traditional ranges in favour of new, branded and modern Irish design products.” The strategy worked. “Our brand marketing promise, Gifts with Gra, is about demonstrating that we sell quality Irish products at affordable prices. Today, 75% of our suppliers are Irish.” Those higher premium Irish gifts have broadened the customer base and also sell well to tourists. “We had to be careful not to alienate our existing customer base but also expand our domestic Irish clientele. Even after 40 years in the gifting industry, Colm was keen to change something that technically wasn’t broken and that bravery has paid dividends.”

Recently, Carroll’s launched ‘Failte’, an initiative that gives small Irish manufacturers the opportunity to have their products stocked online and in Carroll’s stores nationwide. “Again, it’s something that demonstrates the innovation that’s been behind the brand for 40 years.”

An ability to adapt and innovate has earned Colm Carroll this year’s award for Businessman of the Year

Colm Carroll, Founder & Chairman, Carrolls Irish Gifts

THAT WILLINGNESS TO TAKE RISKS, ALONG WITH THE ABILITY TO ADAPT AND EVOLVE, IS THE REASON WHY OUR BUSINESS HAS SURVIVED DESPITE ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS AND PANDEMICS

Best in Class

Nestlé Ireland is proud to be gold accredited by the Irish Centre for Diversity since 2020 and is one of the few companies to receive gold, which is best in class in the market around diversity and inclusion.

The Irish Centre for Diversity works in partnership with organisations across Ireland at all stages of the equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) journey. The Centre offers Ireland’s only EDI mark for Irish businesses. Supported by Ibec, the EDI Mark enables businesses to be known as ‘Investors in Diversity’, providing them with a framework for success over three levels –Bronze, Silver and Gold – and enables them to measure, improve and recognise efforts to foster equality, diversity and inclusion within the organisation.

Nestlé Ireland Country Manager Kieran Conroy attributes the accreditation to the organisational commitment to diversity and inclusion and appreciation of the immense

value this brings to a working environment. “Diversity and inclusion are an integral part of the global culture of Nestlé and one of the many ways we bring our company’s values and purpose to life in Ireland. We work hard to ensure that diversity and inclusion is embedded across all elements of the business with an emphasis on representation, culture and being a force for good in society. In practical terms, this informs our approach to how we do business, with a focus not only on the skills and competencies of the individual, ensuring we provide equal opportunities to everyone.

To achieve the accreditation, Nestlé Ireland was measured on five main pillars:

• Pillar 1 - Diverse and Inclusive Leadership

• Pillar 2 - Policy, Procedure and Process

• Pillar 3 - Recruitment, Retention and Progression

• Pillar 4 - Recording and Monitoring

• Pillar 5 - Impact on External Diversity.

“Retention of our Gold Accreditation, the highest accolade available, is a significant achievement for the team. It is testament to the work, dedication and commitment to ensuring that we put our words into actions and that our efforts have a real and positive impact. It’s a great achievement but that’s not to say we don’t have work to do when it comes to building on those efforts – it’s just the start,” explained Conroy.

In 2022, Nestlé Ireland launched an inclusive leadership programme called Thrive, which was rolled

Nestlé Ireland is committed to fostering an inclusive culture that bring the company’s values and purpose to life

Kieran Conroy, Country Manager at Nestlé Ireland

out across all leadership teams in the UK&I market. “As part of the accreditation process you have to demonstrate inclusive leadership,” explains Patricia Malone, Senior Human Resources Business Partner, Nestlé Ireland. The six streams of Thrive are Trust and psychological safety; Hack the bias; Radical candour; Include to Innovate; Value Difference; and Equal playing field. “That has been rolled out across all our leadership teams in the UK&I market and the teams are embedding that in their way of working from a leadership perspective. It is really positive and has been really wellreceived.”

Nestlé Ireland’s KPIs in 2022 were to have gender balance at leadership team level and ethnic representation at leadership team level. In 2022, Nestlé Ireland achieved gender balance in its leadership team in Ireland, reflecting gender balance within the wider team, with 60% females. Nestlé Ireland also met its goal for ethnic representation at leadership level in 2022.

UNDERSTANDING ISSUES

In 2022, Nestlé globally launched the ‘This is Me’ campaign, asking employees to voluntarily provide confidential details on their gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, identity and disability, if applicable, to ensure our actions to improve inclusion are data driven.

Nestlé also has a transgender inclusion policy which supports trans employees through their transition at work – from time off for surgery, changing names on systems and email, to guidance for managers and teams around terminology to use and pronoun changes. Nestlé’s D&I action/development plan

is embedded through training, communications, regular meetings and updates.

DEFINING POLICIES

A policy working group develops and defines Nestlé Ireland’s policies, which are approved by the UK&I Nestlé leadership team. Since receiving Gold Accreditation from the Irish Centre for Diversity in 2020, Nestlé Ireland has implemented further inclusive policies that recognise its diverse workforce.

Examples of this are menopause guidance, a bank holiday exchange policy whereby staff can choose to work a bank holiday in exchange for an alternative day off. We also increased the scope of policy against discrimination, violence and harassment. D&I

“The Irish committee group meet each month to plan activities and review performance against action plans. Two members of the Irish leadership team are part of this committee,” explains Malone.

OUT IN THE WORLD

Initiatives to encourage diversity are also undertaken with supplier and partner organisations.

“D&I criteria form part of the contract for services and Nestlé Ireland monitors this via contract monitoring meetings and our procurement team,” says Malone.

Nestlé has six Employee Resource Networks, including an LGBTQI+ Network which is called Proud@Nestlé, an Eradicating Racism Network, Gender Equity Network, Women in Operations, NestAbility and a Parent Support

policies are communicated to staff through inclusion in induction materials, I&B Hub on the intranet and signposted in regular communications such as newsletters and regular agenda slot at monthly staff meetings (huddles).

There are regular D&I updates at Nestlé Ireland’s monthly Town Hall meeting. Internal weekly communications include D&I topics. All staff are accountable, Malone explains. In addition to a dedicated Nestlé in the Market Inclusion & Diversity Manager, based in the UK, there is an Inclusion and Belonging (I&B) specialist, covering UK&I. Locally in Ireland there is an Inclusion & Belonging, Health & Wellness (I&B H&W) committee which consists of six team members.

Network. Networks are typically across the entire UK&I business, with robust governance and empowerment to maximise their input into the inclusion and diversity strategy.

The strides made so far are to be welcomed but also balanced with an awareness that creating a culture is an ongoing process. “Our aim is to create workplaces where everyone feels included and able to bring their best self to work. The award reflects the enthusiasm and dedication of the entire Nestlé team in ensuring that our workplace is one which respects values, appreciates diversity and inclusion and welcomes and understands how such an approach can further enhance our working environment,” concludes Conroy.

OUR AIM IS TO CREATE WORKPLACES WHERE EVERYONE FEELS INCLUDED AND ABLE TO BRING THEIR BEST SELF TO WORK. THE AWARD REFLECTS THE ENTHUSIASM AND DEDICATION OF THE ENTIRE NESTLÉ TEAM.”

From Brown to Green Business

Bord na Móna has fully shifted its focus from a fossil fuels company to a green business leading Ireland towards a climate neutral future

Since the adoption of its Brown to Green strategy in 2018, Bord na Móna has fully shifted its focus to become a climate solutions company leading Ireland towards a climate neutral future.

Bord na Móna accelerated its development pipeline of renewable energy and recycling infrastructure, with a strategic re-organisation of the company into three operational business units: Recycling, Renewables and Land & Habitats. In addition, its Accelerate Green initiative is helping to grow companies leading the response to climate action and green innovation.

LARGE SCALE CLIMATE ACTION PROJECTS

The company is planning on investing €2.7 billion to fund a series of major climate-focused projects across its 200,000-acre landholding. These projects include wind, solar energy, battery storage, biomass, renewable gas and demand-side assets for delivery in this decade and beyond

The Renewables business represents the most tangible example of Bord na Móna’s transition from a fossil fuel company to a green business. Bord na Móna has built and operates renewable energy facilities that use wind, biomass and biogas with an

installed capacity of circa 700MW under management. By 2030 it will be generating enough renewable energy to supply nearly a third of all Irish homes.

REHABILITATING PEATLANDS

In 2020 Bord na Móna commenced a €126m Peatland Climate Action Scheme, which will remediate ‘cut-over’ peatlands to lock in a store of millions tonnes of carbon in perpetuity. Some areas will be restored to naturally functioning bogs which will eventually sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as well as boosting biodiversity and other ecosystem services.

Bord na Móna are working with researchers and leading academic institutions to develop robust scientific data on the quantities of CO2 that Irish peatlands can absorb from the atmosphere.

Dr John MacNamara, Head of Corporate Sustainability at Bord na Móna, says: “It’s an exciting time. Our Land & Habitats team have developed world class in-house expertise and are beginning to see increased interest from corporates seeking to partner with Bord na Móna and invest in its efforts around peatland rehabilitation and restoration.”

RECYCLING

Bord na Móna continues to be one of Ireland’s pre-eminent

players in the waste collection and recycling sector, servicing over 130,000 households and over 5,000 commercial customers.

The company has plans to develop an anaerobic digestion plant, which will transform biodegradable waste into green biogas for injection in the national gas network, an investment that compliments a landfill gas unit, which is currently part of Bord na Móna’s generation fleet and which produces enough renewable electricity to meet the needs of over 8,000 households.

SUPPORTING GREEN ENTREPRENEURS

Bord na Móna’s ‘Accelerate Green’ is Ireland’s first sustainable business accelerator, is now on its third intake of candidate companies. MacNamara likens the programme to “a mini-MBA with a sustainability focus”.

With participants in fields including sustainable packaging, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy he notes, “At the moment, these companies may not be household names but the disruptive technologies and business cases they are developing have the potential to make real and substantive contributions to climate action and a more sustainable society.” Much like Bord na Móna itself.

Dr John MacNamara, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Bord na Móna

HARNESSING THE POTENTIAL OF YOUR SPACE

Aramark Facilities Management bring expertise, thought leadership and innovation that transform facility management to help our clients achieve their goals.

Innovating Every Day

Aramark Ireland provides an expansive range of Integrated Facilities Management services to clients across the country. The Aramark Ireland umbrella includes a property services division, Avoca, a workplace solutions division, energy services and a food division; within those, the company offers bespoke solutions for over 450 client locations across the island of Ireland. “Depending on the client’s requirements, we build a solution for them that creates the services they need on their sites. A good example would be Three Ireland – we created a fully integrated solution for them which includes their energy and property management, on-site cleaning and their teams for various functions including reception, security, etc,” said Jason Keegan, Business & Industry IFM Operations Director at Aramark.

Each FM contract specification is bespoke and built for each client. The company also delivers on value and is fully committed to delivering on customer experience. In Ireland, Aramark employs approx 6,500 people across the island of Ireland, in 450 locations. The company’s FM division caters for almost every industry in the country.

All of Aramark’s Integrated Facilities Services are based on

five core pillars. “The first is ‘Innovate every Day’ – innovation is a core element of the strategy that we build for our clients. They might have specified something, but we strive to ensure we bring something innovative to the table too. The other core pillar is digital transformation. We were recently recognised as the overall winner at the Facilities Management awards for innovation in technology and systems end users for Aramark AWIX technology. We work hard to ensure we’re using that digital transformation for the correct reasons.” The third pillar is fuelled by people.

The fifth and final pillar is centred around ‘Safe Today, Smarter Tomorrow’. “We’re committed to Health & Safety and making sure all our teams on site are not only going to work safely, but they’re also coming home from work safely.”

Our new hybrid workplace has, says Jason, impacted the type of service clients are now looking for. “That bespoke service we offer is only becoming more bespoke. Many of our clients aren’t sure what the solution is for their real estate or for their headcount, so we need to be able to make

ARAMARK IRELAND OFFERS BESPOKE SOLUTIONS FOR OVER 450 CLIENT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE ISLAND OF IRELAND. DEPENDING ON THE CLIENT’S REQUIREMENTS, WE BUILD A SOLUTION FOR THEM THAT CREATES THE SERVICES THEY NEED ON THEIR SITES

“Without those 6,500 employees, our service doesn’t come to life. Through staff development and training, we equip our employees with the tools they need to provide the best FM services. The fourth pillar is the greater good, our ESG and sustainability. We call that our ‘Live Well, Be Well’ programme, which is our global initiative.”

their buildings more connected than ever before.”

“Our pipeline for new business has never been stronger, with a retention rate of 98%. Growth is the aim, but ensuring it’s the right growth with the right clients is key. We strive to create the most innovative service solution for our clients and that’s something we will continue to do.”

Aramark Ireland, this year’s Facility Management Company of the Year, strives to deliver bespoke solutions for all its clients

Jason Keegan, Business & Industry IFM Operations Director, Aramark Ireland

Let’s reverse the tide on climate change.

Supporting SMEs

AIB Group operates three core segments in Ireland and the UK, which are Retail Banking, Capital Markets and AIB UK. AIB has a full suite of products and services to support our business customers of all sizes and sectors to grow and thrive. With 64% of all SME classified as family businesses, AIB’s physical presence in 170 branches across the country supports growth and investment in the local communities we serve.

The withdrawal of Ulster Bank and KBC is leading to a reshaping of the Irish banking sector and has provided an extraordinary opportunity for AIB to build on our existing market leading franchise. We have supported businesses moving to AIB by making the journey as clear and straightforward as possible.

The Irish economy emerged from the pandemic in very good shape, however inflationary pressures will have a knock-on impact on this positive sentiment. We are acutely aware that each sector has unique challenges, but the increased cost of doing business due to energy inflation is omnipresent. Some sectors, such as transport, have continued to struggle with supply chain issues since the pandemic. Many of our business customers are challenged to set prices that can sustain the business whilst maintaining customer demand

for their goods and services. Helping customers become more energy efficient is a key focus for AIB. We have partnered with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to bring customers the SBCI Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme (EELS). The scheme supports qualifying Irish businesses by making finance available and attractive for our customers to make more sustainable choices. We have introduced ‘Plan it with Purpose’ – an online sustainability hub and diagnostic toolkit for micro and small businesses.

WE ARE INVESTING SIGNIFICANTLY IN TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE OUR DIGITAL OFFERING FOR SMES. WE ALSO RECOGNISE THAT BUSINESSES SOMETIMES NEED TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH AN EXPERIENCED STAFF MEMBER TO DISCUSS THEIR BANKING NEEDS OR RESOLVE AN ISSUE

Research conducted on behalf of AIB (by Amárach 2022) shows sustainability is on the agenda for 74% of SMEs with 60% saying it has become more important in the past 12 months. As a recognised leader of sustainability in Ireland, AIB is committed to supporting our customers, and the communities in which we operate, to make the transition to a low carbon economy. The Amárach research shows SMEs want to be associated with business which are embracing sustainability.

We have several partnerships to support business in this space, with Chambers Ireland, DCU National Centre for Family Business, Enterprise Ireland, The SBCI and Enterprise Nation. In addition, we

have partnered with Autolease Fleet Management Limited which trades under the Nifti brand. This is a really exciting venture for AIB to offer innovative financial solutions to our 3.2 million customers and to grow our green lending, including to customers who want to make the switch to electric and hybrid vehicles.

We are investing significantly in technology to enhance our digital offering for SMEs. We also recognise that businesses sometimes need to speak directly with an experienced staff member to discuss their banking needs or resolve an issue. We also invest heavily in recruitment and training of our business banking teams to ensure they can support our businesses when they need it.

As the 2023 Business Bank of the Year, AIB is committed to supporting its customers

John Brennan, Head of SME for Retail Banking, AIB

Pushing the Boundaries

As a global biopharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca develops innovative medicines across a range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, cardiovascular, renal & metabolic disease, infectious disease, respiratory & immunology and rare disease. Across two major manufacturing sites in Ireland, the organisation produces the majority of its global supply of rare disease medicines exported to benefit patients worldwide.

As the winner of this year’s Life Sciences Company of the Year, Dan Wygal, Country President at AstraZeneca Ireland, said: “We are delighted and honoured for AstraZeneca to be recognised as the Life Sciences Company of the Year. Our team across AstraZeneca and Alexion, our rare disease division, collaborate with great energy and passion to serve the patients within Ireland and around the globe.”

In 2021, the company acquired Alexion, a rare disease company with a large presence in Ireland. That acquisition facilitated both their entry into rare diseases and the establishment of Ireland as a long-term strategic driver of their global strategy, as demonstrated by the company’s subsequent announcement to build an active pharma ingredient (API) commercialisation facility in Blanchardstown. This API facility will increase AstraZeneca’s capability for late-stage development and early commercial

supply of small molecule active pharma ingredients to meet the future growing drug pipeline. It’s very much a ‘next generation’ facility designed in line with our industry-leading de-carbonisation efforts, says Dan.

In 2022, the company’s commitment to Ireland continued to expand with the announcement of a €65 million development programme in Ireland across both its Blanchardstown and Athlone sites to install new Drug Substance production equipment and warehousing facilities to support ambient and cold storage at both sites; and the construction of a Manufacturing Sciences & Technology Lab at College Park.

Working towards its ‘Ambition Zero Carbon’ plans, the company remains on track to have fully converted its fleet to electric

vehicles in 2024 and several large scale projects have been launched to dramatically reduce energy use and water wastage in Ireland

AstraZeneca has played a unique role in its contribution to Irish health. In addition supplying over 30 medicines across its therapeutic areas, it provided 1.4 million doses of its Covid vaccine to Irish patients during the pandemic at no profit. “Our pandemic response is something we’re particularly proud of.” This level of commitment is carried through across all areas of the business. “We have a broad portfolio focused on unmet needs. We focus on bringing these therapies forward and ensuring the health system capabilities are created to appropriately screen for timely diagnosis and early intervention to ensure the best possible patient outcomes.”

At AstraZeneca, the team is driven by a clear purpose – to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. “It is only by pioneering new areas of science – through our constant drive to innovate and excel – we can address the vast unmet medical need and transform the lives of patients. And recent scientific advances give good reason for hope. Through enhancing our understanding of disease biology and uncovering new ways of targeting the drivers of disease we are rapidly advancing the next generation of therapeutics across our main therapy areas.”

AstraZeneca, this year’s winner of the Life Science Company of the Year award, is playing a unique role in Ireland’s healthcare sector

Dan Wygal, Country President, AstraZeneca Ireland

Building a Global Chocolate Brand

Irish chocolate brand Lily O’Brien’s is conquering export markets and has its sights set on America next, says Managing Director, Michelle Vance

Lily O’Brien’s manufacture premium chocolates and desserts in the heart of Co

Kildare. Started from a kitchen table by founder Mary Ann O’Brien, in 1992, and named after her daughter Lily, the business has grown to position excellent Irish chocolate on the world map.

Over the past 30 years Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates has established itself as one of Ireland's best-loved chocolatiers. The passion for chocolate that first inspired Mary Ann O'Brien is still present in every aspect of the business and remains at the very core of

CONSTANT INNOVATION

The R&D team and new product development (NPD) teams meet every week to look at food trends, new recipes, new packaging formats, and different aspects of the business, whether it’s industry requirements, or consumer needs.

“The brand strategy over the last number of years is to grow the core business, which is box chocolate, but also to bring more chocolate occasions into the brand,” Vance notes. “It's creating more chocolate indulgent moments in people's lives.”

MARKET POSITIONING

what Lily O'Brien's do. The highly experienced team are passionate about creating innovative chocolate recipes using the finest quality ingredients, which are then shipped to many corners of the globe.

“As a brand Lily O’Brien’s is incredibly proud of everything that we do,” says Michelle Vance, Managing Director, Lily O’Brien’s. “We have a small team here who are incredibly passionate about the brand and the product that we put into the market. We hope that the product brings as much joy to consumers as it does to us.”

The team created the concept of ‘Chocolate Desserts’, which is now an established segment withing the premium boxed chocolate market, and its premium chocolate share bags are another innovation which has delivered strong growth.

Most recently a new range of Chocolate Truffles, launched in September 2022, has had very positive results and feedback; the new Salted Caramel truffles was voted Product of the Year 2023 in the chocolate category in a survey of 8,000 people across UK & Ireland by Kantar.

Lily O’Brien’s success is both national and international, with a spread across global markets such as a brand presence in Kuwait, and the US in their sights. It is the largest indigenous brand in the premium chocolate market in Ireland and is the third largest brand in the premium chocolate category.

With 85 per cent of their business already in export, Lily O’Brien’s supplies some of the world’s largest retailers including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury. What is most interesting, and beneficial to the brand, is that it also supplies 20 different airline customers, as well as rail and premium hotel customers, with luxury potted desserts and chocolate products.

“Many consumers around the world get to taste Lily O’Brien’s chocolate every year, and that has a huge benefit to building brand awareness.”

MANY CONSUMERS AROUND THE WORLD GET TO TASTE LILY O’BRIEN’S CHOCOLATE EVERY YEAR, AND THAT HAS A HUGE BENEFIT TO BUILDING BRAND AWARENESS

Michelle Vance, Managing Director, Lily O’Brien’s

withEnergyInsight

Since launching into the market, a decade ago, Pinergy’s USP has been its ability to assist its customers to better manage and understand their energy consumption and costs. Today it has evolved to supplying 100 per cent renewable electricity to all its customers. “That’s electricity that is certified as being green, and from renewable sources of wind, solar, and hydro,” notes David Slattery, Head of Marketing and Communications with Pinergy.

“Our ethos since the beginning is around helping you understand your energy consumption in your home or in your business, helping you to optimise that consumption. What that means is, if you understand how you’re using energy, and you have a heightened awareness of it, you’ll reduce your energy waste.”

ENERGY EXPERTS

Pinergy’s experts estimate that businesses are wasting on average 15 per cent of their energy consumption every year, through bad habits, lack of awareness, and lack of visualisation of their energy use. Pinergy’s brand promise is to turn that around by providing energy with insight.

The recent acquisition of Acutrace allows Pinergy to further

develop its analytical capabilities in terms of analysing other utilities (gas, water, air quality, waste) as well. “If you have the numbers, and know where your baseline is, then you can make yourself better from a utilities perspective, by reducing that consumption,” says Slattery.

Another notable acquisition driving their offering forward is SolarElectric, one of Ireland’s fastest growing solar energy businesses, delivering Solar PV systems to the domestic, commercial and agricultural markets in Ireland.

“We’re working with a lot of businesses through our solar arm

designing and installing projects across the country. Your roof can actually be a revenue generator for your business, selling the excess back to us as our supplier,” says Slattery, adding, “We pay around 25 cents per kilowatt.”

SHARING THE KNOWLEDGE

An upcoming trend in the market is demand for electric vehicle (EV) ‘destination charging’ in business premises where people spend time, such as gyms, golf clubs and hotels. Slattery explains: “It drives footfall—given a choice between two hotels, an electric car driver will probably pick the one with a charger.”

They are also working with customers who are changing their company fleets into electric vehicles, advising on how they can manage those fleets and the charging requirements.

Pinergy are keen to share their insights and knowledge, and disseminate information through a number of channels, from a podcast series called Energy Matters, in partnership with The Currency, to a monthly insights report on the energy markets, and a social media content series profiling businesses who are making changes to be more sustainable. “It is all about making those choices, from very small choices to big strategic decisions,” says Slattery. “Our purpose as a business is to empower our customers to create their own sustainable energy future.”

Renewable energy providers Pinergy want to help their customers understand their energy usage, in order to optimise it

David Slattery, Head of Marketing and Communications, Pinergy

YOUR ROOF CAN ACTUALLY BE A REVENUE GENERATOR FOR YOUR BUSINESS, SELLING THE EXCESS BACK TO US AS YOUR SUPPLIER

Money and hurling at networking breakfast

Finance and a preview of the Senior Hurling Championship was the order of the day at the ‘Getting Down to Business’ breakfast, recently hosted by Waterford Chamber and Permanent TSB in the Viking Hotel. Hurling legends Ken McGrath and John Mullane were the stars of the show as Martin Ryan, Territory Sales Manager for Permanent TSB Waterford, put them through their paces. Niall Harrington, Deputy President of Waterford Chamber, said: “We had many a good day out on the back of your successes and I look forward to hearing the stories and what we can expect for the season ahead. Like in business, you have to start small and start early. With commitment, passion and determination you can all take your place on the field of dreams, just like these two.”

New Officers at Cobh & Harbour Chamber

The Cobh & Harbour Chamber has introduced Toddy Stafford as its newly appointed President and Colin Morehead as its newly appointed Vice-President. Toddy received the chain of office from outgoing President Johanna Murphy, who extended her best wishes for his new position. Johanna will be taking up her new role as Chair of the Energy Committee, where the focus will be on supporting the Chamber and its members’ interests in the development of Cork Harbour’s energy industry.

CHAMBER COMMENT

A ROUND-UP OF ALL

THE NEWS AND EVENTS FROM THE CHAMBER NETWORK NATIONWIDE

“Being named Chamber of the Year is testament to the scale of work being undertaken by Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber and underlines how impressively they have managed and adapted their activity to meet the needs of their members.”

Fiona Candon, President, Chambers Ireland

Drogheda Chamber hosts Chinese visitors

Drogheda and District Chamber has formally opened links with one of the fastest growing regions in China with a delegation from Sichuan Tianfu New Area, based close to Chengdu City, visiting Drogheda recently. Headed by Mr Fan Shi, the delegation was given an overview of Drogheda by Chamber President Hubert Murphy, who outlined the potential of the area in terms of industry, investment, culture and sports. The party was interested in plans for the northern cross route which includes a sports campus, housing and the IDA park being developed nearby. The group also visited Pat Cooney at Boann Distillery and met Bronagh Conlon from Listoke Distillery and Olan McNeece from Dan Kelly Cider.

Dublin Chamber gets its priorities in order

Dublin Chamber launched its Business Priorities document for 2023 in Leinster House in June. The document highlights the key actions required by Government to fulfil Dublin Chamber’s vision for Dublin to be globally renowned for its quality of life, sustainability and economic vibrancy. It reflects the feedback received from members through surveys, round tables, events and other meetings and was approved by Dublin Chamber’s governing policy Council.

Going virtual

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber, Dungarvan Tourist Office and Lismore Heritage Centre joined forces recently to host a networking event where guests were treated to a virtual reality session and a ‘space’ theme escape room at Lismore Heritage Centre.

Stephen O’Leary, President, Dublin Chamber and Managing Director, Olytico with Mary Rose Burke, CEO, Dublin Chamber

Chinese delegation with Chamber President Hubert Murphy and Chamber members

Tech support driving growth in Tipperary

Global HR software company BrightHR has announced a new partnership with Co Tipperary Chamber, designed to provide tech support and drive growth. Since launching in Ireland five years ago, the company has seen huge uptake and daily usage, with almost 6,000 Irish businesses now using their transformative people management tools.

Alan Price, CEO at BrightHR, says: “Small businesses need HR services just as much as larger companies. Mistakes can be costly. That’s where technology comes in. It’s no longer just ‘nice to have’ but a must have. Our smart HR software transforms people management by providing the advice and support needed for SMEs to grow their business. Through this partnership, we look forward to continuing to support small businesses across Ireland, helping them save time and money and allowing them focus on growing their business.”

Mullingar retains Purple Flag status

Mullingar has been awarded the Purple Flag accreditation for its evening and nighttime economy (ENTE). The Purple Flag accreditation is an internationally recognised standard which shows that Mullingar has proven to be a prime destination for a safe, enjoyable and diverse night-time experience. The successful application was built on features such as the establishment of the Mullingar Community First Responder Unit and projects and events that contributed to a thriving evening and night-time scene, including the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

CHAMBER CAPTION

Pictured at a Research and Development seminar hosted by Shannon Chamber in conjunction with EY Ireland (l to r): Aisling Dooley, Principal Officer, Revenue; Ian Collins, Partner & Head of Innovation Incentives, EY Ireland; Leanne Storan, Tax Partner, EY Ireland; Helen Downes, CEO, Shannon Chamber; Clare Wardell, Assistant Principal Officer from Revenue, Business Taxes Policy & Legislation Division; Fiona Gilchrist, R&D Strategy Lead with Jaguar Land Rover.

Photo by Eamon Ward

Prioritise affordable housing –Limerick

Chamber

Limerick Chamber has launched its Budget 2024 campaign, calling on Government to increase targets and drive delivery of affordable housing for workers. Speaking at the launch of the Submission for Budget 2024, Limerick Chamber Chief Executive, Dee Ryan said: “A shortage of skilled workers coupled with a drought of affordable housing is creating the perfect storm for employers. News of jobs announcements and investment have been warmly welcomed, but employers are concerned about capacity to house workers. While Government focus on social housing targets has been understandable and justified, we are calling for an equal emphasis to be placed on affordable housing delivery.”

Limerick Chamber Chief Economist, Seán Golden, added: “One of the ways to ease cost-of-living burden for workers is to index income tax. This would provide a fairer tax system for employees and help to reduce wage demands.”

Letterkenny Chamber hosts President’s Lunch

Letterkenny Chamber President addressed a room full of businesses as the Chamber welcomed Deputy Mary Lou McDonald to Letterkenny for the President’s Lunch. The event was an opportunity for networking and in this case, to brief the leader of the opposition on the issues that impact members and the growth of the North West Region. At the event Fionnuala Rabbitt, President of Letterkenny Chamber, outlined the issues that act as inhibitors to growth and investment. She further emphasised the case for the Ten-T Network and Western Transport Route (A5/N2) which if delivered, would make for safer journeys, more predictable travel times and make this region much more accessible.

Purpl Unicorn launches in Kerry

Purpl Unicorn, a project working with a number of Irish based tech companies to source, retrain and support female displaced migrants to enter the Irish workforce, recently launched in Kerry. The project is on track to create 200 new Irish based jobs this year, led by Dina Vyapuri, who has experienced first-hand the difficulties of moving to a new country when she herself moved from Mauritius. Purpl Unicorn operates via an annual subscription model and proceeds from those subscriptions fund IT equipment, internet connections, training, work permit supports and additional general supports.

Toni Forrester, CEO, Letterkenny Chamber; Fionnuala Rabbit, Letterkenny Chamber President; Mary Lou McDonald TD; Selina Horshi, Derry Chamber President; Anna Doherty, CEO, Derry Chamber

Discover the art of gardening

If you love gardening, you’ll want the best possible tools for every garden activity. Fiskars works hard to make sure you have the right tools at hand

Fiskars believes in the art –and science – of creating and enjoying your own outdoor haven. at’s why they take a holistic approach to developing garden tools that re ect hours of immersive study, research and validation, resulting in gardening tools that outperform the competition and feel like a natural extension of your body.

From garden tools designed to help you cultivate a better garden to yard tools that let you take back your yard, Fiskars’ versatile gardening tools are equipped with smart technologies and award-winning, ergonomic features that help make it easier and more enjoyable to transform your outdoor space.

In 2022, Fiskars was awarded its 58th Red Dot Design Award. e Red Dot Awards are one of the world’s largest design competitions and a Red Dot is only awarded to products with high design quality. Fiskars stood out against a record

1,800 manufacturers and designers from 58 countries in 2022’s competition. e extensive Fiskars gardening range showcases tools for every gardening task that you may come across. Fiskars o ers a wide variety of garden and yard tools that help make things easier and more e cient season a er season, from axes and mauls that deliver extreme performance

while chopping logs or splitting rewood, to weeders that provide smart, more eco-friendly solutions for permanently removing weeds. Fiskars pruning shears are available in three ranges: Solid, Plus and X-series, for a variety of reliable tools, guaranteed to get the job done.

Fiskars cultivating tools are intuitively designed to help you plant, nurture and harvest what you love, while the gardening accessories include kneeling pads and tool organisers to help make your time in the garden more enjoyable and e cient. Fiskars has designed a range of powerful, durable hedge shears, loppers and pruners which feature smart technologies that maximise your power. Razor sharp teeth on saws let you make short work of thick branches, while expertly cra ed shears and snips give you the dexterity and precision you need to make more delicate cuts on owers and produce.

Rugged shovels and digging tools were designed with robust connections and ergonomic features to help reduce pressure on your back and hands. Tree pruners make it easy to cut branches up high and Fiskars collection of durable rakes allow for easy clean up. Fiskars tools are built to last and are backed by a full lifetime warranty; however, replacement parts are available for many garden and yard tools.

Contact the Irish sales team for further information:

Pat Keane: patrick.keane@ skars.com

T: 086 7796386

David Armstrong: david.armstrong@ skars.com

T: 0044 7968520219

"Fiskars has designed a range of powerful, durable hedge shears, loppers and pruners which feature smart technologies that maximise your power."

including manufacturing, pharmaceutical, food production and agri-industry. Both international and local trade have grown and now more than ever, Tipperary companies are reaching the world. Economic growth projections also look positive for business in Tipperary.

What are the burning issues facing your members?

The current shortage of available housing is proving very challenging across Tipperary. Combined with this, the availability of skilled labour and talent is harder than ever to source, secure and retain, but Tipperary is not alone on this issue – it’s nationwide. Connectivity is vital and the N24 Cahir to Limerick project, which will link the Southeast to Limerick city via Cahir and Tipperary town, is part of the National Development Plan for 2021-2030.

How has County Tipperary Chamber developed since it was established in 2015?

Tipping Away

InBUSINESS caught up with Michelle Aylward, CEO of County Tipperary Chamber, to discuss the latest developments in the region

Established in April 1925 by a group of local businesspeople, what is known as County Tipperary Chamber is today the largest and most influential B2B networking organisation in Tipperary, representing more than 600 businesses. It unites members from both Clonmel and Cahir, two Chambers which joined together in 2014 and rebranded as County Tipperary Chamber. Michelle Aylward has been CEO since 2021.

What is the overall business sentiment in Co Tipperary?

With a significant mix of employers based in Tipperary, our members are confident that Tipperary is performing well in several sectors

"The Chamber has also embraced gender equality, with my appointment as the first female CEO of County Tipperary Chamber in 2021."

Since the establishment of the County Tipperary Chamber in 2015 we have sought to grow our membership county-wide, utilising all that is great about County Tipperary and seeking to join the experience and local knowledge of all our members through a series of networking events, local engagement projects, representation at local and national level on behalf of our members and through our Business Awards programme. Since 2015 we have built a very diverse membership base ranging from sole traders to multinational companies, which has more than doubled in that period. The Chamber has also embraced gender equality, with my appointment as the first female CEO of County Tipperary Chamber in 2021.

How is the Chamber responding to the needs of members?

The Chamber has a full calendar of events throughout the year. These range from themed networking events with our partners to training offered through County Tipperary Chamber Skillnet. These multiple events throughout the year mean that the Chamber is always engaged with the whole business community in Tipperary. Keeping our finger on the pulse of the local business community and actively seeking feedback mean we can respond to changes and implement bespoke events that can have real, measurable impact. Training through our Skillnet means that companies in Tipperary can adapt, grow and compete on a world stage.

A Strategic Partnership

A partnership between Ireland and Brazil is helping to create a more inclusive and climate resilient future for all

The highly disruptive impact on all aspects of life caused by the outbreak of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine underscores pitfalls arising from our increasingly interconnected world. Not surprisingly, Tánaiste Micheál Martin recently spoke of the need to ‘de-risk’ Ireland’s trade relations, but without ‘decoupling’ them from the wider benefits of globalisation. How then to ensure that global supply chains underpinning our prosperity remain resilient especially in the face of economic, environmental and political developments that put our most deep-seated values and commitments to the test?

In this volatile and uncertain environment, Ireland and Brazil face the challenge of forging a new strategic partnership aligned with our shared devotion to sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law. Our countries are already significant trading partners, with strong trade and investment links focusing on the promise of high-tech agriculture, genetics, AI and renewable energy.

Another field where this partnership can quite literally take off is aviation. Air travel is critical to bringing the world together more quickly, safely and efficiently. At the same time, airplanes are a major source of greenhouse gases. Last year, for example, Ireland’s emissions rose largely on the wings of growing air traffic. How do we square the circle of promoting greater air connectivity while reducing our CO2 footprint?

Ireland and Brazil are at the forefront of a multi-billion endeavour to bring mass air travel into line with the challenges of the 21st century. What do these countries bring to the table? Brazil boasts one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers as well as a robust air transport network. Ireland, for its

part, is home to the world`s premier aircraft leasing companies.

Taking off with eVTOLs

Our countries have joined forces to pioneer the development of the first generation of eVTOLs, short for ‘electric vertical take-off and landing’ vehicles. As the name suggests, it offers the advantage of easy manoeuvrability in the compact and cramped spaces that are typical of dense urban environments. These flying taxis, as they are better known, will revolutionise air mobility in and around highly populated urban sprawls.

First, eVTOLs offer significant advantages over the ubiquitous helicopters. They offer greater safety in the form of more redundancies (eight motors rather than one or two rotors). They are environmentally friendly – their electric propulsion system ensures zero-emission and low-noise flights. It is true that the limited energy storage capacity of present-day electric batteries reduces eVTOL range to 150km. However, technological improvements will bring on stream hybrid engines running on sustainable fuels, or fuel cells fed by sustainably produced hydrogen. Flying at maximum speeds of up to 300 km/h, eVTOLs will make for high-quality shorthaul travel.

They will also be more affordable, especially as production scales up and technology evolves. Just as important as low cost per passenger kilometre, their compactness makes them more easily linked into mass transport hubs. Altogether, this means that in contrast to helicopters, eVTOLs will be accessible to a passenger class beyond the super-rich.

For all these reasons, it is little wonder that the urban air mobility market will treble to US$9 billion by 2030. Irish and

Brazilian entrepreneurs have launched a partnership that is at the forefront of this revolution.

Avolon, the leading Irish aircraft leasing company, has the wherewithal to structure partnerships to invest in innovative and technologically revolutionary projects. It brings to the table the ability to fast track the commercialisation of airplanes. It has teamed up with GOL, a major Brazilian airline, with a recognised track record in developing new mass transport markets. It brings the experience of running a major airline operation, supported by the expertise of its shareholder Grupo Comporte, in providing short-distance road transport solutions. They have joined up with Avolon and the British developer, Vertical

"In this volatile and uncertain environment, Ireland and Brazil face the challenge of forging a new strategic partnership aligned with our shared devotion to sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law."

Aerospace, whose eVTOL prototype, christened VX4, is expected to undergo certification flights in 2025.

Together, these players are setting up a global aviation industry partnership to establish the infrastructure required to bring their ride-sharing platform to São Paulo. GOL plans to acquire a small initial fleet to operate ultra short haul connections within the city. Initially carrying up to four passengers at average speeds of over 150 km/h, this mode of transport will drastically reduce commuting times for many of São Paulo’s 22 million inhabitants. Shuttling from the main airport to the city centre during rush hour traffic will fall from over an hour to under 10 minutes! Time is money – as well as comfort.

Transitioning to the Future

eVTOLs represent a paradigm shift, not just for urban travel. They will reshape the commercial aviation market in Brazil and worldwide. The logistical and technical solutions to address short-term challenges are a pathway to long-term solutions to the fundamental problems facing global transport connectivity.

By exploring novel answers to the challenge of providing safe, efficient and environmentally sustainable travel, eVTOLs are a testing ground for the next generation of commercial aircraft. They will be an outdoors laboratory for innovative technologies and infrastructure, including lighter, more efficient batteries. Over time, these improvements will enable

heavier planes to run on electric motors. The aviation industry will free itself from today’s fossil-fuel guzzling jet engines and widen the horizons of noiseless zero C02 footprint mass air travel. GOL, for one, plans to transition to an emissions-free fleet by 2050.

Like most visionary start-ups, the eVTOL project presents technological, logistical and funding challenges on a scale that will require pooling a global array of skills, experience and resources. Embraer, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, is also developing its own prototype, named EVE. With the help of far-sighted businesses in both countries, Ireland and Brazil are forging a partnership for a more inclusive and climate resilient future for all.

Driving Ireland’s offshore industry

ESB and Ørsted have entered a partnership in a landmark Irish offshore wind agreement

ESB, Ireland’s leading utility and Ørsted, the world leader in offshore wind, have signed an agreement to jointly develop an Irish offshore wind portfolio in a landmark deal. The agreement was launched in Cork Chamber’s Fitzgerald House by Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Simon Coveney TD, ESB’s Jim Dollard and Duncan Clark, Head of UK and Ireland at Ørsted.

With the agreement, which marks the most ambitious partnership in Ireland to date, Ørsted becomes a 50/50 partner in

and Ireland at Ørsted; Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Simon Coveney TD; Jim Dollard, ESB Executive Director, Generation & Trading and Kieran White, Head of Onshore Ørsted Europe

a pipeline of o shore wind development projects o the Irish coast. e partnership has the potential to deliver up to ve gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy and complementary renewable hydrogen projects. e rst of these o shore wind projects are expected to compete in the next Irish o shore wind auction, ORESS 2.1. With a maritime area more than 10 times the size of its landmass, Ireland is ideally positioned to grow a strong and vibrant o shore sector, which will help decarbonise the Irish electricity system and enable future renewable energy exports to

"The Irish Government is committed to developing a strong o shore wind sector, which will provide us with abundant clean and secure renewable energy. We’ve signed into law an ambitious Climate Action Plan, which includes a 5GW o shore wind target by 2030 with a target to generate 80% of our electricity from renewable sources."

Europe. e partnership also encompasses an agreement to explore opportunities from renewable hydrogen produced from the projects in the longer term. It aims to help deliver on the Irish Government’s 2030 target of installing 7GW of o shore wind and ultimately support Ireland’s transition to net-zero.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Simon Coveney welcomed the partnership, saying: “ e Irish Government is committed to developing a strong o shore wind sector, which will provide us with abundant clean and secure

renewable energy. We’ve signed into law an ambitious Climate Action Plan, which includes a 5GW o shore wind target by 2030 with a target to generate 80% of our electricity from renewable sources. is will be further supported by a National Industrial Strategy for O shore Wind from my department. is announcement is a strong vote of con dence in Ireland’s sustainable future and an important milestone in building a new, indigenous energy system, which is both secure, a ordable and clean.”

Jim Dollard, ESB Executive Director, Generation & Trading, said: “In recent years, ESB has amassed considerable expertise in o shore wind, partnering with leading energy companies in projects of scale and building a signi cant o shore footprint across Ireland and Great Britain.”

He continued: “ESB is developing a large renewables pipeline and as part of that, has developed a strong portfolio of o shore wind projects around the coasts of Ireland. We are delighted to partner with Ørsted, a global leader in the o shore wind industry, in developing this portfolio in Ireland. O shore wind in Ireland will play a key part in the delivery of the ESB Strategy, Driven to Make A Di erence – Net Zero by 2040 and the announcement of this partnership with Ørsted is an important step in that journey.”

Duncan Clark, Senior Vice President and Head of UK and Ireland at Ørsted, said: “With a strong Irish onshore portfolio already in place, we are delighted to begin our journey in the Irish o shore market with ESB; the company that brought electricity to Ireland and that today plays a leading role in the path to net-zero.”

He added: “ is partnership combines complementary strengths relevant to development in this market and creates an ideal platform for Ørsted to bring its global expertise in the delivery of o shore wind to bear in Ireland. From the world’s rst o shore turbine in Denmark in 1991 to the world’s largest operational o shore wind farm, Hornsea 2 in the UK, Ørsted has been a driving force behind the commercialisation of the o shore wind industry across Europe, Asia and America as part of our vision to create a world that runs entirely on green energy.”

Pictured at the launch in Cork Chamber’s Fitzgerald House are Marguerite Sayers, Deputy CEO, ESB; Duncan Clark, Head of UK

Where tradition and technology meet

With a yearly turnover of €5 billion, wood is one of the largest manufacturing industries in Estonia

Estonians have centuries-long expertise in harnessing natural resources in an efficient and sustainable manner. Historic traditions are integrated with the practical application of modern methodologies taught in universities and professional competence centres for horticulture, forestry, environmental science and chemicals. The forests are a treasure chamber of nature and enormously important for biodiversity, as a weapon against climate change, as places for recreation as well as an important economic factor.

As befits the world’s most digitally enabled nation, IT utilisation is ultra-high. Following the supply chain from the forest to the final product, one can find various examples of how the new economy is transforming the Estonian forestry and wood industry towards efficiency, higher quality and the future usage of wood as a renewable resource. In addition to high automation to ensure quality and efficiency in production, Estonia is a leader in raw material yield optimisation.

Woodhouse Estonia

Woodhouse Estonia, an umbrella organisation, represents nearly 80% of the Estonian woodhouse industry. Members represent the full value chain, from forest management to end products. The wood industry is among the largest Estonian manufacturing industries, with a turnover of €5 billion (2021).

Estonian woodhouse industry

Woodhouse Estonia members’ objects are located in 70 countries around the world so far. They develop their customised solutions with local architects or external designers and their projects redefine the boundaries of timber construction, regularly receiving international awards. Every fourth wooden house exported to the EU comes from Estonia. They are the largest exporters of wooden houses in Europe, with total export value of €538.9 million (2022).

Complex challenges and advanced solutions

Estonian companies are at the forefront when it comes to building modern timber buildings with prefabricated timber frame elements or so called ‘box modules’. Products vary from public buildings such as schools or kindergartens, private sector facilities such as offices or factory buildings, or even private or garden houses. Among the most prestigious projects manufactured by Estonian timber construction companies include the Oodi Library in Helsinki, Finland and one of the world’s tallest timber buildings, the Treet in Bergen, Norway. Modern timber construction technology is driven by innovation. For example, cross-laminated timber (CLT) allows the use of wood in multi-story construction. Estonian companies are also pioneers of energy efficient serial renovation with prefabricated elements.

“Estonian companies are at the forefront when it comes to building modern timber buildings with prefabricated timber frame elements.”

Digitalised manufacturing

For the production of wooden houses from Estonia, the most modern technologies, eg BIM (Building Information Modelling), are being used. Manufacturing processes are increasingly automated to ensure flexibility and competitive prices without compromising quality.

Precision is a decisive factor when it comes to prefabricated components – systematic manufacturing processes, efficiently monitored and using certified materials, ensure accurate quality. The Estonian woodhouse industry claims to be the most certified country as it has the highest percentage of ETA (European Technical Assessment) certificates among companies.

Easy access for Irish companies

Through Tallinn’s Baltic Sea port, the country is also connected by sea to ports in Denmark. “Estonia has been a member of the EU for just under 20 years, which means that when it comes to cooperation with European companies, legal certainty is assured by identical EU-wide regulations,” says Kairi Künka, Estonian Ambassador in Ireland. More information can be found on the website: www.woodhouse.ee

Iglucraft

Since 2014, Iglucraft has been making sustainable wooden cabins and saunas with a fairytale touch and quality using traditional Nordic building techniques to handcraft each rounded hut. At the core of these buildings is the use of skilled craftsmen. The adaptable approach and visually appealing style has made Iglucraft a reliable partner for hotels and resorts. Iglucraft can help create an unforgettable experience for guests and provide a very special and magical atmosphere. The whole concept of Iglucraft is a beautiful statement in any natural environment, matching traditional style in the exterior and modern hotel room experience in the interior.

Honoured with the Dwell Prefab of the Year 2020

Award, Iglucraft projects can be found in more than 30 countries all over the world. The organic design of Iglucraft products is inspired by nature. The curved shape is its trademark, creating a harmonious connection with the natural environment. Choose your favourite cabin or sauna model at www.iglucraft.com

For more information about the Estonian business environment and companies, please contact the Estonian Embassy in Dublin - https://dublin.mfa.ee/

Recognising Excellence

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber came out on top at this year’s Chamber Awards writes Carly Mooney, Event Manager and Administrator at Chambers Ireland

Chambers Ireland hosted the fifth annual Chamber Awards on Thursday, June 1st, at the Killashee Hotel in Naas, Co Kildare. Sponsored by Zurich, these awards provide a platform to acknowledge the exceptional work of the Chamber Network throughout the country. They offer local and county Chambers an opportunity to showcase their achievements across various

categories, including innovative projects, successful events and creative collaborations between companies and local authorities.

The awards were presented by Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland, Fiona Candon, President of Chambers Ireland and Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions at Zurich.

Chamber of the Year 2023

In recognition of its outstanding efforts, Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber was awarded Chamber of the Year 2023. This prestigious

Fiona Candon, President, Chambers Ireland; Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Zurich; Jenny Beresford, CEO, Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber; Oren Byrne, President, Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber; Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

accolade commends the Chamber’s significant activity throughout the year, its innovative ideas and its positive engagement with both its membership and the local community. The Chamber also received two additional awards – Partnership for Business for its project 'Jobs for Ukrainians' and Event of the Year for its 'MenopauseThe case for Change' event.

“Being named Chamber of the Year is testament to the scale of work being undertaken by Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber. It reflects the huge amount of talent and dedication within the Chamber and underlines how impressively they have managed and adapted their activity to meet the needs of their members,” said Fiona Candon, President of Chambers Ireland.

“What truly impressed our judges was how much Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber engaged with its community. This is a group of strong communicators, relationship builders and people who care deeply about their town and county. The Chamber produced a series of excellent events and projects which undoubtedly contributed positively to the community of Dungarvan and surrounding region. Overall, the quality of the applications across all categories showed the high level of work being done by our Chambers across the country.”

"Being named Chamber of the Year is testament to the scale of work being undertaken by Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber. It reflects the huge amount of talent and dedication within the Chamber and underlines how impressively they have managed and adapted their activity to meet the needs of their members."

Fiona Candon, President, Chambers Ireland; Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Zurich; Jenny Beresford, CEO Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber; Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

Fiona Candon, President, Chambers Ireland; Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Zurich; Elaine Murphy, Events & Marketing Manager, Galway Chamber; Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

Fiona Candon, President, Chambers Ireland; Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Zurich; Sinead Ronan, Public Affairs Manager, County Kildare Chamber; Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

CHAMBER AWARDS

2023 The Winners

Event of the Year

Dungarvan Chamber

Menopause – The Case for Change

Most Innovative Project Galway Chamber

Inclusive Pathways to Employment

Lobbying & Policy Campaign

Dublin Chamber

Moving the Dial on Right to Request Remote Work

Supporting Members County Kildare Chamber

Kildare Schools Roadshow

Local Authority Innovation

Waterford Chamber

Waterford – A City of Opportunity

Communication & Representation

Cork Chamber

Cork Chamber Economic Trends

Report

Sustainability & the Sustainable Development Goals

Ballina Chamber

Ballina Green Town

Partnership for Business

Dungarvan Chamber

Jobs for Ukrainians

"Overall, the quality of the applications across all categories showed the high level of work being done by our Chambers across the country."

Fiona Candon, President, Chambers Ireland; Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Zurich; Orla Mannion, Public Affairs Manager, Dublin Chamber; Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

Fiona Candon, President, Chambers Ireland; Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Zurich; Paul Nolan, President, Waterford Chamber; Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

Fiona Candon, President, Chambers Ireland, Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Zurich, Bo Browne, Marketing & Communications Manager, Cork Chamber, Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

Fiona Candon, President, Chambers Ireland; Tracey Glacken, President, Ballina Chamber; Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Zurich; Mags Downey Martin, CEO, Ballina Chamber; Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

Fiona Candon, President, Chambers Ireland; Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Zurich; Oren Byrne, President, Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber; Jenny Beresford, CEO, Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber; Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

ICC World Chambers Congress – Geneva 2023

From 21-23 June, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) network convened for what was the thirteenth World Chambers Congress writes Daniel Traynor, Relationship Executive at Chambers Ireland

The ICC delivers solutions that address the major shifts taking place in the world economy. From accelerating sustainability and climate action to shaping an open, trusted and interoperable digital economy, its purpose is to enable business to secure peace, prosperity and opportunity for all. Going by the hashtag #13WCC, the event, co-organised with the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services, gathered delegates from over 100 countries under the theme “Achieving

peace and prosperity through multilateralism.” Chambers Ireland, along with representatives from seven other Chambers – Cork Chamber, County Kildare Chamber, Dublin Chamber, Dundalk Chamber, Galway Chamber, Sligo Chamber and South Dublin Chamber – attended the Congress. In a noteworthy session held on day 2, delegates were treated to an insightful discussion on strategies for global trade. The panel, consisting of prominent figures such as German Chamber's Sibylle Thierer and European Union Ambassador to the WTO João Aguiar Machado, shed light on the vital role of international supply chains in the world economy. Ian Talbot, representing Chambers Ireland on the panel, underscored the role of chambers of commerce in facilitating international trade and providing

From l to r: Allan Shine, Kildare Chamber; Conor Healy, Cork Chamber; Una McGoey, Dundalk Chamber; Kenny Deery, Galway Chamber; Aidan Doyle, Sligo Chamber; James Kiernan, Chambers Ireland

essential support to businesses navigating the complexities of the global market. e session built upon the inspiring opening message of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General at the World Trade Organization ‘Reglobalisation’ concept, on day one emphasising the need to embrace multilateralism for sustained peace and prosperity.

e concluding day of the #13WCC was marked by a series of sessions that sparked profound re ections on sustainable growth, technology utilisation, entrepreneurial empowerment and fostering diversity.

During the day’s opening remarks Yannick Hausmann, Chairman HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) SA and incoming chair of the ICC Switzerland, said: “Ultimately, what’s the overarching objective we have here? It’s being able to conduct business in a responsible way where we have the licence to operate, not from a legal point of view, but from a stakeholder point of view.”

Attendees also witnessed a keynote address by Former European Union Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, which le a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. Barnier stated: “When we witness the amount of crises we have faced in only 15 years – nancial crisis migration, Brexit, the Covid pandemic, war in Ukraine – when we witness ravages of terrorism and con ict in Africa provoking inexorable migration, when we imagine the cost of potential confrontation in Asia, especially over fundamental technologies and raw materials... we can only advocate for multilateralism in the framework of international organisations. We must act together with no naivety, just respect. It is simply in our common interest.”

roughout the event, the Congress conveyed a vital message emphasising that achieving a sustainable future is a shared responsibility – the “Geneva Manifesto”.

e participants noted that companies must rigorously evaluate their supply chains and adopt innovative approaches to attract talent. Under the theme of future-proo ng sustainability, speakers further explored the risks and opportunities facing businesses as they look to secure a sustainable and prosperous future for all. e World Chamber Congress takes place every two years and the next one will be in Melbourne in 2025.

"Ultimately, what's the overarching objective we have here? It's being able to conduct business in a responsible way where we have the licence to operate, not from a legal point of view, but from a stakeholder point of view”

James Kiernan, Chambers Ireland; Aidan Doyle, Sligo Chamber; Allan Shine, County Kildare Chamber; Conor Healy, Cork Chamber

Yannick Hausmann, Chairman, HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) with Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland at the World Chambers Federation Congress

Going green

For businesses interested in becoming more sustainable, there are a number of green transition supports available writes

Aoife Quinn, Policy and Research Executive at Chambers Ireland

More and more businesses are focusing on going greener by investing in sustainable products, services and business models. Making the green transition has social, environmental and financial benefits. It builds trust with consumers, represents positive climate action and can result in savings for businesses that focus on circularity and sustainability.

There are now a number of financial supports in place to assist businesses of all sizes to either take the first steps in their sustainability journey or to progress their corporate sustainability agenda. Some of these supports are outlined in this article.

Energy Efficiency Grant for Small Businesses

The newly announced Energy Efficiency Grant for Small Businesses offers up to €5,000 towards the costs of energy efficient technology and equipment. It includes anything from the installation of new meters and smart energy controls to upgraded LED lighting and small wind and hydro. It also covers equipment including refrigeration units, electric steam boilers, electric ovens and industrial dishwashers. The grant is administered by the Local Enterprise Office.

Green Transition Fund

The Green Transition Fund from Enterprise Ireland is divided into two separate parts. The first is a Climate Planning Fund for Business, which includes a number of different financial supports. The second is an Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund where you can get up to €1 million under the fund if you are a manufacturing business and a client of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland or Údarás na Gaeltachta.

EXEED Grant

The SEAI’s Excellence in Energy Efficiency Design (EXEED) grant scheme is designed for organisations who are planning an energy investment project. Grant support of up to €3,000,000 per project is available. It is designed to help fund the energy efficient design of heating, cooling, refrigeration, compressed air and business processes, which can include improving insulation, installing air handling units with heat recovery, installing electric vehicle chargers or installing energy efficient heating and cooling equipment. The scheme is open for applications until 22 December 2023.

Support Scheme for Renewable Heat

The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat from the SEAI can help businesses adopt renewable heating systems. This includes operational support for a biomass and biogas heating system or an installation grant for a commercial heat pump. It’s open to commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating, public sector and other non-domestic heat users.

Accelerated Capital Allowance

The Accelerated Capital Allowance is a tax incentive scheme that allows a sole trader, farmer or company that pays corporation tax in Ireland to deduct the full cost of energy efficient equipment from their profits in the year of purchase.

"Making the green transition has social, environmental and financial benefits. It builds trust with consumers, represents positive climate action and can result in savings for businesses that focus on circularity and sustainability."

Getting value from the NTF

An urgent review of the National Training Fund to assess where and how spending can be redirected is required writes Aoife Quinn, Policy and Research Executive at Chambers Ireland

The revenue and expenditure of the National Training Fund has been brought into sharp focus recently. Revised estimates for 2023 indicate that there is likely to be a €120 million surplus this year, bringing the overall accumulated surplus in the Fund to €1.5 billion.

For an employer levy that is designed to fund national training schemes and initiatives and with the current recruitment and retention challenges faced by businesses, it is difficult to reconcile the enormous surplus when the demand for upskilling and reskilling opportunities has never been so great. With an increasing focus on the importance of lifelong learning and equipping workers with the skills to meet the demands of the future world of work, we need to see the funds being utilised and distributed with maximum efficiency and with business needs in mind.

What is the issue?

Employment currently stands at 2.6 million, a record high for the State, while unemployment is also at an all-time low. This means that it is now more difficult for businesses to recruit and retain staff, with competition for talent driving up wages and putting increased pressure on SMEs. We are also seeing significant skills gaps opening up in certain sectors of the economy, with increasing demand for digital and green skills as businesses adopt new technologies and focus on sustainability. The National Training Fund has an important role to play in developing an education and training framework that can address these needs.

What

is the National Training Fund?

The National Training Fund was established in 2000 and is funded by employer PRSI contributions. Originally set at a rate of 0.7% of reckonable earnings, the rate was

increased incrementally by 0.1% over three years, from 2018 to 2020, to the 1% rate currently in place.

What does it aim to do?

The NTF is designed to prepare learners, the unemployed and those in the labour market for the future world of work. It aims to react to changes in the economy and the shift in the labour market in order to support the larger working population, to address the higher demand for lifelong learning as the influence of technology increases and to address emerging skills and labour shortages.

What does it fund?

SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority are the main recipients of NTF funding, accounting for approximately 91% of the 2023 expenditure. This covers apprenticeships, traineeships, Springboard courses, the human capital initiative and employee CPD programmes. However, funding is also directed to community and voluntary training through the Wheel, Skillnet Ireland’s enterprise-led workforce development programmes, Enterprise Ireland and IDA training grants and a number of programmes led by the Department of Social Protection to promote employment.

What needs to happen?

While a prudent level of reserve in the NTF is important to guard against economic uncertainties and to ensure that sufficient resources are available to deliver on our skills priorities, the current level of the surplus evidently exceeds what may be required for a potential ‘rainy day’.

We would like to see increased flexibility for businesses in the utilisation of NTF funds. At present, the current system keeps training and development opportunities too removed from businesses on the ground that are contributing to the fund, but not necessarily seeing the benefits. A more agile system would empower businesses to do internal skills reviews, seek guidance on the best training options available to them and put in place a plan for upskilling and reskilling their team to meet these needs.

There should also be a greater focus on inclusive labour force activation through targeted skills strategies. Ireland has the largest disability employment gap in the EU at 38.6%, as well as the lowest employment rate of lone parents at 64%. Other marginalised groups including migrants and travellers are also underrepresented in the workforce and are at higher risk of social exclusion. These statistics point to untapped labour market potential and the continued economic growth and prosperity of the country depends upon unlocking this potential and ensuring that as many people as possible are supported into employment. Overall, there needs to be an urgent review of the NTF to assess where and how spending can be redirected to get most value for individuals and for businesses as we continue to navigate the ups and downs of the future world of work.

"Ireland has the largest disability employment gap in the EU at 38.6%, as well as the lowest employment rate of lone parents at 64%."

Building a better future

Compressed Natural Gas is the key to net-zero commercial transport and sustainable supply chains in Ireland

BioCNG: carbon neutral fuel

In November 2022, Gas Networks Ireland and Circle K took another step forward in reducing emissions from Ireland’s transport industry by dispensing BioCNG at the four CNG stations. BioCNG is carbon neutral biomethane gas which is compressed to fit into a vehicle’s tank and is available for HGVs at Circle K’s forecourts in Ballysimon Road, Limerick, Cashel, Co. Tipperary and Clonshaugh and Dublin Port, Dublin.

Ireland’s commercial transport fleet makes up just 3% of vehicles on the road nationwide, yet is responsible for approximately 20% of transport’s carbon emissions. HGVs operating on 100% BioCNG can achieve zero carbon emissions.

Sustainable supply chains

Ireland faces a significant challenge to meet its emission reduction targets, particularly in the transport sector, as it currently accounts for 42% of Ireland’s energy use, making it the country’s largest source of energy demand. It is also one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), reliably delivered through the national gas network, is key to driving sustainable supply chains and is the first step towards net-zero commercial transport in Ireland. CNG is natural gas that has been compressed and stored at high pressures (over 200 bar) and is typically used as a transport fuel. It is particularly suitable for use in commercial vehicles where electric solutions are not a viable option. The gas used can be either natural or renewable gas that meets the network specifications, providing a pathway to more sustainable transport.

Ireland’s network of CNG stations

Gas Networks Ireland is working to expand the number of CNG stations in Ireland. This cleaner transport network provides Ireland’s Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) and bus fleet operators with a cleaner alternative fuel option to diesel. There are four Circle K forecourts that have a CNG dispenser on the forecourt – Ballysimon Road, Limerick, Cashel, Co Tipperary and Clonshaugh and Dublin Port in Dublin. These four were constructed as part of the Causeway Project. Each station has the capacity to fill up to 50 HGVs a day, with each fill taking no more than five minutes.

The Causeway Project was developed to kick-start the market and to build the first public stations in Ireland. There is now a pipeline of additional public CNG stations progressing through the design, planning and construction project phases. The expansion of the number of CNG public stations is underway and Gas Networks Ireland expects to have five more operational by 2024.

There is increasing demand from the transport sector for more decarbonised customer supply chain solutions. Being able to offer a lower-carbon transport solution is a strong differentiator for any business and it demonstrates a focus on sustainability when tendering for new business. With almost two million CNG vehicles across Europe, indications are that growth in Irish fleet operators adopting CNG vehicles as an alternative fuel option will continue.

Gas Networks Ireland’s Head of Business Development, Karen Doyle, said there has been significant growth in demand from businesses looking to source fuel alternatives in order to develop sustainable supply chains: “While electricity is a proven alternate fuel for cars, electric solutions are not a viable option for use in heavy goods commercial vehicles, however CNG and BioCNG are, and are being used by fleet operators throughout Europe.

“Cleaner carbon neutral renewable gas will help Ireland reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels and help to decarbonise Irish businesses, transport and supply chains. By gradually replacing natural gas with renewable and carbon neutral gases such as biomethane and hydrogen, Ireland’s transport sector can be powered by increasingly cleaner fuel.”

Going further, going greener

INSETTING NOT OFFSETTING

Everything we do at DHL Express serves one purpose: Connecting People and Improving Lives. This commitment guides our efforts and sense of responsibility, underscores our values, focuses our mission, and creates long-term value. Fulfilling our purpose requires us to make every dimension of our business sustainable. As the world’s leading logistics company, we have a tremendous responsibility to set an example in our industry and be a sustainability leader.

Over the years, we have repeatedly redefined logistics, from introducing the industry’s first green product to becoming the first logistics company to commit to a zero-emissions target, Mission 2050. While leading the way, we have introduced innovative green logistics solutions to help our customers achieve their environmental goals.

GROUND-BREAKING INITIATIVE

Continuing this journey, we are thrilled to announce the launch of GoGreen Plus, a new service that aligns with

our commitment to sustainability. This ground-breaking initiative, a first among global express carriers, empowers our customers to actively reduce the carbon emissions associated with their shipments by using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). We are proud to offer this opportunity to our customers through our user-friendly online platform, MyDHL+.

Designed to offer utmost flexibility, GoGreen Plus can be selected for individual shipments, providing customers with the freedom to make environmentally conscious choices tailored to their unique needs, enabling them to customise their carbon reduction goals and SAF usage.

The introduction of GoGreen Plus is made possible through our recent global collaborations with industry leaders BP and Neste. Together, we have established a robust supply chain of SAF across DHL Express hubs worldwide. Notably, the renewable component of this innovative fuel is derived from waste oils, delivering greenhouse gas emission reductions of up to 80 per cent over its lifecycle when compared to conventional jet fuel.

By choosing this service, customers can effectively address their Scope 3 emissions, which encompass indirect greenhouse gas emissions occurring within a company’s value chain, including downstream transportation and distribution. Unlike offsetting initiatives, GoGreen Plus employs an ‘insetting’ approach that reduces emissions within the planning sector itself. This not only facilitates voluntary emission reporting for our customers but also aligns with the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) philosophy.

The launch of GoGreen Plus is a major step towards achieving our group’s sustainability goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. It also contributes to the interim target of using 30 percent sustainable aviation fuel for all air transport by 2030. Locally, we are truly excited about introducing GoGreen Plus, as it empowers our customers to join us on this global journey towards a greener and more sustainable world.

Together, we can make a tangible difference in reducing carbon emissions and preserving the environment for future generations. We invite our customers to embrace GoGreen Plus and be part of the positive change toward a greener future.

DHL Express launches GoGreen Plus: First global express courier to give customers the opportunity to use sustainable aviation fuel to reduce emissions

ESG and Sustainability: Placemaking for the Future

Providing the framework on which everything else rests, local authorities’ e orts in the arenas of sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG), to promote sustainable business practices and support a diverse pool of talent in the workforce, are worth highlighting. eir ESG e orts create resilient towns, cities and counties that prioritise the well-being of their residents and future generations.

Addressing environmental concerns is vital to combat climate change and protect the planet. Councils can implement policies that promote renewable energy, reduce emissions, and enhance green spaces, improving air quality and mitigating the impact of urbanisation.

City and County Councils across the country are working on ESG and sustainability initiatives that support local businesses, with projects that focus on reducing carbon emissions, improving waste management, and promoting social responsibility.

Councils can also impact on how businesses attract

and retain talent, by supporting improving education, training, and career development opportunities. Social initiatives ensure equitable access to essential services like education, healthcare, and a ordable housing, fostering social cohesion and reducing inequalities.

Delivering and maintaining key infrastructure facilitates not only the economic but also the social development of communities if it is done right. Local authorities are also creating more sustainable communities by how they are placemaking within the public realm, creating more liveable and vibrant community-centred streetscapes as well as biodiverse parks and recreational areas.

It is clear that Councils and Chambers of Commerce are stronger working collaboratively, putting their combined energy awnd resources together towards common ESG goals, developing their towns and counties to become better places to live, work, invest, and visit.

In collaboration with both multinational corporations and local businesses, initiatives that are put in place at local government and community levels have real grassroots in uence and are crucial for fostering sustainable and inclusive communities, protecting our environment, and securing our future.

ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IS VITAL TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND PROTECT THE PLANET

Championing sustainability in County Clare

Clare County Council is working to promote and support sustainability, both within the Council and the county, and is pursuing initiatives that will deliver positive social and environmental outcomes

Sustainability is a core value for Clare County Council, recognising its leading role in protecting our environment and in securing its long-term sustainability for the future.

One of the Council’s strategic objectives is to deliver, maintain and protect key infrastructure to facilitate the economic, social, physical and rural development of County Clare in a manner

which promotes sustainability, accessibility, connectivity and respect for the environment.

The structure in Clare County Council puts sustainable communities at its heart. Communities are at the centre of everything the Council does to ensure the county continues to develop as a place to live, work and visit. To this end, there are a number of initiatives underway that promote and support sustainability:

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

Local authorities have a unique ability to reach out and affect different sectors in positive climate action. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 sets out the need for each local authority to develop and adopt a Climate Action Plan by February 2024. This Action Plan will have both an inward focus, in the form of reducing the emissions of Clare County Council by 51 per cent by 2030, but will also look to support partners, communities and other sectoral stakeholders across the county to ensure the implementation of a series of key mitigation and adaptation actions.

The key inward actions within the plan will focus on staff engagement and behavioural change, focus on the challenge of reducing our transport emissions, optimising the efficiency of our fleet and the reduction of thermal emissions created through the heating of our buildings. Outwardly, the plan will focus on how we can increase biodiversity across the county, how we can positively affect the transportation emissions sector through capital projects in the form of EV charging infrastructure, active travel and greenway development.

GREEN BUSINESS HUB

Kilkee in County Clare has been selected as one of Ireland’s first My Waste Green

Karen Foley, Environmental Awareness Officer, Clare County Council. The Council has been selected as one of 26 organisations to participate in the Sustainable Development Goal Champions Programme 2023-2024.

Business Hubs. Becoming a Green Business Hub will make it easy for both business and visitors to Kilkee to take the necessary steps to protect and improve our environment. This initiative is a partnership with the Environment Section, Clare County Council, working in conjunction with MyWaste.ie, Kilkee Chamber of Commerce, Kilkee Tidy Towns and Kilkee Gateway to the Ocean. Participating businesses will be asked to reduce the amount of waste that they generate and ensure that it is separated into recycling, food waste and general waste.

All participating business will receive a window sticker and social media assets to promote their participation. In addition, participating businesses will be acknowledged on Clare County Council’s ‘Have Your Say’ online community engagement platform. Through participation businesses are highlighting their commitment to a circular economy. Not only will participation be a local climate action, but it will help a business become more resource efficient thus reducing business costs. Clare County Council’s Greener Clare team are available to provide advice to business and My Waste have free resources available to aid better waste management. Businesses can learn more about this initiative and register their participation by visiting www.yoursay.clarecoco.ie/kilkee-green-hub

GREEN FOR MICRO

Green For Micro is a Local Enterprise Office initiative to help small businesses take the first step towards becoming a more sustainable, greener business. The programme provides access to a green consultant who works with the client to implement small changes that can have a big impact on their company and surrounding community. The programme is open to businesses employing under 10 employees and is funded by Local Enterprise Office Clare, Clare County Council. Developing a ‘greener’ policy can offer many benefits to a business, including:

• Increased cost savings

• Improved resource efficiency (for example: using less energy, water, and materials)

• Reduced environmental footprint and greenhouse gas emissions

• Opportunities for higher and additional value on products and services

• Increased access to customers, improved corporate image and reputation

• Increased resilience to climate change impacts.

Further information on the Green for Micro programme can be found at: www.localenterprise.ie/green

An Energy Efficiency Grant has also been launched. It supports the investment in technologies and equipment identified in the Green for Micro Report, Green Start Report or a SEAI Energy Audit with 50 per cent of eligible costs up to a maximum grant of €5,000. The aim of the scheme is to reduce the impact of enterprises on the environment thereby increasing the agility and resilience of these businesses. Full details on: www.localenterprise.ie

SDG CHAMPION

In May of this year, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, appointed Clare County Council as one of 26 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Champions.

In its role as an SDG Champion, the Council will act as an advocate and promoter of the SDGs and a good practice example of how Clare County Council, as an organisation, can contribute to the SDGs and integrate them into its work and activities.

Clare County Council recognises that everyone in society can contribute to achieving the SDG targets at work, at home, in our communities and in our schools. Whether working in the public or private sector, a member of a community development group, a Tidy Towns group or as an individual, we can all link what we do to the SDGs. It is important that everyone is aware of the positive contribution we can all make to sustaining our local and global communities long into the future.

Being an SDG Champion will help embed the SDGs further into the Council’s work programmes, which will benefit communities. Aligning the Council’s work programmes, across all directorates, with the SDGs will benefit the county in terms of sustainable development, economy, environment, and equity. During its term as SDG Champion, the Council will raise awareness of the SDGs and demonstrate their application in the organisation’s day-to-day activities.

The Council has developed a dedicated community engagement web platform where it will share its progress and learnings on its journey as an SDG Champion at https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/clare-sdgs.

COMMUNITIES ARE AT THE CENTRE OF EVERYTHING THE COUNCIL DOES TO ENSURE THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO DEVELOP AS A PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND VISIT”

Clever solar solutions

Pinergy, the clean energy supply and solutions company, has announced the launch of a €30 million fund to accelerate the delivery of solar energy to businesses across the country. Funded Solar is a new service for commercial energy users that will enable them to access lower-cost renewable energy as they get ready for the energy transition.

As part of this new service, Pinergy will design, install and maintain the solar PV installation in their clients’ commercial properties with no capital outlay for the business. The client will agree a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Pinergy to buy electricity generated by the solar panels, which will be lower cost than prevailing prices from the grid. When the €30 million fund is fully taken up, the renewable energy generated would meet the equivalent needs of 7,000 typical homes, reducing demand on the grid.

The new service enables commercial clients to experience the benefits of a solar PV installation without the upfront capital cost, whilst ensuring the business can immediately benefit from the generation and use of renewable energy. As a result, clients will see their operating expenses and cashflow improve as they will require less electricity from the grid, thus resulting in reduced energy prices and increased energy security for the next 25 years.

This new funded solar service will enable businesses of all sizes with good roof space to utilise renewable energy to reduce their carbon footprint and move towards

THE INITIATIVE IS IDEALLY SUITED TO COMMERCIAL ENERGY USERS ACROSS A RANGE OF SECTORS INCLUDING RETAIL, HOSPITALITY, LEISURE, MANUFACTURING, LOGISTICS, PHARMA AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS WHO HAVE SEEN THEIR GRID ENERGY COSTS INCREASE IN RECENT YEARS.

a more sustainable business model. The initiative is ideally suited to commercial energy users across a range of sectors including retail, hospitality, leisure, manufacturing, logistics, pharma and industrial sectors who have seen their grid energy costs increase in recent years.

Speaking at the launch of the new €30 million solar energy fund for businesses, Pinergy CEO, Enda Gunnell, said: “Many businesses have been faced with rising operating costs due to volatile energy markets over the last few years. We recognised that there is need to provide a simple solar solution that maintains security of supply while reducing costs to businesses across the country, while also enabling them to play their part in a sustainable energy future.”

He added: “The Pinergy Solar Fund is our solution to meet the needs of many businesses who are not ready to make the upfront capital investment that solar projects traditionally require. We are delighted to be able to bring this new service to the market. Pinergy will fund the initial installation and maintain the solar PV project, while at the same time our clients benefit from certainty and reduced energy prices for the next 25 years.”

Pinergy was recently awarded the ‘Green Energy Company of the Year’ at the 2023 Chambers Ireland Recognition Awards. The category award celebrates the company which has stepped up in innovative ways to play its part in helping to make a positive impact on the environment.

A new solar energy fund from Pinergy is offering businesses solar installations minus the upfront capital costs

Enda Gunnell, Pinergy CEO

Faraway So Close: Donegal is Connected

Rugged mountains, long sandy beaches, the remote north-western start of the Wild Atlantic Way…the tourist board images of Donegal spring easily to mind. What is less familiar to many is that Donegal is a thriving county with a big ambition, not to be le behind.

Taking advantage of digital transformation and remoted working, it can be as connected to the heart of Europe as anywhere else, as high-tech companies like ElectroRoute show. Its CEO loves the fact that he can work on a global scale, from a remote corner of the country, nding inspiration away from the group think of a concentrated industry sector in a city.

It’s also a great example of the strong diaspora network and what can happen when an entrepreneur returns home to enjoy the family connections and quality of life the beautiful countryside has to o er, with the Letterkenny o ce growing, o ering quality jobs.

e Local Enterprise O ce has been focusing

on supporting more entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams in the area, with success stories including a retailer who pivoted her business online during the pandemic and now enjoys a thriving twofold retail model. en there’s the leading animation designer who produces work seen as the backdrop for major musicians on tour all around the world, from his base in Donegal. You just never know what’s going on in the garages and spare rooms down those quiet country lanes! With trading online vouchers, the global market is open to everyone to sell their products and services through e-commerce.

With a growing tech cluster and collaboration between industry and academia, its an exciting time to do business in Donegal—and as always, the spectacular scenery and closeness to nature make is a dream location for so many. With more than 15 state-of-the-art digital Innovation Hubs located throughout the county and excellent internet connectivity, it has become an achievable dream too; Donegal is as connected as the world’s largest cities.

Fort Dunree, Buncrana,Co Donegal

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE GARAGES AND SPARE ROOMS DOWN THOSE QUIET COUNTRY LANES!

Keeping it local in Letterkenny

Commuting from Derry to her role (just a half hour hop) over the border, she has seen Letterkenny as an outsider and now as a deeply committed insider, working on behalf of Donegal’s business community.

The Chamber has seen a significant rise in membership over the past year, after taking on a member of staff specifically tasked with developing membership; it has been a great success and numbers are edging towards 300 now. Regardless of this, Forrester feels that while the work of the Chamber is for its members, it benefits the broader business community as well.

“During Covid we became even more relevant to business,” she points out, reflecting on the supports and advice that Chambers offered to their members during the uncertain and stressful times during the pandemic. They work with all channels of communication to reach out to members. “We set up a WhatsApp group and we reach out to everybody in business with information that is important all the time,” she says. “That’s definitely changed people’s perception. And so when we went out to stimulate the market, we got new people joining because they could see what the value proposition was in terms of our relevance to stakeholders.”

LOBBYING VOICE

Their work continues with being a voice for their members and amplifying that voice to local and national Government levels.

“From a lobbying point of view, we do try to reflect what our members want. But also, we know that our members are reflective of the rest of the business community in Donegal. Non-members still have the same local issues – the same things are happening across the

Toni Forrester, CEO of Letterkenny Chamber talks about current and future developements.

THE MESSAGE WE’RE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET ACROSS IS IT’S ABOUT MONEY BEING KEPT LOCALLY, KEEPING PEOPLE EMPLOYED.”

Toni Forrester

business community.”

She cites a recent visit to Dáil Eireann as a highly successful outing. “One of the one of our goals this year is to make it clear that we have a wide agenda in terms of our lobbying activity, and that we want to be strategic. We aren’t just about the town; we are about what really matters to business across the whole county.”

The attendance of Sinn Fein was also important, she says: “We felt that we were stepping up. Things might change in the next government, and we want to get ahead of that and make those relationships work. It’s not political, we have to make relationships with whoever is going to be in government.”

A LONG ROAD

Capacity of the road structure is one area that continues to be an issue for Donegal. Connection is crucial to the northwest county. About Letterkenny, she says, “We’re a very car-oriented town, and the way it’s planned out doesn’t necessarily work. She continues, “The bigger picture is really the infrastructure of the county in terms of how we access Dublin, in particular, and how we get in and out of the county. If you ask businesses, that’s what comes up all the time for every size of business. It’s how they access their customers and their work. It’s all about safety and predictability of journey time.”

NETWORKING & EVENTS

Forrester has noticed a change in attitude towards networking events since the pandemic; people are choosier now they have to leave the comfort of their working from home cosiness to go out to an event, rather than simply dropping in on the way to or from the office. But when they do, they’re happy to be there: “Every time we have

an event, somebody says to me ‘It’s great to be back in the room!’ But they definitely look for quality events. Topics are important and targeted networking. People want to come and get value from the speakers.”

While they may not host as many events as some of the larger chambers, the targeting strategy is working well for them, serving needs that they can see. A recent example brought together construction and trades—a cohort who wouldn’t usually attend events—to cater specifically to their needs. “It was very topic-led on information they needed on marketing and tendering. That’s how we do events these days, it has to be really relevant to the people we are inviting.”

REFLECTIONS ON SUCCESS

The Chamber is changing, and she is pleased to recount some positive results over the last couple of years, with almost half the board made up of female members, and a full female executive team. “It’s really been

interesting. We’ve now got a younger and more balanced board and we’ve worked hard to get that.”

Another huge success has been the local ShopLK Gift Cards, available for purchase online and from the Chamber office. The support from companies who have used it as a way to give bonuses to employees, from businesses who have got on board to accept them, and from the Council who have supported the promotion of it, has been transformative. “The message we’re always trying to get across is it’s about money being kept locally, keeping people employed,” she says. People can use the cards in such a wide array of retailers, from booking their holidays to getting a fill of oil, which must be a factor in the success of the scheme.

Onwards and upwards for Letterkenny then. “It has all the services and facilities of a small city that is steeped in history and alive with ambition.”

Driving Innovation in Donegal

With some of the best quality of life in the country, and a thriving innovation ecosystem, Donegal has a unique o ering as a location for businesses of all sizes

As one of the most cost-effective locations in the country, there has never been a better time to relocate a business to Donegal. Donegal is strategically placed with close connections and linkages with Europe, the UK and the US with growing sectors across fintech, medtech, life sciences, blue economy and tourism, the business growth in the county is driven by a culture of innovation, ambition and talent. “Over the last number of years, we have seen a signi cant increase in the tech sector across Donegal,” says Garry Martin Director of Economic Development, Emergency Services and Information Systems with Donegal County Council. “Our talent and high-capacity networks attract local and global tech companies. With Donegal’s young, educated and ambitious workforce these companies have access to the talent pool they need. We have a growing tech cluster combining international companies like Optum, and TCS with local businesses and ITUS. We’re also home to so ware companies like Druva and SecureLAN Systems and international businesses like Sita have selected Donegal as a location for so ware operations.” e unique o ering available in Donegal and the supportive business environment makes the region an attractive place to invest for companies of all sizes and across all sectors. e high-quality education, the collaborative ecosystem between academia, research centres, business support agencies, and communities makes choosing Donegal as their destination of choice an easy decision.

GLOBAL DIASPORA

Donegal County Council is extremely active when it comes to maintaining international connections particularly in the area of diaspora connectivity. “We value our diaspora, wherever they may be located in the world,” Garry Martin says, “and look to use that value to increase what we have to o er to businesses already

here in Donegal or businesses considering investment in Donegal.”

Keeping connected with the diaspora through newsletters and social media is important for the growth of brand Donegal. “Many of our Diaspora are in a position to give something back and plans are underway to bring back some of the best and brightest to mentor and nurture select businesses that are scalable to prepare them for entry into new markets around the world,” Martin adds.

“ ere is a pride in being from Donegal and that is something we look to take advantage of and use to the best of our ability. In January 2023, Donegal County Council launched the #MoveToDonegal relocation campaign, highlighting the county’s vibrant culture, modern infrastructure and world-renowned scenery which makes for the perfect location to live, work and invest. is campaign is currently on-going with a global social media reach of over 3 million across over 50 countries with more than 70 individuals seeking to relocate from abroad.”

REMOTE WORKING STRATEGY

In addition to the Relocation campaign, Donegal County Council are also implementing their Remote Working Strategy for Business. is strategy helps position Donegal as the ideal location for a high quality of life without compromising the high quality career opportunities. With more than 15 state-of-the-art digital Hubs located throughout the county, excellent connectivity, a talented workforce and easy access to travel, Donegal is as connected as the world’s largest cities.

“Donegal is the ideal location for those who crave both a productive work week and a weekend lled with pastimes that enrich and excite them. Whether it’s enjoying a play in An Grianán eatre, taking part in

New state of the art Island House centrally located in Killybegs harbour.

Donegal an ideal location for remote working.

a pottery class in Donegal Cra Village or heading to the local pub for a gig, the county has something for everyone seeking a more rounded lifestyle,” Martin says.

SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS

Donegal County Council views entrepreneurship and start-up support to be a cornerstone in its goals of long-term economic development and achieving the goals set out in Ireland 2040. As part of this, the Alpha Innovation Centre, which is currently under construction in Letterkenny, will provide a state-of-the-art innovative workspace for new start-ups and existing businesses in a seven-storey purpose-built, high-tech workspace facility in the town centre capable of hosting 200 people.

“New and existing businesses will have the opportunity to operate their day-to-day business activities, network, and collaborate,” says Martin.

“It will be a space to share ideas and to explore and develop the potential of new ideas into viable and scalable propositions, contributing to greater resilience in the enterprise base and economic growth in the region.”

In addition to this, Donegal 2040 is working with Donegal County Council to develop a range of quality property solutions to support businesses in a number of key sectors including businesses from outside the region seeking to relocate; indigenous businesses who are seeking to scale and expand their operations; and businesses who are seeking to harness the unique opportunities o ered by access to both the UK and EU markets within one supportive region.

DRIVING INNOVATION

Donegal County Council, alongside Donegal 2040 will be supporting the Alpha Innovation Centre, and the recent appointment of Inishowen native Kevin Sexton as Head of Innovation gives a strong focus to these e orts.

“Collectively we work to ensure innovation becomes relevant and relatable to teams working in established enterprises and early-stage start-ups alike,” says Martin. “It is our goal to raise the bar leading to more compelling propositions from start-ups entering the pipeline. We are initially helping to build the capabilities of ambitious founders and entrepreneurs.”

Donegal facilitates a culture of innovation

and advancement for new and growing businesses. A wide range of support programmes are available for businesses located in Donegal that makes setting up there easier than ever before.

“Multiple sources of expert advice and guidance to make your journey as successful as possible are also at your ngertips including the Local Enterprise O ce, Enterprise Ireland, Donegal Local Development Company,

ATU Donegal, WiSAR Technology Gateway, Údarás na Gaeltachta and more,” notes Martin. “We have excellent resources in Donegal which support businesses in their journeys to growth, advancement and innovation. Various organisations and agencies across the Donegal are committed to providing the best opportunities for businesses and employment throughout the county.”

MANY OF OUR DIASPORA ARE IN A POSITION TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK AND PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO BRING BACK SOME OF THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST TO MENTOR AND NURTURE SELECT BUSINESSES THAT ARE SCALABLE”

World leading E & I Engineering with global headquarters in Donegal.

New Business and Innovation Quarter in Letterkenny to open in 2025.

Donegal Stories

Local Enterprise Office Donegal: The Driving Ambition Behind Donegal’s Success Stories

Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Donegal is constantly working to develop and enhance businesses, with a focus on creating more in the county. It is helping local businesses to be more competitive, sustainable, innovative, and capable of addressing existing, new, and emerging market opportunities, both nationally and internationally.

The LEO provides business information, advisory services, and enterprise support. It also delivers high-quality training to meet the needs of businesses including Start Your Own Business and Managing Your Business programmes, as well as training sessions on marketing, sales, financial management, strategy, and business planning. With the rise in remote working – and Donegal’s unique location on the Wild Atlantic Way – the county is an attractive and competitive location for setting up and doing business.

AMBITION AND SCALE-X

One of the highlights of the past three years is the success of Ambition, a female accelerator aimed at developing female entrepreneurship in the county. In three years, 27 projects and 43 founders have gone through the programme, undergoing rigorous training through skills-based workshops, individual mentoring, and network-building opportunities.

Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise Donegal says, “Over those three years, 69 per cent of programme participants have continued to develop their project full-time— and in doing so have created 57 full and part-time jobs.”

Focusing on start-ups across a range of sectors, Scale-X is an additional accelerator programme which continues to attract a wide and diverse mix of businesses and entrepreneurs. In September 2023, Donegal will partner will Leitrim and Sligo to deliver Scale-X North West and provide real opportunity to nurture early stage ideas and businesses and provide them with the necessary skills and tools

E-COMMERCE HEAD START

LEO Donegal also plays a key role in helping Donegal businesses make the transition to e-commerce through its Trading Online Voucher scheme. Bernie Murphy, a designer from Buncrana, creates handmade headbands, garments, and accessories, from sustainably sourced materials from local mills in Donegal. Bernie secured a Trading Online Voucher to set up an e-commerce website and now trades to the world from her base in Inishowen.

“During the lockdown, with retailers closed, people started coming to my website and buying directly from me,” Bernie says. “The new website not only sustained my business, it also extended my customer base. I’ve had buyers from Helsinki, to Holland, Germany, the US and El Salvador. I would estimate that now 60 to 70 per cent of my business comes through the website – it has been key to the growth of my business.”

Meanwhile, James Doherty is working with some of the leading names in world music from his base in Letterkenny. Born in Manchester and raised in Letterkenny, James Doherty runs Ruckus, which specialises in animation and design for live events, tours, and concerts for artists like Billie Eilish, Shania Twain, Khalid and Tame Impala.

While working in CoLab, James applied for a Trading Online Voucher with LEO Donegal and found the process very straightforward: “It was easy to access and made total sense for my business, and I would encourage anyone to avail of it. Its purpose was to help me trade online, but what it also did was open my eyes to the breadth of the market and how it could be accessed from Donegal.

Brenda Hegarty and Grace Korbel pictured with the Ambition Alumni launching the Female Accelerator Programme for 2023 which is run in conjunction with the Local Enterprise Offices in Sligo and Leitrim.

Director of Economic Development, Garry Martin, Assistant Head of Enterprise, Grace Korbel, Head of Enterprise, Brenda Hegarty, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Liam Blaney, and Steven Perry, Business Advisor with Local Enterprise Office Donegal pictured launching SCALE-X.

It allowed me to expand who I was working with, and I couldn’t have done that without the Local Enterprise Office. Opportunities like this didn’t exist years ago and I think it’s a great position to be in – I’m able to run a creative business from a place like Donegal which offers an unrivalled worklife balance.”

FOOD COAST DONEGAL

Food Coast Donegal is a regional branding initiative which was developed by the LEO Donegal. Earlier this year, the LEO team launched The Food Coast Donegal Strategic Review & Recommendations for Future Development and Delivery 2023 – 2026. Hegarty says, “The launch of this strategy marks a significant milestone in the culinary journey of Donegal, as the county embarks on a mission to make this beautiful region renowned for its exceptional food and drink. The Food Coast Donegal Food Strategy is a recipe for future growth and lays the groundwork for this exciting gastronomic journey.”

Adding to this, Maura Toner, Donegal Food Coast Advisor, notes, “With the launch of this strategy, we want to create an environment where local food producers, artisans, restaurateurs, and chefs can thrive, showcasing the incredible flavours and diversity of Donegal’s culinary offerings. Through this strategy, we aim to nurture a strong and sustainable food ecosystem, supporting the growth of our local economy, and celebrating the exceptional talents and resources abundant within our county, sharing them with the world.”

SUCCESS STORIES

To celebrate the resilient entrepreneurs growing and scaling innovative and exciting businesses in the county, LEO Donegal launched a new website, donegalstories.ie, featuring success stories from businesses of all shapes and sizes operating across the county in a range of sectors, including manufacturing, food, drinks, technology, services and craft and design.

Grace Korbel, Assistant Head of Enterprise says: “The Donegal Stories website contains so many inspirational success stories from businesses of all shapes and sizes operating across Donegal. In terms of the next generation of entrepreneurs, we are really encouraged with the strong level of interest and enquiries regarding the setting-up of

new businesses in the county, with strong demand for our Start Your Own Business programmes and start-up supports. The entrepreneurial future is bright for Donegal, and we look forward to adding lots more success stories to this website over the coming years.”

LEO Donegal plays a key role in guiding people through the process of starting, developing and growing their small business base in Donegal.

For more information on Trading Online Vouchers and the supports, training, and services it offers, visit localenterprise.ie/ Donegal. For more information on Food Coast Donegal see donegalfoodcoast.ie.

OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS DIDN’T EXIST YEARS AGO AND I THINK IT’S A GREAT POSITION TO BE IN – I’M ABLE TO RUN A CREATIVE BUSINESS FROM A PLACE LIKE DONEGAL WHICH OFFERS AN UNRIVALLED WORK-LIFE BALANCE.”

Pictured are Food Coast Donegal members and stakeholders at the official launch of The Food Coast Donegal Strategic Review and Recommendations for Future Development and Delivery 2023 – 2026 in Castle Grove Country House Hotel.

James Doherty of Ruckus, pictured with Grace Korbel, Assistant Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Donegal

Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Donegal.

Trading Places

Gone are the days when some of the most sophisticated and forwardthinking businesses are concentrated in the capital city. ElectroRoute is one of Donegal’s success stories— contributing to Letterkenny and Co Donegal as leaders in sustainability and job creation. In 2021, the renewables-focused, energy trading and services company recorded turnover of €98.7million and a profit of €10.9m, representing year on year growth of 9 per cent and 2 per cent respectively.

It has grown rapidly from a startup in 2011 to now employing over

100 professionals based in Ireland, the UK, Europe, and Japan, with around 15 in the Letterkenny office. Japanese entity Mitsubishi Corporation first invested in ElectroRoute in 2016 and acquired the remaining stake in the company in 2022.

When CEO Ronan Doherty set the company up with former colleagues after working in the energy business abroad, he based himself in his native Donegal, with his cofounders in Dublin and Wales. “It was futureproofed by accident,” he says, as they worked as a distributed team using cloud storage and Skype from the beginning. “The company trades energy all around Europe; Ireland

itself is a distributed location from the heart of the energy system, so location was not deemed to be that critical to success.”

ElectroRoute’s vision is to make net zero a reality by solving the commercial mechanics of a decarbonised energy system. Doherty has had skin in this game for a long time. Earlier in his career, working on Government policy, he recalls helping to set the 2020 renewable energy targets: “I was one of the first people to put down the number of 40 per cent on a page, and that ultimately became the target to shoot for.”

INTEGRATING RENEWABLES

He could see how important renewables would be to the future, and how the utilities sector wasn’t responding to the challenge fast enough. “We understood that we could set up a different type of trading company that was solely focused on the green transition and better integrating renewables,” he says. “It was at the core of the vision

From Donegal to Japan, ElectroRoute CEO Ronan Doherty is at the forefront of the global renewable energies revolution from his home base

and mission for the company, and it’s never changed from that. All our activities, values and culture are built around that.”

How ElectroRoute ts in to the net zero journey is by mitigating some of the factors which can impede clean energy investment.

ey leverage the bene ts of new technologies, using advanced methodologies and their in-house expertise, to develop innovative energy trading and renewable risk management solutions.

ElectroRoute’s expert trading team operates 24/7, 365 days a year in Ireland, the UK, across continental Europe, and in Japan, utilising their bespoke trading platform, ElectroRoute Core. At any given time, they are trading and optimising 15 per cent of the Irish electricity system. As well as turnover, the company reports its Notional Trading Turnover – which was €3.4billion (year-on-year growth

to Japan, ElectroRoute recently announced an exciting new partnership with a leading global tech company and Mitsubishi whereby the Dublin-based team will be trading and optimising a portfolio of solar plants in Japan. Doherty says their expertise will be invaluable to the Japanese market. “Japan is deregulating its

Energy Trading Explained

Energy trading plays a crucial role in the e icient functioning of energy markets by facilitating the exchange of energy products and managing price risks for market participants. It involves buying and selling energy commodities, such as electricity, natural gas, oil, coal, and renewable energy certificates.

The primary objectives of energy trading are to manage risks, ensure reliable supply, and maximise profitability. Traders aim to capitalise on price volatility by buying energy when prices are low and selling when prices are high. They may also engage in derivatives trading, such as futures contracts or options, to mitigate price risks or speculate on future price movements.

of 14 per cent) in 2021. is is an important metric for the company as it represents the total value of all the commodities, they put through the Core platform. On a typical day they execute over 2,000 individual trades.

FRESH PERSPECTIVES

Letterkenny remains a key location for this global company, with a high quality of graduates locally. For Doherty, the other main bene t of being based in the Northwest is the fresh perspective it a ords him: “For a new company that’s taking on a new mission in a changing industry, some detachment and some independent thought can o en be very helpful.”

While some of the founding members of the team have relocated

markets and has to start trading things more actively, which is exactly the skillset we can bring. ey have quite an aggressive renewables and decarbonisation agenda there as well, which Mitsubishi is very intent on being central to.”

e decarbonisation agenda is something that has been a common thread throughout Doherty’s working life and he is keen to remain an active participant in pushing forward. “From my research and policy work, my whole career has been dedicated to trying to make a contribution to net zero,” says Doherty. “It’s exciting for me to work in that area, but also feel a responsibility to try and progress that, whatever way I can.”

Unlike traditional energy sources like fossil fuels, renewable energy generation is often intermittent and dependent on weather conditions, so as we move towards higher dependence on renewables, energy trading is critical to ensure continuity of supply. This introduces additional complexities in renewable energy trading, as traders need to account for the variable and uncertain nature of renewable energy supply. Weather forecasting is extremely important in order to assess price risks and price volatility; ElectroRoute uses meteorologists, a number of di erent forecasting services and machine learning in order to help them make trading decisions.

While the renewable energy trading market is relatively new and less mature compared to traditional energy markets, it is rapidly evolving as renewable energy technologies gain prominence and countries transition to cleaner energy sources.

“WE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE COULD SET UP A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TRADING COMPANY THAT WAS SOLELY FOCUSED ON THE GREEN TRANSITION, AND BETTER INTEGRATING RENEWABLES

Ronan Doherty, CEO, ElectroRoute

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24,000 Students atu.ie

ATU Supporting Enterprise

Education, upskilling and solving problems through collaboration; ATU is engaging with industry and innovation

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is active in directly supporting companies right across its region in the west and northwest. In addition to providing skilled graduates for the workforce, and upskilling people already in the workforce, ATU provides support directly to companies in a range of ways, the more structured of which are funded by Enterprise Ireland. There are three Technology Gateways whose teams provide a direct bridge for companies to expertise within the University to help solve immediate problems for companies, especially – but not only – in developing new technology solutions. The three Gateways in ATU have particular specialties: Internet of Things (IoT); manufacturing technology and materials; and medical technology and nutrition. The Gateway teams also provide a bridge for companies to access expertise in the University in other areas where required.

INDUSTRY INCUBATION

ATU has four industry Incubation Centres, in Galway, Castlebar, Sligo and Letterkenny, where start-up companies can avail of office accommodation and support networks. In these Centres they can regularly meet with other entrepreneurs, but also with staff and students in areas of specialism relevant to their enterprise, who can work with them on challenges they face. They can also have the opportunity to access specialist facilities. The four Centres between them have capacity to support 140 start-ups at any one time.

ATU manages two entrepreneur start-up

programmes called New Frontiers, one for the Northwest and one for the West. This programme provides training and mentoring for entrepreneurs getting their own businesses off the ground. Companies on this programme have had a survival rate of over 80%. ATU is seeking to run its Empower programme again, focusing specifically on developing women entrepreneurs. Between these programmes and the Incubation Centres, it is estimated that ATU and its predecessor Institutes have provided support to over 700 companies over the last decade. The university provides support to four industry clusters which nurture collaboration between companies and also provide opportunities to access funding to support that collaboration, including through working with ATU on skills and applied research. These clusters focus on Marine, Manufacturing, Wood and Digital Health.

SPECIALIST SUPPORT

ATU also provides support in other specialist areas. For example the AIM Centre supports digital manufacturing technology; the CREW Centre supports the Creative Industries; the Contract Research Unit has a particular focus on Renewable Energy. A new project, Data2Sustain, will support SMEs and local public services to make more advanced use of digital technology and harness data to make their operations more sustainable across ATU’s region. These activities are just some of those that engage directly with industry, but all academic departments work with companies on a regular basis, whether in course development and student placements, or on research to address their challenges.

If you would like to find out more about ATU please visit www.atu.ie.

Be a Tourist at HomeDiscover Carlow

Visit Carlow County Museum and learn about the social, cultural and economic history which makes County Carlow so special. Be wowed by the 340-million-year-old fossil, the 20 feet church pulpit and an exquisite 2mm Iron Age glass bead! Free admission and family-friendly activities. www.carlowcountymuseum.ie

The VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art and the George Bernard Shaw Theatre is a dynamic multi-disciplinary arts facility presenting the best of local, national and international work in the visual and performing arts. It is Ireland’s largest and most spectacular space for art with four main gallery spaces and a 320-seat theatre. With so much to enjoy, there is something for everyone at VISUAL. www.visualcarlow.ie

Oak Park Forest Park is an oasis of tranquillity with numerous colour coded walkways of varying lengths and is an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll and family walks. Open year round with free admission, there are over 120 acres of mature woodland with seating at various points throughout the forest. A great place for picnics, with a wheelchair accessible playground. www.carlowgardentrail.com

The Borris Railway Viaduct is one of Ireland’s best examples of pioneering 19th century railway engineering and one of the most admired and celebrated railway structures in the country. This historic landmark rises to 60ft high and spans the Borris and Mountain River Valley. Plan a visit to enjoy a looped walk with stunning scenery and fantastic historical signage along the way. www.borrisviaduct.ie

Duckett’s Grove Even in ruin, the surviving towers and turrets of Duckett’s Grove Historic House, Walled Gardens and Pleasure Grounds form a romantic profile making it one of the most photogenic historic buildings in the Ireland to visit. A playground located within the pleasure grounds, a craft shop and tearooms are fabulous new additions for all the family to enjoy. Serving breakfasts, lunches, speciality teas, coffees and home-baked treats, seven days per week, it is a delightful place to relax and experience the atmosphere of this special place. Guided tours are also available each Friday – Sunday.

www.carlowgardentrail.com

For more information log onto www.carlowtourism.com and for some great accommodation packages visit www.carlowtourism.com/specialoffers

Carlow County Museum

Carlow –Coming into its own

You might be surprised to learn that Carlow was once, albeit briefly, the capital of Ireland. From 1361 to 1374 the medieval market town was the seat of power of the Lordship of Ireland. Today the town and wider county are fizzing with energy, ready to recapture that regal status, and show off the bustling business ecosystem, and great quality of life that exist within easy connecting distance of so much of the country. Right in the heart of Leinster, Carlow is really at the centre of things.

Located in the sunny Southeast, it’s bordered by Wexford, Kilkenny, Laois, Kildare and Wicklow, giving the country a broad hinterland of neighbours with which to do business. Businesses located in Carlow benefit from great connections, with easy access to Rosslare Europort, Belview Port in Waterford, Dublin city and more.

Established in 1947, County Carlow Chamber represents the interests of businesses, both large and small, across the county and its environs, providing inspiring leadership, influence and partnership while being a key driver of long-term sustainable economic growth. At the Annual General meeting on 21st June 2023 the Chamber elected Rowena Dooley as its 38th President. The Dealer Principal at Dooley Motors, a family-run dealership and CVRT Test Centre, she is continuing a family tradition in both, as her father Anthony Dooley was also a President of the Chamber from 1992-1993.

Although it’s the second smallest county, Carlow has big ambition. It’s home to international businesses like MSD, Burnside, Unum, w and Autolaunch, as well as many small but mighty SMEs. With the recent opening of Nua at the iconic old Braun factory site, there is a buzz of positivity in the air as Carlow sets its sights on new heights.

Borris Viaduct, Borris, Co Carlow

COUNTY CARLOW CHAMBER

REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF BUSINESSES, BOTH LARGE AND SMALL, ACROSS THE COUNTY AND ITS ENVIRONS

Carlow’s Can Do Attitude

Speaking to InBUSINESS, Brian O’Farrell, CEO of Carlow Chamber was looking forward to launching this year’s Business Awards, one of their flagship events each year. With new categories this year to better reflect both societal concerns, such as sustainability and innovation, and the mix of businesses in the Chamber, including personal services such as salons, it’s set to be a fresh take on a firm favourite.

There’s a feeling of anticipation and excitement in the air for many reasons.

“We’re at a turning point in Carlow at the moment with different developments—the County Council’s regeneration plans and Carlow 2040—we’re looking forward to seeing that happening.” On the other side, they are continuously lobbying around housing issues. “We do need to see more progress happen in that space.”

With seven years at the Chamber under his belt, O’Farrell has seen some changes. “In the early days, there was a period where a number of businesses closed, and nothing was being done about it. We started up Love Carlow as a regeneration project, and it has grown and grown. It’s designed to shout about all the positive things in our county and highlight how Carlow is a great place to live, work, and play.”

Supporting businesses right across

the county, it has a full directory of businesses across the county and is free to register with, even for nonmembers. It is complemented by the Love Carlow gift card: “Again, it’s designed to help support and promote local businesses.”

CARLOW 2040

He complements Carlow County Council for their input to the changes happening within the county, saying, “They have really stepped up their game. There is a lot of vision, foresight and action, and we are getting a lot more progress.”

Spending his time lobbying for the

interests of local businesses, he says, “It is better to work with them rather than be adversarial, and it is very much a collaborative approach. We highlight where the challenges are and will continue to put pressure on and call out for work to be done.

NEW LEASE OF LIFE

“The Council have pushed forward with Carlow 2040 and secured €24 million in funding. I know this term is used a lot, but it is a game changer for Carlow. We just need to see shovels in the ground at this stage!”

Dereliction and vacant buildings has been a challenge that the Chamber are keen to confront, for the negative image it portrays of the town, not only to shoppers visiting for a day out, but also to potential investors, looking for an attractive town that will represent a great place to live and help them attract quality employees. “In fairness to the Council, they’re really focused on it,” he notes. “They’re working hard to address the problems.”

He describes the site of the old Braun factory in Carlow as “our monument to dereliction and vacancy” – it had lain vacant for 13 years before recently becoming the home of Nua by Glenveagh, a cutting-edge offsite construction manufacturing facility.

“They’re in the process of recruiting and will have up to 200 people employed there in the near future.”

THRIVING TOWN

His vision is of a thriving town centre where spaces above retail units are inhabited by workers and students: “That’s bringing more life and energy

There’s a feeling of excitement in the air in Carlow, with a new lease of life and exciting developments in the offing

WE HIGHLIGHT WHERE THE CHALLENGES ARE AND WILL CONTINUE TO PUT PRESSURE ON AND CALL OUT FOR WORK TO BE DONE.”

Brian O’Farrell

back into the town, and it makes it more sustainable for businesses on the high street. ere’s nothing worse than going into a town that feels like it shuts down at ve o’clock in the evening when everybody goes home. Getting people living back in the town centre will help regenerate it.” Another project the Chamber is involved in is submitting the Purple Flag application for Carlow. Purple Flag is an international

accreditation scheme for towns and city centres that achieve a standard of excellence in the evening and night-time economy (ENTE).

Just like a Blue Flag denotes a great beach to visit, Purple Flag status is a sign of a night-time destination that is safe, welcoming, has good transport options and o ers a choice of amenities and entertainment for people to enjoy.

O’Farrell says this is another element that will bolster the town’s

attractiveness to potential foreign direct investment (FDI) companies. With a newly completed IDA Ireland Advanced Building Solution facility, a potential new tenant could bring hundreds of jobs for young professionals to the town, and creating the right environment for workers, right down from housing through to social life, is all part of the bigger picture.

“In Carlow, we haven’t had our fair share of larger scale housing developments, and we’re trying to get to the root of that,” he says.

e Chamber has been involved in speaking with developers and other stakeholders to this end, to ensure there is potential for business to grow in the county. “We also need to see a lot more student accommodation, because—and Waterford is probably similar in some ways as well—the majority of the students are commuting, and that’s not sustainable.

“Being able to live in Carlow while they’re studying means they are contributing to the local economy, be that through a part-time job or connecting with companies relevant to their studies.”

Carlow: a prime location for prosperity

A strategically located regional centre, Carlow is the destination of choice for leading companies looking to invest in an area with high quality skills and infrastructure

Carlow town is strategically located in the South-East Region and has a pivotal role with strong links to the Midlands and the Greater Dublin Area, and is a prime location for companies seeking growth and prosperity. As a regional centre for third level education, public services, healthcare, shopping, arts, culture and leisure, Carlow town is very attractive location for

companies seeking to invest in Ireland or expand their existing presence in the country. The town is already home to leaders in technology, innovation, engineering, pharmaceuticals, internationally traded services, with MSD and UNUM being prime examples.

“Carlow town is a very attractive location for investment as it has many of the key economic enablers that businesses are looking for such as skills and infrastructure, and now

with the recent establishment of the South-East Technological University it is proud to call itself a university town,” says Michael Rainey, Interim Chief Executive of Carlow County Council.

CARLOW 2040

In 2020, Carlow County Council led the development of an innovative and ambitious Regeneration Strategy for the town, titled Project Carlow 2040: A Vision for Regeneration.

Future Vision for Potato Market

Project Carlow 2040 seeks to reinforce the critical role of the town centre as the heart of Carlow town, providing attractive and accessible public spaces with new pedestrian linkages. A thriving, vibrant and sustainable town centre will establish the town as a destination not just for shopping but also for tourists attracted to the unique architectural, cultural and heritage attributes of Carlow’s townscape. This vision supports increased town centre living and building occupancy, which will in turn improve the wellbeing of the local economy and community life. Rainey continues, “Project Carlow 2040 really captures the future potential of the town. I am certain this strategy was key to the success of a Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF)

a new connection between these destinations through the reallocation of road space will deliver a safer, healthier and more attractive environment for walkers and cyclists.”

CONNECTING OLD AND NEW

The second strand emphasises the transformation of Potato Market. This ambitious project seeks to refocus and overhaul this vital urban location, breathing new life into the space and surrounding businesses. The visual appearance and uplift of the main business area will be measurable.

Rainey says, “A reimagined and redesigned Potato Market will be a game changer for Carlow town, both visually and economically.”

Renewing and improving streets is a constant feature of urban

Carlow College campus is the centrepiece of the Cultural Quarter in Carlow town, consisting of a beautiful eighteenth-century campus positioned just off the main shopping district. Improved permeability through this campus will be a major enhancement of the Carlow town public realm and its connection to public transport.”

SEAMLESS INTEGRATION

application in 2021 which will see a total investment of €23 million in the town centre public realm in the near future.”

The URDF funding will be channelled into four key strands of development over the coming years, with the first strand of development focusing on the Barrack St Connection Project. This crucial project aims to improve pedestrian accessibility, link key areas and support retailers in the town centre. The project will establish a direct route from Barrack St to Potato Market, providing safer walking and cycling environments while supporting the town centre’s commercial activities. Rainey states that, “The key is connecting the old with the new. The achievement of

development, and the third strand focuses on Barrack St, Tullow St and Kennedy Avenue. The proposal aims to create a more walkable town centre, promoting pedestrianfriendly environments along Barrack St, the Shamrock Square area and linking into both Tullow St and Kennedy Avenue. The fourth and final strand of development focuses on the Carlow Train Station Link. This aspect capitalises on Carlow town’s natural environment and the unique asset of Carlow College. Through welldesigned upgrades, the train station will be linked to the town centre, creating a direct and visually appealing route that showcases the town’s beauty and historical significance.

According to Rainey “The

The proposed developments ensure the best use of under-utilised spaces and connections while seamlessly integrating Carlow’s social, educational, cultural, and historic assets. Project Carlow 2040 envisions a thriving and innovative town that embraces the future while preserving its rich heritage. Commenting on the overall vision for the town, Rainey states, “The enhancement of the unique attributes and attractions of Carlow town, combined with the development of key opportunity sites, will support local business, facilitate tourism and encourage more people to live within the town centre. The new Advanced Technology Building developed by the IDA, and a series of other proposed projects in enterprise development, recreation, and amenity over the coming years means its an exciting time to live, work, visit and invest in Carlow town and county.”

As Interim Chief Executive of Carlow County Council, Rainey shares his enthusiasm for the projects underway to develop this vision of the future, saying, “Carlow County Council is proud to be part of this transformative journey.”

For further information, please visit www.projectcarlow2040.com

THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES AND ATTRACTIONS OF CARLOW TOWN, COMBINED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF KEY OPPORTUNITY SITES, WILL SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS, FACILITATE TOURISM AND ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE WITHIN THE TOWN CENTRE.”

Michael Rainey

Driving Excellence in Training Delivery

Barrow Consultancy & Training are expert in developing and delivering training strategy and quality assurance systems for business that save time, money and stress

Never has training and development been more relevant in the workplace, or indeed, the economy. From an employer’s perspective finding, attracting, and retaining talented staff is foremost in their minds, in the current challenging labour market. From an employee’s perspective, staying relevant and skilled in a fast-changing work environment is key. But whichever

angle you look at it from, delivering the right training, to the right people, in the optimum way is crucial to success. This is where Barrow Training & Consultancy & Training (BTC) excels – not only providing the solutions for both employers and employees, but providing the planning, strategy, systems, and structures to ensure that those solutions are fit for purpose and offer a very real return on investment. Based in Co. Carlow and offers professional training and consultancy

to companies in a wide variety of industries all over Ireland, BTC delivers training in Healthcare, Childcare, Health & Safety, Hospitality & Tourism, Management and Corporate Well-being. Their classroom courses are delivered from the training college in Carlow, while site visits are offered across the country for professional development training courses and more. As one of Ireland’s leading online course providers, BTC offers a wide

Relaunch of Barrow Consultancy & Training with Minister Simon Harris

selection of Irish online courses in a range of disciplines, meanwhile, blended learning is the perfect middle-ground for students who wish to have the flexibility of online learning combined with in-person traditional classroom learning.

STRATEGIC SYSTEMS

The value-add of this holistic approach is that businesses – large and small – can have a strategic learning and development (L&D) system, based on training needs analysis, and tailored to their budget. The system can ensure streamlined standard operating procedures, co-ordinated employee records, regular training needs analysis, tailored training provision, quality evaluation and assessment and timely provision of data for management reporting. “So often we find clients are struggling to establish a L&D system within their business that truly meets their specific business objectives,” explains Norah Ryan, CEO of Barrow Training. “For some, the objective is to build a meaningful training and development plan so that they can ensure employees feel supported in their roles and engaged in the career development. For others the concern can be

around implementing efficient and accredited quality systems and structures to ensure that the value of the training they are investing in is measured and seen.

“We pride ourselves on not only providing excellent training options to clients, but on providing the understanding to develop and deliver a training strategy and quality assurance system for their business that will save them time, money and stress.”

RECOGNISED FOR QUALITY

Barrow Training and Consultancy have a strong management and administrative team based in the premises in Carlow, many of whom have relevant backgrounds in education and industry. In addition, a panel of qualified tutors that are also experienced industry professionals are drawn upon for programme delivery. Many members of both the management and tutor teams have long standing relationships with Barrow. BTC’s experience enables clients to achieve the highest standards of excellence through accreditations such as ISO, QQI, CPD, and Q-Mark. Barrow Training also became the first private training provider in Ireland to receive the ISO 9001 (2015) Quality

Management System standard in 2016. It is also QQI registered and certified.

Ryan has picked up a string of awards over the years, testament to the success and quality of the BTC business, most recently including the prestigious AIBF Business All Star Award; the Powerhouse Award for Excellence in Personal Services for Business and the overall Award for Carlow Female Entrepreneur of the year 2022 at Carlow Powerhouse Women in Business Awards. BTC has also been nominated at Carlow Chamber Business awards every year since 2016, as well as being a finalist at the Guaranteed Irish Awards for Professional Services to Business 2023 and Carlow Local Enterprise Office Digital Awards 2023.

To understand how Barrow Training & Consultancy can assist you in achieving your business objectives contact norah@ barrowtraining.ie or 059 972 1416.

“As a long-established and awardwinning business consulting service we have helped countless companies and business owners grow over the years, turning their businesses into recognised, reputable and high-achieving organisations,” Ryan states. “Our approach to quality assurance has developed over the years and is built into our projects each time, every time. A positive quality culture is embedded throughout the whole organisation and all employees recognise the value and importance of quality assurance, quality improvement and enhancement.”

WE HAVE HELPED COUNTLESS COMPANIES AND BUSINESS OWNERS GROW OVER THE YEARS, TURNING THEIR BUSINESSES INTO RECOGNISED, REPUTABLE AND HIGH-ACHIEVING ORGANISATIONS”

Guaranteed Irish Business Awards 2023

Norah Ryan receiving the Business All Star Accreditation

Building on Strong Foundations

Robert Quinn Ltd. is a family-owned business established in 1971 by Robert (Bobby) Quinn and is now in its second generation, headed up by his son, Michael Quinn FCIOB, who took over as Managing Director in 2012. The firm is a proud member of Carlow Chamber. “Carlow has been very good to us,” he says, “and we’ve forged strong relationships here.”

Robert Quinn Ltd. has a distinguished track record in the provision of professional construction services. Over the past 52 years, the company has gained vast and varied experience with pharmaceutical, commercial and healthcare projects forming the cornerstones of its business. It has delivered projects for some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical multinationals.

NEW FOCUS

Michael Quinn reflects on the growth of the business, from the extensions of the early days to bigger projects and the pivot and re-focus after the crash in 2008.

“When the recession came we had to refocus our business, and look at where we could maintain a sustainable business. We saw pharma and medical devices as a growth area for us,” he explains.

“Production facilities, pharmaceutical plants, medical devices – it’s a niche area of construction and a very controlled

environment, so that’s something that we specialise in.”

These projects have included refurbishment of existing facilities, new builds, greenfield developments and managed

services. The firm’s highly experienced Pharma Division works closely with its clients to meet their expectations and has extensive experience working in live pharma environments, managing and completing projects to the very highest of standards.

A PROVEN PARTNER

Robert Quinn’s management teams have proven expertise in delivering projects to demanding timescales while meeting the highest quality standards expected by their clients, all while keeping site safety to the forefront of everything they do. “We employ about 50 people directly,” says Quinn, “as well as regular sub-contractors that we bring from site to site. We also complete managed services on sites, where we have teams of people that are working on those sites, carrying out maintenance, repairs and critical works.”

“In any of these facilities, there are a lot of procedures, protocols and health and safety requirements. We’ve proven ourselves, working in these facilities over a long number of years. We have the team and the capability to operate in these environments. That’s easier said than done but at the end of the day, construction is a necessary phase of our client’s business—and that needs to be hassle-free and invisible in the eyes of a live operating plant.”

CONSTRUCTION IS A NECESSARY PHASE OF OUR CLIENT’S BUSINESS—AND THAT NEEDS TO BE HASSLE-FREE AND INVISIBLE IN THE EYES OF A LIVE OPERATING PLANT.”

Michael Quinn is leading his family construction firm forward with a strong base in the pharma sector and a growing managed services business

Michael Quinn, Managing Director, Robert Quinn Ltd

Castletown Trail opens, Nobber Fire Station gets an upgrade, and Bettystown and Mornington Beaches receive Green Coast Award in Co Meath, while South Dublin receives over €2m under Community Recognition Fund.

Outdoor dining facilities come to Bantry and North Cork gets €3.6m road resurfacing contract, while Limerick and Kerry join forces with over 50km of Greenway thanks to the new Kerry/Limerick link.

Sligo receives over €1.4m under Community Recognition Fund and over €270,000 Community Monuments Funding, while Mayo welcomes the new €250m N5 Westport to Turlough Road project and Fit Stick Walking Trails.

Cavan projects get over €268k Community Support Funding, Belfast sees opening of £7m St Comgall’s community hub, while Linear Park opens in Letterkenny and Donegal Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2029 is launched.

Castleland Community Centre relaunched with Community Fun Day

Fingal County Council, in association with Castleland Development Group, welcomed the full reopening of the Castleland Community Centre in Balbriggan, Co Dublin with a Community Fun Day. The Community Centre was built in 2017 and for two years shared its facilities with Ardgillan Community College to support the educational needs of the young people of Balbriggan. The centre is now fully available for use by local groups and provides a vital space for the community to participate in sport and leisure, community development, educational and recreational activities.

Fingal’s Director of Housing and Community Development, Robert Burns says, “The development of strong, self-reliant and sustainable communities is central to the work of Fingal County Council’s Community Development O ice. Castleland Community Centre will play a vital role now and into the future for the community in Balbriggan. The Fingal Community Facilities Network promotes the work of 35 Fingal County Council-supported community facilities and centres. Over 2.2 million adults and children used our community facilities last year. This number is going to increase as our communities grow, and we welcome the full reopening of Castleland Community Centre for the community of Balbriggan.”

Castletown Trail officially opens

Cathaoirleach of Kells Municipal District Cllr Eugene Cassidy was joined by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD to officially open Castletown Trail. The looped trail secured grant funding of €200,000 under the 2019 Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) and saw the construction of a footpath from the graveyard to the existing railway crossing to link the village to the Castletown end of the Greenway. Another section of footpath was constructed at the northern end of the greenway to connect back to the village, completing the loop of the Castletown Trail. A further allocation of €19,811 under the 2021 Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure scheme allowed development of amenity areas including planting, fencing, seating and the installation of a footfall counter to measure usage. Members of the public can now use the existing car park at Castletown as the start and end point of their walk, run or cycle journey.

Speaking at the opening, Kells Municipal District Cathaoirleach

Cllr Eugene Cassidy said, “This trail and what will be the Boyne Valley to Kingscourt Greenway as a whole has the potential to transform towns and villages along its route and open up the entire county to a whole new market of tourists.”

Meath County Council Chief Executive Fiona Lawless added, “The Greenway begins in Blackwater Park, Navan and passes through the villages of Wilkinstown, Castletown Kilpatrick, Nobber and Kilmainhamwood before eventually ending in Kingscourt. We hope by the end of this year to have the full 30km open to the public, allowing Greenway users to travel from Navan to Kingscourt.”

Bettystown and Mornington Beaches have been awarded the Green Coast Award in recognition of excellent water quality and the efforts made by the local community to protect their natural, unspoilt environment. Cathaoirleach of Laytown/Bettystown Municipal District Cllr Stephen McKee was recently joined by volunteers from the local community at a flagraising ceremony to mark this significant achievement. The aim of the Green Coast Award is to recognise beaches of high environmental quality. To achieve the award, beaches must have excellent water quality and effective and appropriate management to ensure the protection of the natural environment. The Green Coast Award is a symbol of environmental excellence and has been established to acknowledge, promote and protect the environment of our beaches.

€2,654,305

Awarded to South Dublin under Community Recognition Fund

The Government has announced €50m in funding for over 880 projects as part of the first ever Community Recognition Fund. The initiative is designed to support and reward communities that have welcomed families and citizens from Ukraine and other countries. South Dublin County Council received €2,654,305 for 19 projects across the county.

Fingal County Council, in partnership with service provider Bleeper, has launched a new public eCargo bike service based at Mountview Community Centre, Dublin 15. An eCargo bike is a battery-powered assisted pedal bike with a large, aerodynamically designed, lidded box in front that has a carrying capacity of 350 litres and is suitable for moving items such as sports training gear, small items of furniture or a large load of grocery shopping, providing the convenience and capacity non-drivers may have traditionally struggled with. Pictured are Stephen McGinn of Fingal County Council and Hugh Cooney of Bleeper.

Official opening of Nobber Fire Station after upgrading works

The newly upgraded Nobber Fire Station has been officially opened by Meath County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Nick Killian. The opening follows the completion of works to the station of €1,100,000 with the redevelopment being funded by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Upgrade works to the station

feature an appliance bay that accommodates both vehicles attached to the station, a drill yard and tower, training rooms, canteen facilities and modern changing facilities. The Project Team included Doohamlet Construction Ltd and Node Design team.

The station, with its 10 personnel, operates as part of Meath County Council Fire and Rescue Service, along with brigades from six other stations. The station provides

the base for immediate response to approximately 80 emergency incidents annually.

Meath County Council Fire and Rescue Service currently is made up of 81 staff, including firefighters,

officers, administration and maintenance personnel.

County Meath’s seven fire stations are located in Navan, Trim, Kells, Dunshaughlin, Ashbourne, Oldcastle and Nobber.

Chief Fire Officer Sheila Broderick with Station Officer Michael Finegan and Nobber Fire Station personnel.

€2.5m contract signed for Phase 3 of Bandon Traffic and Public Realm Enhancement Plan

Cork County Council has appointed contractor Martin O’Callaghan Ltd to carry out significant upgrade works on the Glasslyn road Bandon between the N71 roundabout at Kevin O’Leary’s and St Finbarr’s Place. The upgrade works represent Phase 3 of the implementation of Bandon Transport Public Realm Enhancement Plan (TPREP) which was granted planning in 2021. Works

are already underway on Phase 1 Ballymodan and works on North Main Street were completed in May. This contract, valued at €2.5m, will include the introduction of cycle lanes in both directions, upgraded footpaths, provision of universally accessible bus stops, carriageway resurfacing, landscaping and ancillary works.

Bandon TPREP includes a complete upgrade of all town centre streets with

enhanced footpaths, public space and landscaping to make the town centre more user-friendly for pedestrians and cyclists to allow for increased footfall and vibrancy in the town core. This Glasslyn road project will provide greater active travel connectivity between the town centre and the community-led playground that just opened on the eastern approach to the town. The project will also provide enhanced walking/cycling connectivity from the town centre to the recently upgraded N71 eastern approach to Bandon and onwards to the proposed upgraded Clare O’Leary Walkway.

Works will commence on Glasslyn road at the start of August and take nine months to complete. The implementation of traffic management systems will be necessary to carry out the works, but two-way traffic will be maintained where possible to minimise disruption.

Dursey Island Cable Car reopens following €1.6m upgrade

Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Danny Collins and Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey cut the ribbon marking the reopening of Ireland’s only cable car service and the only cable car in Europe that crosses open seawater, following an extensive €1.6m upgrade.

The Dursey Island Cable Car was originally opened on December 5, 1969 by then Taoiseach Jack Lynch and is located on the Beara Peninsula, West Cork, linking the mainland with the scenic inhabited Dursey Island. The service was established to support islanders who often faced isolation during inclement weather conditions due to the hazardous tidal race in the Dursey Sound. Traditionally accommodating both passengers and livestock, the transportation of livestock ceased in January 2012. Although continuing to serve a small number of islanders, it is now predominantly used by tourists and farmers.

The cable car service has witnessed significant growth over the last number of years, increasing from 12,000 visitors in 2015 to over 20,000 a year with the peak months of July and August seeing nearly 5,000 visitors experience the crossing due in part

to its featuring as part of the promotion of the Wild Atlantic Way. The car can accommodate six passengers with the trip of 374 metres taking seven and a half minutes each way.

Cork County Council has announced the successful completion of new European-style permanent outdoor dining facilities in Bantry town centre. Funded by Fáilte Ireland under the Local Authority Weatherproofing and Outdoor Dining Infrastructure scheme, these will greatly enhance the dining experience for residents and visitors alike, allowing people the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in Bantry’s vibrant culinary scene. Located at the Quays in Bantry, the new permanent outdoor dining infrastructure consists of tables and seating of various sizes, parasols, planters and electric heaters and caters for customers of nearby restaurants, including The Quays, The Brick Oven and The Snug & O’D’s.

€3.6m road resurfacing contract for North Cork announced

Cork County Council has announced the appointment of Lagan Asphalt Ltd for the Kanturk Mallow and Fermoy Municipal Districts Road Resurfacing Contract 2023, valued at €3,650,000, which covers 24 sites across 25km of rural and urban road improvement works in North Cork, including resurfacing and reconstruction, traffic-calming measures and drainage.

Over 50km of Greenway to explore with new Kerry/ Limerick link

The Kingdom of Kerry Greenways and Limerick Greenway are uniting to invite visitors to enjoy an extended Greenway experience. The two Greenways, which connect in Abbeyfeale, together cover more than 50km off-road to offer holidaymakers the chance to explore both Co Kerry and Co Limerick while taking in some of the most stunning scenery Ireland has to offer. It will be possible for people to travel from Listowel in North Kerry to Abbeyfeale in West Limerick and continue along the Limerick Greenway, over 50km in total. The new purpose-built trails provide an accessible and inclusive experience for visitors of all abilities.

Limerick Greenway passes the three market towns of Rathkeale, Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale, through the 115m Barnagh Train Tunnel and across the cast-iron Ferguson’s Viaduct, both restored relics of the 19th century Limerick to Kerry rail line; it offers visitors a rich experience that centres around accessibility, biodiversity, with native species of trees and shrubs as well as wildlife, and heritage with its choice of some of the country’s most historic sites.

The recently opened Kingdom of Kerry Greenways follows the old Limerick to Kerry railway line, and currently includes two routes between Tralee and Fenit, and from Listowel to Abbeyfeale which now links to the Limerick Greenway. The Listowel-Limerick Greenway begins in the town of Listowel, which hosts the famous Writers’ Week and has a range of visitor attractions including the Kerry Writers’ Museum, Lartigue Monorail and Listowel Castle. The route starts close to the River Feale and brings you through a picturesque landscape of rolling hills and pastureland.

[ COUNT IES LIMERICK AND KERRY ]

Flying the county flags are Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Francis Foley and Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Jim Finucane. Photo: Michael O’Sullivan.

Sligo awarded over €270,000 by Community Monuments Fund

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform

Malcolm Noonan has announced the award of €8m in funding for 140 archaeological heritage projects throughout the country as part of the department’s Community Monuments Fund for 2023 – an increase of 33% over last year’s allocation. The core objective of the fund is to support the conservation, maintenance, protection, and promotion of local monuments and historic sites, in alignment with the aims of the government’s new heritage plan, Heritage Ireland 2030, and the Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan. The scheme contains a range of measures that seek to enable conservation to be carried out on archaeological monuments in need of urgent support, encourage access to these monuments and improve their presentation, and build resilience to enable these monuments to withstand the effects of climate change. The scheme offers three funding streams to support a broad range of measures aimed at protecting and promoting archaeological monuments, including emergency conservation repair works at monuments, masonry repair, the development of Conservation Management Plans, access infrastructure and installation of interpretation signage, and communication projects aimed at disseminating knowledge of Ireland’s archaeological heritage.

Five Sligo projects are to benefit under the fund: Easky Abbey (€17,798), Moygara Castle (€100,000), St Feichin’s Church, Ballysadare (€100,000), Enniscrone Castle (€23,500), and Court Abbey, Lavagh (€30,000). Cllr Michael Clarke, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council says, “The funding will help protect our wonderful archaeological heritage and make it more accessible to the many who cherish it.”

Minister Joe O’Brien, Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities, has launched the second Local Economic and Community Plan for Sligo, entitled ‘Sligo 2030 – One Voice One Vision’ at a gala in Sligo City Hall attended by Cathaoirleach of the Council Cllr Michael Clarke along with elected members, TDs, guests

Government Departments and businesspeople and members of the community

Sligo.

plan sets out a vision for Sligo, which is for a smart, sustainable and socially inclusive county; one that cherishes its vibrant communities, protects and celebrates its unique environment and rich culture and is a champion of innovative growth and development.

from

across

The

Enniscrone Castle will benefit from funding to prepare a conservation management plan for the site and which will guide future conservation works. From left: Angela Wallace (Atlantic Archaeology), Michael Breen (Enniscrone & District Community Development CLG), Tracy Collins and Martin Reid, both archaeologists with the National Monuments Service.

€250m N5 Westport to Turlough road project opened by Taoiseach

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD has officially opened the new N5 Westport to Turlough road project. The Taoiseach was joined at the opening of the €250m project by Cllr Seamus Weir, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, project partners and elected representatives.

The Westport to Turlough N5 road project is a 25.7km roadway that comprises 20.3km of type two dual carriageway and runs from northwest of Westport at Deerpark East to the townland of Ballyneggin near Turlough, where it connects with the existing N5. The first phase of the project, a 10km section from the N5 roundabout at Ballyneggin to Pheasant Hill on the Westport Road, opened to the public at the end of April 2023. The completion of this venture sees the conclusion of the largest infrastructural project ever undertaken in the county.

The scheme will bring a range of benefits, including the reduction of traffic congestion in Castlebar and Westport, therefore improving road safety for vulnerable road users in those areas. It will offer improved connectivity between the towns of Castlebar, Westport and Ballina and improve the connectivity to other vital roads infrastructure such as the N59, N60 and N84 national routes.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said, “The completion of the N5 Westport to Turlough Road project is a significant development for the people of County Mayo and the West and I am honoured to open it, having approved it during my first term as Taoiseach. This €250m project is the single biggest Government investment ever made in Co Mayo.”

Fit Stick Walking Trails launched in Mayo enhancing accessibility and inclusivity

Fit Stick Walking Trails, a series of short walking trails thoughtfully designed to cater to individuals with mobility challenges and support those on their journey to recovery from illness or injury, is an initiative made possible through funding by the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme that aims to provide accessible outdoor spaces that are inclusive of people of all ages, abilities and fitness levels. The Fit Stick Trails are carefully planned routes that offer a safe and enjoyable walking experience for individuals of all abilities and are tailored to accommodate individuals with buggies, wheelchair users, children with balance bikes and those utilising various other mobility aids. They incorporate rest areas and exercise stations at regular intervals, allowing participants to take breaks, relax and appreciate the surrounding natural beauty.

The development of the Fit Stick Trails was a collaborative effort, with Mayo County Council partnering with local community groups. This collaborative approach ensured that the trails were designed to meet the specific needs and preferences of the community, creating a sense of ownership and pride among residents.

Mayo Sports Partnership through their Activator Walking with Poles programme have further empowered individuals across the county to participate in these trails, promoting physical activity and fostering inclusivity through sports and recreation initiatives.

€1,424,596

allocated for 27 projects in Co Sligo

Sligo County Council have received over €1.4m under the Community Recognition Fund, which rewards communities that have welcomed Ukrainians and other nationalities. Over 880 projects across the country are to receive funding as part of a €50m investment for sports clubs, schools, community organisations and other local groups.

LK Green Connect – Linear Park officially opens

Cllr Liam Blaney, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council officially opened Linear Park, Letterkenny, with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD and Cllr Kevin Bradley, Mayor of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District in attendance. The Linear Park scheme is the first phase of the greater LK Green Connect scheme, located between the Letterkenny PSC, Neil T Blaney Road to the Isle Burn, Letterkenny, Co Donegal. This scheme provides 230m of new footpaths and cycleway infrastructure in a landscaped environment and is jointly funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund and Donegal County Council. The Linear Park scheme is part of the wider Letterkenny 2040 Project which has secured funding of over €20m, over five sub elements: The Cathedral Quarter - Making a Creative District; Enabling Renewal at Lower Main Street; Revival at the Courthouse; Enabling a Regional Transport Hub; and LK Green Connect.

Cllr Liam Blaney welcomed the recent launch of the Letterkenny 2040 Regeneration Strategy, stating that it “shows the real and exciting opportunity that exists to transform Letterkenny Town Centre and strengthen it as a competitive regional centre”. This phase of the scheme was constructed by ACS Civils Ltd, who have also recently completed the Letterkenny Cathedral OneWay Project.

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Liam Blaney officially launched a new boardwalk, accessible beach wheelchair and Ireland’s first Age-Friendly mobility beach walker at Magherawarden’s Blue Flag beach in Portsalon, with the ribbon cut by local man Danny Boyce. Donegal County Council is committed to building on the network of accessible beaches with all terrain / beach wheelchairs available at Portsalon, Downings, Marblehill, Carrickfinn, Fintra, Rossnowlagh, Bundoran, Rathmullan, Narin, Sliabh Sneacht and arriving over the coming weeks to Killahoey (Dunfanaghy), Culdaff, Rathmullan and Inishowen.

€268,600

for 87 Cavan projects under Community Support Fund

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD has announced €268,600 for 87 local projects in Co Cavan under the 2022 Community Support Fund, with funding of €10m available, €100,000 of which was ring-fenced for Women’s Sheds. The key theme of the fund is to support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with energy bills and improvements to their facilities.

£7m St Comgall’s community hub opens

Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Áine Groogan welcomed US Envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III to officially open the St Comgall’s community facility in west Belfast. Belfast City Council restored the Grade B1-listed building at Divis Street on behalf of Falls Community Council. The project saw the transformation of a former school building into a multiuse centre comprising new offices, a café and spaces for events and exhibitions.

Cllr Groogan said, “It is fantastic to see historically significant buildings like St Comgall’s being sympathetically restored and brought back to life. I congratulate Falls Community Council for having the vision to restore and repurpose the building and everyone who has worked tirelessly on the project over the years to make it happen. St Comgall’s is now a fantastic resource for the community, which has been preserved for future generations to enjoy.”

Funding for the project included £3.65m from the Northern Ireland Executive’s Social Investment Fund under its Delivering Social Change Framework and £3.5m from Belfast City Council. Speaking at the event, Joe Kennedy described the

redeveloped St Comgall’s facility as “an extraordinary asset” saying: “New investments like this are central elements to Belfast’s prosperous future and speak to the promises made in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.”

Donegal Outdoor Recreation Strategy launches

A warm welcome awaited Minister for Rural and Community Development

Heather Humphreys TD to Gartan Outdoor Education and Training Centre, where she officially launched the Donegal Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2029 as part of her two-day visit to Donegal.

Cathaoirleach of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District Cllr Patrick McGowan, accompanied by Cllr Gary Doherty, Cllr Martin Harley and Cllr Gerry Crawford, has turned the first sod on the construction of the Lifford to Castlefinn Greenway. The 7.5km-long greenway is funded through the Interreg VA Programme, administered by the Special EU Programmes Body and the Department of Transport. Donegal County Council has appointed ACS Civils Ltd as contractor for the project.

The county-wide strategy, which will guide and facilitate the sustainable development and management of outdoor recreation up to 2029 and beyond, is closely aligned with the ambitions of the recently launched National Strategy for Outdoor Recreation – Embracing Our Great Outdoors. Donegal Local Community Development Committee working with Donegal County Council and other stakeholders, guided and supported the delivery of the strategy.

Minister Humphreys said, “The Donegal Outdoor Recreation Strategy will provide a clear blueprint to sustainably grow and improve both land- and water-based recreation activities throughout the county.”

MAGNETIC NORTH

With an innovative food scene, welcoming hospitality, stunning scenery and plenty of activities for both the young and the young at heart, there’s plenty to pull visitors to Northern Ireland

Like many of my generation, Northern Ireland has never been an instinctive choice for a holiday destination, but that’s something that has changed dramatically in the last few weeks. Our first weekend trip saw us watching Eels play the tiny Limelight venue in Belfast, staying in the ridiculously reasonably-priced Quarter by Warren and drinking Heaney’s beer in The Sunflower Pub with art students. We rounded off the weekend with a spa break in the Culloden and a drive home through the glorious scenery around Strangford Lough. So without hesitation, we jumped at the chance to point our compasses north and head to the wonderful Dunadry Hotel and Gardens

Who needs Giraffe Manor when you can open the doors of your courtyard room and breakfast in the shade of the Peace Tree, with a pride of five peacocks (4 white) for company?

Wedding couples are asked to sign their champagne cork as a reminder of their big day. Each cork is then displayed in cute display cabinets throughout the hotel.

Dunadry Hotel and Gardens has undergone an extensive refurbishment by the McKeever family. This welcoming establishment built on the site of an ancient fort was also once home to both paper and linen mills, set alongside Six Mile Water River. The history of the building is visible throughout, though now boasting over 70 well appointed bedrooms, comfortable bar and two dining options. The Mill Race Restaurant offers a menu exhibiting a level of innovation I haven’t seen in a while (we had the pigeon), whereas the Peacock Lounge served up well executed comfort food. The next day after a substantial breakfast, we partook of the extensive selection of activities the Dunadry had curated for us, with something to suit all adrenaline levels. Definitely one to return to. Rates start from £129/ €150 per room including breakfast. www.dunadry.com

 Cherished memories

 Dunadry Peacocks

 Eagle Divers NI

We took to the water in a two person kayak, or divorce kayak as they’re known in our house, and paddled round Lough Neagh and up Six Mile River. On this occasion however, the serenity of our surroundings influenced the mood inside the kayak. Also on o er was a chance to try a water bike (I didn’t know such a thing existed) and paddle board. Eagle Divers can also arrange a picnic and guided kayak trips. eaglediversni.com

A SLOW DRIVE HOME WITH DETOURS

My tip for rounding o a weekend in Antrim is to avoid the motorway on the way home.

Jo and Robert educate you and guide you through the process of making your own bottle of gin - while keeping your glass permanently topped up - need I say more?

belfastartisanginschool.com



Acting my age is not what I am known for so swinging, climbing and zip lining my way through the treetops was something I was never going to pass up. Castlewood has three di erent high ropes adventure courses which, depending on your head for heights, could see you negotiating up to 40 obstacles and speeding down eight ziplines.

castlewoodtreetopadventure.com



The extensive grounds of Antrim Castle Gardens are definitely worth a ramble. While the 400 year old gardens host a myriad of historic gems, there is one very modern piece that is currently drawing in crowds. As well as stunning planting the magical, mechanical Jubilee Garden designed by Diarmuid Gavin is full of humour and quirkiness, featuring clockwork, spinning trees and music. I defy you not to dance like Willy Wonka around the path, singing with abandon, as ‘ A World of Pure Imagination’ plays in the background. If singing outdoors is not for you, then make your way to the visitors centre and arrange a tour of the refurbished Clotworthy House and learn about the history of the gardens and the Massereene family. visitantrimandnewtownabbey.com

You can follow the crowds further north and visit some of the well known attractions like The Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, or you can head east towards the Ards Peninsula for scenic coastal drive.

Stop in Bangor for a wander along the marina and North Pier or tackle the North Down Coastal Path which passes through awe-inspiring coastline. Orlock Point o ers superb views of the Copelands, Galloway Coast and distant Mull of Kintyre. Refuel at the Guillemot Kitchen Café and afterwards stock up with local cheeses and treats in their shop before moving on. Drive along Strangford Lough, take every tiny road and you will find yourself pulling up to admire the view. Kearney village, a showpiece village carefully restored by the National Trust lies three miles to the east of Portaferry, with views across to Scotland, the Isle of Man and the Mountains of Mourne. Take the ferry from Portaferry across to the lively town of Strangford and on to the Lecale peninsula where you’ll find yourself checking o the towns from Van Morrison’s Coney Island as you go, Shrigley, Killyleagh and Ardglass where you can still pick up ‘Mussels and some potted herrings in case we get famished before dinner’.

Castlewood Tree Top Adventure

 Belfast Artisan Gin School

Antrim Castle Gardens

 Belfast Mic Tours Join Donal for a gentle dander through the beautiful Castle Gardens and historic town centre of Antrim. Tours £15pp and booking is essential: belfastmictours.com

Plan a trip to one of Ireland’s distilleries this summer

DISTILLERIES

Ahascragh Distillery

Ireland’s first energised zero-emissions distillery has opened the doors of its state of the art distillery in Ahascragh in Co Galway. Built within a restored nineteenth century mill, the eco-distillery is powered by renewable energy – wind, solar and coming soon, hydro, using very high temperature heat pump technology and an energy efficient storage system. As no fossil fuels or gas will be used to drive the production process, there will be no carbon emissions from the energy supply side of the distillery, a first for the industry. With an overall investment of €10 million, this project has created over 20 direct jobs in the village and surrounding areas.

www.ahascraghdistillery.com

Boann Distillery

Family owned Boann Distilery produces a range of triple distilled Irish single malt and Irish pot still whiskey from three handmade bespoke copper pot stills. In 2021, the Drogheda distillery launched Silks Irish Dry Gin which is now available in 15 US markets. Just recently, Boann celebrated the summer solstice by launching its newest creation, the ‘Summer Solstice’ release. The Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey was unveiled to a select group of whiskey enthusiasts at a Summer Solstice Tasting event in the distillery as part of the Boyne Valley Food series, where attendees became the first to savour the new release.

www.boanndistillery.ie

Founders Gareth and Michelle McAllister

Directors June O’Connell, Paddy Cooney and Patrick Sugrue

Skellig Six18 Gin

Skellig Six18 Gin is the brainchild of June O’Connell, Paddy Cooney and Patrick Sugrue. The gin is very much a reflection of the Skellig coast in Cahersiveen where the distillery is located, with botanicals used to make the gin foraged locally. Skellig Six18 Gin is a ‘food’ gin, created for people who want to discover how flavours are put together. The Distillery also produces Skellig Small Batch Irish Whiskey – a blend of Pot Still and Grain Irish Whiskey, finished in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks after maturing in ex-Bourbon barrels. The Distillery and Visitor Experience won The Double Gold award at the International Spirits Challenge Awards 2022 in London.

www.skelligsix18distillery.ie

Tribe Gin School

Galway-based craft gin company Tribe

Irish Gin opened the doors to Ireland’s largest and Galway ’s first dedicated gin school in 2022. Situated in Salthill, Tribe Gin School offers a fun and informative experience where guests can enjoy a gin tipple and create their own unique flavour along the way. The 1400 sq ft space boasts a range of unique design features including an apothecary-style botanical pick n’ mix area for pupils to choose their own distinctive flavour combinations.

Tribe Gin was launched in 2022 by Adam Scally, Cormac Commins, Ciarán O’Domhnaill and Michael Allen and took home a Gold Medal at The Spirits Business Gin Masters 2022. www.tribegin.ie

Sally-Anne Conway, Director, Boann Distillery

Tribe Irish Gin Founders (L-R) Adam Scally, Cormac Commins, Ciarán O’Domhnaill and Michael Allen

This holiday season, fill your carry-on bag with award-winning titles. looks at beach reads with a di erence - the current International Booker Prize winner and Irish title holders over the years.

TIME SHELTER

International Booker Prize 2023

This year’s winner of the international Booker Prize is the gloriously dark but very topical creation from Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov. ‘The Past’ as we remember it is illusionary, little more than a construct of our imagination at times, impacted and a ected, added to as well as edited as the days pass. Each time we bring it out of the vault of our long term memory, we tweak it just a little bit more. Therapist Gaustine creates his ‘past-clinic’, allowing Alzheimers patients to recreate the pasts in which

they felt most secure. The comfort of inhabiting a refurbished past soon attracts the attention of ‘healthy’ people, who want to leave the present behind for a while. We are raised believing that those of us who do not remember the past are destined to relive it - but what if those memories prove to be an unreliable foundation? What if the bedrock of our personality and sense of self shifts? In this playful but profound novel, Gospodinov asks us to examine the truth behind who we really think we are.

AUTHORS:

Georgi Gospodinov

PUBLISHER:

Weidenfeld & Nicolson

AVAILABLE: easons.com

Five Irish writers have won the Booker Prize since its inception in 1969. Here’s the Booker Prize Irish line-up:

1978 The Sea, the Sea

By Iris Murdoch

Told from the point of view of Charles Arrowby, the recently retired actor, director and playwright buys a house by the sea, encounters his first love and obsessively tries to convince her to elope with him.

1993 Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha

By Roddy Doyle

The world of 10-year-old Paddy Clarke, growing up in Barrytown, north Dublin moves through fun and adventure on the streets, boredom in the classroom to increasing isolation at home. This is a story of a boy who sees everything but understands less and less.

2005 The Sea

By John Banville

After the death of his wife, art critic Max Morden moves to the seaside village of Ballyless where he finds himself revisiting memories of one childhood summer spent in the company of the fascinating but unsettling, Grace family.

2007 The Gathering

By Anne Enright

IRIS MURDOCH: Six time nominee and winner of the Booker Prize 1978

This year, a competition was held to name the Booker Prize trophy, with readers from around the globe voting on a shortlist of names. The winning name - Bernie - referenced both Bernadine Evaristo, the first black woman to win the prize in 2019 and Bernice Rubens, the first woman to win the prize in 1970. As the only living author on the list, Evaristo requested that it be named after one of the great authors no longer with us. The next highest number of votes were for Iris, named for Dublin-born Iris Murdoch (1919-1999). A prolific writer, Murdoch wrote 26 novels across her expansive career, winning the Booker Prize in 1978 for The Sea, the Sea. She went on to be nominated for the prize a further six times.

This novel tells the tale of a sister mourning the suicide of her alcoholic brother. Enright casts an unblinking eye on life in a big Irish family. Sometimes funny, sometimes harsh, always instantly recognisable.

2018 Milkman

By Anna Burns

This Belfast-born writer was a surprise winner with her formallyexperimental, politicallyengaged and humorous novel. It’s the story of ingrained divisions set during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, through the lens of an 18-year-old girl who believes ‘reading while walking’ will render her invisible.

The Human Aspect of Employee Recognition and Rewards

it’s through salary renumeration; a promotion; extra responsibilities; investment in additional training for career progression; or even just a few simple words of acknowledgement for a job well done – employee rewards and recognition are a leading component for why employees stay in a company.

NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS

In between the long summer days, the juggling of annual leave, school holidays, staycations and vacations for those who can, the workplace tends to wind down a little. While the typical day-to-day pressure for many is lifted to reflect the mood of the season and time of year, it also means employees may have more time to reflect and take stock, with many giving considerations to job satisfaction and their role within a company.

“As we head full swing into the summer, many of us are enjoying the long stretch in the evenings, sitting in the back garden or on a sunny balcony, making time to relax and feeling like we have some extra time to think. It’s only natural that job satisfaction is top of mind for many as it forms such a big part of our everyday lives,” says Rachel Fitzell, Inside Sales Manager for One4all Rewards.

She says, “Everyone wants to feel valued for what they do. It’s what gives us job satisfaction. Whether

“And there’s the more human aspect of employee recognition and rewards. The obligatory birthday cake and sing-along by everyone in the workplace is back after being missed during Covid – always cringey but secretly loved! The acknowledgement for long service or a celebratory gift as an employee finishes up before going on maternity or paternity leave – these are all ways companies can show appreciation and show an employee is valued.”

Typically, companies tend to think of showing their employees recognition at the end of the year, ahead of Christmas - a time of the year more universally associated with rewarding employees. However, there are multiple ways to create occasions to celebrate and make an employee feel valued across the year. For example, employee milestones, meeting or surpassing targets, team motivation or general recognition, in addition to birthdays, maternity leave, paternity leave, long-service, and retirement.

SMALL BENEFIT EXEMPTION

Rachel says, “Many companies are aware of the government’s Small Benefit Exemption however, not everyone is aware that it now extends to twice per year. So, in addition to Christmas time, employers can show their appreciation at any time of the year with a gift card.”

Under the Government’s Small Benefits tax exemption policy, businesses can reward their staff up to €1,000 per year, completely free of tax, PRSI and USC. With One4all Rewards, you can offer your staff tax-free gift cards on an ongoing or annual basis, saving up to €1,313.54* per employee. The maximum reward of €1,000 can be split across two payments in one financial year.

Employee rewards and recognition are crucial for employee motivation and retention. For more information on employee rewards and incentives, contact the experts at One4all Rewards on (01) 870 8181 or email corpsales@one4all.ie

on the 40% tax band paying full PRSI and USC.

* Figures are

giving €1,000 net to an employee

MANY COMPANIES ARE AWARE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S SMALL BENEFIT EXEMPTION HOWEVER, NOT EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT IT EXTENDS TO TWICE PER YEAR

based on

As employees enjoy their summer leave, they may start to reflect on job satisfaction; you can make sure they feel appreciated with recognition and rewards all year round

Rachel Fitzell, Inside Sales Manager, One4all Rewards

InBUSINESS SPOKE WITH MICHAEL H, HOST OF THE IRISH FIRE PODCAST, ABOUT THE JOURNEY TO PURSUE FIRE (FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE, RETIRE EARLY), MAKING MOVES TO GET OUT OF DEBT AND LEARNING TO LOVE YOUR JOB.

Could you tell us about the Irish FIRE Podcast and why you created it?

The Irish FIRE Podcast covers my own journey towards financial independence. I share my own experiences, interview other guests on their own FIRE journeys and try to o er insight into how one can pursue FIRE in Ireland.

What is the message/goal of the Irish FIRE Podcast?

To help share my own story and inspire others to start their own journey to financial independence.

You released your 12 FIRE rules - what’s the most important rule to follow?

Getting started! Too many times we put things oyou can start by simply saving €50 one month and going from there.

Is the journey towards financial independence for everyone?

Yes! While not everyone will neccessary be able to retire early, there are so many positive things in the FIRE movement that even getting out of debt or saving a little can be a fanastic outcome. There are also other alternatives in the movement, such as Slow FI and Coast FI for people to adopt if their incomes are lower, but they wish to pursue elements of the movement. FIRE is ultimitely a lifestyle design and time freedom movement.

What are the key goals to consider before looking at FIRE?

Making sure that everyone is on board with it - your partner, your children. It’s a committment and needs everyone to be OK with making it if they wish. The sacrifice is well worth it.

What is the best career advice you have received? How did it change how you approached your career? The advice of “Learn to love it” was my best career advice - finding a job you love (or at least don’t hate) is worth it! Even if it pays less, finding a job you love is the key to being able to stick with the FIRE movement!

Is there anyone you would love to appear on the podcast?

My best guest was Jamie Heaslip (former Irish rugby player). I would love to get another big name in finance if possible!

EAR TO THE GROUND

InBUSINESS RECOMMENDS THREE PODCASTS TO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS QUARTER.

Hosted

Dwyer, The Rise Up features conversations with some of Ireland’s most uplifting business leaders and focuses on revolutionising the way women approach their careers.

Narrated by journalist Charlie Webster and actor Kendall Horn, Scamanda examines a woman’s public cancer journey, which turns out to be a labyrinth of secrets that ripped a family and a community apart.

Hosted by Gary Fox, The Entrepreneur Experiment reveals the secrets and systems world-class founders use to master their business, brain and body.

by Susan

The Irish Fire podcast is available to download online.