InBUSINESS Winter 2019

BUSINESSMAN AND ADVENTURER MENTORS SERIES GALWAY ENDA O’COINEEN ON ATTITUDES TO RISK

InBUSINESS InBUSINESS CONNECTING IRISH BUSINESS

WINTER

2019

From Soil to

WOMEN IN STEM

EY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

RICHARD KENNEDY CEO OF

IRELAND’S FIRST FEMALE-ONLY TECH APPRENTICESHIP

DEVENISH

InBUSINESS WINTER 2019

DRIVE TO

Promoting PATIENT SAFETY PHARMAPOD’S SUCCESS WITH REDUCING ERRORS

Diversify ENTERPRISE IRELAND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

JULIE

ON REGIONS, R&D AND GLOBAL AMBITION

04

RISING ACTIVITY IN THE HOTEL SECTOR

9

OFC InBUSINESS Winter 2019_Cover_V2.indd 1

772009 393018

2.70

ROOMS FOR IMPROVEMENT

09/01/2020 16:21

Mullan Lighting took the step into France That lightbulb moment; for Mullan Lighting, it was realising the untapped potential of the Eurozone. With the help of Enterprise Ireland, Mullan undertook detailed market research and identified France as a key market. They also received the support necessary to bring a group of French customers to Ireland to see their bespoke lighting up close.

As Brexit approaches, the need for Irish companies to internationalise has never been greater. Enterprise Ireland has a comprehensive five-step plan and extensive supports to help businesses of every size and stage to enter new markets.

Take the step into new markets with Enterprise Ireland.

Visit globalambition.ie/steps to learn more.

#GlobalAmbition

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07/01/2020 20/11/2019 14:46 11:01

Editor: Sorcha Corcoran Art Director: Alan McArthur Editorial Assistant: Kiah Townsend (Chambers Ireland) Editorial Contributors: Grainne Rothery Eithne Dunne Derek Nagle Bernadette Sampson

COVER STORY

Designer: James Moore

IF YOU CAN SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT HASN’T YET BEEN SOLVED THEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE OF GETTING BUSINESS. INNOVATION ISN’T JUST ABOUT PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, SOME OF IT WILL BE YOUR BUSINESS MODEL, YOUR PROCESSES AND MAYBE HOW YOU ACCESS MARKETS.”

Front Cover Photography: Orla Murray, SON Photographic Photography: SON Photographic iStock Photo

DRIVE TO DIVERSIFY As CEO of Enterprise Ireland Julie Sinnamon has been a significant influence on the success of Irish industry during her six-year tenure. Balanced regional development, R&D, diversification and female entrepreneurship are the key areas she is keen to progress even further into the future.

Infographics: www.flaticon.com Production Executive: Claire Kiernan

Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland

Chairman: Diarmaid Lennon

14

Entrepreneur

EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 Richard Kennedy, CEO, Devenish on sustainability and growth

17

Snapchat

Joanna Murphy, CEO, Taxback.com

22

Industry

Increasing investor interest and development activity in the hotel sector Words: Grainne Rothery InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

001 InBUSINESS Winter 2019_Contents_V3.indd 1

COVER STORY:

Drive to Diversify

INNOVATION AND TECH

INNOVATION

All articles © Ashville Media Group 2020.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. Opinion and comments expressed herein are not necessarily those of Ashville Media or Chambers Ireland.

ISSN 20093934

21

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

InBUSINESS speaks to Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland about regions, R&D and diversification

Published by: Ashville Media Group, Unit 55 Park West Road, Park West Industrial Park, D12 X9F9 Tel: +353 1 432 2200 Email: info@ashville.com Web: www.ashville.com On behalf of: Chambers Ireland, 11 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, D02 FY84 Tel: +353 1 400 4300 Email: info@chambers.ie Web: www.chambers.ie

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

18

Managing Director: Gerry Tynan

hether it’s a factory creating jobs in a small village in Co Monaghan or a major agricultural trade fair in New Zealand, CEO of Enterprise Ireland Julie Sinnamon has been there to see the level of innovation and international sales growth Enterprise Ireland client companies are capable of and witness the difference the agency’s efforts are making on the ground.

“Mullan Lighting in Co Monaghan is a great role model in the eurozone. With a focus on quality and design, it has achieved significant growth in the French market, which illustrates how Irish companies can develop strong positions in niche sectors,” she says. “Our trade mission to the National Agricultural Fieldays in New Zealand showed how strong the agri-tech sector is for Ireland. The agri-machinery developed by Irish companies is also suitable for New Zealand as it has a similar grass-based agri-system.”

BALANCED REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT According to Sinnamon, there is a stronger focus on the regions outside Dublin today than at any other time in Enterprise Ireland’s history. Its ‘Powering the Regions’ strategy launched last summer sets out nine region-specific plans with new and existing measures to develop each region’s innate and unique strengths. Encouraging partnership and collaboration with regional stakeholders is a core element of the strategy.

Enterprise Ireland has been central in running the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) which has allocated a60m in funding to 42 different strategic projects under its first two calls. The third call is currently being concluded.

An important aspect of the REDF has been to support a number of hubs to facilitate employees of companies based in other locations to work remotely in a

20

Sales Director: Diarmaid Lennon

W

TECH

An event in November targeted at secondary school students in the South West illustrated the extent to which industry and academia are willing to collaborate to foster a growing skilled STEM workforce into the future.

Shane and Orlaith Byrne from Gael Scoil Teaghlaigh Naofa Ballyphehane at the STEM South West 2019 showcase event

Thousands

of students, parents and teachers turned up at the Rochestown Park Hotel on 13 November for the STEM South West Industry & Careers Showcase to witness exhibitions and demonstrations from 60 of Ireland’s leading science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) organisations.

The free event, which has the potential to be rolled out elsewhere, aimed to spark the interest of a new generation of budding scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians and highlight the pathways to a successful STEM career in the region.

In addition to the demonstrations in virtual reality, robotics and astronomy, there were insightful talks from experts in the areas of construction, information technology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, electronics, weather forecasting, agri-technology, environmental engineering and cybersecurity.

The STEM South West body responsible for the event is made up of several industry stakeholders, including businesses that employ over 30,000 people in the region, local authorities and educational 38

34

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

“THERE IS A CLEAR NEED FOR A COORDINATED STRATEGY TO PROMOTE THE REGION,

partners Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), University College Cork and Institute of Technology Tralee. The event is the brainchild of all of these organisations coming together to put on “an exhilarating and fascinating showcase of STEM in practice in some of the most dynamic and revolutionary companies in Ireland”.

“There is a clear need for a coordinated strategy to promote the region, incorporating the STEM industries within it, as a location in which talent has the opportunity to grow and thrive. This will leverage regional strengths while developing skills and competencies that can be utilised on a global basis,” says Mike Flannery, Director of Operations Technology Development at Johnson & Johnson and member of the STEM South West Executive Committee.

The need for proactive initiatives such as the STEM South West event is compelling.

Demand for STEM professionals and associate professionals in the EU is expected to grow by about 8% between now and 2025, much higher than the average 3% growth forecast for all occupations, according to European Commission figures. In 2019, there was an increase in the take-up of STEM subjects by 5% in the Leaving Cert, to 88,000. While this is increase is encouraging, there is widespread agreement that Ireland needs to build on these numbers.

“The success of this event is a testament to the passion and contribution of all those involved – from the organisers to the exhibitors and the attendees on the day. Every one of these people, organisations and companies are playing a very important part in the economic development of not just the South West region, but the country overall, and helping to secure Ireland’s attractiveness and competitiveness as an IT and STEM sector hub into the future,” says Flannery.

Khyra Sukardi, St Columba’s Douglas at the STEM South West 2019 showcase event

INCORPORATING THE STEM INDUSTRIES

WITHIN IT, AS A LOCATION IN WHICH TALENT HAS THE

OPPORTUNITY TO

GROW AND THRIVE, LEVERAGING REGIONAL STRENGTHS WHILE

DEVELOPING SKILLS” 39

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

INNOVATION & TECH:

Inspiring Young Minds

Highlights from the STEM South West Industry & Careers Showcase, a sign of the extent of innovation and collaboration in the region Words: Sorcha Corcoran

1

09/01/2020 14:50

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07/01/2020 16/12/2019 14:47 09:03

GALWAY BUSINESSMAN AND ADVENTURER MENTORS SERIES ENDA O’COINEEN ON ATTITUDES TO RISK

InBUSINESS InBUSINESS CONNECTING IRISH BUSINESS

WINTER

2019

From Soil to

WOMEN IN STEM

EY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

RICHARD KENNEDY CEO OF

IRELAND’S FIRST FEMALE-ONLY TECH APPRENTICESHIP

DEVENISH

InBUSINESS WINTER 2019

Promoting PATIENT SAFETY PHARMAPOD’S SUCCESS WITH REDUCING ERRORS

DRIVE TO

Diversify ENTERPRISE IRELAND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

JULIE

26

ON REGIONS, R&D AND GLOBAL AMBITION

04

RISING ACTIVITY IN THE HOTEL SECTOR

9

772009 393018

a2.70

ROOMS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Go to chambers.ie for the online edition

30

MENTORS:

Enda O’Coineen

Galway businessman Enda O’Coineen believes in taking calculated risks in business and in life. He recently launched a new book, Journey to the Edge

[LIFESTYLE] 100 INNOVATION Eco-friendly alternatives in clothing and products

Words: Eithne Dunne

30

Media & Marketing Anna Downes, CEO and Co-founder of Video Sherpa, on making video production easier for marketing purposes Words: Bernadette Sampson

40

FISH WIL LB EO UTN

NGE

1

THE P OLLU TION OF

GENDER IMBALANCE IN TECH:

25%

of those working in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are women (Daly, Farrell, Grimson & Smeaton, 2018).

2%

of apprentices completing training in October 2018 were women (Solas 2018).

9

times more girls sat Leaving Cert Biology than those who sat Physics in 2018 (CSO, 2019).

48%

of 2018 Junior Cert Science candidates were girls (CSO, 2019)

13%

of 2018 engineering graduates are women (Engineers Ireland, 2019)

12%

of engineering professionals are women (Engineers Ireland, 2018).

At third level, women continue to dominate biological sciences but are underrepresented in physics, maths, engineering and technology (witsireland.com).

43

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

SKILLS & TALENT:

Women Only Need Apply

Words: Derek Nagle

An extract from Climate Justice – A Man-made Problem with a Feminist Solution by Mary Robinson

32

R. 2 45 ,000 KM ²).

YEA

In this issue, InBUSINESS looks the at

Global Plastic Waste, which ranks Ireland as one of

the largest producers of plastic waste in Europe.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

001 InBUSINESS Winter 2019_Contents_V3.indd 3

[REGULARS]

Our Local Government InBUSINESS Galway 062020 supplement continues to look at the important role played by local authorities in Irish enterprise Page

4 Business News 8 Movers & Shakers 11 Opportunity Ireland 12 Start-Up Central 42 Chambers Catch Up 108 The IB Index

2

Exciting new tech space due to open in Naas at the end of 2020.

Page

3

EIB backs a35m loan to support Cork County Council’s Social Sustainability Investment Programme.

Page

Page

4

5

Galway gets set for a year of cultural activity as European Capital of Culture.

ULSTER

CE (

T 10 PAS THE IN

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

two decades, O’Connor applies the principles he has learned in the military to business: “I have worked with many great leaders and organisational values are so important. In the military these values are loyalty, selflessness and moral courage. I think those values should be the foundation of any good organisation. We hope with VRAI we have created a company where people want to work and are happy,” he says.

VRAI has adopted the ‘Triple Bottom Line’ approach to business as it focuses not only on profit but also on people and planet. It has committed to producing shared value for shareholders, customers, employees and the community. As part of its efforts under ‘people’, the company is committed to having a diverse, gender-balanced team with people from many different cultures and backgrounds.

It has also committed to ensuring its workplace is inclusive and for that reason, doesn’t offer unpaid internships. “We believe that unpaid internships show a bias in favour of those from more privileged backgrounds whose parents can subsidise them working. We want to ensure that people can earn while they learn and the FIT tech apprenticeship is a great way to do that,” says O’Connor.

From day one, everyone on the apprenticeship will be sponsored by tech companies such as VRAI, so for candidates the first step is to find a sponsor though fit.ie.

The tech apprenticeship is for those over 18 who are eligible to live and work in Ireland and have five passes in Ordinary Level Leaving Cert (or equivalent) including English and Maths.

Candidates who wish to apply but who do not satisfy any of the standard entry requirements can submit a detailed synopsis of previous educational, life and/or work experience. The FIT Registrar or delegate will review such cases with regard to the FIT policy on access, transfer and progression.

A new female-only tech apprenticeship encouraging more women into STEM

LEINSTER

ATED THAN IN THE LAST CENTURY. BY BEEN CRE 2050,

38 42

MUNSTER

URFA

AS STIC H E PLA MOR RS, YEA

include Microsoft, LinkedIn, ESB and Accenture.

VRAI was co-founded by Pat O’Connor, who has 20 years’ experience working in the Defence Forces, and long-time friend Niall Campion, whose background is in digital content creation and filmmaking. While recruiting they noticed that for every female applicant there were three to four male applicants, a gender imbalance they felt needed to be addressed. FIT contacted VRAI after hearing the founders discuss the topic in an interview, and once O’Connor and Campion learned about the FIT programme, they knew it was something they wanted to be part of.

“We are currently in full employment and yet only 25% of people working in STEM jobs in Ireland are women. This female-only tech apprenticeship is a really practical way to start addressing that imbalance,” says O’Connor. “I think the act of running and advertising for a female-only apprenticeship also helps to raise awareness among women about the opportunities that exist for them.”

CONNAUGHT

79% O T F PLA RILLION 8 STIC PLA ANKED #1 FOR MIS S S A IS R FISH WE CONSUME AS HUMANMS ANAGE ARE SEN TI DW WOU CHINHE MAJORITY OF LD H T AVE A I

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Global plastic Waste

104

V

irtual and augmented content creation company VRAI is one of a number of companies now offering a unique female-only apprenticeship, the first of its kind in this country. Committed to having a diverse, gender-balanced team, VRAI is offering the apprenticeship to female applicants over the age of 18 who are interested in a career in the tech industry, particularly software engineering.

The apprenticeship is in collaboration with Females in Technology (FIT), an industry-led initiative which works closely with national education and training agencies as well as government departments and local development organisations. Some of the other companies supporting the new female-only apprenticeship

HEAT PROGRAMME Occupying two floors of the Skylab building at the edge of Dublin’s Temple Bar, VRAI employs 13 staff. The company is currently working with a vast array of companies including Samsung, IAG, the United Nations, ESB and the Irish Defence Forces.

The company has raised a575,000 through the Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start-Up Programme to develop its Hazardous Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) virtual reality training programme.

This allows employers to prepare workers for hazardous environments, but with reduced risk. VRAI’s ultimate aim is to reduce workplace deaths and serious injuries while improving operational performance.

The company is also part of the consortium Holistics, led by the Cork-based Tyndall National Institute, which earlier this year won a a7.4m grant from the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, established under Project Ireland 2040 and run by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation with support from Enterprise Ireland.

Having worked in The Defence Forces for

R.

OF S AR PLA EN OW REC S OR

Among the many efforts to encourage more women to pursue careers in STEM is a new female-only tech apprenticeship now being offered by several companies including Dublin-based VRAI, writes DEREK NAGLE.

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Niall Campion, Pat O’Connor and the VRAI team

Book Extract

108 1

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32

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NY I L E AN L PLASTI CS T I AL D E EAR MI DISCARD THE OCEAN 80% O F

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Words: Sorcha Corcoran

THE InBUSINESS BUSINESS INDEX

TICS. PLAS CROFIBERS. AND TIC AND MI

EN ONLY

Pharmapod has made significant inroads in the Canadian market with its software solution

107 PODCASTS A series

by Kate Harrington and Clodagh Kelly aims to raise awareness of what is happening to the planet

R ARE LS O AGS DFIL CB LAN

SKILLS& TALENT

Small Business

105 BOOKS Tackling climate change and eliminating plastic from our lives

.8

SKILLS AND TALENT

WORK AND STUDY The apprenticeship will involve a mixture of work and study. Those successful will spend the first six months in full-time studies.

They will then spend three days a week in the workplace and two days a week in study.

For the final six months they will be in the workplace four days a week and one day a week in study. At the end of the two-year period there will be an option for full-time work if both the apprentice and sponsoring company want to pursue it.

O’Connor has some solid advice for those considering applying: “We are looking for people who have a passion and enthusiasm to work in tech but may have never had the opportunity to gain the qualification before, or ended up doing something else that wasn’t really for them,” he says.

This apprenticeship is for software engineers so those applying should try to understand what that type of work entails and whether they are likely to enjoy it, he adds.

“There is no one type of software developer but the best ones I have met have a blend of curiosity, logic, creativity and problem solving. When we are hiring in VRAI we are ultimately looking for someone who is fundamentally helpful, who brings something different to our team and can solve problems.”

WOM

102 TRAVEL A guide to Toronto and all it has to offer to tourists and business travellers

Mobile phone coverage comes to Malinbeg, while Donegal signs up to All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.

In Association with

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EDENDERRY E-HIVE

Galway City and County launch yearlong arts programme as European Capital of Culture term gets underway.

04

LIMERICK LANDMARK

08

MOBILES FOR MALINBEG

In Association with

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

1

3

09/01/2020 14:54

NE WS

Ray Ryan, CEO, OSSM Cloud Solutions and Larry Dunne, Group Finance Director, Scope Ophthalmics

OSSM IN DEAL WITH SCOPE OPHTHALMICS Dublin-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) software provider OSSM Cloud Solutions has implemented a customised solution for Scope Ophthalmics in a deal worth 200,000. The solution is enabling the company to manage its entire business from one cloud-based platform and is supporting its expansion into the US. Founded in 2008, Scope Ophthalmics is a family-owned Irish business which offers a range of eye-care products to pharmacies, hospitals, opticians, and consumers. The business has doubled its turnover and staff numbers in the past three years and currently employs more than 100 people across its Irish and UK offices.

CASHLESS PAYMENTS TAKING OVER Research carried out by The Dublin Mint Office to coincide with Black Friday in 2019 has revealed that 59% of Irish consumers favour using credit/debit cards or online payment methods over cash. Reflecting the growing popularity of cashless payment methods, 58% of those surveyed reported that they use contactless payments while 85% revealed they use cashless payment methods, including cards and digital payment systems, more frequently now than they did five years ago. However, only 20% of the sample reported that they use a smartphone app for payments.

GRANITE DIGITAL ACQUIRES

APPS MADE EASY

F

ull-service agency Granite Digital has acquired Galway-based app development company Apps Made Easy, which will allow the Deloitte Fast 50 company to treble its app development revenues to 750,000 in the next 12 months. Established in 2008, Granite Digital is a consulting group of more than 60 professionals providing strategy, user experience design, web solutions, SEO and managed hosting services to clients across a range of industries. It has collaborated with Apps Made Easy on a number of projects for high profile clients, including Fexco and Dublin City Council. Overall revenues at Granite Digital are expected to be 5m in 2019 and to reach 10m by 2022.

FINANCIAL STRAIN BEFORE PAYDAY Research commissioned by Wagestream, Ireland’s first income streaming app that allows employees to access a percentage of their wages before payday, shows that 78% of workers claim that they feel financial strain before their pay cheques arrive and almost 39% report they need to borrow money before the end of the month with some degree of frequency. Almost one in five workers claim that they have used or thought about using a payday loan company to bridge a financial gap with 6% claiming to have actually used a payday loan company in the past.

4

004 InBUSINESS Winter 2019_News_V4.indd 4

Robert Carpenter, Co-Founder of Granite Digital and Niall Campbell, Director of Apps Made Easy

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

09/01/2020 14:57

BUSINESS NEWS

MORE LENDING FOR

CREDIT UNIONS

Left to right: Roberto Peduto, Operations Manager, North West, Clear Channel Italy, Eoin O’Broin, CEO, Solar AdTek, Emanuele Buffa di Perrero, Sales Director Sothern Europe, Solar AdTek and Silvio Cerchi, Operations & Technical Director, Clear Channel Italy

SOLAR ADTEK ADVANCES IN ITALY Solar powered and LED lighting company Solar AdTek has opened a new office in Milan.

It recently partnered with Clear Channel Italia to upgrade the lighting in its bus shelter displays in Milan and Padova. Emanuele De Buffa di Perrero, Sales Director of Solar AdTek Southern Europe, said: “Our Irish designed and produced technology enables us to deliver substantial savings, while enhancing the appearance of poster displays.

We look forward to converting more of these displays with Clear Channel in Italy and other markets in the near future and are in discussions with Clear Channel Italy on other projects relating to autonomous solar bus shelter lighting.”

New Central Bank of Ireland rules could enable many credit unions to double or treble their lending in certain loan classes, according to the Credit Union Development Association (CUDA).

Announced in November, the rules align the volume of loans a credit union can issue to its asset size. With an average of just 28% of credit union assets currently lent out, the regulations will allow many credit unions to do more loans for more people. “We look forward to providing a wider range and higher volume of loans now permitted under the new rules,” said Kevin Johnson, CEO of CUDA.

CONFIDENCE IN RESILIENCE WAVERING

Feargal O’Neill, CEO, Gamma Location Intelligence

GAMMA LOCATION INTELLIGENCE ENTERS THE UK

L

ocation intelligence services provider Gamma Location Intelligence (GLI) is to launch its software platform in the UK, which it expects will generate i3m in new export revenue over the next three years. The company will open a new office in Manchester in 2020 and is planning to increase its headcount by 15 to support this growth.

With plans to invest a further i1m over the next two years on further developing its technology, GLI has agreed a partnership with JBA Risk Management to deliver European flood data through its platform. This will allow GLI to roll this solution out to insurance companies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

004 InBUSINESS Winter 2019_News_V4.indd 5

Business leaders’ confidence in the resilience of their organisations has faltered for the first time since 2017, according to the third annual Organizational Resilience Index report, published by BSI, which surveys 800 senior leaders across the globe.

Influenced by market turmoil and technological change, senior leader confidence in organisational resilience has fallen three points to 75%.

While most organisations reported stronger financial performance in the past 12 months, 23% of businesses in Japan and 14% in Ireland and the UK said their financial performance was worse than five years ago. That is at least double the proportion of any other market.

5

09/01/2020 14:58

THE LAST WORD Insight and advice from four interviewees.

RICHARD KENNEDY CEO, Devenish “As a business, we’ve cultivated both a sense of integrity and entrepreneurial spirit within the DNA of Devenish and a culture that encourages our people to seek and grasp opportunity.”

Entrepreneur - Page 14

ENDA O’COINEEN Businessman and adventurer “Some of the great things we enjoy today would not exist if people hadn’t taken risks; in fact, most of what we enjoy in society today would never have happened with the rules we have now.”

Mentors - Page 26

LEONORA O’BRIEN Founder and CEO, Pharmapod “Focus is important – there is so much opportunity for us to grow the system and expand into new markets, we need to balance that opportunity with executing with excellence.”

Small Business - Page 30

PAT O’CONNOR Co-founder and Managing Director, VRAI “We are currently in full employment and yet only 25% of people working in STEM jobs in Ireland are women. This femaleonly tech apprenticeship is a really practical way to start addressing that imbalance.”

Skills & Talent - Page 38

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PICTURE

THIS

Galway is now Ireland’s largest Wi-Fi connected city, following a new extension to its free public scheme, which expands it from 13 to 35 access points. Pictured are Gill Carroll of the Galway City Business Association and Philip Clapperton, Sales Director Magnet Networks.

Business

BITES

BUSY BEES Host in Ireland planted trees in Co Wicklow as part of a long-term initiative with Native Woodland Trust and the Irish Biodiversity Centre to help save Irish bees.

RECORD YEAR FOR ENTERPRISE IRELAND SUPPORTED JOBS Enterprise Ireland has reported that 221,895 people are now employed in companies it supports, the highest total in the 20-year history of the agency. Nearly 17,000 new jobs were created by Enterprise Ireland client companies in 2019 and around two-thirds of total employment is now outside Dublin. Cleantech jobs grew by 9%, lifesciences jobs by 6%, fintech by 6%, electronics by 5% and ICT and international services by 4%. Jobs in the food sector grew by 1%, reflecting Brexit uncertainty in 2019. The jobs growth translates into a net increase of 4,706 jobs created in 2019.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

09/01/2020 15:00

BUSINESS NEWS

LIDL LAUNCH ‘WASTE NOT’ INITIATIVE Consumers will see up to 90% price reductions on a range of fresh, chilled food products when they reach their best before date as part of a new Lidl food waste initiative, which aims to reduce food waste by 732,000kg annually. ‘Waste Not’ was rolled out to all 200 Lidl stores across the island of Ireland in December.

“Nearly one million tonnes of food is wasted every year. Enterprise must step up to help eliminate this waste,” said Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Richard Bruton.

Minister Richard Bruton and Deirdre Ryan, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland

BROADBAND PROGRESS

OFFICE SPACE

GRADUATE SALARIES

National Broadband Ireland has signed a landmark public-private partnership with the Government to deliver the National Broadband Plan across the country.

According to the latest research by Cushman & Wakefield, Dublin office take-up reached 62,400 sq m in Q3 2019, which is 28% ahead of the 10-year quarterly average.

At an average of 31,075, pay levels in Ireland for people starting their career with a bachelor’s degree were the 13th lowest out of 23 European countries, according to Willis Towers Watson.

IKEA ONLINE SALES

ON THE RISE

Online sales are a key growth driver for Ikea in Ireland, with figures to the year ending 31 August 2019 (FY19) showing that Ikea.ie sales shot up by 86% compared to the previous year. Online sales represented 16% of the total sales for Ikea Ireland in FY19.

Peter Jelkeby, Ikea UK and Ireland There were also a record number of visits to Ikea.

Country Manager ie, with the website receiving over 18 million visits in FY19, up from 17 million in FY18. Celebrating ten years in this country, Ikea Ireland reported a 12% increase in total sales to 203m for FY19. “Investment in our digital platform is paying off and continues to exceed our expectations,” said Peter Jelkeby, Ikea UK and Ireland Country Manager.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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“We want to get companies to look at technology roadmaps and the relevant technologies coming down the line so that they have a plan to deal with them.”

Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland

COVER STORY

P18

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09/01/2020 15:01

MOVERS & SHAKERS

M vers

NEW APPOINTMENTS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY NATIONWIDE

SHAKERS

KEITH BUTLER

MIKE MCNAMARA

KATRINA QUINN

CHRIS AMBLER

NEW TITLE: Chief Executive

NEW TITLE: Chairman

NEW TITLE: Data Security Specialist

NEW TITLE: Head of Asia Pacific

EMPLOYER: Acorn Life

EMPLOYER: PCH International

EMPLOYER: AMI

EMPLOYER: Arkphire

PREVIOUS ROLE: Sales Director Acorn Life and Non-executive Director, Acorn Insurance

EXISTING ROLE: Venture Partner, Eclipse Ventures

PREVIOUS ROLE: Business Development Manager, Voxbit

PREVIOUS ROLE: Co-founder, Blue Logic Group

The board of Acorn Life has announced the appointment of Keith Butler as its new Chief Executive, effective from 1 January 2020. With over 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry, Butler is a qualified actuary and a qualified financial advisor. He will take up this role following 11 years as Sales Director at Acorn Life and six years as Non-executive Director of Acorn Insurance. Butler will lead Acorn Life as it enters a new phase of development with a strategic plan entitled ‘Distribution 21’, which will be launched early next year.

Product development and supply chain orchestration platform PCH International has appointed Mike McNamara as Chairman. As CEO of Flex for 13 years, McNamara led a global team of 200,000 employees operating in over 30 countries. Over that time, he acquired, integrated, and/or managed over 70 acquisitions.

He has also created numerous new companies in a variety of industries and technologies. Having retired from Flex in 2018, McNamara is currently a Venture Partner at Eclipse Ventures.

IT recycling company AMI has appointed Katrina Quinn as Data Security Specialist, a role created to reflect the increasing importance businesses are placing on data security. With over 30 years’ experience in business development and operations, Quinn is responsible for growing AMI’s business in the Republic of Ireland and spreading awareness of the need for secure data destruction. She will also be involved in AMI’s brand strategy across the island of Ireland.

As part of its continued global expansion, Irish-owned IT solutions and product procurement specialist Arkphire has appointed Chris Ambler as Head of Asia Pacific. In his new role based in Singapore, Ambler will lead a team in building and developing Arkphire’s business in the Asia Pacific region. He will work with existing multinational clients which are increasingly looking to expand their operations there.

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Fiona Egan, Managing Director at Rabobank Dublin, is responsible for the development, management and execution of the local business strategy for the activities of Rabobank in Ireland. She also operates as Head of Corporate Banking in Ireland, a position she has held for the past eight years. Fiona has over 20 years’ specialist experience as a corporate and investment banker. Under her leadership, Rabobank in Ireland delivers services to Ireland’s food and agriculture sector.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

09/01/2020 15:04

MOVERS & SHAKERS

ALAN COAKLEY

AOIFE VAN WOLVELAERE

DAMIAN BOYLAN

FIONA SWEENEY

NEW TITLE: Chief Operations Officer

NEW TITLE: Associate Director, Corporate and Financial Division

NEW TITLE: Corporate Sales Manager, Munster

NEW TITLE: Director

EMPLOYER: Pinergy

EMPLOYER: The Marketing Institute of Ireland

PREVIOUS ROLE: Territory Sales Manager, Europcar

EXISTING ROLE: Strategic Marketing Director for End Use Markets, Kerry Group

Smart energy provider Pinergy has appointed Damian Boylan as Corporate Sales Manager in Munster. In his new role, Boylan will be supporting the sales of Pinergy’s smart energy solutions with specialisation in electric vehicle charging. Boylan is also a City Councillor with Cork City Council, having been elected in 2019. Previously he worked in sales management positions within the financial and motor rental industries for several years.

Fiona Sweeney was one of two new directors elected at the Marketing Institute of Ireland’s (MII) AGM in November, the other being Pat Mannion of JCDecaux. Currently Strategic Marketing Director for End Use Markets across Europe and Russia for Kerry Group, Sweeney had previously been Marketing Director for the Kerry Foods dairy consumerbranded portfolio in Britain and Ireland. Marketing Consultant David Field was appointed to the chair at the MII AGM.

EMPLOYER: Ardmac Group PREVIOUS ROLE: Managing Director, Ardmac

Alan Coakley has been promoted from Managing Director to Chief Operations Officer at international construction specialist firm Ardmac, which he joined in 2013 as Group Operations Director. With over 36 years’ experience in the construction industry, he began his career as a quantity surveyor, and progressed through project management and contracts management roles in Ireland and the UK.

1.

EMPLOYER: Edelman Ireland PREVIOUS ROLE: Account Director, Corporate and Financial Division, Edelman Ireland PR company Edelman Ireland has promoted Aoife Van Wolvelaere to Associate Director in its Corporate and Financial Communications division. Prior to joining Edelman in 2013, Van Wolvelaere held roles in the food and drink sector and in the arts, including at Dublin Theatre Festival. Edelman has also hired Fiona Murphy as Account Director and Colette Sexton as Associate Director Public Affairs.

Build your network, both externally and within your own organisation.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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2.

Seek out a senior mentor in your organisation who can steer you through your career and promote you internally.

3.

There is no substitute for sheer hard work!

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07/01/2020 02/12/2019 14:48 11:33

JOB CREATION COMPANY: Huawei Ireland

COMPANY: Newbaze Group

SECTOR: ICT solutions

LOCATION: Dublin

ANNOUNCEMENT: Huawei Ireland has opened a new Dublin office and announced the creation of 100 jobs over the next three years in Ireland. Recruitment is underway and 30 of these positions are expected to be filled within the next year. Huawei currently employs 180 staff across its Dublin, Cork and Athlone facilities.

SECTOR: Nutrition LOCATION: Monaghan ANNOUNCEMENT: China-based Newbaze Group has announced the creation of 60 new jobs in the next three years as part of its US$20m professional dairy formula plant opening in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. The state-of-theart new facility specialises in the production and packaging of high quality nutritional dairy powder products.

COMPANY: Liberty Insurance SECTOR: Insurance LOCATION: Cavan ANNOUNCEMENT: Liberty Insurance is expanding its operations in Cavan, which will create up to 120 roles over the next three years. Having established a new motor insurance claims servicing function in Cavan to support Liberty Mutual’s global business, the company is currently recruiting for administrative, support and management-level positions there.

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

COMPANY: WuXi Vaccines SECTOR: Vaccine production LOCATION: Louth ANNOUNCEMENT: A subsidiary of Chinese company WuXi Biologics, WuXi Vaccines, is planning to build a US$240m vaccine production facility in Dundalk, which will bring 200 new jobs to the town in the next five years.

COMPANY: Mullan Lighting SECTOR: Lighting design and manufacture LOCATION: Monaghan

COMPANY: Patreon

SECTOR: Software

LOCATION: Dublin

ANNOUNCEMENT: Patreon, the membership and payment platform for independent artists and their fans, is to open a Dublin office which will serve as its European headquarters. Initially, the company plans to create 30 new roles over the next two years within its product, engineering and general administrative teams.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Ten years in operation this year, Mullan Lighting is to expand its operation in Mullan Village, Co Monaghan, which will see the business double in size with the estimated creation of 30 jobs over the next two years. Currently employing 65 people, it sells to 55 countries.

European workers expect up-skilling in the face of technological change Despite the fact that automation and technology are likely to replace certain jobs in the future, a Ricoh study of 3,000 European office workers found that employees are open to the potential benefits that come with these changes. The majority (61%) are optimistic about the opportunities that technology will bring to the workplace, enabling them to work more flexibly and collaboratively. Four out of five (81%) workers expect their employer to provide tools and training to adapt to new roles as technology changes.

Ricoh Ireland Survey – Key Findings: InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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of workers believe they will be working in a career or field that doesn’t yet exist in the next ten years.

are confident that they have the necessary skill-set to keep and progress their current job over the next ten years.

are worried that technology (robots and artificial intelligence) will replace their jobs.

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09/01/2020 15:06

START-UPS

Start-Up Central

NEWS,VIEWS AND PROFILES ON THE LATEST START-UPS IN IRELAND The total number of start-ups formed in Ireland in the first nine months of 2019 (CRIF Vision-net).

Dublin 2 accounted for 10% of this total.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

ATOMICO REPORT RANKS IRELAND EIGHTH IN EUROPE Ireland ranks eighth in Europe for having venture capital (VC) backed companies which have achieved a valuation of more than US$1bn, according to VC firm Atomico’s annual report The State of European Tech 2019. Ahead of Ireland are the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Denmark. Of more than 1,200 founders Atomico surveyed across Europe for the report, 50% of these were first-time founders. For every woman executive in European tech, there are 12 men executives, it revealed. Regarding Irish founders, the survey found that out of 99 respondents, 73 were male and 25 were female.

TALITA HOLZER

CEO and co-founder of waytoB How did you fund your business initially?

The idea started when my co-founder Robbie Fryers and I were engineering students in Trinity College. We were very Talita fortunate to have the support of our professor at the time who Holzer helped us to secure a research grant from Trinity. After one year of research, we were able to win commercialisation funding from Enterprise Ireland, which enabled us to develop our product, test it in the field and start getting clients.

What’s the best advice you were given?

Surround yourself with people with more experience than you. This was essential for us, especially because we were both recent graduates with very little industry experience.

What was the most important lesson you learned starting out?

Learning when to follow advice from other people and when to trust your gut is vital. It is essential to be humble and listen to advice, but also to trust yourself and focus on your goals.

Your biggest make or break moment?

Our first commercial trial with Edinburgh City Council in Scotland. The council was very helpful in providing feedback. It helped us build a closer relationship with the council and understand exactly what needed to be improved to make a purchase.

Would you change anything in hindsight?

Looking back now, there are quite a lot of things we could have changed.

I think the main thing we did wrong was our approach to testing early prototypes. We had individuals scattered all over the country, which made gathering feedback pretty inefficient.

Company: Location: Product: Website:

waytoB The Digital Hub, The Liberties, Dublin 8, Dublin, Ireland A solution to support individuals with special needs www.waytob.com

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XOCEAN SECURES 7.9M IN FUNDING Ocean data company Xocean has completed a 7.9m funding round to support its international scaling plans. Founded in Co Louth in 2017, Xocean is transforming the way ocean data is collected using marine robotics known as unmanned surface vessels (USVs). The company has recently delivered projects for clients including BP, Equinor, PX Group and the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Currently Xocean has USVs in operation in the UK, Azerbaijan, Trinidad and Canada with plans to build an additional 22 USVs over the next 12 months and recruit an additional 140 employees to service the market demand.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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START-UPS

Rodhán Hickey, Technologist-in-Residence at The Digital Hub, Stephen Coyle, creator of the TiNK AR augmented reality treasure hunt game with Fiach Mac Conghail, CEO, The Digital Hub

Ben Hurley, CEO of NDRC; Dr Aisling O’Neill, ArcLabs Knowledge and Innovation Community Manager; Alex Martin, CEO of Miura RegTech

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE

100M MILESTONE IN ANGEL INVESTMENT HBAN, the organisation responsible for the promotion of business angel investment, has surpassed 100m invested in start-ups on the island of Ireland since 2007. Investment in start-ups from HBAN angels has leveraged an additional 170m in funding from other sources to date. Each year, HBAN’s business angels see around 150 company pitches with one in three receiving investment. HBAN research shows that the average business angel has invested in 4.7 companies. John Phelan, All-island Director, HBAN, said: “We are delighted to have reached the 100m milestone just four years after reaching 50m angel investment across the island of Ireland. It reflects the energetic start-up culture across our cities and regions.”

Kevin Sherry, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland; William McCulla, Director of Corporate Finance and Property Solutions, Invest NI; Margaret Hearty, Director of Programmes & Business Services, InterTradeIreland; and John Phelan, All-island Director, HBAN

NE TO WATCH: MIURA

The Digital Hub’s Immersive Tech Week took place from 14-20 November. It comprised of a series of events focused on learning and gaining hands-on experience with the latest in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology and how it can be applied to everyday experiences. The public exhibit in the Digital Exchange Building at the Digital Hub on Crane Street in Dublin 8 featured the TiNK AR augmented reality app game. Visitors also had the opportunity to put on an Oculus Quest virtual reality headset and experience a range of VR demos from epic rollercoaster rides to fighting in heavyweight boxing matches and journeys into space.

Led by CEO Alex Martin, Miura is a reg-tech company which automates the entire regulatory compliance process using document scanning and natural language processing technology. It imports rules from the regulator and automatically updates the changes to a firm’s policies, procedures and systems, all monitored in real-time by its compliance and audit departments, as well as the regulators themselves. Miura recently become the secondever winner of the NDRC at ArcLabs accelerator programme and subsequently won 25,000 in follow-on funding. “Miura excelled on the day due to the founder’s deep domain competence, and the very strong team he has around him,” said Ben Hurley, NDRC CEO, and one of the day’s judges. “There’s a clear customer focus to deliver a customer-led solution to an identified and verified problem, as well as a good application of technology to automate a manual process. RegTech is a very big market, ripe for disruption opportunities, if a start-up can find the right solution. Miura clearly knows its target market well and has a clear value proposition that delivers a measurable return on investment for the customer.”

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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09/01/2020 15:08

ENTREPRENEUR

FROM

ENTREPRENEUR: RICHARD KENNEDY

TO SOCIETY The winner of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 is Richard Kennedy, CEO of Belfast-based agri-tech company Devenish, which has grown from £5m turnover and 23 employees in 1997 to over £225m turnover and 500 employees in 2018. It supplies high-quality nutritional products for the agriculture and aquaculture industries in more than 50 countries.

Q: How is life and how is business at present?

RK: Both life and business are good at the moment.

There have been several positive developments and achievements within Devenish recently and it is my hope that this trend will continue into 2020.

That’s not to say we aren’t faced with challenges.

As an international business, Brexit has been a considerable challenge for us in the past 12 months.

The ongoing uncertainty and lack of clarity around Brexit has been an unnecessary distraction.

We also had a fire recently at our distribution centre in Belfast, but I’m extremely proud of the work that our team has done to minimise disruption and continue to deliver for our customers. Our people continue to work as a team to find solutions to every trial that comes our way and maintain excellence throughout.

Q: Would you say you always had a business head on

your shoulders?

RK: My interest in business stems back to working in

the family livestock mart from an early age. I always loved the engagement and interaction with customers.

That early introduction to the business of farming instilled in me a great interest in the agri-food industry.

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Q: What would you say has been the

secret to the success and impressive global growth of Devenish?

RK: A huge part of Devenish’s success is the ethos that our Founder and Executive Chairman, Owen Brennan, instilled in the business from the early days. As business, we’ve cultivated both a sense of integrity and entrepreneurial spirit within the DNA of Devenish and a culture that encourages our people to seek and grasp opportunity.

Our team are ultimately the key to the success and growth of the business. As CEO, no-one directly reports to me, but they do look to me for leadership. The emphasis is on me and other leaders in the business to be authentic and ensure everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

We have a clear set of values within the business – integrity; respect; authenticity; clarity; collaboration; empowerment; and excellence. We encourage each and every one of our colleagues to live our values in everything that they do. We tell our people not to see barriers or limits to where we can go. It’s important to not be afraid to try new ideas and potentially fail – provided we apply learnings from that failure.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

09/01/2020 15:10

ENTREPRENEUR

“We encourage each and every one of our colleagues to live our values in everything that they do. We tell our people not to see barriers or limits to where we can go.”

Richard Kennedy, CEO, Devenish

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ENTREPRENEUR Maintaining a positive outlook is invaluable, and always looking for the opportunities arising from challenges in any situation. Equally, courage and determination are crucial to ensure resilience. In Devenish we talk about a sense of ‘belligerent determination’ sometimes being required in business – the ability to keep striving for a goal in the face of challenge. Essentially ‘feeling the fear and doing it anyway.’

Q: What key lessons would you say you

Richard Kennedy, CEO, Devenish

EIB INVESTMENT In 2018 Devenish secured a a40m investment from the European Investment Bank (EIB) over a three-year period. This, combined with commitments from financial partners Ulster Bank and Danske Bank, makes a total long-term financial package of a118m.

This represents the largest ever support for agri-business in Ireland by EIB, which recognised Devenish’s unique ‘Soil to Society’ research, development and innovation programme. It acknowledged that the company’s “development of new animal nutrition products and research into improving soil, animal, human health and environmental sustainability, are crucial components for the success of agriculture and food production across the world”.

The investment is already delivering results for the business and will continue to do so long-term, according to CEO Richard Kennedy. “One of the key things the funding has enabled us to progress is our investment into the Devenish Global Innovation Centre in Dowth, Co Meath,” he notes.

Q: How are things progressing with your Global Innovation Centre in Dowth, Co Meath?

RK: Our plans are progressing well. We will use the Global Innovation Centre as the core hub for all Devenish’s research and innovation.

From there, our various sector leads from around the world will coordinate our global innovation strategy. The centre is based within an inspirational landscape – the lands at Dowth provide the ideal backdrop for Devenish’s work into sustainable agriculture and promoting human health through nutrition.

Q: What are your mantras in business and

how have they kept you going and your business growing?

RK: A phrase I always cite is: “you don’t always get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get.” This is an important lesson in understanding real value in business.

For me within Devenish it has helped me to assess our projects, financial commitment and the markets we operate in.

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“AS CEO, NO-ONE DIRECTLY REPORTS TO ME, BUT THEY DO

LOOK TO ME

FOR LEADERSHIP. THE EMPHASIS IS ON ME AND OTHER LEADERS IN THE BUSINESS

TO BE AUTHENTIC AND ENSURE EVERYONE

HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULFIL THEIR POTENTIAL.”

have learned as CEO of Devenish?

RK: The key to a successful leadership role is identifying great people and helping them to unlock their potential.

I have learned the importance of giving people the trust and time they need to deliver results. Devenish’s success stems from our commitment to teamwork, collaboration and stretching our people, resources and infrastructure. I place my trust and confidence in the people around me and they place their trust in me too.

Q: Can you highlight some recent key

achievements/news at Devenish?

RK: I was both humbled and proud to be

named Ireland’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 in November. This was truly an honour and I accepted the accolade on behalf of the talented, skilled people I work alongside. Enriching that team is an ongoing process. We recently welcomed 10 graduates into the business as part of a two-year development programme and launched our first ever apprenticeship programme, which will help employees within our production and distribution operations gain formal qualifications. It is also with great pride that we saw our founder Owen Brennan being recognised with an OBE for services to the Northern Ireland agricultural food industry.

Q: Where would you like to be with

Devenish in five years’ time?

RK: As an employer, we are, first and

foremost, committed to being a great place to work for our people – who are so very central to our future success.

We will continue to build and grow Devenish’s work, particularly developing our global footprint. Our vision is ‘One Health – from Soil to Society’, and ultimately, we will remain focused on developing sustainable solutions that positively and proactively impact upon human health across the world.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

09/01/2020 15:11

FEATURE

SNAP

CHAT Joanna Murphy, CEO, Taxback.com

“Sprintax has experienced rapid growth since its launch and has been really well received in the US – so much so that it is now the non-resident tax solution of choice for eight of the 10 major US universities which is a major achievement for us.”

Established in Dublin in 1996, Taxback.com provides specialist tax return services to private and corporate clients. With 27 offices worldwide and a staff of over 1,200, it recently won a significant Australian legal challenge on behalf of backpackers.

With the number of non-resident international students in the US spiralling to over one million in recent years, we recognised that these students faced significant challenges while fulfilling their tax obligations each year.

It was virtually unheard of for an organisation such as ours to take on the might of a federal taxation system on behalf of a somewhat vulnerable community like the backpackers and then go on to win.

Our core goal is to make tax filing easier for people all over the world. Although we have changed and adapted with various legislative, “We currently offer tax regulatory and technological developments, filing and refund services we never lose sight of this goal.

Instagram has facilitated the development of whole new entrepreneurial sectors and new income streams for ‘influencers’ who can earn an income promoting products and services online for big brands. There has been a surge in self assessment as a result of such trends as anyone who generates an income from non-PAYE employment is required to file a tax return.

We have been able to ride the changes in the business and economic landscape as they come and continually ask: ‘what do our customers want and how can we make their lives easier?’ We also focus greatly on creativity – we are proud of the innovations we have developed to help our customers.

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for individuals in 12 countries and

we see huge opportunity to extend our reach even further”.

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COVER STORY

Orla Murray, SON Photographic

IF YOU CAN SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT HASN’T YET BEEN SOLVED THEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE OF GETTING BUSINESS. INNOVATION ISN’T JUST ABOUT PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, SOME OF IT WILL BE YOUR BUSINESS MODEL, YOUR PROCESSES AND MAYBE HOW YOU ACCESS MARKETS.”

Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland

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DRIVE TO DIVERSIFY As CEO of Enterprise Ireland Julie Sinnamon has been a significant influence on the success of Irish industry during her six-year tenure. Balanced regional development, R&D, diversification and female entrepreneurship are the key areas she is keen to progress even further into the future.

W

hether it's a lighting company creating jobs in a small village in Co Monaghan or a major agricultural trade fair in New Zealand, CEO of Enterprise Ireland Julie Sinnamon has been there to see the level of innovation and international sales growth Enterprise Ireland client companies are capable of and witness the difference the agency’s efforts are making on the ground.

“Mullan Lighting in Co Monaghan is a great role model in the eurozone. With a focus on quality and design, it has achieved significant growth in the French market, which illustrates how Irish companies can develop strong positions in niche sectors,” she says. “Our trade mission to the National Agricultural Fieldays in New Zealand showed how strong the agri-tech sector is for Ireland. The agri-machinery developed by Irish companies is also suitable for New Zealand as it has a similar grass-based agri-system.”

BALANCED REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT According to Sinnamon, there is a stronger focus on the regions outside Dublin today than at any other time in Enterprise Ireland’s history. Its ‘Powering the Regions’ strategy launched last summer sets out nine region-specific plans with new and existing measures to develop each region’s innate and unique strengths. Encouraging partnership and collaboration with regional stakeholders is a core element of the strategy.

Enterprise Ireland has been central in running the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) which has allocated a60m in funding to 42 different strategic projects under its first two calls. The third call is currently being concluded.

An important aspect of the REDF has been to support a number of hubs to facilitate employees of companies based in other locations to work remotely in a

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Orla Murray, SON Photographic

community environment. These have included The Ludgate Hub, a 10,000 sq ft co-working space with high-speed connectivity which is having a transformational effect on Skibbereen and surrounding areas and Galway City Innovation District, which secured REDF funding to provide a second building incorporating co-working space and is aiming to support 780 jobs directly and indirectly.

Sinnamon highlights that in specific regions there has been significant investment in some really interesting collaborative projects under the Powering the Regions strategy. Expected to be fully operational by May 2021, the Bioconnect Innovation Centre in Co Monaghan is one of these.

“This project is really great. It involves a number of companies such as Monaghan Mushrooms and academic partners coming together to establish a research centre to support the future growth of the bioeconomy,” she says. There is also the community-driven Irish Bioeconomy Project at Lisheen Mine, Co Tipperary where big players are working together to promote the conversion of natural land and sea resources into high-value products.

“We are prioritising region by region what we believe will have the biggest impact in maximising the potential of those regions,” says Sinnamon. “There is a bigger appetite today for companies to look outside Dublin. One of the things we have focused on is encouraging companies to set up second sites in regional locations. Once you can point to successes, others will follow.” A recent example of this in action is Kilkenny-based Carne Group, which is creating 50 jobs at its new financial services centre in Wexford.

Last July, Enterprise Ireland announced the launch of the a8.25m Regional Technology Clustering Fund, which is focused on small businesses engaging with institutes of technology and technical universities. “An OECD report highlighted that Ireland is not as developed on the clustering side as it needs to be. The

Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland

GOING FORWARD OUR STRATEGY IN THIS AREA WILL HAVE MORE EMPHASIS ON THE IMPACT OF R&D – IN OTHER WORDS THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT COME OUT OF IT – TO ENSURE THE BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR BOTH ENTERPRISE IRELAND AND INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES. Innovation Voucher scheme was a first step towards small companies accessing what’s available to them in institutes of technology for specific projects,” Sinnamon explains. “It has been really successful in terms of opening doors.

But what we are now trying to do is connect more companies with each other with the commitment of the institutes of technology behind them.”

R&D AND INNOVATION With the pace of technological change accelerating, Enterprise Ireland has a specific focus at the moment on trying to increase the spend on research and development (R&D) by companies themselves.

“Overall investment in R&D by Enterprise Ireland client companies increased by 5.6% to a970m in 2018, but stronger growth is required to reach our 2020 target for companies to spend a1.25bn on R&D,” says Sinnamon.

“Going forward our strategy in this area will have more emphasis on the impact of R&D – in other words the products and services that come out of InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

09/01/2020 15:15

it – to ensure the best return on investment for both Enterprise Ireland and individual companies.”

ESRI research conducted on behalf of Enterprise Ireland shows that product lifetimes in export markets average one to three years. Even for larger companies, less than 50% of products survive more than two years – making the case for continuous innovation even more compelling.

“When we go overseas, the one thing that differentiates Irish companies that are successful from the rest is innovation,” notes Sinnamon. “If you can solve a problem that hasn’t yet been solved then you have a chance of getting business. Innovation isn’t just about product development, some of it will be your business model, your processes and maybe how you access markets.”

During 2019, Enterprise Ireland undertook a series of roadshows across the country to make R&D investment more accessible to companies of all sizes. It is also bundling innovation training with other supports such as Lean programmes to make its offering more user-friendly. “We want to get companies to look at technology roadmaps and the relevant technologies coming down the line so that they have a plan to deal with them,” says Sinnamon.

SME participation is mandatory for projects funded by the a500m Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, which supported 21 projects under its first call. “Typically these projects involve a large multinational working with a research institution and an SME. This type of knowledge transfer is really important in driving innovation generally,” notes Sinnamon.

DIVERSIFICATION Following the Brexit vote in 2016, the UK will continue to be an important market for Irish exporters. However, it is inevitable that whatever the final shape of Brexit, Irish exporters must have a diversified approach, according to Sinnamon.

Enterprise Ireland’s diversification strategy has resulted in exports InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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to the UK dropping from 44% of the total in 2007 to 33% in 2018.

Enterprise Ireland clients recorded total export sales of a23.8bn in 2018, representing a 6% increase on 2017, and also opened 402 new physical presences outside Ireland.

The eurozone is a key focus area for Enterprise Ireland’s diversification plan. It is currently piloting a new programme called Enter the Eurozone, being delivered by the European School of Management and Technology in Berlin. With the pilot involving 19 companies understanding how to do business in Germany and France and coming up with a specific plan, the programme will be widely rolled out in 2020.

“Over 1,500 new contracts were won by client companies in the eurozone in 2018. Irish companies should look at the eurozone as an extension of our own market,” says Sinnamon. “We are working with over 500 companies to help them to expand there. A lot of our eurozone events bring groups of companies together to share experiences and issues.”

Over the course of last year, Enterprise Ireland opened a number of new overseas offices, all specifically chosen in terms of the potential for Irish companies to strengthen their presence in these locations. The total number of overseas offices now stands at 40.

“Munich and Lyon were chosen as we believe there is a lot of untapped opportunity in Bavaria and the South of France. Our goal is to grow everywhere outside the UK by 50% by the end of 2020,” says Sinnamon.

To support clients in expanding their reach, Enterprise Ireland has increased the scope and volume of its trade missions. There was a total of 207 international trade and domestic events in 2019 – with 34 trade missions to the US alone, as well as various inward buyer events. “We are finding success with sector-specific trade missions, which are generating a cluster effect among companies. As the number of companies we have in particular sectors grows this has become easier to do.”

Entrepreneurship This month, Enterprise Ireland will publish its 2020 Action Plan for Women in Business, which seeks to grow a dynamic community of women entrepreneurs and women-led enterprises achieving international scale.

“We are evolving the female entrepreneurship strategy to go beyond start-ups. About two-thirds of the founders of our start-ups come from middle and senior management in existing companies. Currently, about 20% of middle and senior management in existing companies are female. If you want to grow the pool of entrepreneurs for the future, you have to take the longer-term view,” says Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland. “In addition, all of the evidence is that companies with gender diversity have stronger results.”

In 2011, female-led high potential start-ups represented only 7% of all Enterprise Ireland supported startups. Thanks to tailored supports and initiatives since then, over one fifth of the new 132 start-ups supported by Enterprise Ireland in 2018 were female-led.

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INDUSTRY FEATURE

rooms improvement Activity is the name of the game in the hotel sector, with robust investor interest and a healthy pipeline of new developments, particularly in Dublin, writes GRAINNE ROTHERY.

for

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INDUSTRY FEATURE

R

oom rates and occupancy levels in 2019 may not have enjoyed quite the same upward trajectory as in the previous two or three years, but Ireland’s hotel sector continues to perform well and is attracting strong investor demand.

By the end of September, transaction activity in the hotel market across the country had reached 221m across 12 deals, compared with 79.3m in the first three quarters of 2018, according to figures from Cushman & Wakefield.

Big ticket deals in 2019 included the sales of Powerscourt Hotel and Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort, both in Co Wicklow.

The five-star Powerscourt Hotel was bought for over 50m by the MHL Collection, a consortium led by US billionaire John Malone, which has built up a portfolio of luxury hotels in recent years, including The InterContinental Dublin, The Westin, The Morgan and The Spencer.

Druids Glen, which hosted the Irish Open four times between 1996 and 1999, was purchased for around 45m by Neville Hotel Group, owner of the Royal Marine in Dun Laoghaire, the Kilkenny River Court and The Tower in Waterford.

At the end of the third quarter, 169m worth of hotel properties were also sale agreed,

Motel One

according to Cushman & Wakefield. Several closed before the end of the year, including the 192-room Conrad Dublin, which was bought by Archer Hotel Capital for around 115m.

Archer is a specialist European hotel investment vehicle that was set up in December 2018 and is jointly owned by affiliates of APG Asset Management and GIC. While the company already had a portfolio of 10 hotels in London, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin and Stockholm, this is its first acquisition and its first Irish property.

“WHAT ALL OF THESE SALES INDICATED WAS THE LEVEL OF INTEREST FROM INTERNATIONAL HOTEL INVESTORS IN DUBLIN.”

Conrad Dublin

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DUBLIN POTENTIAL Speaking at a Crowe event in Dublin in October several weeks ahead of the announcement, Archer Capital’s Director, Portfolio and Fund Management, Guy Pasley-Tyler, said his team strongly believes in the long-term potential of the Dublin hotel market and was actively seeking investments in the city.

He said Dublin’s high proportion of international visitation and strong links with the US economy would be complementary to other assets in his company’s portfolio. These factors, he said, could also enable the Dublin market to out-perform other similar sized European cities over the long term, notwithstanding any shortterm challenges.

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INDUSTRY FEATURE

Another new arrival to Ireland is Parisheadquartered Convivio, which has agreed to buy the Hilton Hotel Kilmainham from Apollo Global Management for a45m. Apollo is buying the hotel as part of its acquisition of the Tifco Group in 2018. Tifco will continue to manage the hotel.

The Marker Hotel in the Docklands has also recently gone sale agreed, with German investor Deka Immobilien reportedly paying a135m for the five-star, 187-room property, which had been guiding at a125m. It’s understood that the hotel will be rebranded under the Anantara brand.

Deka already has a number of Irish assets, including – on the hotels front – The Gibson and the former Burlington, which is now operated by Dalata as the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road.

Other recent significant transactions in Dublin include the sale of the Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links to Canadian operator Northland Properties for a50m, and Deutsche Finance International’s purchase of The Central Hotel for a40m in a joint venture with BCP Capital.

“What all of these sales indicated was the level of interest from international hotel investors in Dublin,” says John Hughes, Director, Hotels and Licensed, CBRE. “Demand continues to outstrip supply, particularly for hotels and aparthotel opportunities in Dublin City Centre.”

TOURISM EFFECT The strength of Ireland’s tourism industry has helped fuel demand from investors. In the first half of 2019, over 5 million people visited Ireland, up 3.5% over the same period in 2018.

Figures from CBRE indicate that average room rates in Dublin were a193.50 in the eight months to the end of August, a 2.1% fall over the previous August. Occupancy stood at 81.9% (down 2.5%), while revenue per available room (RevPar) was a158.50 (down 5%).

“We have been used to double-digit increases in some cases and it’s probably levelled out to a more sustainable level,” says Hughes. “The underlying demand drivers and economic indicators certainly suggest that there’s still strong demand for hotel rooms in the city centre. With what’s coming on stream there is absorption for those rooms.”

Isobel Horan, Associate Director, Trading Assets at Cushman & Wakefield, does not consider these decreases as significant. “Dublin has had the highest occupancy rates in Europe for several years at well in excess of 80%,” she says. “A more normalised market would be mid to high 70s. We don’t want to get into a position where we’re too expensive and people stop coming to Ireland.”

Dublin continues to perform ahead of most major European cities in terms of occupancy as it 24

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Aloft Dublin City

has for the past four years or so, says Gerardo Larios Rizo, Head of Hospitality Sector at Bank of Ireland Business Banking. “This makes the city very attractive for investors.

International brands in particular see the opportunity in the Irish market due to the comparatively low number of branded hotel operations.”

Rizo points out that less than 10% of the room stock in Ireland is currently owned or operated by international brands. A number of these brands – including Yotel, Room2 and City ID – are actively looking for opportunities. Several others have recently opened or will do so over the next year or two, including Moxy, Hyatt Central, Aloft, Motel One, Locke and Hard Rock Hotel.

DEVELOPMENT DRIVE The heightened demand for hotel properties, combined with the comparatively low number of hotels available for sale in the market, has led to an exponential increase in the number of development planning applications, in Rizo’s view. “The development pipeline for Dublin alone exceeds 13,000 bedrooms, including hotel extensions and new builds,” he says.

Almost half of these are expected to be delivered over the next four or five years. Speaking recently at an industry event on the changing landscape of the Irish hotel industry, Crowe partner Aiden Murphy said that from the start of 2019 to the end of 2024, the number of rooms in Dublin will increase from 19,000 to 25,000, or by 30%. This follows a 3% increase in supply between 2013 and 2018 when demand was up by 13%.

New supply is already changing the landscape.

According to Hughes, just over 1,200 new rooms were delivered to the Dublin hotel market during 2019.

New openings included The Moxy Hotel on Sackville Place, which saw the refurbishment of a 1970s office block to create a four-storey, 157-room boutique property. The Moxy is Marriott International’s ‘experiential’ brand – as well as rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, rain showers and 49-inch smart TVs, extras include a cocktail on InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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INDUSTRY FEATURE

arrival, bedtime stories for adults and the chance to party with the dedicated ‘Moxy Crew’.

Another new arrival – also from Marriott International – is the four-star Aloft in Blackpitts in Dublin 8, which opened in Q1. The 202-room property is operated by Pembroke Hospitality.

The largest addition to the Dublin scene during the year was the 55m 300-room Marlin Hotel on Bow Lane, which began trading during the summer. Open for business since November is the 234-room Hyatt Centric The Liberties. It’s the first Hyatt branded hotel in Ireland and is being managed by Hodson Bay Group.

Just across the river, the 146-bed Hendrick in

Construction has not yet started on any new hotels or extensions in Limerick but there is a pipeline of 165 bedrooms.

“There are limitations as outside of Dublin construction costs per key are still in excess of capital value per key, therefore making construction unfeasible,” says Horan.

At the moment, Press Up Entertainment is developing Dean hotels in Galway and Cork.

Meanwhile, Premier Inn, which already has one hotel up and running at Dublin Airport and will be opening three more in the capital from early 2021, also recently announced its first hotel in

The Marker Hotel

Smithfield – which describes itself as the city’s first ever street art hotel – opened in the second quarter of the year. Developed by the Dublin Loft Company, the Hendrick is operated by Tifco Hotels. It’s also now on the market through London agency Eastdil Secured with a price tag of around 50m.

SPLIT OF ACTIVITY Dublin continues to be the focus of the vast majority of new development, with 87% of activity happening in the capital, according to Cushman & Wakefield. New builds are dominating construction activity, accounting for 70% of the total.

Cork has a pipeline of 2,000 rooms with 148 under construction, says the agency. The pipeline in Galway is 807 bedrooms, with 161 currently under construction.

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Cork, a 183-room property at Morrison’s Quay.

Planned openings over the next year or so include Ireland’s first Hard Rock Hotel in Temple Bar, Motel One on Middle Abbey Street, The Mayson on North Wall Quay, and the Wren on Andrew’s Lane.

On the transactions side, we can expect to see more high-profile assets being offered in 2020.

Hughes says the volume of pent-up demand for prime hotel opportunities and the depth of capital looking to deploy is encouraging some vendors to consider bringing their assets to the market. “At this juncture, we have visibility on a good pipeline of product due to be launched for sale during the first half of 2020, including some Dublin properties.”

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MENTORS

: @dexaldesign

MENTOR: ENDA O’COINEEN

STAYING THE COURSE

Having recently launched a new book, Journey to the Edge, Galway businessman and adventurer Enda O’Coineen feels strongly about the importance of taking calculated risks in business and in life, writes EITHNE DUNNE.

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MENTORS

F

or most of us, losing a mast while alone on a boat 200 miles off the coast of New Zealand might be enough to put us off sailing for life. Not so for seasoned businessman and mariner Enda O’Coineen, whose only thought on making it back to dry land was how soon he could go back out and complete his solo circumnavigation of the globe.

The founder and partner of Kilcullen Kapital Partners – most recently in the news because of its takeover of the Sunday Business Post last year – was the first ever Irish competitor in the Vendée Globe around-theworld race in 2017. Despite disaster striking his first attempt, he went back and completed it the following year – astonishing everyone with his sheer tenacity in the process.

He recounts in heart-stopping detail his experiences on the race – among other things – in his latest book, Journey to the Edge. In many ways it was a journey shaped by the same characteristics as his business career: ambition, risk (of the calculated sort), and an unquenchable thirst for adventure.

THE BACK STORY A former Irish Times journalist, Galwayman O’Coineen has been involved in a plethora of successful business ventures over the years.

With experience in investment management, international multi-channel sales and brand building, he has played a key role in various turnarounds and start-ups.

Having founded several magazines, as well as Aquabroker Insurance, in Ireland, he moved to Prague in the Czech Republic where he pulled off what he says is his proudest business achievement to date. He’s referring to his founding of the Czech and Slovak Credit Bureaus, to enable the sharing of credit information between financial institutions. “This was the first such credit agency in a former communist country, and was transformative for the economy,” he says.

A complex project, it saw O’Coineen pulling together numerous stakeholders, including the heads of the country’s seven banks, to agree on a common platform.

He went on to start a mortgage business there, as well as Globix Telecom. The initial investment in the latter was US$150,000; he sold it four years later at a value of US$35m.

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With Kilcullen Kapital Partners, he has led major brownfield investments in manufacturing including the acquisition of ZPA and its transformation into a smart metering manufacturer. He was also a founding partner in renewable energy fund Enercap, and oversaw the purchase, restructure and sale of the Prague Stock Exchange building.

His latest dry-land venture is of course the Sunday Business Post, which Kilcullen Kapital Partners acquired last year. O’Coineen’s early years as a journalist have, he says, helped him when it came to thinking laterally about this latest project. The new owners of the paper are reinventing it as a digital business, while keeping the print version. Hugely passionate about the project, O’Coineen says he has travelled to Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the US for inspiration. “It’s a very strong brand, and the more we get into it, the more excited we get by it.”

Once the business is profitable, O’Coineen intends to divert some of that profit into community projects in line with one of his core beliefs: that keeping business part of the community is a mutually beneficial approach. And this is not just vague aspiration; O’Coineen has form in this area.

He is founding president of the Atlantic

“WITHOUT BEING BULLISH, IT’S A CORE

ATTRIBUTE OF SUCCESS THAT IF YOU

SET OUT TO DO SOMETHING

AND IT’S HUMANLY POSSIBLE AND MAKES SENSE, YOU SHOULD DO IT. SUCCESS IS ABOUT

SETTING GOALS, SO IF

YOU DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING,

SET THAT GOAL.”

Enda O’Coineen

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MENTORS

ENDA O’COINEEN ON...

THE BIGGEST LESSONS HE LEARNT “Firstly, don’t give up. Secondly, there’s a solution to every problem. And thirdly, the secret to good navigation is to steer around the rocks. You can extrapolate that to a business situation where you come across a difficult person. Look for what they need, and try to navigate around them; remember, conflict doesn’t always bear rewards.”

MAKING MISTAKES “Of course I have made mistakes in business; I have spent time and money on projects that haven’t subsequently worked. When this happens, it’s usually because either the market simply wasn’t there to the degree you thought, or the people executing it were the wrong people for the task. Generally you’ll have a good hunch about the market, so invariably failure comes from people not doing what they say they’ll do.

Being able to walk away if something is not working out is a skill in itself. And it’s another skill to keep something in reserve, because sometimes you have to be able to afford to fail.”

EDUCATION “Unlike in the past, some form of third-level education is now necessary for anyone looking to make it in business. But too much of it can be very limiting, as you’ll learn about all the restrictions and everything that can go wrong. This can lead to your becoming much more risk averse.

Sometimes, innocence is bliss.”

Youth Trust, whose raison d’être is to introduce over 1,000 young people annually to ‘ocean adventure, challenge and personal development’.

He is also a founding, voluntary chairman of the Volvo Ocean Race project in Galway, which has generated over a100m for the local economy.

Journey to the Edge, published by Ballpoint Press, is available now, priced £14.99.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF GOALS When O’Coineen’s first attempt at his global circumnavigation went askew, there was never a question of giving up on the idea. Instead, it was straight back to the drawing board to plan the remainder of the voyage.

“Without being bullish, it’s a core attribute of success that if you set out to do something and it’s humanly possible and makes sense, you should do it. Success is about setting goals, so if you decide to do something, set that goal. Mine was to do a solo circumnavigation and I was

“SOME OF

THE GREAT THINGS

WE ENJOY TODAY

WOULD NOT EXIST IF PEOPLE HADN’T TAKEN RISKS; IN FACT, MOST OF WHAT WE ENJOY IN SOCIETY TODAY WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED

WITH THE RULES WE HAVE NOW.”

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MENTORS

single-mindedly focused on it,” he explains.

That doesn’t mean, he says, that you can’t adjust your goals as you go along – something he knows only too well after his experience on the Vendée Globe. While he says his “whole world fell apart” when he lost his mast, at the time he was just glad he hadn’t been washed over the side with it and, after the initial shock, he recalibrated his goals.

“My new goal was to survive the next two hours [which he did by cutting away the mast and rigging to stop it from pulling the boat over]. After that, my next goal was to get to safety on the South Island.” Which, of course, he did.

AVOID RISK AT YOUR PERIL With an entire chapter in his book devoted to the topic of risk, O’Coineen writes that “everything I have learned about adventure, life and success is about taking risk”. Indeed, the concept of risk InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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– and what O’Coineen sees as its lamentable lack in today’s society – is as much a part of this book as his voyage.

“Some of the great things we enjoy today would not exist if people hadn’t taken risks; in fact, most of what we enjoy in society today would never have happened with the rules we have now.”

Ever the real-world businessman, he gives a real-world example: “Say you wanted to start a rail network. You’d have to have an environmental impact study, planning permission, a feasibility study, a cost-benefit analysis, and so on. Yes, you might eventually build it, but it might take you five years.”

He relates a recent experience of his that perfectly illustrates how maligned the notion of risk has become. For the launch of Journey to the Edge, O’Coineen initially wanted to mark the occasion by breaking a bottle (in much the same way that you would launch a vessel). But the suggestion initiated a raft of worries, objections and insurance-related anxieties about potential damage to people or property. It’s a trivial example, yet captures precisely the risk-averse nature of our society.

In fact O’Coineen’s circumnavigation venture was about much more than fulfilling a longheld dream on his part. It was in many ways also a nod to freedom, flying in the face of what O’Coineen sees as a pervasive and damaging distaste for risk – in business or in life – and a widespread obsession with safety.

“There are so many rules and regulations that it’s almost impossible to do anything,” he says.

“It’s all about protection now. What I did was break out of that, by stepping out of my daily life and setting this big, hairy, audacious goal.”

That’s not to say that O’Coineen was cavalier about his maritime exploits; yes he took risks, but none that weren’t calculated or thoroughly premeditated. And all of this translates directly into business, he says.

“People might say I was mad [to undertake the voyage], but it was calculated; I would not be here if it was an inordinate degree of risk. We are living in a risk-averse society, and that kind of society doesn’t develop. That’s a fundamental of entrepreneurship and business – agility, and a willingness to try new things.”

Despite this, he says entrepreneurs have to keep pushing ahead with their ideas. “Ultimately, if you think too much about doing something you’ll never do it. If you have a hunch, it’s better to have tried [and failed] than never to have tried at all.

There are still lots of opportunities if people are willing to work and drive their belief forward.”

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SMALL BUSINESS FEATURE

PROMOTING

SAFETY

Founded by qualified pharmacist Leonora O’Brien, Pharmapod is tackling the problem of medication errors with a software platform which is now being widely used to reduce errors as well as drive standards and continuous improvement in the global pharmacy sector.

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Q: Why did you decide to set up Pharmapod and how did you come up with the idea?

LOB: Back in 2009, as chief pharmacist for the largest group of pharmacies in Ireland I was accountable for the professional and ethical compliance of all pharmacies in the group.

One of the key aspects of that role was reviewing errors that happened with medication and supporting the pharmacists in ensuring they were dealt with appropriately. This was a highly manual process, requiring the faxing of paper-based forms and multiple phone calls and emails back and forth with the pharmacists, prescribers and patients involved.

It became apparent to me early on that similar types of errors were happening across the pharmacies, but there was no effective way of analysing the data and sharing the learnings to improve things. I knew there

had to be a better way, both in terms of making it easier to record when things go wrong and being able to learn from and share improvements to make the system safer for patients – that’s how the idea of Pharmapod came about.

Over the next few years, I set about fleshing out the concept and my vision for the company. Our first customers began using the system in 2012/13.

Q: What is different and compelling about what Pharmapod offers?

LOB: Pharmapod is the first international platform of its kind to have the goal of helping pharmacists to share with their own team locally as well as pooling that data centrally so that we can drive system change on an international level.

We provide tools within the platform to help users to engage in continuous quality improvement and to better understand where the opportunities are to improve safety for their patients.

The problem that

Pharmapod is solving is a global one: The World Health Organisation has set ‘Medication Without Harm’ as its third patient safety challenge – the aim is to reduce severe avoidable harm from medication errors by 50% over the next five years.

As a professionally-led organisation, Pharmapod is ideally placed to help tackle this challenge on a global scale. We were delighted earlier this year to sign a partnership agreement with the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in recognition of the role we play in this area.

Q: How have you grown and developed the business?

LOB: In 2012, I gave up my job to focus on this work full-time, and in November 2012, Pharmapod officially launched to market.

There are 32 of us on the Pharmapod team now and we have plans to grow this to 50 by end 2020. We have diversity by design, with a 50% split between male and

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SMALL BUSINESS FEATURE

female team members and eight different nationalities represented. Our colleagues are mainly based in Canada, the UK and Ireland but we intend to open an office in New Zealand in the New Year. We’re developing a “follow the sun” support model to provide a roundthe-clock support for our customers. Currently the average response time for our live-chat function is less than a minute.

Q: How important is Canada to the business and what has Pharmapod achieved there?

LOB: Working in Canada is of huge importance to us.

With the Ontario pharmacy regulator, we have implemented the largest medication program of its kind in Canada, the AIMS (Assurance & Improvement in Medication Safety) program. This sees the Pharmapod system in use by over 4,300 pharmacies in Ontario. Pharmacists report patient safety incidents on the Pharmapod platform.

We have created a response team of medication safety experts across Canada and beyond who analyse the data and publish bulletins and alerts back to the stakeholders about errors that have occurred, what the contributory factors are and how to prevent these issues recurring. This information is made available to the public so we are helping to drive transparency and accountability across the sector.

We have also partnered with the Canadian Pharmacists Association, which shares the same vision for patient safety.

Leonora O’Brien, founder and CEO Pharmapod

The reporting of errors is gradually becoming mandatory across provinces in Canada, where we currently provide a solution for 60% of the pharmacies.

Q: What potential do you believe exists for Pharmapod in Canada and other international markets?

LOB: Our initial focus has been on medication errors within pharmacies and we have recently launched additional functionality to do the same within long-term care; our first customer is already live in Canada. We are also expanding into markets such as the US, New Zealand and Australia with more countries to follow.

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Q: What are the biggest challenges you face as a small business?

LOB: In our business we must continue to reinvest to grow quickly when we have the opportunity.

We recruit the best team members possible and have been successful in hiring great people. Focus is important – there is so much opportunity for us to grow the system and expand into new markets, we need to balance that opportunity with executing with excellence.

Q: How do you deal with competition?

LOB: All good businesses have competitors; it validates the need for your product. We are the only system focused on

pooling and analysing both national and international data to address the problem on a global level. We embrace competition here at Pharmapod as it keeps us challenged and on our toes. We always speak well of our competitors.

You certainly come up against challenges and we have experienced anti-competitive behaviour. You have to be resilient, persistent and believe in your goals and vision and keep fighting the good fight.

Q: Any other news or expansion plans you can share with us?

LOB: We are very excited about the year ahead. 2020 will see us launch in New Zealand and the US and expand our current customer base across the long-term care sector as well as the international pharmacy sector – medication errors are a system-wide and global issue so we are executing a system-wide and global strategy to address the problem.

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MEDIA & MARKETING

As its name suggests, Galway start-up Video Sherpa helps to carry the load for companies when it comes to creating videos, which have become an increasingly attractive, versatile and effective marketing tool, writes BERNADETTE SAMPSON.

M

arried couple Anna and Andrew Downes have spotted a gap in the in the market for something invaluable for companies to use to make their lives easier when it comes to video production. Founded in June 2018, their company Video Sherpa took part in the Web Summit in Lisbon in November, where CEO Anna Downes spoke to InBUSINESS.

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: @dexaldesign

Video VICTORY

Anna Downes, CEO and Andrew Downes, Head Of Product Development Video Sherpa

Video Sherpa has developed innovative software that companies can use to create original video content through their own storytelling. The end-to-end guided filmmaking platform allows users to film, edit and publish their own video content via their smart phones. Based in Galway, Video Sherpa’s aim is to take the difficult work away from people from a technical perspective so they can concentrate on their own narrative.

Andrew is a professional videographer and Anna’s background is in marketing.

She worked in the cultural and educational InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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MEDIA & MARKETING

field for many years, at the British Council and with the Burren College of Arts doing marketing and communications.

Having worked with companies in the past to create video content for them if they had an event or product launch, they realised that companies needed a lot more frequent video content in today’s market compared to years ago. Anna had experience of helping companies with the storytelling aspect and Andrew with the technical and visual side.

They saw first-hand the power of video as regards customer engagement, sales or getting people to events. And they knew that to produce a video in-house was costly as it involved hiring a videographer every time they needed to create videos.

“We realised if we could take our expertise in video production and marketing and translate that into software that companies could use themselves – instead of producing a video in-house – we were onto something special,” says Downes. “We needed to make it as simple as possible for the customer and for the video content to be as high quality as their existing content and marketing materials.” Because Andrew is in charge of product development and Anna is over marketing and sales their skills complement each other in achieving these objectives.

INTERNATIONAL REACH It was a challenge at first but now the business is growing rapidly. In development with Video Sherpa for around 16 months now, the couple have been able to showcase their work to an international audience with the aid of trade shows. Prior to the Lisbon summit, they were at the Technology for Marketing showcase in London where Downes says she was “blown away by the response, there is so much demand from people for the product”.

Apart from Ireland, Downes sees the UK as one of its leading markets going forward. “We are delighted with the interest we have from the UK. From the Technology for Marketing showcase alone we came away with about 55 companies as potential clients. From the Lisbon summit we have 200 companies in the pipeline. And they are from a broad spectrum of industries and sectors, for example, people wanting video for training purposes, such as human resources training, and also for product demonstrations.”

She went on to say that “not only does InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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Video Sherpa reduce the cost of your technical support, it has huge potential in so many different areas and there are so many ways to use this service within a company.”

TOP TIPS CEO of Video Sherpa Anna Downes provides the following advice to anyone creating a video to promote themselves or their product or service.

Keep it short, keep it focused, and keep it engaging. You’re often the best storyteller yourself for your own work. It’s important not just to have someone speaking to camera but also to incorporate visuals. If it’s covering an event from your previous showcase, show it, if it’s a product, show the product – don’t just discuss the product in a theoretical way, show how you designed it and the progress you’ve made.

Video Sherpa gives clear, focused guidance, not just on what to shoot but how many clips you’ll need and the variety of shots so that the quality is very high. By doing that, it’s very simple to get the footage you need.

It saves people time because they’re not going to shoot tonnes of video that they’re not going to use.

VIDEO AND MARKETING The use of video by companies as part of their marketing activities has evolved expeditiously in the past few years. “We get so much video marketing through our social media fields; it’s a powerful way to communicate with people. You can really get an idea across succinctly through video which would take a lot more to explain through text.

Video conveys ideas quickly and that’s why it’s effective,” Downes points out.

“As consumers, we’re happy to sit down and watch a 60-second video but we wouldn’t be as happy to wade through a long document. Research has shown that 76% of us prefer to watch a video about a product than read about it.”

And the proof is there that video for marketing purposes works. UK design agency Digital Diode recently found that online video is a 600% more effective marketing tool than print and direct mail combined.

“Video as a medium increases sales, it increases engagement, it gets people to your venue, and it gets people to buy things. So many people have purchased items as a result of watching a video online about the item; it provides companies with that extra edge that makes them stand out. It improves things for companies in a very broad way,” says Downes.

VITAL SUPPORT Achieving High Potential Start-Up status from Enterprise Ireland last March has been invaluable to Video Sherpa, according to Downes. “Enterprise Ireland has been brilliant, not just from a monetary point of view but in terms of support with research funding and market research. It has also provided us with office space when we have travelled to Europe and the US to help us to break into new markets.”

Downes is aware that there is competition out there but believes that where Video Sherpa differs is that it helps companies in a unique and agile way in terms of producing their own video content. “Video Sherpa is changing the landscape so companies can do it themselves and this cuts down on those additional costs,” she says.

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09/01/2020 15:28

INNOVATION

TECH

An event in November targeted at secondary school students in the South West illustrated the extent to which industry and academia are willing to collaborate to foster a growing skilled STEM workforce into the future.

Thousands

of students, parents and teachers turned up at the Rochestown Park Hotel on 13 November for the STEM South West Industry & Careers Showcase to witness exhibitions and demonstrations from 60 of Ireland’s leading science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) organisations.

The free event, which has the potential to be rolled out elsewhere, aimed to spark the interest of a new generation of budding scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians and highlight the pathways to a successful STEM career in the region.

In addition to the demonstrations in virtual reality, robotics and astronomy, there were insightful talks from experts in the areas of construction, information technology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, electronics, weather forecasting, agri-technology, environmental engineering and cybersecurity.

The STEM South West body responsible for the event is made up of several industry stakeholders, including businesses that employ over 30,000 people in the region, local authorities and educational

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InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

09/01/2020 15:29

INNOVATION AND TECH

Shane and Orlaith Byrne from Gael Scoil Teaghlaigh Naofa Ballyphehane at the STEM South West 2019 showcase event

“THERE IS A

CLEAR NEED FOR A COORDINATED STRATEGY TO PROMOTE THE REGION, INCORPORATING THE

partners Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), University College Cork and Institute of Technology Tralee. The event is the brainchild of all of these organisations coming together to put on “an exhilarating and fascinating showcase of STEM in practice in some of the most dynamic and revolutionary companies in Ireland”.

“There is a clear need for a coordinated strategy to promote the region, incorporating the STEM industries within it, as a location in which talent has the opportunity to grow and thrive. This will leverage regional strengths while developing skills and competencies that can be utilised on a global basis,” says Mike Flannery, Director of Operations Technology Development at Johnson & Johnson and member of the STEM South West Executive Committee.

The need for proactive initiatives such as the STEM South West event is compelling.

Demand for STEM professionals and associate professionals in the EU is expected to grow by about 8% between now and 2025, much higher than the average 3% growth forecast for all occupations, according to European Commission figures. In 2019, there was an increase in the take-up of STEM subjects by 5% in the Leaving Cert, to 88,000. While this is increase is encouraging, there is widespread agreement that Ireland needs to build on these numbers.

“The success of this event is a testament to the passion and contribution of all those involved – from the organisers to the exhibitors and the attendees on the day. Every one of these people, organisations and companies are playing a very important part in the economic development of not just the South West region, but the country overall, and helping to secure Ireland’s attractiveness and competitiveness as an IT and STEM sector hub into the future,” says Flannery.

Khyra Sukardi, St Columba’s Douglas at the STEM South West 2019 showcase event

STEM INDUSTRIES

WITHIN IT, AS A LOCATION IN WHICH TALENT HAS THE

OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND THRIVE, LEVERAGING REGIONAL

STRENGTHS WHILE DEVELOPING SKILLS” InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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INNOVATION AND TECH

A CAREER IN STEM Pádraig Leahy, Managing Director of PLAS Consulting Engineers, shared his thoughts at the launch of the STEM South West Industry & Careers Showcase.

“I was lucky – I knew I wanted to do engineering since I was ten years old. But what I didn’t know was this innate passion would lead me to be a business owner. I honed my craft with other companies over the years but knew I had my own ideas that I needed to bring to fruition. And that was the start of my journey from start-up to heading up a consulting business that provides services to clients such as Kerry Group and Eli Lilly.

“The beauty of working in an area of STEM is that you can see the output of your input – whether that is the products or services you deliver to the end user, there is huge satisfaction in knowing that you yourself created something which can solve a problem for someone. I think if we can introduce this prospect to more young people from an early age then we would be doing them a great service and making a really positive impact on their future.”

PLAS Consulting Engineers was set up in Cork by Pádraig Leahy in 2007 to provide engineering and management services to the manufacturing industry. From a background in plastics it has expanded its operations to include the food and beverage, medical device, pharmaceutical and chemical and other sectors.

The following are some of the highlights from the STEM South West event, which demonstrate the level of innovation going on in the region at the moment.

COLLABORATIVE ROBOTS The first Irish distributor of the universal robot, in 2013, Innovative Total Solutions (ITS) showcased its ‘collaborative robots’ demonstration to attendees. Also known as cobots, this class of robot works interactively with humans. Based in Cork, ITS is a team of automation experts with roots in mechanical design and build engineering. Working with some of the biggest tech and pharma companies in the

Róisín Dalamba, Scoil Mhuire Ballincollig, Aislinn Henchy and Caoimhe Hency, Ballincollig Community School at the STEM South West 2019 showcase event

Sarah O’Shea from Regina Mundi enjoying the Analog Devices stall at the STEM South West 2019 showcase event

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world, the company has grown to become one of the leading automation integrators in Ireland, collaborating with Cobots.ie and other robotic companies to create bespoke, customisable, unique manufacturing solutions.

OUT OF THIS WORLD CIT’s Blackrock Castle Observatory (BCO) provided STEM South West participants with an ‘out of this world’ astronomy experience in StarDome, the observatory’s portable planetarium, in collaboration with the European Space Education and Resource Office. Chief Technology Officer and Senior Researcher at BCO Labs Alan Giltinan also presented a talk on ‘Ireland’s Space Strategy for Enterprise’, signalling Ireland’s commitment to establishing itself as a world leader in the new phase of an ever-evolving space sector, or ‘New Space’ as it is often called. Currently worth 350bn, the space industry is projected to be worth 1tr by 2030, according to a recent report by the European Investment Bank.

THE SCIENCE OF LIGHT In this exhibit from the Irish Photonic Integration Centre (IPIC) team at Tyndall National Institute, students got to see first-hand IPIC’s world-renowned work in areas such as optical communications, biophotonics, packaging and integration. Funded

by Science Foundation Ireland, IPIC works closely with over 30 industry partners to deliver world-leading photonic integration technology. With a diverse team of over 200 researchers located across Ireland’s leading universities and institutes of technology, IPIC has secured 37 awards in the highly competitive Horizon 2020 programme, representing an investment of 24m. Many of its technologies progress to market through companies such as Facebook Reality Labs, Agilent Technologies, Eblana Photonics and Rockley Photonics.

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10/01/2020 11:42

INNOVATION AND TECH

Mark O’Mahony, Carrigaline Community School, Rían Dennehy, Gael Colaiste Carrigaline, Liam Cooke, Gael Scoil Na Douglasais and Sam Cooke, Rochestown College at the STEM South West 2019 showcase event

ORTHOPAEDIC INNOVATION Currently employing 1,000 people in Cork, DePuy Synthes demonstrated some of the key technologies used in the manufacture of its orthopaedic products, which help to improve the quality of life of those in need of joint replacement surgeries. Part of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies, DePuy Synthes established its facility in Cork in 1997 where it manufactures orthopaedic knees and hips. It expanded in 2008 to include an innovation centre created to develop next generation orthopaedic products and processes for the global market. In 2015, the Cork site carried out a 53.2m expansion to open a new state-ofthe-art facility, which features a medical device test methods centre of excellence laboratory and a 3D printing innovation centre.

electromechanical kits. The DigiWiz solution offers sessions to primary schools, secondary schools, youth clubs, youth projects, after-school projects, birthday parties and summer camps. The aim is to allow young people to explore digital technology, such as coding, video editing and virtual reality and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) so they can identify their strengths in these areas. DigiWiz provides robot building workshops where young people build their very own robot that moves. Incorporating gears, motors, pulley systems, alternative power and electrical circuits, the robots are both fun and educational.

“FROM THE ORGANISERS TO THE EXHIBITORS AND THE ATTENDEES ON THE DAY. EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE, ORGANISATIONS AND COMPANIES ARE PLAYING A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NOT JUST THE SOUTH WEST REGION, BUT THE COUNTRY OVERALL” Laura Finlay and Áine Higgins from St Peter’s Community School Passage West in the CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory planetarium at the STEM South West 2019 showcase event

EXPLORING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY Learning platform DigiWiz provided hands-on activities to visitors with its demonstration on the construction of InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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09/01/2020 15:31

SKILLS& TALENT

W YN O L M N E O N

E

ED

APPLY

Among the many efforts to encourage more women to pursue careers in STEM is a new female-only tech apprenticeship now being offered by several companies including Dublin-based VRAI, writes DEREK NAGLE.

V

irtual and augmented content creation company VRAI is one of a number of companies now offering a unique female-only apprenticeship, the first of its kind in this country. Committed to having a diverse, gender-balanced team, VRAI is offering the apprenticeship to female applicants over the age of 18 who are interested in a career in the tech industry, particularly software engineering.

The apprenticeship is in collaboration with Females in Technology (FIT), an industry-led initiative which works closely with national education and training agencies as well as government departments and local development organisations. Some of the other companies supporting the new female-only apprenticeship 38

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include Microsoft, LinkedIn, ESB and Accenture.

VRAI was co-founded by Pat O’Connor, who has 20 years’ experience working in the Defence Forces, and long-time friend Niall Campion, whose background is in digital content creation and filmmaking. While recruiting they noticed that for every female applicant there were three to four male applicants, a gender imbalance they felt needed to be addressed. FIT contacted VRAI after hearing the founders discuss the topic in an interview, and once O’Connor and Campion learned about the FIT programme, they knew it was something they wanted to be part of.

“We are currently in full employment and yet only 25% of people working in STEM jobs in Ireland are women. This female-only tech apprenticeship is a really practical way to start addressing that imbalance,” says O’Connor. “I think the act of running and advertising for a female-only apprenticeship also helps to raise awareness among women about the opportunities that exist for them.”

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SKILLS AND TALENT

WORK AND STUDY The apprenticeship will involve a mixture of work and study. Those successful will spend the first six months in full-time studies.

They will then spend three days a week in the workplace and two days a week in study.

For the final six months they will be in the workplace four days a week and one day a week in study. At the end of the two-year period there will be an option for full-time work if both the apprentice and sponsoring company want to pursue it.

O’Connor has some solid advice for those considering applying: “We are looking for people who have a passion and enthusiasm to work in tech but may have never had the opportunity to gain the qualification before, or ended up doing something else that wasn’t really for them,” he says.

This apprenticeship is for software engineers so those applying should try to understand what that type of work entails and whether they are likely to enjoy it, he adds.

“There is no one type of software developer but the best ones I have met have a blend of curiosity, logic, creativity and problem solving. When we are hiring in VRAI we are ultimately looking for someone who is fundamentally helpful, who brings something different to our team and can solve problems.”

HEAT PROGRAMME Occupying two floors of the Skylab building at the edge of Dublin’s Temple Bar, VRAI employs 13 staff. The company is currently working with a vast array of companies including Samsung, IAG, the United Nations, ESB and the Irish Defence Forces.

The company has raised 575,000 through the Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start-Up Programme to develop its Hazardous Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) virtual reality training programme.

This allows employers to prepare workers for hazardous environments, but with reduced risk. VRAI’s ultimate aim is to reduce workplace deaths and serious injuries while improving operational performance.

The company is also part of the consortium Holistics, led by the Cork-based Tyndall National Institute, which earlier this year won a 7.4m grant from the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, established under Project Ireland 2040 and run by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation with support from Enterprise Ireland.

Having worked in The Defence Forces for InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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Niall Campion, Pat O’Connor and the VRAI team

two decades, O’Connor applies the principles he has learned in the military to business: “I have worked with many great leaders and organisational values are so important. In the military these values are loyalty, selflessness and moral courage. I think those values should be the foundation of any good organisation. We hope with VRAI we have created a company where people want to work and are happy,” he says.

VRAI has adopted the ‘Triple Bottom Line’ approach to business as it focuses not only on profit but also on people and planet. It has committed to producing shared value for shareholders, customers, employees and the community. As part of its efforts under ‘people’, the company is committed to having a diverse, gender-balanced team with people from many different cultures and backgrounds.

It has also committed to ensuring its workplace is inclusive and for that reason, doesn’t offer unpaid internships. “We believe that unpaid internships show a bias in favour of those from more privileged backgrounds whose parents can subsidise them working. We want to ensure that people can earn while they learn and the FIT tech apprenticeship is a great way to do that,” says O’Connor.

From day one, everyone on the apprenticeship will be sponsored by tech companies such as VRAI, so for candidates the first step is to find a sponsor though fit.ie.

The tech apprenticeship is for those over 18 who are eligible to live and work in Ireland and have five passes in Ordinary Level Leaving Cert (or equivalent) including English and Maths.

Candidates who wish to apply but who do not satisfy any of the standard entry requirements can submit a detailed synopsis of previous educational, life and/or work experience. The FIT Registrar or delegate will review such cases with regard to the FIT policy on access, transfer and progression.

GENDER IMBALANCE IN TECH:

25%

of those working in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are women (Daly, Farrell, Grimson & Smeaton, 2018).

2%

of apprentices completing training in October 2018 were women (Solas 2018).

9

times more girls sat Leaving Cert Biology than those who sat Physics in 2018 (CSO, 2019).

48%

of 2018 Junior Cert Science candidates were girls (CSO, 2019)

13%

of 2018 engineering graduates are women (Engineers Ireland, 2019)

12%

of engineering professionals are women (Engineers Ireland, 2018).

At third level, women continue to dominate biological sciences but are underrepresented in physics, maths, engineering and technology (witsireland.com).

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09/01/2020 15:33

BOOK EXTRACT

HERE IS SO MUCH POWER IN “ TACTIONS LIKE LIFESTYLE CHANGE BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES IT CUT POLLUTION, IT ALSO HELPS YOU TO

FIND YOUR VOICE.” In her latest book, Climate Justice: A Man-Made Problem with a Feminist Solution, Mary Robinson comprises stories of 12 individuals experiencing first-hand the effects of climate change and how ordinary people at a grassroots level can have a positive impact in addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues.

wo years into her new energy-saving lifestyle, Natalie had begun to think on a larger scale.

Reading up on the level of greenhouse gas emissions for the residential and commercial sectors, Natalie discovered that nearly 17% of greenhouse gas emissions were the product of 1.5 billion households around the world. These household emissions were caused by fossil fuel combustion for heating and cooking needs, electricity consumption, waste management, and leaks from refrigerators in homes and businesses.

In the US alone, individual households were responsible for 4% of global emissions, with the country responsible overall for 14% of global emissions. The apparel industry, generator of the garments and accessories that Natalie loved so much, was the second-largest industrial polluter, behind oil, and accounting for 10% of global carbon emissions.

As a businesswoman, Natalie understood that women were influential consumers, but could they also be powerful agents of change? Natalie knew nothing about running a movement, but could not resist a thought that refused to go away: Could she use the power of women in individual households to fight climate change? “If I could just bottle what had happened to me and share that with every woman that I knew, perhaps these women would want to change the way that they lived?” But how many women would it take to make a difference?

A thousand? Ten thousand? One million? That’s 40

040 InBUSINESS Winter 2019_Book Extract_V1.indd 40

when the idea struck: “I saw that I had saved all this money and helped curb pollution. I thought, ‘Wow, if I could do that just by being a little bit more vigilant around the house, imagine if millions of us were doing that? What would happen if we all cut our meat consumption just by 50%? Or if we got our electricity down by 20%? Or bought 50% less ‘stuff’? If somebody just does it on their own, you think, what difference will it make? But if whole communities do it – if the entire population lived differently – it changes the system. There is so much power in actions like lifestyle change because not only does it cut pollution, it also helps you to find your voice.”

In 2009, Natalie stepped away from her beauty products career and started 1 Million Women, an online movement to encourage women to cut back on their carbon emissions. Using a cleverly designed website, Natalie provided simple tips to help other women lower their household carbon footprint.

Using a simple “dashboard” on the website, 1 Million Women members logged on to record their energy-saving efforts each week noting how often they had turned off electrical appliances, bought local produce, recycled, or hung their laundry out to dry and then received a readout of their personal carbon footage. Natalie’s message and website were specifically targeted towards women of affluence living busy lives in consumer driven cities and suburbs. “If women and children of developing countries are the most vulnerable to climate change, then women from wealthy countries have so much to contribute to the solution through the way we live,” she said. “This is about lifestyle.”

Natalie struggled for some time to gain momentum with the 1 Million Women movement.

What was so easy to accomplish within her own home proved difficult to translate to a wider audience. Motivating behaviour change in Australia’s high consumption society was harder than it looked.

“I thought we would have a million women in six months, but it took a really long time because behaviour change is the elephant in the room.”

As Natalie worked to convey her message, many women complained that they couldn’t possibly fit yet one more to-do item into their busy lives.

Natalie, who in a short time had progressed from decreasing her electricity bill to starting a global movement, found their criticism hard to take. “I thought everyone should share my enthusiasm,” she said. “But I now understand that people view looking after the environment as an adjunct activity.

It’s always separate from how we live. If you think it is separate, of course you are going to wonder how can you fit it in?”

Natalie began to address, one by one, the lifestyle changes that 1 Million Women members were InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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BOOK EXTRACT

Mary Robinson speaking at Chambers Ireland Sustainable Business Breakfast

finding hardest to tackle, and to tailor her website around these needs. “That is what 1 Million Women is all about. That we are not perfect. This movement is not meant to make you feel guilty. It is meant to make you feel inspired that we are all doing this together, that we’re just all trying to do our best. You can’t go into total despair over the effects of climate change. You’ve just got to start and do one thing, and that leads to another, and before you know it, you are just living like that.”

Like many 1 Million Women members, I struggle to lower my own carbon footprint one item at a time. I am aware that air travel, critical for the success of our climate justice agenda, has a significant carbon footprint. I use too much paper, both at the office and at home. Unlike my youngest child, Aubrey, I am not a vegan. I am slowly taking steps towards becoming a vegetarian and eat less meat than I used to. I now assess which meetings I can attend by video conference rather than in person. My foundation mitigates my own carbon footprint by measuring the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that I expend through air travel and offsetting it through annual charitable donations to a climate change related organisation.

Like Natalie Isaacs, and the hundreds of thousands of 1 Million Women members, I learn as I go. But by undertaking this journey to reduce our carbon footprint, we can participate in a global movement that has a real capacity for change. When faced with the enormity of the climate change problem, it is easy to throw our hands up in the air and admit defeat.

But individual empowerment leads to confidence.

“It is so much easier to do nothing, but you’ve got to get over that when it comes to climate change,” said Natalie. “Just get on with it and do something. At 1 Million Women we work on giving women bite-sized InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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chunks with very tangible results. It doesn’t matter what it is. Do one thing, see a result, and that will lead to something else.”

As of mid 2017, Natalie’s movement has grown to more than 600,000 around the world, including a small percentage of men, and is steadily growing.

With many members now accessing the 1 Million Women website on their smartphones, Natalie is creating a new mobile phone application that will track not just how effectively each member is reducing her own carbon footprint, but also the entire global membership. With one swipe, members will be able to see how much pollution the 1 Million Women community has saved on any one day, in any location around the world.

Plans are in place to create a currency for the carbon pollution that 1 Million Women save as a goodwill carbon that can be given back to women in developing countries. “We want to emphasise that our individual daily actions are supporting our sisters on the planet who are feeling the effects of climate change right now,” Natalie said.

This is an extract from Climate Justice by Mary Robinson with Caitríona Palmer published by Bloomsbury Books, priced 12.60.

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Chambers

CatchUp

Cork Chamber applauds Anne O’Leary Chief Executive of Vodafone Ireland Anne O’Leary received the Outstanding Contribution to Business Award 2019 at Cork Chamber’s annual Dublin Dinner, which was attended by more than 600 leading political and businesspeople. Paula Cogan, President of Cork Chamber, said: “A true powerhouse, Anne’s contribution to life in Irish business and her engagement across the Chamber network has been remarkable. She has been a strong personal advocate for women in STEM and championing wellbeing and diversity in the workforce, as well as providing equality of access to digital connectivity.”

John Higgins, Partner in Charge, EY Cork, Anne O’Leary, CEO Vodafone, Paula Cogan, President Cork Chamber, Conor Healy, CEO Cork Chamber

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

CHAMBER COMMENT “This book brings together 200 years of history of the region. It gives a wonderful flavour of the Chamber’s activities through the decades, describing them in relation to the socio-political and economic context at the time.”

Cork Chamber President Paula Cogan at the launch of ‘Championing Cork’, which marked 200 years of Cork Chamber on 8 November

Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Padraic Kierans of Anglo Printers by John Rooney, MD of Flogas Ireland (Premier sponsor)

A big year for Drogheda & District Chamber

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C

elebrating 125 years in 2019, Drogheda & District Chamber held its 15th North East Business Excellence Awards on 25 November. Chamber President Shona McManus said 2019 had been “a strong year of collaboration, progress and ‘wins’ in driving Drogheda and the greater region forward towards sustainable economic development”. Managing Director of Anglo Printers Padraic Kierans was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. A former President of Drogheda Chamber, he was key in securing foreign direct investment for Drogheda along with helping to secure the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in 2018 and 2019.

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CHAMBERS NEWS

Joint ‘Lean’ winners in the Mid-West

T

Kenny Deery, Galway Chamber CEO with Business of the Year Winner John Sweeney from Sweeney Oil

Home heating company stands out in Galway Sweeney Oil was named Galway Chamber Business of the Year 2019 in association with Shannon Group plc at the Galway Chamber Business Awards on 29 November. Founded in Clifden in 1987, the home heating company now has depots in Clifden and Ballinrobe, Co Mayo. Hosting the event, Chamber President Dave Hickey spoke about the importance of collaboration to make Galway the best place in Ireland to live and work in and to visit. He said of the awards: “The breadth and quality of the entries, nominees and ultimate winners shows that we have a vibrant and talented business community based here.”

wo Shannon companies, Advanced Technical Concepts and Molex, emerged as joint winners of the A3 Project Storyboard Award at the annual Mid-West Lean Network conference held in the University of Limerick in November. The A3 storyboard street project was a new element to the conference, giving company employees the opportunity to outline how, through teamwork, they successfully addressed an internal company issue using the A3 Lean tool. Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes said: “We have seen a tremendous increase in the uptake of Lean and continuous improvement processes since holding the first conference at the University of Limerick in 2017.”

Gary Keegan (centre), keynote speaker at the Mid-West Lean Network conference with (from left): Claude Costelloe, Zimmer Biomet and Network chair; Robert Hernan, Senior Lean Advisor, Enterprise Ireland; Helen Downes, CEO, Shannon Chamber; and Damian Farrell, Business Communications Consultant, Three

Green Angel co-founder honoured Mary Mitchell, co-founder of skincare brand Green Angel, was named Business Person of the Year 2019 at the South Dublin County Business Awards. She founded the company in 2006 with husband Chris when they saw a need for a natural skincare brand that really works. They have integrated two ancient therapies – thalassotherapy (the use of seawater and seaweed) and aromatherapy (the use of essential oils) – together in a very unique way to give a 21st Century range of skincare products.

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Left to right: Peter Byrne, CEO South Dublin Chamber, Frank Nevin, Director of Economic, Enterprise & Tourism Development, South Dublin County Council, Mary and Chris Mitchell, Green Angel, Mayor Vicki Casserly, Margaret Considine, Chamber President and MC Marty Whelan

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CHAMBERS NEWS

CHAMBER COMMENT “There is more that can be done to ensure incoming regulations do more to help SMEs rather than hurt their competitiveness.

Putting into practice an ‘SME Test’ assessment, as part of the European Commission’s Better Regulation guidelines, would be an effective way to assess the impact of proposed legislation on micro, small and mediumsized enterprises.”

Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot on the OECD Review on SME Policy and Entrepreneurship in Ireland

Special recognition for Adi Roche in Tipperary Adi Roche received the President’s Award at the County Tipperary Business Awards 2019. Sponsored by ABP, this award is given to a native of Tipperary who has significantly contributed to commerce and/or has made a significant contribution to society. Roche is the founder and voluntary CEO of Chernobyl Children International and was one of the leading international figures to respond to the humanitarian crisis which ensued after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. For over 40 years she has been passionately campaigning for, and is publicly active in, issues relating to the environment, peace and social justice.

CHAMBER CAPTION

The German Ambassador Her Excellency Deike Potzel visited Kilkenny on 12 October, and Kilkenny Chamber organised a tour of Kilkenny businesses with German connections – Asgard Cleanrooms, Modubuild and Taxback.com.

Dublin International Arbitration Day

Guest speakers to discuss the dominance of arbitration within international commercial disputes, from left to right, Constantine Partasides QC, Mr Justice David Barniville; Colleen Hanley, Twenty Essex; Professor Doug Jones, Aiken Chambers; and David Kavanagh QC, Skadden

I Dr Liam Browne, Limerick Institute of Technology, Paula Carney-Hoffler, President of County Tipperary Chamber, Adi Roche and Laura Jones, Director of County Tipperary Chamber

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CC Ireland was delighted to support the seventh Dublin International Arbitration Day, organised by Arbitration Ireland, on 15 November 2019. The conference was attended by a record number of over 100 delegates, comprising leading practitioners from the international arbitration community. A variety of topical issues in the field were addressed, including the emergence of and issues arising from climaterelated disputes and the impact of trends in Free Trade Agreement negotiations on investor/State dispute resolution.

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CHAMBERS NEWS

Key hire at County Kildare Chamber County Kildare Chamber has appointed Rachel Cooke as Business Development Manager. Allan Shine, CEO of the Chamber, said: “Our offering for business in the county has grown extensively over the past 12 months. We now provide over 120 seminars, training courses, business briefings and network events for our members annually. This alongside the provision of Certs of Origin for Kildare exporters, managing a High Potential Start Up Hub in Naas, our continued lobbying on behalf of our members and facilitating and organising international trade visits, has resulted in the appointment of Rachel Cooke as Business Development Manager.”

Rachel Cooke, Business Development Manager County Kildare Chamber

CHAMBER COMMENT “It is frustrating for businesses to be told that there is no option but to raise their rates again. The idea that businesses would be left to pick up the bill, when councillors have many other fundraising levers available to them, is hugely disrespectful to the thousands of rate-paying companies in the city.”

Dublin Chamber CEO Mary Rose Burke on the decision taken by Dublin City councillors to increase commercial rates by almost 3%

Full steam ahead for Laois Chamber

F #BuyLocalFlyLocal campaign in Ennis Inspired by the launch of three new routes from Shannon Airport to Vienna, Paris and Barcelona, Ennis Chamber teamed up with Shannon Group to offer three short-break holidays, one to each of those destinations, to be won over three successive weekends leading up to Christmas. Gwen Culligan, President of Ennis Chamber said: “Research shows every a10 spent in Clare generates a24 of business to the local economy.

This is a great campaign with a simple, clear message that highlights the need to buy local and fly local.” Around 40 businesses signed up to the campaign.

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ollowing a successful launch in September, Laois Chamber has reported that membership has grown to more than 70 members.

The new Chamber had a full house for its first business breakfast in November. Guest speaker was Pat McDonagh, EY Industry Entrepreneur 2019. A great believer in Laois, McDonagh has many interests in the county including Supermacs and The Killeshin Hotel. Future investments include a new Motorway Plaza at Junction 17 providing 100 new jobs for the county. The Chamber will be hosting a Laois Jobs Fair on 12 February in the Midlands Park Hotel.

Pat McDonagh, Stephen Hudson, Permanent TSB, Bernie Everard, CEO Laois Chamber, John Mulholland, CEO Laois County Council, Mark McCrory, Permanent TSB and Martin Crowley, President Laois Chamber

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09/01/2020 15:38

CHAMBER CEO Q&A

Food for Thought InBUSINESS caught up with Jenny Beresford, CEO, Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber to discuss the mix of businesses and important developments in the region.

Jenny Beresford, CEO, Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

Q: You have been CEO of Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber since 2008.

How has the region evolved in that time?

A: There has been

significant development and expansion of large industries in recent years, including by Eurofins Biopharma Product Testing, Eurofins Food Testing Ireland, GSK and Radley Engineering.

Most recently, GSK invested a8m in a biomass facility in Dungarvan, where it employs over 700 people. Irish language content producer for TG4 Nemeton recently moved to the next level, becoming a world-class provider of content for broadcasters globally. In the past, the area was mainly focused on agriculture, but now there is a diverse landscape of businesses, including a huge amount of service businesses from training and development to unique offerings such as seaweed baths.

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Q: What trends in retail activity have you observed in your time as CEO? A: Dungarvan held

80% occupancy in retail outlets throughout the recession. Through our Christmas initiative ‘Dungarvan Aglow’ retailers enjoy a 5-30% increase in business yearon year and are always enthusiastic to quickly get involved in positive projects. For example, to date,Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber has sold over a3m in Chamber Shopping Vouchers, which can be redeemed in over 100 businesses in West Waterford; 2018 was the most successful year ever, with a500,000 sold. We are a town that promotes communication and social meetings, demonstrated by the fact that we can support 14 coffee shops.

Q: What are the burning issues currently facing businesses in Dungarvan and West Waterford?

A: Competing with the

rest of the world for

talent is a challenge.

Attracting innovative, skilled people to West Waterford is essential to our economic development. As part of our mission to promote Dungarvan as a great place to work, live and stay, we developed a ‘Welcome Pack’ in 2016 to support people moving here. In

about a host of new businesses, such as Little Milk Company, Legacy Cider, Nutrilicious and Dungarvan Brewing.

Celebrity chefs Eunice Power and Paul Flynn continue to drive Dungarvan as a foodie destination.

Dungarvan has always had a large element of tourism to it but

COMPETING WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD FOR TALENT IS A CHALLENGE. ATTRACTING INNOVATIVE, SKILLED PEOPLE TO WEST WATERFORD IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. addition, the Dungarvan Career Expo attracts 1,000 people each year.

Q: Can you highlight some important recent developments in the region?

A: The West Waterford

Festival of Food which started 11 years ago has led to a whole food movement in the area for growers, producers, caterers and restaurants. This renaissance brought

since the arrival of the Waterford Greenway it is now a prime tourist destination. In 2017 alone, Airbnb activity increased by 500% in the area. Dungarvan is one of only three towns in Ireland to achieve Coach Friendly Destination status and the chamber has helped it to become the first dementia-friendly town in the country through businesses completing a training course.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

09/01/2020 15:39

CHAMBER POLICY

The Road to SME Success Following the launch of the ‘Road Map for Irish SME and Entrepreneurship Policy’ by the OECD, Michaela Reilly, Policy and Research Executive at Chambers Ireland, discusses how SME policymaking needs to evolve.

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This publication presents the findings of an OECD review of SME and entrepreneurship policy in Ireland.

It assesses the challenges for SME and entrepreneurship development and offers recommendations for future policy.

SMEs and entrepreneurs play a crucial role in the Irish economy, with SMEs accounting for more than 70% of employment. Attitudes to entrepreneurship are positive and SME innovation rates are high. However, SME productivity has not been increasing in recent years, business entry and exit rates are low and few Irish SMEs are directly engaged in exports. There is also untapped potential for entrepreneurship among women, youth and migrants, and variations across the country in SME and entrepreneurship performance.

Ireland has a strong set of policies and programmes to address these challenges. The business environment is generally favourable, there are many best practice programmes for supporting high potential SMEs and entrepreneurs, and strong co‑ordination of policies across government. At the same time, policies could be strengthened in areas such as growing productivity in medium‑sized businesses, increasing the start‑up rate, increasing exports, fostering enterprise networks and clusters, drafting a unified SME and entrepreneurship policy strategy document and strengthening the role of Local Enterprise Offices.

This work is published on the OECD iLibrary, which gathers all OECD books, periodicals and statistical databases.

Visit www.oecd-ilibrary.org for more information.

SME and Entrepreneurship Policy in Ireland

Consult this publication on line at https://doi.org/10.1787/e726f46d-en.

economy, including its SMEs, economic policies must have a global dimension. Although Ireland would consider itself an exporting nation, most of our exports are confined to a small number of large indigenous companies, multinational companies and the foreign direct investment (FDI) sector. Our smaller homegrown businesses are less inclined to export their products and services outside of Ireland.

As members of the EU, Irish SMEs have access to trade with the most prosperous markets in the world.

OECD Studies on SMEs and Entrepreneurship

MEs are the lifeblood of the Irish economy, accounting for more than 99% of enterprises. While Ireland is said to have a solid and comprehensive set of programmes targeted to advance the SME sector, the launch of the OECD’s comprehensive ‘Road Map for Irish SME and Entrepreneurship Policy’ came as a timely reminder that greater State support for this sector is required if we are to keep pace with foreignowned counterparts.

While Brexit has somewhat taken over political and economic discourse, it is not the only OECD Studies on SMEs and Entrepreneurship significant risk posed to Irish SME and Entrepreneurship Policy in Ireland SMEs. The underlying fragilities in the economy are becoming far more apparent, with challenges such as skills shortages, declining productivity in indigenous firms, rising wage inflation, and relatively weak labour force participation of women all presenting challenges for SMEs across Ireland. The OCED’s Road Map addresses some of these gaps that are impacting our SME and entrepreneurial economic performance and provides an opportunity to reimagine future SME strategies.

REAPING THE BENEFITS

ISBN 978-92-64-57055-9

In order to strengthen the9HSTCQE*fhaffj+ competitiveness of the European InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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OECD Studies on SMEs and Entrepreneurship

SME and Entrepreneurship Policy in Ireland

On the eventual day that the UK exits the bloc, Ireland will need to expand its trading partners further afield than across the Irish Sea. A concerted effort is required, at both national and European level, to encourage and support SMEs to become more internationally focused and capable of exporting abroad. European Commissionerfor Trade, Phil Hogan, must continue the expansion of the EU’s global trading relationships for all SMEs to benefit from.

Closer to home, Chambers Ireland would like to see the development of an Annual Action Plan for Trade that is accessible to SMEs, where Government departments and agencies are sufficiently resourced to support indigenous business in reaping the benefits from EU Free Trade Agreements, such as CETA, EUJapan and EU-Mexico.

The introduction of additional supports for SMEs, including in retail, who wish to expand their activities in e-commerce with a view to becoming more engaged in the Digital Single Market must be the next port of call. This too should be a priority given that Irish SMEs will have to compete with UK businesses selling online which may have a competitive edge post-Brexit due to exchange rate fluctuations.

While Ireland has reaped the benefits of being an open economy and a prime location for FDI, our indigenous companies have not always enjoyed the same levels of growth as multinationals in recent years. Maintaining competitiveness and economic prosperity depends on a vibrant SME sector. Now is the perfect time to capitalise on the OECD’s comprehensive strategy for SMEs to develop and prosper longterm. Our entrepreneurship and SME schemes must be developed to their fullest with the ‘Think Small First’ principle becoming more deeply embedded in policymaking.

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CHAMBER FEATURE

Chambers Ireland produced a submission for the national AI strategy consultation where we looked at not only the possibilities and limitations of these new technologies, but also at the risks and opportunitites that AI tools present for the domestic economy.

While the wave of AI-driven automation is impacting our economy, automation is not a new process to us. In fact, we have been feeling its effects all of our lives, through dishwashers, supermarket’s selfservice checkouts, or tractors; automation has transformed everyone’s work, both inside and outside the home.

When a wave of automation hits a sector there are negative consequences but often positive ones too, because when our society responds to these shocks new sectors of economic opportunity are created.

SECTORAL IMPACT

Future proofing our economy The Government’s ‘Future Jobs’ strategy is still in its infancy but needs a tighter focus if Ireland is to develop a future-proofed, sustainable, and resilient economy, writes Shane Conneely, Senior Policy and Research Executive at Chambers Ireland.

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he global economy faces a multitude of challenges in the coming years. With populations aging, the climate changing, and the digital economy continuing to impact business in unforeseen ways, the Irish economy must become more flexible to ensure we can adapt and thrive in our volatile world.

Part of the ‘Future Jobs’ preparation involves the development of a National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) because of the profound effect that AI tools will have on our businesses and how we work.

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In areas such as accountancy and financial services AI will amplify productivity. This may lead to fewer entry level positions in those sectors, but the highly skilled people currently employed will see the routine and repetitive work in their industry automated.

The impact will not be limited to those who work at desks.

Robotic automation has already created ‘lights out’ factories where robots build and finish products without human intervention.

With AI tools we will see robots and robotic vehicles extend into new environments such as forestry, farming and mining – places where you can keep people safe and let the machines get on with the work, suggesting that in future jobs will involve more machine-shops and less fruit-picking.

Our response to these new technologies should involve InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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Enhancing Skills and Developing and Attracting Talent

Increasing Participation in the Labour Force

Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy

Implementation

E n h a n c i ng S k i l l s and De and Attra ve ct in l gT a l e opin nt g

easing Participation In c r e Labour Force in th

a ing t o t ion ns i conomy Tra rbon E Ca

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

Improving SME Productivity

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Construction remains an economic area with the capacity to absorb large numbers of lower skilled workers, though much of the labour involved will move off-site into factories which build modular units that are transported and fitted into buildings. These kit-built prefabricated building units are becoming an increasingly important part of our built environment.

The standardisation and technologies involved mean that while they are factory-built products, the units retail for tens of thousands of euro individually.

Prefabrication involves precision work as these modules are built to low tolerances with tight specifications, creating opportunities for stable work and regular hours, which opens the sector to more women. Meanwhile the high value of these units, and the efficiencies of scale, mean that prefabrication plants will be to their areas what car plants are to German cities, involving all the economic spillover that that implies.

Furthermore, the final stage of integrating separate units into a

Embracing Innovation and Technological Change

JO BS I RELA ND it y

Preparing Now for Tomorrow’s Economy

Prepared by the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation

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OFF-SITE FACTORIES

Why Future Jobs Ireland?

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helping businesses to acquire the skills needed to spot developing opportunities and retraining those whose jobs are under threat. While it is important to train data scientists and bioinformaticians, they will never be the bulk of the workforce nor the domestic economy; there will always be a large cohort of lowerskilled people.

Plant machinery workers, assemblers, and agricultural labourers are likely to be among those most affected by AI, according to research from the Taoiseach’s Economic Policy Unit.

We are going to have to meet these people where they are and help them to develop marketable skills.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2019

Future Jobs Ireland 2019, the Government’s series of annual reports to enhance the resilience of our economy and ensure we are well placed to exploit future economic opportunities.

WHEN A WAVE OF AUTOMATION HITS A SECTOR THERE ARE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES BUT OFTEN POSITIVE ONES TOO, BECAUSE WHEN OUR SOCIETY RESPONDS TO THESE SHOCKS NEW SECTORS OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ARE CREATED. whole involves interpersonal co-ordination, know how and creative problem solving where solutions are developed iteratively as new techniques are refined. This points to construction as being a sector which will not necessarily have fewer jobs, but within it there will be more highly skilled ones.

SME OPPORTUNITES In the domestic economy the low-productivity, middle-sized companies will be where we find our greatest opportunities. Our large companies are embedded in the global economy and have internalised the productivity changes demanded by the international marketplace.

Meanwhile our micro-companies are among the most productive

in the EU, but medium-sized companies, with Irish clients and local suppliers, have lagged.

By integrating the new generation of IT tools into the workplace, these businesses will be able to maximise their productive potential, becoming a source of domestic economic growth through the 2020s during what is likely to be a turbulent decade.

Fundamentally, an effective ‘Future Jobs’ strategy for 2020 will enhance the practical skills of our most vulnerable workers and help develop the digital and managerial skills of our business owners and entrepreneurs so that Irish companies can make the smart moves in the years to come.

That’s the future-proofing that our economy needs.

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09/01/2020 15:41

CHAMBER FEATURE

RA RAW MA MATERIALS

DESIGN RECYCLING

PRODUCTION REMANUF REMANUFACTURING

COLLECTION

RESIDUAL WASTE ASTE

DISTRIBUTION CONSUMPTION, USE, REUSE, REPAIR

Going Circular In light of Ireland being ranked as the largest producer of plastic waste per capita in the EU, Michaela Reilly, Policy and Research Executive at Chambers Ireland, looks at what needs to happen to reduce waste and go plastic-free in this country.

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n 2002, Ireland was regarded as a trailblazer in the battle against waste when it introduced the plastic bag levy. But 17 years on, our reputation has somewhat diminished from leader to laggard. China’s ban in 2018 on the importation of plastic waste from EU countries means that exporting our plastic waste is no longer possible. This poses a significant challenge for Ireland which ranks as the largest producer of plastic waste per capita in the EU. Moreover, Ireland’s material consumption is well above the EU average – 61kg per person, per year – and continues to rise as the economy recovers and expands.

Without plastic, the world we know today would not function, but with plastic, we are rapidly damaging our environment. Plastic keeps our food fresher for longer, reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. It keeps our machinery light, reducing the amount of carbon

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emissions. It has been the oftenforgotten backbone that allowed electronics to completely transform our lives and for safety in medicine to dramatically increase.

Reducing plastic waste production in Ireland is subsequently a key challenge for individuals, industry and Government if environmental damage is to be minimised. The code to cracking this dilemma lies in the transition to a circular economy. The principles of the circular economy are based on moving away from the ‘takemake-waste’ linear model towards an economy that is regenerative by design. This means planning for durability, reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling to keep products, components, and materials circulating in the economy.

While it is unlikely that we can transition to an entirely plasticfree Ireland, we can redesign the way in which we use plastics in a

more sustainable manner through the circular economy model. This requires a profound change in how we think about growth and economic development and will affect everything from product design to finance, from technology and innovation to public policy and the structure of society.

HOW DO WE GET THERE AND SUCCEED IN ‘CLOSING THE LOOP’?

In 2015, the EU introduced the first Circular Economy Action Plan and pledged to enforce a ban on singleuse plastic products such as cutlery and food containers and ensure that at least 70% of packaging would be recycled by 2030 – including 55% of plastics under new rules brokered last year. However, the new European Green Deal, proposed by new EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to steal the limelight. Von der Leyen has firmly committed to the circular economy becoming ‘the number one priority’ in her Green Deal and commits to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Similar efforts to achieve circularity have been echoed here at home with the Government’s inclusion of a circular economy module in its Climate Action Plan 2019. The plan commits to ‘making more with less’ as key to preventing wastage, with the introduction of reduction targets and measures no later than 2022 to be achieved by 2026.

Businesses are already showing leadership in this space by concentrating on redesigning and restructuring product-service-systems from the bottom up which will ensure future viability and market competitiveness. SMEs have an important role to play in influencing the large-scale transition to circularity by informing our research, building industry-specific expertise, and moving from concept to practice, which will drive change across value chains and industries and provide new forms of economic value.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

09/01/2020 15:42

CHAMBERS FEATURE

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland and Mary Robinson

The Business Case for Sustainability At an event hosted by Bank of Ireland, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson commended the Chamber pledge to the Sustainable Development Goals and urged the business community to be proactive in helping to create the society, environment and economy we need in 2030 and beyond.

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arlier this year, Chambers Ireland, together with our member Chambers, made a pledge to support and advocate for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By embracing our responsibility to build a more sustainable future, both we and our members will be working to ensure that the Ireland of 2030 is one which has achieved its commitment for complete sustainability.

Of the 17 goals, we have chosen five to focus on initially, which are the Goals of Decent Work and Economic Growth; Climate Action; Sustainable Cities and Communities; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; and Gender Equality.

Following on from our pledge, we invited former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, to address our members and the wider business community on the subject of climate action, and how Chambers could play a role in addressing its negative impacts and support our transition to a net-zero carbon future.

The Sustainable Business Breakfast was held in conjunction with Bank of Ireland, which sponsored the event and hosted it at its historic College

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Green premises, the former House of Lords.

The breakfast was an ideal forum for key pillars of the Irish business community to receive Robinson’s insight on our collective responsibility to strive towards a low carbon economy.

In her address, Robinson highlighted the severity of the climate crisis and the threat it poses not only to the competitiveness of our economy, but to the sustainability and viability of communities the world over. Stating, “There are no jobs on a dead planet”, she called on the business community to take action and transition from the status quo to a more sustainable model, noting how businesses who take action sooner will benefit and become more competitive in the long term.

WELCOME COMMITMENT On a more hopeful note, she welcomed the Chamber pledge and commitment to the SDGs and acknowledged the role that Chambers across Ireland can play. Using the Tidy Towns as an example, she noted that through our leadership and the creation of toolkits, we can support business, particularly SMEs, to “ingest” the SDGs. In particular, she challenged attendees to reimagine the traditional business models as more innovative, climate-friendly versions and work to build the kind of society, environment and economy we want to live in, in 2030, and beyond.

On this note of hope, Robinson concluded her address to a standing ovation. This event and our Chamber pledge are only the first steps in what will be a much longer journey, as our member Chambers work together to build more sustainable local economies and communities across Ireland.

In 2020, the UN SDGs will be five years old. The coming decade is where the real work will happen and we look forward to working with our Sustainable Business Council, our members and the wider business community in putting sustainable development front and centre of how we grow our economy.

For further information on Chambers Ireland and the Chamber Network’s commitment to supporting the SDGs, visit our website at www.chambers.ie

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CHAMBER PARTNER PROFILE

It says the common signs of burnout include feelings of exhaustion, increased mental distance from work and reduced productivity. So burnout doesn’t just affect employee wellbeing, it impacts performance too. And that’s bad news for your employees and your business.

But these aren’t the only reasons you should be wary of an ‘always on’ culture.

STAY IN LINE WITH THE LAW

Downsides of an ‘always on’ workforce Experts at HR software provider BrightHR explain why you should encourage staff to switch off outside of work in 2020.

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hile developments in digital technology are good for helping us to stay connected, they also mean that we’re more ‘switched on’ with work than ever before.

It has now become the norm for employees to pick up emails, answer phone calls, and even take conference calls outside of their working hours.

And while you might applaud their commitment, an ‘always on’ workforce might not be best for your business or your people.

Here’s why you should encourage your staff to switch off outside of work in 2020.

BOOST EMPLOYEE WELLBEING Think about it. If your people are constantly checking their emails or answering calls outside of work hours, they’re more likely to feel tired, rundown and stressed out. And over time that stress could turn into burnout which is much more serious.

Because it’s not just an emotional state. This year the World Health Organisation officially classified burnout as a workplace syndrome caused by “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

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In 2018, the Labour Court ordered Kepak to award a7,500 to one of its business executives for letting her work more weekly hours than is legally permitted.

The employee’s out-of-hours emails and use of the company’s software proved that Kepak knew she was regularly working close to 60 hours a week — exceeding the maximum limit of 48 hours set out in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.

And as Kepak didn’t keep adequate records of her work hours, it didn’t have the evidence to disprove her claims. In the end, the Labour Court ruled in the employee’s favour, meaning that Kepak had to fork out thousands in compensation.

But there’s an easier way to record staff work hours. And it’s called Blip.

MODERNISE YOUR CLOCKING SYSTEM Blip is BrightHR’s exclusive mobile app that lets employees clock in and out of work by scanning a QR code. As an employer, you can see who’s in work, who’s off, and who’s on a break — whether you’re in your workplace or on the other side of the world.

Blip also keeps a secure record of all this information for you. So if you ever need to fight a claim in the Workplace Relations Commission, you can download a copy of your team’s work history in seconds, helping you to safeguard your business and its future.

Want to know how Blip will transform your record-keeping for 2020?

Speak to a software specialist today on 1800 279 841.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

09/01/2020 15:43

CHAMBERS FEATURE

Promoting Positive Ageing Chambers Ireland was among the sponsors of the National Age Friendly Recognition & Achievement Awards 2019 held in Croke Park on 14 November.

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ttended by 200 people from across Ireland, the National Age Friendly Recognition & Achievement Awards ceremony was organised by the Age Friendly Ireland Programme as well as hosted and sponsored by Dublin City Council.

The awards are a part of the Age Friendly Cities and Counties Programme, an initiative over 10 years old, founded upon the recognition of the value that older people can and should bring to developing their communities. It

is inspired by the World Health Organisation (WHO) movement, which embraces the challenges and opportunities of our ageing population globally.

The programme aims to make Ireland a truly great place in which to grow old as well as drawing attention to the great business opportunities to provide goods and services to this growing cohort of our population. While Age Friendly Ireland is a national organisation its main office is hosted by Meath County Council.

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland (left) presents the Age Friendly Business Innovation Award to Geraldine Ryan (centre) and Sharon Fitzpatrick (right) of COPE Galway, for their winning project ‘Meals4Health’ at the National Age Friendly Recognition Awards

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INNOVATION AWARD Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot presented the Age Friendly Business Innovation Award.

This category recognises initiatives that strive to create an enjoyable and accessible environment for older people as consumers across Ireland’s communities.

A range of fantastic projects were shortlisted in the category such as the ‘Kilkenny Age Friendly Business Recognition Programme’, developed in partnership with Kilkenny Chamber and Kilkenny County Council; ‘The HomeShare’, a homecare solutions provider organisation and COPE Galway’s ‘Meals4Health’ project.

The award winner was COPE Galway’s ‘Meals4Health’ project, which produces and delivers fresh ready meals designed to meet the specific nutritional requirements of older people and those living with chronic illness.

COPE Galway is a local Galway charity that has been providing support services for individuals and families affected by homelessness, women and children experiencing domestic abuse and older people in the community.

Speaking at the event, Chief Officer for Age Friendly Ireland Catherine McGuigan highlighted how the awards are a platform that can drive crucial projects for older people’s benefit on a national scale: “Successful practices that have a meaningful impact on people’s lives can be scaled up and replicated across the country,” she said.

For further information on the National Age Friendly Recognition & Achievement Awards, please visit the Age Friendly Ireland website at www.agefriendlyireland.ie

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CHAMBER PARTNER PROFILE

process as the pieces are blown, moulded, cut, sculpted and engraved into exquisite crystal by our master craftspeople, each of whom has spent at least eight years perfecting their skill.

RETAIL STORE

Everyday Style Inspired by the rugged landscape of Ireland’s west coast, the Ardan collection of barware, stemware and gifts from the House of Waterford Crystal includes three exciting patterns – Enis, Mara and Tonn – designed for everyday moments and special occasions.

With the largest collection of Waterford Crystal in the world, the exhibition and retail experience feature a stunning display of crystal along with replicas of some of our most famous sporting trophies. The retail experience offers the opportunity to choose your very own piece of the world’s most famous hand-crafted crystal to bring home. An in-store engraving service can be provided, as can world-wide shipping.

CRYSTAL CAFE The Crystal Café at the House of Waterford Crystal provides a variety of delicious breakfast and lunch options along with a fantastic selection of homemade cakes, treats and freshly brewed tea and coffee. Open seven days a week, the Crystal Café sources only the best seasonal food produced locally, supporting both local growers and the local economy.

For further details on the tours available all year round visit www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com or call 051 317000.

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aken from the Irish word meaning ‘high aspiration’ the Ardan collection’s design is modern and versatile with functionality in mind and yet very Waterford in spirit. There are two unique patterns to choose from featuring impeccable attention to detail with deep vertical crystal cutting that reflects the crest and troughs of the waves on the Atlantic coastline and the Blasket Islands.

To style with Ardan glassware, mix and match both patterns on your table or home bar to capture the power and beauty of Ireland’s natural elements in your own home.

New for 2019 are sets of six Waterford crystal stemware and barware designs perfect for everyday living whether a casual dinner with friends or a leisurely breakfast with the whole family. The shapes include simple wine glasses for your favourite grape, tall flutes to celebrate everyday pleasures and chic tumblers for water and soft drinks.

TAKE A TOUR Why not visit the home of Waterford Crystal? Immerse yourself in the rich tradition at the House of Waterford Crystal situated in the heart of Waterford City’s Viking Triangle. Visit the factory and meet the masters who produce these stunning pieces. Feel the heat of the furnace and marvel at the skill of the House of Waterford Crystal craftspeople as they transform balls of red-hot molten glass right before your eyes.

Over the course of about an hour, you can follow the entire production

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09/01/2020 15:45

CHAMBER PARTNER PROFILE

Business Owners to follow in 2020 SMEs are the backbone of the Irish economy and it is vital that programmes such as AIB Women in Enterprise continue to support the needs of business customers to back their dreams and ambitions.

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he AIB Women in Enterprise programme successfully continues to grow and impact business owners across Ireland, with over 400 businesses having gone through the programme in its second year. The programme is designed to improve participants’ leadership, growth strategies and business branding skills through intensive training workshops delivered by the Entrepreneurs Academy.

The purpose of the programme is to enable business owners to utilise their skills to progress their businesses, and many who have completed the six month programme have been reaping the benefits since day one. Lots of the businesses involved are now seeing increased revenue and earnings, empowerment of employees through promoting from within the business and an increased digital presence. These new skills developed by the business owners were taught throughout the programme with topics on leadership, sales, digital strategy and finance.

All of the businesses that participated in the programme were invited to apply for an award, which saw ten Irish businesses recognised. These businesses will benefit from continued learnings into 2020 with one-to-one mentoring, leadership days and continued support from the programme and participants.

Here, the business owners share their insights into the efforts, determination and hard work it takes to succeed as an SME in Ireland, the impact the programme has had on their business and their growth strategies for 2020.

Left to right: Marie Clifford, Anna Holland, Tina Darrer, Sara de Miguel Hernandez, Jacqui Meskel, Lorraine Greene, AIB Women in Enterprise Programme Manager, Fiona Craul, Wendy Slattery, Chupi Sweetman, Hannah Wrixon, EtĂĄin Moran

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CHAMBER PARTNER PROFILE

Business name: Flowithme Website: www.flowithme.com

Flowithme founder Sara de Miguel Hernandez has a passion for yoga, cooking and life coaching and pursued her dream in combining all three to create her own wellness company. She is driven by setting an example for others and helping them to make improvements in their daily life in order to achieve their full potential. After attending the AIB programme, Hernandez focused on implementing a strong brand using the tools gained on the day. Since implementation, it has allowed her to deliver a consistent message, build a strong presence and gain trust from clients, all of which will continue to grow in 2020.

CATEGORY: STRATEGIC GROWTH

WINNER: WENDY SLATTERY COMPANY PROFILE

COMPANY PROFILE

CATEGORY: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

WINNER: SARA DE MIGUEL HERNANDEZ

Business name: The Beauty Buddy Website: www.thebeautybuddy.com

The Beauty Buddy is a data analytics company for the beauty and cosmetic industry that provides beauty brands and retailers with Pedro Angulo, Head of access to unique, live, actionable and valuable Leadership Development at AIB, data which gives them unique insights Wendy Slattery, Lorraine Greene, AIB Women in Enterprise into consumer behaviours, competitive Programme Manager comparisons and sentiment analysis. This data is gathered through a TripAdvisor-type app where users (consumers) can rate, review and find products they’ve used or want to use. Co-founder Wendy Slattery describes the company as bridging the gap between brands and consumers in an US$800bn industry. Slattery has put a strong focus on the growth of The Beauty Buddy since the AIB programme by launching the Beauty Buddy app last September. Her strategy is to increase users in 2020, continue working with more domestic and international brands to include their products on the app and continue the growth of partnerships with leading retailers to provide consumers with a more engaging in-store experience.

FINALIST: FIONA CRAUL

Website: www.fcscorporateservices.com

FINALIST: ETÁIN MORAN

FINALIST: ANNA HOLLAND COMPANY PROFILE

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FINALIST: HANNAH WRIXON Business name: Hannah Wrixon is the proud creator of Get the Shifts (GTS), a tech Get the Shifts start-up that is designed to offer a platform for business clients in the hospitality sector to get experienced hospitality staff 24/7 with three Website: hours’ notice. Wrixon credits the AIB Women in Enterprise programme www.gettheshifts.com for achieving her goal of becoming a better leader and says everyone in the organisation is benefitting from this. She loves learning and found that each session brought new and powerful lessons that she has implemented, resulting in growth for the team and the business. GTS is changing the face of the hospitality industry one shift at a time; it is producing hospitality staff on tap.

COMPANY PROFILE

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Etáin Moran plays an important role as marketing communications Business name: Oxygen Care manager in her family business, Oxygen Care, which was established in 1972. Oxygen Care supplies medical equipment, offers clinical support and Website: after-sales product support to healthcare organisations in Ireland. One of www.oxygen-care.com Moran’s key learnings from the programme has been the importance of communication. To increase engagement internally she introduced staff ‘lunch and learn’ events for colleagues to learn more about the product range, which has proved beneficial.

COMPANY PROFILE

Anna Holland is Managing Director of FCS Services, an independent corporate governance and company secretarial service provider. Since the programme Holland has taken on board the views of her team, peers and family who strongly believe in her abilities as a business owner.

She has revitalised confidence to approach specific sectors which are usually serviced by large law firms or specialised service companies funded by multinationals. In 2020, Holland plans to develop the consultancy side of the business and expand into specific sectors by upskilling team members.

COMPANY PROFILE

Business name: FCS Corporate Services

Business name: Established in 2012, Sweetspot Sourcing is a team of product sourcing Sweetspot Sourcing professionals, working with leading brands in the creation of bespoke products and product ranges. Director Fiona Craul spent six months gaining Website: www.sweetspot.ie knowledge from the AIB programme at a time when the company needed support. Building on the momentum gained in 2019 and learnings from the programme, Craul has her sights set firmly on growing the business. She has identified further opportunities in new areas with the long-term aim of the firm owning its own product range.

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CHAMBER PARTNER PROFILE

Website: www.chupi.com

Chupi Sweetman had a passion for fashion and after spending six years working for Topshop she Lorraine Greene, AIB Women in decided she wanted to create Enterprise Programme Manager, Chupi Sweetman, Hilary Gormley, something that would celebrate Head of Business Banking Ireland’s heritage and become Business Centres at AIB a future heirloom. She founded Chupi and her jewellery is now sold in over 64 countries around the world. When Chupi joined the programme the company had just finished its strongest year since its incorporation. Sweetman was ready to sit back and take it easy, but the programme sparked something and prompted her to finalise her five-year growth plan for the company. Chupi is on track to become a global leader in sustainable luxury jewellery through cutting-edge digital innovation and unrivalled customer experience.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: TINA DARRER

Website: www.dooleys-hotel.ie

Dooley’s Hotel is a three-star, third-generation women-led business located in Ireland’s Lorraine Greene, AIB Women in oldest city, Waterford. Tina Enterprise Programme Manager, Tina Darrer, Hilary Gormley, Darrer’s family have been in Head of Business Banking the hospitality industry for 72 Business Centres at AIB years and she now runs the family hotel. Passionate about promoting Waterford and heavily involved with not-for-profit business activity, Darrer has taken her learnings from the programme to set a clear strategy for 2020. This focuses on growth through increasing customer feedback online, becoming more cost efficient, and an added focus on sustainability. In addition, Darrer has started a market diversification and business performance programme with Fáilte Ireland to drive commercial growth. Dooley’s Hotel was awarded ‘Best 3* Hotel’ in Ireland in 2019.

Business name: Advanced Technical Concepts (ATC) Website: www.atcgroup.ie

With a strong focus on being a sustainable business, ATC is a solutions-focused engineering company that partners with progressive companies in the manufacturing space which are looking to add value to either their processes or supply chain.

Based on learnings from the programme, owner Marie Clifford has introduced daily PIT (performance-issues-targets) meetings, and is continuously focused on supporting her team so that they work to their strengths. As a result of these changes, in addition to the adoption of a continuous improvement philosophy, the company continues to go from strength to strength.

FINALIST: JACQUI MESKEL COMPANY PROFILE

COMPANY PROFILE

Business name: Dooley’s Hotel

COMPANY PROFILE

COMPANY PROFILE

Business name: Chupi

CATEGORY: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

HIGHLY COMMENDED: CHUPI SWEETMAN

WINNER: MARIE CLIFFORD

Business name: Huggnote Website: www.huggnote.com

Jacqui Meskel founded Huggnote with her sister Perry. Groundbreaking in its simplicity, Huggnote is a new way to communicate emotion, through the power of music. Since attending the AIB programme, Meskel’s biggest lesson which she will continue into 2020 is the ability to ‘Lead Yourself’. This resonated with her because being the CEO of a start-up and all the roles in between she needs to keep motivated and lead herself to achieve growth in her business.

AIB WOMEN IN ENTERPRISE 2020 The AIB Women in Enterprise Programme provides a unique opportunity for business owners to gain skills and have the strong support of fellow business owners to act as their confidants and share experiences and ideas. Having gone from strength to strength with so many successful businesses taking part since its launch, 2020 is set to be another strong year for the programme with the momentum for female-run businesses at an all-time high.

Established business owners can apply for the 2020 AIB Women in Enterprise Programme by visiting www.aib.ie/womeninenterprise or emailing womeninenterprise@aib.ie.

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CHAMBER PARTNER PROFILE

An Post’s zero emissions vehicles

Challenge, Commitment and Change You will have noticed a change at An Post – certainly a new logo and colour scheme, bright new electric post vans and a range of new products at the post office counter.

But something a bit more fundamental is afoot.

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n early December, newly appointed EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan turned up to see the wrapping being removed from the company’s brand new automated parcel hub at Knockmitten in Dublin. The impressive a15m plant is designed to handle An Post’s growing parcel business. And if proof of its worth were needed, on that very week An Post had handled one million parcels generated during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

In October, as An Post negotiated a a40m, 10-year European Investment Bank (EIB) loan, An Post’s Chief Executive David McRedmond said: “This ground-breaking contract demonstrates confidence in An Post’s transformation and digital strategy for the Irish economy, businesses of all sizes and local communities.

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and be smarter in changing from the old world of letters and cash to the new digital world of e-commerce and financial services.”

The EU investment loan backs up more than a82m of new investment by An Post over the next three years. The new EIBbacked investment will enable more than 750 fully electric vehicles to be used for local deliveries across the country and digital customer services to be upgraded across the retail network, including 950 modernised post offices.

SDG COMMITMENT McRedmond says the company has taken big steps to modernise and digitalise its Retail and Mails & Parcels businesses as well as being committed to its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and working for the common good.

An Post is one of Ireland’s inaugural ‘SDG Champions’ chosen

by Government to drive forward the achievement of the UN’s SDGs. In addition to climate action and supporting sustainable cities and communities, the company has also committed to ‘decent work’ – including gender equality, staff diversity and inclusion, and investment in native forestry, solar power generation, and innovation through partnerships and responsible procurement.

Already An Post has delivered emission-free mail deliveries to the 60,000 customers living between

David McRedmond, Chief Executive, An Post

Dublin’s canals in time for Christmas. Zero-emission electric vehicles are being introduced to Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Waterford and other towns over the next 12 months.

GENDER PAY GAP REPORT An Post has also just launched its first Gender Pay Gap Report and Action Plan which further highlights how it is changing from an old world of mail and cash to a new world of e-commerce and financial services with the mission to improve the lives of everyone across Ireland, including its employees, now and for generations to come.

The report shows the gender

An Post’s new state-of-the-art post office in Thurles

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AN POST IS ONE OF IRELAND’S INAUGURAL ‘SDG CHAMPIONS’ CHOSEN BY GOVERNMENT TO DRIVE FORWARD THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE UN’S SDGS.

pay gap at An Post is 3.71%; this compares with 20% globally, 17.9% in the UK, 16% in the EU and 13.9% in Ireland.

The company has set priority actions for 2019 and 2020, including the removal of bias from all recruitment processes, identifying and removing any barriers to promotion and providing career progression opportunities.

Meanwhile, across the country, post offices have also been facing up to a new future with new state-of-the art offices opening in Thurles, Co Tipperary, Newbridge, Co Kildare and soon in Dublin’s St Andrew’s Street as well as close to 200 new post offices opening in new locations co-located with busy retail outlets.

All of this is coupled with An Post’s foray into financial services via An Post Money with debit and credit card accounts, small loans, FX cards and cash and a host of other new products.

Challenge, commitment and change are in evidence right across An Post with customers reaping the benefits as the company becomes the backbone of e-commerce and rejuvenated post offices set out their stalls.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS 2019

EXCELLENCE ON THE GROUND

Fingal County Council scooped the top accolade at the 2019 Excellence in Local Government Awards.

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n November Fingal County Council was named Local Authority of the Year 2019 at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards. The 16th annual awards ceremony was held in association with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and showcases and celebrates the best of Local Government in Ireland.

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland said: “Local authorities continue to make substantial efforts across multiple areas of Irish society with wide-ranging positive impacts for local communities and the local economy; the Excellence in Local Government Awards serve as the platform to highlight the irreplaceable value that results.

“As ever, it’s an honour for Chambers Ireland to host these awards as well as a pleasure to highlight, while gaining insight into, the work and initiatives being produced at local level nationwide. Congratulations to Local Authority of the Year, Fingal County Council, the 16 category winners, the shortlisted organisations and to the people behind all of these excellent projects.”

THE WINNERS Supporting Active Communities Award Sponsored by EirGrid Cork County Council Blackwater and Creativity in County Cork Best Practice in Citizen Engagement Award Sponsored by ESB Network Fingal County Council Our Balbriggan - Imagine the Possibilities - Get Involved.

Health & Wellbeing Award Sponsored by Healthy Ireland Cork City Council Cork Sanctuary Runners Supporting Tourism Award Sponsored by Fáilte Ireland *Joint Winners* Kerry County Council From Berlin to Kerry South Dublin County Council The Round Tower, Visitor Centre, Clondalkin - Brú Chrónáin Promoting Economic Development Award Sponsored by EirGrid Cork County Council Bridge to Masschallenge Cork Programme Local Authority Innovation Award Sponsored by TEKenable Cork City Council - Arus Mhuire Rightsizing Housing Project Sustainable Environment Award Sponsored by ERP Clare County Council Banner Beekeepers Association Apiary at Doora, Ennis

Delegates of Fingal County Council receive their ‘Local Authority of the Year’ Award at the Excellence in Local Government Awards 2019 with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot (far left), Chambers Ireland President Siobhan Kinsella (right) and Minister of State for Local Government and Electoral Reform John Paul Phelan T.D. (far right)

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Best Library Service Award Limerick City & County Council Watch House Cross Community Library Autism Friendly Resource

Sustaining the Arts Award Sponsored by Zurich Wexford County Council Arts Ability Programme Disability Services Provision Award Sponsored by EirGrid Tipperary County Council Sign of The Times Festival of the Year Award Sponsored by Failte Ireland Fingal County Council Dublin Bay Prawn Festival Outstanding Initiative through the Municipal Districts Award Donegal County Council Hosting the DDF Irish Open in Inishowen MD - a place mobilised Enhancing the Urban Environment Award Sponsored by Ervia Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Otranto Seaside Gardens Heritage and Built Environment Award Sponsored by AIB Monaghan County Council The Monaghan Spitfire Life on the Border with a World at War Commemorations and Centenaries Award Sponsored by An Post Tipperary County Council Solohead Parish Centenary Soloheadbeg 1919 Age Friendly Initiative Award Sponsored by Waterford Crystal Mayo County Council - Age Friendly Airport Guidelines Local Authority of the Year Fingal County Council

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS 2019

SUPPORTING BEST PRACTICE IN ACTIVE CITIZEN ENGAGECOMMUNITIES MENT: WATERFORD CORK COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

EirGrid’s Aidan Corcoran, with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State, John Paul Phelan, presenting the award to representatives from Cork County Council

BEST BESTPRACTICE PRACTICE IN IN CITIZENENGAGECITIZEN ENGAGEMENT AWARD MENT: WATERFORD FINGAL COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

ESB Network’s Paddy Hayes along with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State John Paul Phelan, presenting the Award to representatives from Fingal County Council

HEALTH & BEST PRACTICE IN WELLBEING CITIZEN ENGAGEAWARD MENT: WATERFORD CORK CITY COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

EirGrid’s Aidan Corcoran, with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State, John Paul Phelan, presenting the award to representatives from Cork County Council

BEST PRACTICE IN SUPPORTING CITIZEN ENGAGETOURISM AWARD MENT: COUNTY WATERFORD KERRY COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

Fáilte Ireland’s Helen Cole along with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State John Paul Phelan, presenting the Awards to representatives from Kerry County Council

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS 2019

BEST PRACTICE IN SUPPORTING CITIZEN ENGAGETOURISM AWARD MENT: DUBLIN WATERFORD SOUTH COUNTYCOUNCIL COUNCIL COUNTY

Fáilte Ireland’s Helen Cole along with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State John Paul Phelan, presenting the Awards to representatives of South Dublin County Council

PROMOTING BEST PRACTICE IN ECONOMIC CITIZEN ENGAGEDEVELOPMENT AWARD MENT: WATERFORD CORK COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

EirGrid’s Aidan Corcoran, with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State, John Paul Phelan, presenting the award to representatives from Cork County Council

BEST PRACTICE LOCAL AUTHORITYIN CITIZEN ENGAGEINNOVATION AWARD MENT:CITY WATERFORD CORK COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

TEKenable’s Padraig McCarthy, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State John Paul Phelan, presenting the Award to representatives from Cork City Council

SUSTAINABLE BEST PRACTICE IN ENVIRONMENT CITIZEN ENGAGEAWARD MENT: WATERFORD CLARE COUNTYCOUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

ERP’s Yvonne Holmes with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State John Paul Phelan, presenting the Award to representatives from Clare County Council

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS 2019

SUPPORTING TOURISM AWARD KERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State John Paul Phelan, presenting the Award to representatives from Limerick City & County Council

SUSTAINING THE ARTS AWARD WEXFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State John Paul Phelan, presenting the Award to representatives from Wexford County Council

DISABILITY BEST PRACTICE IN SERVICES CITIZEN ENGAGEPROVISION AWARD MENT: WATERFORD TIPPERARY COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

EirGrid’s Aidan Corcoran, with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State, John Paul Phelan, presenting the award to representatives from Tipperary County Council

BEST PRACTICE FESTIVAL OF THEIN CITIZEN ENGAGEYEAR AWARD MENT: WATERFORD FINGAL COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

Fáilte Ireland’s Helen Cole along with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State John Paul Phelan, presenting the Awards to representatives Fingal County Council

OUTSTANDING INITIATIVE THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL DISTRICTS DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL LGiU’s Andy Johnston, along with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State, John Paul Phelan, presenting the award to representatives from Donegal County Council

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS 2019

ENHANCING THE IN URBAN BEST PRACTICE ENVIRONMENT AWARD CITIZEN ENGAGEDÚN LAOGHAIREMENT: WATERFORD RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

Ervia’s Susan Moss with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State John Paul Phelan, presenting the Award to representatives from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

HERITAGE AND IN BEST PRACTICE BUILT ENVIRONMENT CITIZEN ENGAGEAWARD MENT: WATERFORD MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

AIB’s Catherine Moroney, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State John Paul Phelan, presenting the Award to representatives from Monaghan County Council

BEST PRACTICE IN & COMMEMORATIONS CITIZEN ENGAGECENTENARIES AWARD MENT: WATERFORD TIPPERARY COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

An Post’s Angus Laverty with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State, John Paul Phelan, presenting the award to representatives from Tipperary County Council

BESTFRIENDLY PRACTICE IN AGE CITIZEN ENGAGEINITIATIVE AWARD MENT:COUNTY WATERFORD MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL

Waterford Crystal’s David McCoy, with Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, and Minister of State, John Paul Phelan, presenting the award to representatives from Mayo County Council

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The Round Tower - Clondalkin, a winner of the Supporting Tourism category at the 2019 Excellence in Local Government Awards.

The Round Tower experience incorporates an interactive visitor centre, public gardens, The Happy Pear cafĂŠ, terraced dining area, exhibition and gallery spaces and shop.

Visit www.dublinsoutdoors.ie to find out more

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IB PARTNER PROFILE

A New Community Hub South Dublin County Council responded to the wishes of the community when it came to development around Clondalkin’s Round Tower.

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oint winner of the Supporting Tourism Award at the 2019 Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards, The Round Tower Visitor Centre in Clondalkin, is a wonderful example of Local Government responding to the community.

The project came about due to opposition from the local community to a proposal to build apartments close to the Round Tower. In response, the Council, over time, purchased the site and committed to developing the project in consultation with the community, to celebrate the Tower and to respond to the origins of the site and its history.

The Round Tower Visitor Centre comprises an interactive exhibition, cafe and retail area on the site of five refurbished and conserved 19th century mill cottages adjacent to Clondalkin’s Round Tower. With new gardens, an event space and a civic plaza, it is not only a visitor attraction, but a community hub. The Round Tower complex now provides a platform for cultural events and exhibitions, and the café operated

by The Happy Pear provides an environment which brings in the local community, creating a lively social environment.

“The project is a model of true local democracy in action as the quality of co-operation with the local community has been critical to its success,” says Ralph McGarry, Administrative Officer, County Promotion Unit, Economic,

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Enterprise and Tourism Development at South Dublin County Council.

“The local community has been involved every step of the way and the majority of tour guides are local people that live in the Clondalkin area, making them central to the ongoing success of the initiative.”

This €4.5 m visitor centre involved a significant investment by South Dublin County Council which was funded entirely from internal resources as part of South Dublin County’s Tourism Strategy 2015. The vision was that this would be a visitor centre without barriers to anyone’s experience. This urban site is now a fully accessible public space with improved access to the Round Tower.

“The project is one of the most

significant new attractions to open in South Dublin County in recent years, with the potential to attract local and international visitors to the area,” notes McGarry.

In collaboration with The Happy Pear, the Office of Public Works and the local community, the venue offers local events such as the Summer Wellness programme, with free yoga in the garden every Sunday morning during the summer months, community meetings, exhibitions and festivals. These activities promote community spirit and pride in The Round Tower Visitor Centre and ensure local support and involvement, whilst continuing to embed the facility as a community hub.

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IB PARTNER PROFILE

The People’s Town Fingal County Council’s ‘Our Balbriggan’ initiative won Best Practice in Citizen Engagement at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards.

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laiming the Best Practice in Citizen Engagement at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards has rounded off a phenomenal 12 months for the ‘Our Balbriggan’ project, which sets out an ambitious new vision for the town shaped by the views of local residents and stakeholders.

The €20m-plus rejuvenation plan was kick-started by a successful multi-platform civic engagement initiative on the transformation plan for Balbriggan. A total of 4,004 people—the equivalent of 26% of the population aged over 11—completed the Our Balbriggan survey and united the community behind the process.

Local residents shaped the order of priorities for improvements to

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transform the town. This informed the Balbriggan Rejuvenation Plan 2019-2025 launched in May, where local people took centre stage, sharing their hopes and ambitions for the town they live in. The event was streamed live on the Our Balbriggan Facebook page and was viewed by over 2,000 people in the first 24 hours.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien said: “The level of interaction and engagement by the residents of Balbriggan has been unprecedented.

The civic engagement process is a benchmark for how a collaborative approach can unify and engage a whole community to ensure objectives are achieved and progressed.”

Since the formal launch of the strategy, work has been ongoing to

implement a commitment to achieve 20 things in the first 12 months.

“Significant progress is being made across the 20 things in the first 12 months listed in the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Plan, including improving the Harbour area, consultation on the development of the Bremore Regional Park and increasing the number of public play and exercise facilities in the town,” said Emer O’Gorman, Director of Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development.

“Engagement is ongoing with citizens on the plan’s implementation,” O’Gorman added.

“Work will continue in 2020 with an Our Balbriggan Hub set to open in the heart of the town in March, which will be the engine room of the rejuvenation scheme.

“The award is significant because it reflects the hard work, dedication and commitment of the Council and various stakeholders to ensure the people of Balbriggan were given the opportunity to voice their opinion on the future of their town. The future of Balbriggan is now being transformed thanks to a plan that has been shaped by the residents of the town.”

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IB PARTNER PROFILE

A decade of celebration

Named Festival of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards, the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival in Howth has gone from strength to strength.

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he Dublin Bay Prawn Festival, the ultimate celebration of Irish seafood, has grown into one of Ireland’s largest food festivals, and is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2020.

Organised by Fingal County Council, the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival is a gastronomic experience offering delicious food, craft beer, wine tasting, live cookery demonstrations and street entertainment in the heart of the idyllic fishing village of Howth.

The village’s finest restaurants, bars and cafes host a variety of amazing events at the Harbour Festival Village, serving the freshest, most delicious seafood, including a selection of special Dublin Bay Prawn dishes. It’s not just the culinary offerings that make the festival so memorable—the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival is also famous for music and entertainment, walks, talks and seaside fun.

The festival has grown to encompass the history, culture and activities that make up the fabric of this seaside village. Fingal County Council hosts the ‘Howth Village Marquee’, showcasing the diversity of what Howth and surrounding areas have to offer. There are powerboating and watersports demonstrations along the pier, and the Coast Guard and RNLI are on hand to talk about the very important work they do.

The festival moved to a new date in 2019 with the event taking place in

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May and it was a resounding success with the number of visitors, from both the local area and further afield, increasing significantly over the course of the weekend.

The year 2020 will mark the 10th anniversary of the award-winning festival and it promises to be another wonderful weekend. “We are looking forward to celebrating the festival’s 10th anniversary in 2020,” said Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, “and plans are already well underway to once again showcase the very best of what Fingal, and Howth in particular, have to offer in terms of food, culture and heritage.”

Director of Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development Emer O’Gorman said: “The festival showcases the huge diversity of history, culture and activities that are the fabric of the seaside village of Howth.”

“To be named Festival of the Year is a tremendous honour,” added

O’Gorman, “and we are justifiably proud to have been awarded the accolade. We have worked hard to get the mix of the festival just right to suit all ages.”

“The Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development Department supports the co-ordinated economic development of Fingal by planning for, initiating and managing projects that contribute positively to the county’s ongoing economic development, and events such as the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival and the Flavours of Fingal County Show are a key component of this.”

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IB PARTNER PROFILE

Local Authority of the Year Fingal County Council was recently named Local Authority of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards 2019. AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, tells InBUSINESS what the award means to the organisation.

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he success of the Council that boasts Ireland’s youngest population rests on “dynamism and responsiveness to our citizens,” according to Farrelly. “We were honoured to see this recognised by Chambers Ireland.”

This recognition extended to nominations in 11 categories and wins in Best Practice in Citizen Engagement for the Our Balbriggan project and in Festival of the Year for the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival.

The Our Balbriggan project put residents in the driving seat of a process to revitalise the town. A quarter of Balbriggan residents, aged 11 and over, engaged with the consultations and discussions to

Festival’s success is testament to the diverse offerings of our coastal communities and the hard work of our Events team.”

The Council’s key successes in 2019 included meeting its housing targets as the key driver of housing supply and fostering a healthy pace of commercial development. Promoting tourism was another focus.

“It’s been a good, progressive year,” said Farrelly. “We have invested significantly in infrastructure over the last few years and this has led to increased housing and economic activity. The final preferred route of MetroLink, which is vital for Swords and Dublin Airport, has been decided and is now proceeding to planning permission.

WE ARE THE KEY DRIVER OF HOUSING SUPPLY IN THE REGION AND ARE ON COURSE TO MEET OUR TARGETS FOR 2019. formulate the €20m plan. Farrelly added: “The Our Balbriggan initiative shows that citizen engagement is a natural strength of local authorities as we’re closest to the citizen.”

The Dublin Bay Prawn Festival was much more than a celebration of seafood. Incorporating family fun, music, entertainment and activities, this bustling and lively affair featured something for everybody against the picturesque backdrop of Howth. Farrelly observed: “The

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“We also published our Climate Action Plan and recently adopted a budget of €269m for 2020 as well as committing to a three-year Capital Programme covering a total of 236 projects worth €691m.

“We are the key driver of housing supply in the region and are on course to meet our targets for 2019. There is also significant new commercial development underway across the County and we have continued to develop Fingal as a tourism destination with the addition

AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council

of new attractions like Malahide Casino which will open shortly.”

Having won the Local Authority of the Year award for the second time in four years, Fingal is not resting on their laurels with Farrelly confirming its more innovative projects are being rolled out or planned.

“In general terms, we’ll continue to focus on housing supply and infrastructure delivery and lead by example on climate change but we’ll always be looking at different ways to improve our services to our citizens and businesses. All of these things will help us in our efforts to make Fingal the place of choice to live, work, visit and do business.”

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IB PARTNER PROFILE

Martin Tobin, CEO ERP Ireland and the Kinahan family celebrating the 10 Year Battery Directive Anniversary in Ireland

Powering Positivity ERP Ireland is championing sustainability and powering positivity with its Christmas campaign.

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ince the launch of the EU Waste Battery Directive in September 2008, European Recycling Platform (ERP) Ireland has worked hard to establish a robust collection infrastructure and has created programmes like ‘Batteries for Barretstown’ to change the nation’s attitude towards recycling waste batteries.

ERP is Ireland’s only pan-European compliance scheme, providing WEEE and Waste Battery compliance and a B2B service to members. ERP collects batteries and WEEE waste from Fingal, Monaghan, Cavan, Clare, Limerick, Kerry, Louth and Meath.

The European Recycling Platform was founded in 2002 as the first pan-European organisation to implement the EU’s regulations on the recycling of electrical and electronic waste (WEEE Directive). ERP now manages a consolidated network and has developed vast international expertise, expanding its recycling services to include

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batteries as well as packaging.

European Recycling Platform Ireland DAC was established in 2005 because of the success and expansion of ERP across Europe.

In 2018, ERP Ireland celebrated the ten-year anniversary of the EU Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC in Ireland—by that year ERP Ireland had collected over 1,809 tonnes of batteries across all of its territories since the Directive was launched in 2008. This is the equivalent in weight to 92 million AA batteries.

ERP Ireland worked with each Local Authority in its areas to develop a local campaign targeting regional media which would reference the results each county had contributed across the 10 years to achieve this result, picking local reference points to add colour. For example Clare people recycled enough batteries to

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IB PARTNER PROFILE

line the length of the Wild Atlantic Way, and the people of Kerry have collected enough batteries to fill the Sam Maguire 7,339 times!

positive impact it has on social, cultural and environmental aspects of society. I highly commend all entrants for their good work.”

CELEBRATING SUSTAINABILITY ERP Ireland CEO Martin Tobin has been on the judging panel of the Excellence in Local Government Awards for many years, and was delighted this year to announce Clare County Council as the winner of the ERP Sustainable Environment Award 2019. Clare County Council won the award for its campaign, Banner Beekeepers Association Apiary at Doora, Ennis. The Banna Beekeepers Association runs a community apiary on the site of an old landfill, and this award recognised the local authority for working to develop, promote and foster the initiative to support the sustainable development of its local environment.

Tobin commented that the entries this year surpassed anything done before, saying: “I was impressed with the high standard of the entries compared to previous years.

There were many innovative ideas that I have not seen before. The worthwhile work being done across the different sectors demonstrates the importance of CSR and the

A CHRISTMAS TALE As any parent will testify, Christmas is a time when stocking up on batteries is paramount. Woe betide those who don’t have a ready supply when the children tear open a pile of battery-operated toys on Christmas morning. Thus it was a perfect match for ERP Ireland to mark the season with a Christmas story, encouraging families to have a green Christmas and support its ongoing partnership with Barretstown Children’s Charity.

A touching story, written by children’s book author Benji Bennett and beautifully brought to life with illustrations by Evgenia Pautova, is brought to life in a magical video— ‘Batteries for Barretstown - The Power of Positivity’. It tells the story of Ashleigh, a sick little girl whose energy was as low as a dead battery but through the power of positivity she came back from Barretstown fully recharged.

“Our partnership with Barretstown is incredibly important to everyone here at ERP Ireland. We are thrilled to be helping to ‘Power

Clare County Council, winners of the ERP Sustainable Environment Award at ELG Awards

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WITH 30% OF ALL BATTERIES PURCHASED IN THE RUN UP TO CHRISTMAS, EQUATING TO 33 MILLION BATTERIES, ERP WANTED TO REMIND CONSUMERS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A GREEN CHRISTMAS AND DISPOSING OF BATTERIES IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY. Positivity’ through our ‘Batteries for Barretstown Initiative’,” says Martin Tobin, CEO of ERP Ireland.

Barretstown Children’s Charity offers free, medically endorsed camps and programmes that are designed for children and their families living with serious illness.

In 2017, ERP Ireland launched ‘Batteries for Barretstown’ to drive the recycling of batteries across Ireland through local authorities, schools, libraries, retailers and all public amenities whilst communicating the importance of recycling batteries responsibly and raising much-needed funds to power positivity at Barretstown.

With 30% of all batteries purchased in the run up to Christmas, equating to 33 million batteries, ERP wanted to remind consumers of the importance of having a Green Christmas and disposing of batteries in a sustainable way.

“The message of this campaign is a hugely positive one, which we hope will drive people to dispose of their waste batteries in an environmentally conscious way, whilst raising funds for a worthy children’s charity,” says Tobin.

“We wanted to remind people to have a green Christmas and in early January, bring their old batteries to collection points in local authority recycling centres, schools and other retailers. Too many batteries sold end up in landfill because they’ve been thrown out in domestic waste, and so the valuable materials inside are lost forever.”

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NGAL FINGAL

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07/01/2020 20/12/2019 14:52 10:28

InBUSINESS RECOGNITION AWARDS 2O19

This year’s InBUSINESS Recognition Awards once again honoured exceptional achievement in Irish business.

I

rish companies and individuals were honoured at the InBUSINESS Recognition Awards on December 12th 2019 at The Westbury Dublin Hotel. Now in their eighth year, the awards recognise and Vincent Wall, honour exceptional Business Editor, Newstalk and Ian Talbot, achievement and CEO, Chambers Ireland innovation in Irish business. The awards ceremony was hosted by Newstalk’s Business Editor Vincent Wall and comprised 14 different categories.

Among the winners was PayPal which was named Company of the Year. Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland was named Businesswoman of the Year, while David Walsh, CEO of Netwatch picked up the Businessman of the Year award.

RECRUITMENT SPECIALISTS Lincoln Recruitment Specialists AGENCY SUPPORT TO BUSINESS Skillnet Ireland LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO BUSINESS Local Enterprise Offices BUSINESS BROADBAND Virgin Media Business LIFE PENSION AND INVESTMENT COMPANY Zurich Life Assurance PLC BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR Julie Sinnamon, Enterprise Ireland TOURISM Fáilte Ireland - Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands LOCAL AUTHORITY OF THE YEAR Fingal County Council SPECIAL MERIT AWARD Gas Networks Ireland CSR Program FLEET CAR COMPANY OF THE YEAR Renault Ireland ACADEMIA COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRY Trinity College Dublin BUSINESS BANKING MEDIUM AND LARGE ENTERPRISES AIB Business Banking

David Walsh, CEO of Netwatch, Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland and Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland

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BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR David Walsh, Netwatch COMPANY OF THE YEAR PayPal

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InBUSINESS RECOGNITION AWARDS 2O19

Ciara Murray, Event Manager, Ashville Media Group, Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland, Shay Dalton, Managing Director of Lincoln Executive Search, and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

AGENCY SUPPORT TO BUSINESS SKILLNET IRELAND

Ciara Murray, Event Manager, Ashville Media Group, Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland, Paul Healy, Chief Executive of Skillnet Ireland and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

Ciara Murray, Event Manager, Ashville Media Group, Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland with Oisin Geoghegan, Chair of the Local Enterprise Offices and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

BUSINESS BROADBAND VIRGIN MEDIA BUSINESS

RECRUITMENT SPECIALISTS LINCOLN RECRUITMENT SPECIALISTS

LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO BUSINESS LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICES

Ciara Murray, Event Manager, Ashville Media Group, Ian Talbot, CEO Chambers Ireland with Andrea Manning, CRM & Social Media Executive for Virgin Media Business and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

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InBUSINESS RECOGNITION AWARDS 2O19

LIFE PENSION AND INVESTMENT COMPANY ZURICH LIFE ASSURANCE PLC

Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland with Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life and Pensions from Zurich Life Assurance PLC and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

“WE CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY IN TERMS OF INNOVATION WITH OUR COMPANY PENSION SOLUTION, PROVIDING STREAMLINED ADMINISTRATION, IMPROVED EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION.” JOE CREEGAN, HEAD OF CORPORATE LIFE & PENSIONS, ZURICH LIFE

Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland with Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR JULIE SINNAMON, ENTERPRISE IRELAND

“I AM DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD. IT IS A REFLECTION OF THE SUCCESS THAT ENTERPRISE IRELAND HAS ACHIEVED WITH OUR CLIENTS AND A TESTAMENT TO THE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE ORGANISATION, ON WHOSE BEHALF I ACCEPT THIS AWARD.” JULIE SINNAMON, CEO, ENTERPRISE IRELAND

TOURISM FÁILTE IRELAND - IRELAND’S HIDDEN HEARTLANDS

Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland with Mark McGovern, Manager of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

“THIS RECOGNITION IS REALLY A REFLECTION OF ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO ESTABLISH IRELAND’S HIDDEN HEARTLANDS AS A REGIONAL EXPERIENCE AND TOURIST DESTINATION.” PADDY MATHEWS, HEAD OF OPERATIONS, IRELAND’S HIDDEN HEARTLANDS, FÁILTE IRELAND InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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LOCAL AUTHORITY OF THE YEAR FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL

Ciara Murray, Event Manager, Ashville Media Group, Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland with Councillor Tom Kitt, Deputy Mayor of Fingal County Council and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

Ciara Murray, Event Manager, Ashville Media Group, Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland with Christiana Van Der Kamp, CSR Manager Gas Networks Ireland and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

FLEET CAR COMPANY OF THE YEAR RENAULT IRELAND

SPECIAL MERIT AWARD GAS NETWORKS IRELAND CSR PROGRAM

Ciara Murray, Event Manager, Ashville Media Group, Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland with Gary Breen, Fleet Manager of Renault Ireland and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

Ciara Murray, Event Manager, Ashville Media Group, Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland with Chris Keely, Senior Business Development Manager at Trinity College Dublin and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

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ACADEMIA COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRY TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN

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InBUSINESS RECOGNITION AWARDS 2O19

Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland with Hilary Gormley, Head of Business Banking at AIB Business Banking and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

BUSINESS BANKING MEDIUM & LARGE ENTERPRISES AIB BUSINESS BANKING

“BEING RECOGNISED BY THE IN BUSINESS AWARDS AS ‘BEST BUSINESS BANK’ SPEAKS TO OUR PURPOSE WHICH IS TO BACK OUR CUSTOMERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS AND AMBITIONS.” HILARY GORMLEY, HEAD OF BUSINESS BANKING (CORPORATE, INSTITUTIONAL AND BUSINESS BANKING), AIB

BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR DAVID WALSH, NETWATCH

Ciara Murray, Event Manager, Ashville Media Group, Ian Talbot, CEO, Chambers Ireland with David Walsh, CEO of Netwatch and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

“WE HAVE A LOYAL CUSTOMER BASE, AN ESTABLISHED TEAM AND IT MAKES ME VERY PROUD TO SEE THE IRISH MARKET GROW YEAR ON YEAR FOR NETWATCH.” DAVID WALSH, CEO, NETWATCH

Ciara Murray, Event Manager, Ashville Media Group, Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland with Tony O’Brien, Director & Site Leader of PayPal and Vincent Wall, Business Editor, Newstalk

COMPANY OF THE YEAR PAYPAL

“THIS AWARD WITH INBUSINESS IS A LOVELY WAY TO FINISH 2019.

BEING RECOGNISED AS COMPANY OF THE YEAR IS INCREDIBLY SPECIAL AND WE CELEBRATE THIS ONE TOGETHER, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE HARD WORK OF THE TEAM-MATES WE WOULDN’T BE HERE.” ANNETTE HICKEY, VP FOR EMEA, CUSTOMER SERVICES, PAYPAL InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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GALWAY 2020 & BEYOND

A

Galway for

The year ahead will be an important one for Galway, and not just in the realm of culture. Galway Chamber CEO Kenny Deery tells InBUSINESS how it is readying to leverage the opportunities 2020 will bring.

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hen Galway’s year as European Capital of Culture kicks off on 8 February, Galway Chamber CEO Kenny Deery will be prepared to showcase not just the culture of the City of the Tribes, but also all the investment and business opportunities the area presents as well.

He is readying for the challenges of the new decade with increased focus on how the Chamber engages with the business community and wider world, and a new fiveyear strategy in the works. He’s also bringing forward an important learning from 2019—don’t schedule the annual Chamber Awards the same night as The Late Late Toy Show!

Luckily, Galway’s business community was happy to set its TVs on record, and a successful year rounded out with a wonderful event, recognising the innovation, entrepreneurship and hard work of local business people, and the announcement of the President’s Award, which this year went to NUI Galway’s Professor John Breslin.

This year saw main sponsor, Shannon Group, looking to

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do something meaningful with its support of the Awards, and representatives from the shortlisted companies were brought on a fact-finding day, which allowed Shannon Group to present on its industrial holdings, and afforded the finalists a great networking opportunity.

Another first this year was an all-female judging panel—which occurred by accident rather than design.

“It was a range of experience and geographic and sectoral spread,”states Deery. “One of the things I’m very conscious of is that we have balance and perspective. In the Chamber board we have improved but there is still a long way to go, with eight female board members out of 25.”

COMMUNICATING SUSTAINABILITY When it comes to future plans, communication cuts across every aspect of strategy for Deery.

He has recently pushed to increasingly use video content across social media channels, in particular to deliver key messages.

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GALWAY 2020 & BEYOND

“Effective communication is like the blood running through the veins of every part of what we do. It’s something that we’ve been good at but we could have been better at.”

It also feeds into the sustainability agenda as he points out that as a Chamber, “We’re still sending out reams of posted material on a monthly basis.

There’s a change we can make there.”

Being well-informed and an exemplar on sustainability will be a major part of the work of 2020, as Deery sees a future where an articulated sustainability policy will become as crucial to doing business as a tax compliance certificate.

“One thing I know from our American member companies, is that corporate boardrooms in the US are animated about this topic. Some companies won’t contract with providers, with subsidiaries, or with Chambers, unless their sustainability position is clearly articulated on their website,” he notes.

“We need to educate members on what good sustainability looks like, so they don’t have to reinvent the wheel and pay consultants themselves.

One of my plans is to work with the Local Enterprise Office and see how we can help businesses articulate their position and be better in this space.”

FUNDING LEARNINGS “One of the key facts that we’ve learned is that Ireland is actually quite poor at applying for EU funding,” states Deery. An exciting initiative which is already in the works was initiated by Galway Chamber subsidiary Galway Technology Centre (GTC). GTC, along with the Northwest Regional Assembly, has gathered representatives from

21 interest groups in the region, and brought them together to learn more about applying for European funding.

The project has seen the group come together in Galway for a day of learning and make a fact-finding trip to Brussels.

“We met with quite a few of the MEPs and key people, talking about the EU budget 2021-2027 and how we as a collective in the West can be far better at working together, partnering on projects and potentially sourcing funding that will help our objectives around smart cities and sustainability.”

WHY GALWAY? Early 2020 will see the relaunch of the ‘Why Galway?’ campaign, along with a new website and range of brochure material. Deery says the marketing tool was highly commended by IDA Ireland for its usefulness in promoting the region to business investors, and with the attention that will be focused on Galway 2020, the time is ripe to bring it back, so that, “When people come to Galway, we are able to articulate the unique selling points for the city.”

He expects many foreign embassy delegations to visit the city during Galway 2020, and the Chamber is working to, “make sure that everyone who comes to Galway gets a good presentation and good experience, and goes away thinking this is a place they could do business.”

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GALWAY 2020 & BEYOND

Trinzo ready for Global Growth Galway-headquartered Trinzo is expanding its reach across the globe, with further expansion in the Eurozone and US planned for 2020.

T

rinzo is a professional services provider for the life sciences industry with a specific focus on working with clients on quality and regulatory projects. Trinzo helps clients reach and maintain compliance with international standards and regulations, adding value and optimising business potential.

“We challenge the way you think and develop innovative and collaborative ways of improving your business. We do this with industry experts that have a clear understanding of your business challenges and needs,” states Liam Turley, CEO. Trinzo is headquartered in Galway City, employing seven full-time staff and 20 consultants servicing clients, a number which it envisions increasing dramatically in 2020, following on from increasing the company’s client base tenfold in 2019.

“The end of 2019 concluded a very strong year of growth for Trinzo as we went from a locally operating company onto the global stage, operating in three continents,” notes Shane Connolly, Director of Business Development at Trinzo. “The goal for 2020 and beyond is to continue this growth sustainably, looking towards further expansion into the Eurozone, specifically Germany as well as further expansion into the US. As our client base begins to grow so to does the need to expand with it.”

LOOKING FOR A CHANGE? CONTACT TRINZO TODAY! Quality, Regulatory & Clinical Expertise Required

82 info@trinzo.com

+353 (0)91 394 804

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GALWAY 2020 & BEYOND

Striking Oil Twice John Sweeney of Sweeney Oil tells InBUSINESS it was a proud moment to win Galway Chamber’s Business of the Year Award after re-establishing his business 10 years ago.

I

t was a proud moment for John Sweeney, founder of Sweeney Oil to accept the award for Galway Chamber’s Business of the Year, for a business he first set up in 1987, and then re-established 10 years ago after the original business was sold.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have won this significant award, as the best overall business in Galway this year— that is a huge coup,” said Sweeney.

Kenny Deery, CEO Galway Chamber and John Sweeeny, Sweeney Oil

Sweeney Oil now services all of Galway city and county including the Aran Islands, and it has depots in Clifden, Moycullen, Galway, Tuam, Ballinrobe, Claremorris, Roscommon and the Aran Islands. Currently it has a fleet of 15 trucks.

Sweeney Oil also has service stations in Galway city, Oranmore, Moycullen and Clifden, providing the

full service of forecourts, shop sales, food to go and delicatessens.

“We’re totally independent, and free from any ties with the oil majors,” says Sweeney. “We employ in the region of 100 people and we are exceptionally lucky that we have a very loyal customer base, many of whom have been dealing with us for more than 30 years.”

Sweeney Oil Home Heating

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GALWAY 2020 & BEYOND

Here to Help 24/7 MAPFRE ASSISTANCE’s Galway contact centre operates 24/7/365, providing assistance to 1.3 million Irish customers.

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APFRE ASSISTANCE is the largest assistance network in Ireland, and has been operating from Galway since 1991. The company provides travel insurance, motor breakdown and home emergency assistance for some of Ireland’s largest insurers, with 1.3 million Irish customers depending on it. MAPFRE also offers vehicle warranty products that are sold through car dealers and car manufacturers, while its direct brand, InsureandGo, is one of the leading travel insurers in the country.

“We have 100 people in our Galway office, and operate a 24/7/365 contact centre. We have been steadily growing in recent years, and certainly plan to expand as we partner with more clients,” says General Manager Craig Senior.

“Our goal is to exceed the expectations of our clients’ customers, every time. People depend on us to help in an emergency situation at home, on the road and overseas. Whether this is a breakdown on the M50, a burst pipe in the home, or a medical emergency in Florida, we have to deliver each and every time. We

OUR GOAL IS TO EXCEED THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR CLIENTS’ CUSTOMERS, EVERY TIME. PEOPLE DEPEND ON US TO HELP IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AT HOME, ON THE ROAD AND OVERSEAS provided over 100,000 assistances in 2019, and consistently excellent service is key.”

Looking back over 2019, Senior says receiving the Best Customer Service Award from Galway Chamber was a highlight, along with winning some large new clients and growing the InsureandGo brand.

“I want to say thanks again for the Customer Service award presented to us by Galway Chamber. It’s always nice to get recognition for the work that we are doing and the team really appreciates it.”

Protecting your customers and staff.

At home, on the road and abroad.

091 501 610 ireland@mapfre.com

Winner of Best Customer Service in the 2019 Galway Chamber Business Awards

MAPFRE ASISTENCIA Compañía Internacional De Seguros Y Reaseguros, S.A., trading as MAPFRE ASSISTANCE Agency Ireland, is authorised by the Dirección General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones del Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda in Spain and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules.

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GALWAY 2020 & BEYOND

Good Going GoBus.ie was the winner of the Intercity Coach Operator of the Year.

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oBus.ie offers the most comfortable non-stop trip connecting Galway and Cork with Dublin City and Dublin Airport. Earlier this year we set up our first ever regional connect route between Galway City and Ballina, Co. Mayo.

All of our coaches are equipped with on-board restrooms, sockets, Wi-Fi and AC so you can relax on your journey.

We pride ourselves on offering fast, friendly, reliable, and convenient travel on our 24-hour services to and from Dublin City and Dublin Airport, for as little as €13 one way.

GoBus.ie celebrated our 10th anniversary by adding to an impressive list of awards and accolades as we won Coach Operator of the year 2020 – Intercity at the Fleet Bus & Coach Awards.

Managing Director Jim Burke stated that he “is delighted to have won the award. The entire GoBus.ie team work extremely hard on making sure our passengers have the most

comfortable and convenient trip possible. We update our fleet every year so when travelling on GoBus.ie, a passenger can be assured of every modern convenience whether they want to work or relax while on board.”

Book your tickets online at www.gobus.ie or contact us on +353 (0)91 564 600.

Dara Burke, Transport Manager, GoBus.ie accepting the Coach Operator of the Year Award (Intercity) at the Fleet Bus & Coach Awards

Galway • Dublin • Airport - Non Stop BOOK ONLINE FOR OUR BEST VALUE FARES! InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2019 249101_2L_GoBus_JM_InBus 12.04.indd 1

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www.gobus.ie

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GALWAY 2020 & BEYOND

Implant Innovations Galway medtech company Loci Orthopaedics is developing a life-changing implant for sufferers of thumb base joint arthritis.

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t is often said, only partly in jest, that opposable thumbs are the defining trait which separate humans from chimpanzees, key to the development of our sophisticated society. Loci Orthopaedics is a company built on providing a clinical solution to the impairment of that most important function, caused by thumb base joint arthritis. The pain of the condition— which affects over over 100 million people worldwide—can restrict sufferers’ ability to perform everyday tasks such as buttoning a shirt, opening a jar or turning a key.

Loci Orthopaedics is developing a potentially life-changing implant for the condition, for which the NUI Galway spinout was recently awarded Best Innovation/R&D at the Galway Chamber Business Awards.

The InDx Implant being developed by Loci Orthopaedics can fully mimic the natural but complex motions of the thumb joint, providing two points of rotation that can move both concurrently and independently of each other while enabling the joint to move in all six degrees of freedom.

Looking back over 2019, CEO and Co-founder Dr Brendan Boland pinpoints attaining a US patent for its core technology as one of the big highlights, along with receiving over €2.5m in funding from the European Commission under the Fastrack to

LOCI ORTHOPAEDICS IS A COMPANY BUILT ON PROVIDING A CLINICAL SOLUTION TO THE IMPAIRMENT OF THAT MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION, CAUSED BY THUMB BASE JOINT ARTHRITIS. THE PAIN OF THE CONDITION—WHICH AFFECTS OVER OVER 100 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE—CAN RESTRICT SUFFERERS’ ABILITY TO PERFORM EVERYDAY TASKS SUCH AS BUTTONING A SHIRT, OPENING A JAR OR TURNING A KEY.

Pictured L-R: Gerry Clarke (CTO), Dr Brendan Boland (CEO) and Fiona Mangan (Engineer), Loci Orthopaedics.

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Innovation funding mechanism, to accelerate the product to commercialisation.

“From a tech and engineering point of view, our innovation pipeline continues and we are growing it out in-house, reflected in four more patents pending this year,” he states.

Clinical trials of the InDx Implant are due to start in Europe in 2020 with the renowned hand surgeon Prof. Filip Stockmans in KU Leuven, Belgium. “He is the most well-respected hand surgeon in Europe and we are very happy that we are able to run our clinical trial with him as the primary investigator,” says Dr Boland.

Another extension of the company’s product development portfolio has been the addition of the OsteoAnchor technology after a licencing deal with NUI Galway. This technology is a 3D printed surface finish that enables implants to embed into poor quality bones. The company plans to use this technology to increase the number of patients who can receive potentially life-altering surgeries across a spectrum of orthopaedic conditions.

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GALWAY 2020 & BEYOND

Top Class Choice Celebrating almost 58 years, the four-star Ardilaun Hotel, at the heart of Galway, is the ideal location offering top class conferencing facilities and intimate meeting rooms.

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he four-star family owned and operated Ardilaun Hotel, Galway has a long standing reputation of being a venue of choice celebrating almost 58 years of doing business among the corporate community both locally and nationally. It is the ideal meetings and conference venue for networking, located between Galway City and Salthill in a quiet, secluded setting in Taylors Hill, yet only minutes from the bustling city centre of Galway, European City of Culture 2020.

This well established meetings hub offers a friendly but professional approach. The team benefits from years of experience organising special events. These have included conferences, exhibitions, training workshops, gala balls, Christmas parties and team building company days. There is a variety of meeting rooms, bedrooms and dining options, as well as plenty of free parking. The hotel’s conference facilities cater for up to 600 people including two large conference rooms - the Connacht and Glenarde Suite which

accommodate large meetings, with six syndicate rooms and elegant boardroom, spacious foyer, free hi speed broadband and wi-fi access, as well as spacious grounds for team building events and superb leisure club facilities onsite. Meeting rooms are now available from as little as €85 for part day rates.

The Ardilaun Bistro offers a new seasonal menu and express lunch menu which allow guests to carry out their business over coffee or lunch, so every opportunity is available to fit in some “downtime” in this busy world we live and work in!

Set in beautifully landscaped gardens, and a member of Select Hotels of Ireland, the four-star Ardilaun Hotel is a special meeting place, where you can get business done away from the office.

Why not plan your next event in Galway, enquire with the meeting and events team at The Ardilaun Hotel on: 091 519 703 / 519 794, or visit www.theardilaunhotel.ie for further information.

The perfect choice for business

INNOVATIVE ORTHOPAEDIC SOLUTIONS

info@lociorthopaedics.com

www.lociorthopaedics.com

@lociortho

Call us to discuss your conference & meeting requirements on 091 521 433 Taylors Hill, Galway City.

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GALWAY 2020 & BEYOND

MedTech Research and Innovation Sharon White, Technology Gateway Manager at GMIT’s Medical and Engineering Technology (MET) Gateway, tells InBUSINESS about the importance of the medtech industry in Ireland and supporting research, development and innovation in the sector.

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stablished in 2016, the Enterprise Ireland Medical and Engineering Technology (MET) Gateway is an interdisciplinary applied research centre, providing cutting-edge, industryfocused solutions for the MedTech, Lifesciences and Engineering sectors.

Based at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology’s Galway campus, the MET Gateway offers to MedTech companies engaged in Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I), technologies such as medical imaging, bio-simulation and data analytics & visualisation. The centre is currently the only industry service provider of digital fluoroscopy for medical device design verification in Ireland.

To date, the MET Technology Gateway has completed over 130 projects for, and in collaboration with, Irish-based medtech companies, and was

shortlisted for the Irish MedTech Association award for Academic Contribution in 2017 and 2018, and won the award in 2019, reflecting its impact on the medical device industry.

The MET Gateway can help companies leverage the research and innovation supports provided by Enterprise Ireland, such as Innovation Vouchers, Innovation Partnerships and the Agile Innovation Fund.

“As a research provider, we see first-hand the benefits of the Research and Innovation supports provided

by Enterprise Ireland,” says White. “Enabling and supporting companies to become RD&I active is critical to their growth and sustainability, to that of the medtech sector, and to the Irish economy as a whole.”

For more information, see www.metcentre.ie and www.technologygateway.ie.

Located at GMIT, Galway the Enterprise Ireland Medical and Engineering Technologies (MET) Gateway is an applied research centre, dedicated to supporting Research, Development and Innovation activities in the MedTech, LifeSciences and Engineering Sectors. We offer: • Medical imaging technologies that allow for prototype devices to be tested and evaluated under clinically-relevant simulated use conditions.

• Biomedical Engineering technologies that translate medical data into engineering data and then into clinically relevant anatomical models with accompanying simulation systems.

• Data Analytics and Visualisation: MET has expertise in data analytics and the visualisation of clinical data that inform the design of next generation medical device prototypes.

• Design Engineering and Verification: offering services in prototyping and design verification technologies such as CAD design; rapid prototyping; technical reviews and materials and product characterisation.

• Medicinal Nutrition and Sport: with expertise in Nutrition and Sports Science, the research team assist the food industry in all aspects of novel food development including food analysis and testing, human intervention trials, product innovation, development and optimisation.

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GALWAY 2020 & BEYOND

Hot Property Winters Property Management drives client value through continuous improvement.

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inters Property Management (WPM), a full service property company based in Galway, was voted Domestic Collections Team of the Year at the 2019 Credit Team of the Year Awards. This follows on from its recent successes at the Irish Facility Management Awards where it won 11 categories in five years, including the Property Management Company of the Year in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

As Ireland’s largest operators of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation and one of the

biggest Estate Property Management and Residential Lettings firms in the country, WPM’s team of 50 staff are experts in their fields. Winters Property also offers a full range of property consultancy services to both residential and commercial clients; this includes development appraisals, sales and valuations, as well as operational and rental yield budgeting.

Looking to the future, Enda McGuane, MD, says: “We are in

the midst of a huge change in how people live and work. The National Development Plan forecasts major growth in the population of our cities over the next 20 years. To meet this growth we will require new approaches in the delivery and operation of both residential and commercial property.

WPM, with its history of excellence and experience in operating and renting properties, is well positioned to support this change.”

• Purpose Built Student Accommodation Management • • Development Appraisals • Site Operational Planning • • Estate Property Management • • Private Residential Letting • Sales and Valuations •

FOR NATIONWIDE ENQUIRES t: 091 771935 e: info@winterspm.com InBUSINESS | AUTUMN 2019 249153_2L_Winters_JM_InBus 12.04.indd 1

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PayPal launches Xoom in Ireland for fast and secure international money transfers PayPal continues to make the management and movement of money simpler, faster and more secure as it launches Xoom in Ireland.

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he global remittance market is an estimated $689bn industry, with Irish people remitting over $2.5bn annually. Ireland is also home to more than half a million non-Irish nationals – many of whom support family members overseas for things like medical bills, education, utility bills and other financial needs.

In another step to make the movement and management of money more convenient, accessible, secure and affordable for people, PayPal has launched Xoom, its international money transfer service, in Ireland. It enables people in Ireland to quickly send money to, pay bills and top up phones in more than 130 markets internationally.

Historically, the speed of securely and efficiently moving money across borders has been slow, but advances in digital technology—in particular mobile—are enabling a significant reduction in transfer time. The introduction of Xoom allows friends and family in these countries to receive money fast when sent to a bank account or for cash pickup.

Dan Schulman, PayPal’s CEO and President, said: “The way we move

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Dan Schulman, PayPal’s CEO and President

THE WAY WE MOVE AND MANAGE OUR MONEY HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE HAVE MOVED BEYOND THE DAYS WHEN THE ONLY OPTION FOR SENDING MONEY ABROAD WAS TO QUEUE AT A COUNTER FOR HOURS.

and manage our money has changed dramatically in the last few years.

We have moved beyond the days when the only option for sending money abroad was to queue at a counter for hours. Even in 2019, it still takes too long to get money from European countries to a loved one in another country.

“We know how important these money transfers are in the lives of millions of people, and how crucial it is that money arrives swiftly so it can be used for things that matter. With Xoom, someone with a smartphone on a bus in Dublin, Limerick or Dundalk can send money that can be accessed quickly in Mumbai or Nairobi to pay for a family member’s medical emergency or urgent financial needs.”

A FAST, CONVENIENT AND SECURE WAY TO SUPPORT FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABROAD. Xoom customers can send up to €25,000 in a single transaction. A Xoom account can be set up in a few easy steps via the Xoom iOS or Android app or Xoom.com. Existing PayPal customers can use their PayPal account to access Xoom’s services, making it even quicker and easier to send money abroad.

PayPal customers can also use bank accounts linked to their PayPal account to transfer funds in addition

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to the debit and credit card options available through Xoom. Depending on the receiver country, users can choose from a range of options: deposit money to a bank account, send cash for pick-up or have cash delivered directly to their recipient’s door. Xoom transfers can be tracked quickly and easily via text updates, email notifications or directly from the mobile app and website. Those who send money abroad can get their questions answered from customer support staff in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Filipino and Arabic.

Xoom partners with major banks and partners around the world to provide fast and more secure

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money transfers to key remittance corridors like India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, Poland and China as well as to other European, Asian, North and South American and African countries.

The launch of this service is a significant milestone and will enable the one million plus PayPal users in Ireland to send money across the globe to their loved ones. By providing fast and secure payment options for customers to seamlessly send money across borders by going online or simply using a mobile device, PayPal and Xoom are helping to expand and improve the financial health of millions of people worldwide.

BY PROVIDING FAST AND SECURE PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS TO SEAMLESSLY SEND MONEY ACROSS BORDERS

BY GOING ONLINE OR SIMPLY USING A MOBILE DEVICE, PAYPAL AND XOOM ARE HELPING TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE

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Anthony Savage, Regional Director of Operations, and the Brook Foods team accept the Gold Medal Award for Event Caterer of the Year for the Rose of Tralee from MC Martin King

Food for Thought Cork company Brook Foods is leading the way in fresh catering for employee restaurants and large-scale events.

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ver the last ten years, Brook Foods has had quite a journey, from its simple beginning—catering a barbecue for a friend of the founders—to winning Event Caterer of the Year Award for its faultless operational execution of the Rose of Tralee’s Rose Ball for 1,400 guests.

Operational excellence is something that sets the company apart, suggest Sales and Marketing Manager, Niamh O’Kelly. “Our large events really are seamless,” she says. “It’s impressive when you see it running, but I suppose if you were at one of our events you wouldn’t be looking at the operations team!”

Indeed, running a large event smoothly is one of those things that is rarely noticed unless it isn’t done right, which makes the successes of the past year all the sweeter.

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Another accolade went to Managing Director Kieran Callinan, who was announced Business Man of the Year at the Cork Business Awards.

One of the original founders, he has overseen the growth of the catering business over the last 10 years, to employing 300 people today.

PIVOTING FOCUS Over this time, the business has pivoted its main focus from event catering to what it terms ‘workspace restaurants’. “When the company started it would have been predominantly events,” notes O’Kelly. “Now we have 28 workspace restaurants and we do a select number of events every year.”

More than mere staff canteens, each workspace restaurant has its own dedicated chefs and caters to the particular requirements of the site— for example, some tech companies

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with a younger staff demographic have a higher percentage of vegans and vegetarians.

“If you look at our company, across any sector that we work in, whether it is events or onsite catering, what is very important to us is cooking things fresh,” says O’Kelly.

“This is something that is essential when it comes to our quality and service. We also get great feedback on our events and have some really creative chefs who love this side of our business.”

INNOVATIVE IDEAS One of the company’s plans for 2020 is to create a forum for its innovative team of chefs to come together and share ideas. One of the innovations that has already been a great success for the company is Fred, the bright orange food truck. Fred followed the cast and crew of popular comedy series The Young Offenders as they filmed the latest series over the course of six months.

“We got great feedback from the event, in particular our ability to meet the dietary requirements of all the cast and crew members and that our menu planning ensured our customers did not get bored.”

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Ever-more demanding dietary requirements is just one of the challenges facing any player in the food sector these days. “One of the things that we are faced with daily is that companies want their employees to make healthier choices,” says O’Kelly. “The availability of Healthy options is a top priority for Employers today and we provide that choice for our customers” SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS Sustainability is something that has been on the agenda for Brook Foods for some time now. The company already has comprehensive recycling and compost systems in place in all of its restaurants, and is working with suppliers to source as much produce as possible locally in order to cut down on food miles.

“For food companies in particular, sustainability is really important.

For example, the way food is wrapped—single-use plastic is used all the time in food production. “A lot of companies are implementing strategies to be more sustainable, we are lucky that we have been working on this for a while, and it has enabled us to support our clients

Pictured L-R: Brook Foods chef Alan Geary with The Young Offenders stars Alex Murphy and Hilary Rose, and Brook Foods Events & Development Co-ordinator Una McGlynn

with their sustainability agendas.”

Looking forward to 2020, Brook Foods will be opening its first consumer-facing cafe. “It is a new market for us and we are looking forward to beginning this new venture.”

For Brook Foods, the fast growth of the last couple of years has seen the building blocks put in place for continued expansion during 2019. With a rounded out senior management team now in place, the time is right to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the booming market. “I think 2020 is going to be very very exciting; 2019 was a brilliant year. Over the last few years we grew rapidly, which meant we were often working to meet the demands of this growth.

We have a great team in place across our business and have big plans to get our claws stuck into the market in the New Year. We have some very exciting things coming up and cannot wait to share it with you all.

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02/07/2019 17:11 10:57 05/10/2017

What’s on your

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

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Sustainability for a healthy planet David Casey, Wellness and Health Promotion Manager at DeCare, discusses how health and wellbeing can drive sustainable development and lead to a healthy society on a healthy planet.

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mall businesses can play a crucial role as drivers of innovation and as engines of economic growth and employment. Sustainable consumption represents a common challenge for public authorities (at all levels) and consumers, as well as small businesses.

Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations is a balancing act.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals designed to be a ‘blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all’. The SDGs, set in 2015, are intended to be achieved by the year 2030 and small workplaces have a role to play.

Small businesses need to focus and measure what matters from the start to promote healthy people in a healthy society on a healthy planet.

Depending on the sector and type of work, businesses should consider this in planning, place shaping and land mix use, along with connectivity and accessibility.

Many companies are leaning towards the promotion of green exercise with health and wellbeing agendas. Green exercise refers to physical exercise undertaken in natural environments. Physical exercise is well known to provide physical and psychological health benefits with minimal costs and resources to employers setting up a run or lunchtime walk.

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MENTAL HEALTH Focus on health and wellbeing at work meets another SDG goal which includes reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This is done through screenings and prevention and also through promoting mental health and wellbeing. Financial literacy education and benefits increase access

David Casey, Wellness & Health Promotion Manager, DeCare Dental

to quality essential healthcare services and promote positive mental health.

Fully respecting human rights is one of the most fundamental ways businesses can help to realise the SDGs – and to remove significant barriers to social inclusion and organisational development.

Organisations can also help address critical mega-trends such as

climate change, resource depletion, demographic shifts, migration and urbanisation, corporate governance and the low level of awareness of the SDGs in Ireland.

A GLOBAL ISSUE Effects of global climate change on human health has direct effects causing death, illness, injury in heatwaves, respiratory effects, pollen, dust, floods and fires. It also has indirect effects leading to the spread of vector borne diseases, the transmission of contagious diseases, along with crop production, water and rising sea levels, which all affect society and businesses today.

We are the last generation that can fight climate change, we have a duty to act. Starting a health and wellbeing programme for your employees today not only promotes happy healthier workers but meets many of the Sustainable Development Goals set out for 2030. Ask yourself today what change can your business make for 2020 to help create healthier people in a healthy society on a healthy planet?

DeCare offer benefits, wellbeing and mental health training along with wellness programmes that help create ‘Happier Healthier Lives’. These programmes help sustain a healthy work culture that educates, motivates and empowers employees to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviours.

Find out more information at www.wellness.decare.ie and www.decaredental.ie.

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The 2020 Awards will take place on the 15th of May at the InterContinental Hotel, Dublin The Energia Family Business Awards showcase the best of Irish family businesses throughout the 32 counties of Ireland.

The awards will celebrate everyone from small home grown businesses to established and international family run businesses.

For more information visit www.familybusinessawards.ie For all queries contact Michael O’Donoghue, Event Manager e: michael.odonoghue@ashvillemediagroup.com t: 01 432 2224

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Galway gets set for a year of cultural activity as European Capital of Culture.

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Exciting new tech space due to open in Naas at the end of 2020.

EIB backs 35m loan to support Cork County Council’s Social Sustainability Investment Programme.

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EDENDERRY E-HIVE

Galway City and County launch yearlong arts programme as European Capital of Culture term gets underway.

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LIMERICK LANDMARK

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MOBILES FOR MALINBEG

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20,000 Minister Michael Ring TD opened a state-of-the-art E-hive digital co-working space in Edenderry Town Hall. The philosophy was to provide a high quality space, enhancing modern supports to enterprise in Edenderry with the potential to foster innovation. This unique approach sees a 27-inch monitor at each desk, meeting room facilities, spacious common areas, high-speed internet access, private booths for calls, a shared kitchen and bicycle racks.

[ COUNTY DUBLIN ]

THE CREATIVE STUDIO OPENS IN BALLYFERMOT LIBRARY

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ublin City Libraries’ The Creative Studio allows visitors to book the space to make and record music, podcasts, interviews and video. All you need is a valid library card. The Creative Studio is a free to use digital maker space facilitating the creation of music recordings, podcasts, videos, digital stories and oral histories. And more besides. At the centre of this space are two recording booths providing library patrons with access to a variety of audio and video recording equipment and software. Whether it’s delivering a Facebook Live, interviewing a guest for a podcast, recording YouTube videos or creating a music demo, The Creative Studio will offer endless opportunities to expand visitors’ talents, skills and opportunities in a free space. Some of the equipment available to use include microphones (stand, table mounted) with pop filter shock mounts, studio headphones, four channel stereo headphone distributor amplifier, studio monitors (speakers), four or eight channel Focusrite Scarlett Audio Interface, cinema camera 4K plus tripod, Logitech C615 HD 1080p webcam, LED lighting, green screen, iMac computers, 21.5-inch iMac with retina 4K display, and the following software: Final Cut X video editing software, Logic Pro X music making software, GarageBand, and Audacity.

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South Dublin County Council intends to promote Tallaght Stadium as an events venue to include music, festivals and all aspects of community events. The venue will accommodate up to 20,000 people.

The development of Tallaght Stadium and the advertising and marketing strategy comes on the ten-year anniversary of the stadium opening in 2009.

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[ COUNTY DUBLIN ] [ COUNTY KILDARE ]

Turning innovation into a competitive advantage in Naas

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onstruction has recently commenced on the development of an exciting new tech space for Naas and Kildare. The Mid-East Regional Innovation Think Space (MERITS) in Naas will provide a dynamic space for over 100 technology workers when it opens in November 2020. MERITS is one of the key objectives under the Mid-East Regional Enterprise Plan 2020. The hub was the successful recipient of nearly 2m funding under Enterprise Ireland’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund matched by a further 3m investment from Kildare County Council. The collaboration between Kildare County Council, Kildare’s Local Enterprise Office, Maynooth University and a number of other agencies will serve the emerging technology sector by connecting organisations and people, building market-relevant solutions in addition to acting as a centre of excellence in supporting innovation for businesses across the Mid-East region. It will also offer tailored training solutions to meet the future needs of the technology sector. The hub will form the cornerstone for the development of a connected network of innovative workspaces across the Mid-East region incorporating the tech, agri-food, equine and content creation sectors that will facilitate their clients to collaborate and share their expertise.

Fingal County Council’s Arts Plan launched The new Fingal County Council’s Arts Plan 2019-2025 was launched in Swords Castle, where Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Eoghan O’Brien was joined by AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, Margaret Geraghty, Director of Housing & Community, Rory O’Byrne, County Arts Officer and special guest speaker Art O’Leary, Secretary-General to the President, in welcoming an audience of artists, cultural policymakers, educators, families and the general public.

County Arts Officer Rory O’Byrne said: “We have an extensive Arts Office programme of opportunities and initiatives informed by priority policy areas, complemented by the work of two thriving arts centres – Draíocht in Blanchardstown and the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre in the Naul. Over the next seven years, we will focus our efforts by making space for art, connecting people and ideas, enabling excellence, and developing our capacity to deliver this plan optimally.”

The Mid-East Regional Innovation Think Space (MERITS) in Naas is due to open in November 2020.

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[ COUNTY LIMERICK ]

LIMERICK TWENTY THIRTY UPHOLDS CITY’S FINEST ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS WITH TWO MAJOR WINS

Limerick’s awardwinning Gardens International building

Limerick Twenty Thirty’s determination to maintain the proud architectural standards long since associated with the city has been recognised with two major awards on consecutive nights. The Gardens International building claimed the prestigious Design Project of the Year at the KPMG Irish Independent Property Industry Excellent Awards 2019 and the Architectural Project of the Year at the Irish Building & Design Awards 2019. The awards come hot on the heels of Gardens International’s success in the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) annual awards, where it won the New Build Workplace category. The awards were a joint win by the Limerick Twenty Thirty team and architects on the project Carr Cotter Naessens and Denis Byrne Architects. “Our mandate at Limerick Twenty Thirty is to transform disused sites in the heart of Limerick into dynamic engines of economic growth,” says Limerick Twenty Thirty CEO David Conway. “However, a guiding principle we started out with and will stay true to as we press ahead on all our sites, is that we uphold the finest architectural traditions of the city.”

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Clare Arts Office awards artists the opportunity to undertake an Arts Space, Artist in Schools Residency with 17 primary schools in County Clare. The scheme encourages projects that introduce children to experience the cross disciplinary nature of the arts, projects which connect ideas and art making to other subjects.

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Cork County Council marked the 50th anniversary of Ireland’s only cable car during a meeting of the West Cork Municipal District held at Lehanmore Community Centre and a visit to Dursey Island. A key point along the Wild Atlantic Way, the Dursey Island cable car is located on the Beara Peninsula, West Cork and links the mainland with the scenic inhabited Dursey Island. The council lodged plans with An Bord Pleanála for a new cable car system with a decision expected in spring. The proposed Dursey Island Project would cost 10.5m with funding from Fáilte Ireland and could be operational by early 2023.

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FROM LEFT Vice President of the European Investment Bank Andrew McDowell, Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Christopher O’Sullivan, and Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey

[ COUNTY CORK ]

EIB backs a35m investment across Cork County

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he European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a a35m loan agreement with Cork County Council to support the council’s Social Sustainability Investment Programme. This represents the first element of an overall a50m loan facility which has been approved by the EIB. The council has developed a Social Sustainability Investment Programme to maximise potential for growth under the National Planning Framework Project Ireland 2040 and ensure a sustainable future for Cork County.

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A broad-ranging portfolio of projects totalling in excess of a250m have been identified by the council and planned for delivery over an eight-to-tenyear period. “Cork has been set a target of delivering in the region of 23% of the State’s overall population growth by 2040,” says Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey. “The future success of Cork County is contingent on a sustainable foundation, with a network of thriving towns, supporting their hinterlands and providing for balanced, sustainable growth. This demands co-ordinated, strategic planning and investment. In tandem with central government Urban and Rural Regeneration & Development funding streams, this a35m loan agreement with the European Investment Bank will allow us to support a strategic investment programme, implement development plans, support communities and drive economic performance across the entire county.”

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Christopher O’Sullivan welcomed the announcement, saying, “Each of our key towns in County Cork has unique strengths and challenges.

To provide the basis for vibrant towns, ready to embrace new lifestyles and work practices, a holistic programme of targeted investment is needed in the short to medium term.

This loan finance will be allocated to priority schemes that will make a significant contribution to sustainable growth and employment in the county.”

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[ COUNTY SLIGO ]

Strandhill Community Development Association wins the 2019 EDEN Award Strandhill Community Development Association in County Sligo was honoured as the Irish winner of the 2019 EDEN (European Destination of Excellence) Award. The prestigious EDEN award recognises Strandhill Community Development Association as the best emerging destination that promotes sustainable tourism by using health & wellbeing assets that are characteristic of their region to grow visitor numbers. The award was officially presented to the winner by Fáilte Ireland at a ceremony in the Sligo Park Hotel.

Health and wellbeing tourism is a growing sector that is responding to visitor needs and interest in physical and mental wellbeing, yoga and meditation, sport and fitness, and nutrition. Wellness and spa tourism can have a beneficial impact on the environment as it depends largely on a high quality environment including clean water, clean air and an attractive ecosystem. Wellness tourism is growing globally by 6.5% annually (more than twice the growth rate for general tourism).

A1.8 MILLION

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring TD announced that he has approved over a1.8m in funding for 109 projects nationally under Measure 1 of the 2019 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. Five projects in Leitrim were approved under this scheme with a funding allocation of a94,400.

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Galway 2020 is the largest and most complex cultural event ever undertaken on the island of Ireland, comprising of over 1,900 events across 154 projects, 170 partnerships and collaborations with local, national, European and international artists and cultural organisations from over 30 different countries. Galway 2020 will host 30 projects celebrating the Irish language, 125 world premieres, and 135 Irish premieres. The programme themes of landscape, language and migration are interwoven throughout the programme with national and international artists responding to these themes.

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[ COUNTY GALWAY ]

Galway to host IETM Satellite Meeting SLIGO: LIVE, INVEST, VISIT

Colm Hogan

Sligo County Council, in conjunction with the Sligo Economic Forum, has been working on the development of a new brand identity for Sligo to reflect the strengths, vision, and positive collaborative effort that has been building in Sligo in recent years. This single call to action, with related web portal to be known as Sligo.ie, will act as the umbrella brand for all things positive about Sligo and will provide a central destination for users to find out about the best of what is happening in Sligo. Under the three pillars of live/invest/visit, the new brand and site will present an opportunity for Sligo to promote a positive image which will entice visitors and investors to the area to enjoy the Sligo landscape, culture, educational and innovative opportunities, with excellent choice and quality of life.

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he international network for contemporary performing arts (IETM) will host its 2020 Satellite meeting in Galway during the county’s term as European Capital of Culture next year. IETM is a network of over 450 performing arts organisations and individual members working in the contemporary performing arts worldwide, from theatre, dance, circus and performance to interdisciplinary live art forms and new media. In response to the concerns of members about the impact of Brexit and the need to strengthen connections with European organisations, Theatre Forum is organising this IETM Satellite meeting in Galway for up to 200 European and Irish artists in June 2020. Both IETM members and non-members are welcome to participate. Tackling the most urgent topic of our time, delegates will explore relationships between artists, the arts ecosystem and the planet. IETM and partners expect this Satellite meeting to start conversations and generate ideas for a performing arts ecology that’s fit for our future and the planet.

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[ COUNTY ANTRIM ]

LEADING GLOBAL MUSIC INDUSTRY FIGURES AT OUTPUT BELFAST

A81,200

Top names from the global music industry are lined up to speak at Ireland’s largest music conference, Output Belfast, on Thursday, February 13, 2020. Organised by Belfast City Council, the conference will include panel discussions, music sessions, workshops and speed networking events as well as keynote speeches from award-winning musicians and managers of globally recognised talent. Based at The MAC, the conference is expected to be attended by around 600 local artists, businesses and students, and will address the challenges and opportunities that the music industry presents, highlighting the key role that music and performance plays within the buoyant creative industries sector. 2020’s opening keynote speakers will be: Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of UK Music; Paul Pacifico, Chief Executive AIM, the Association of Independent Music; and Beverley Whitrick, Strategic Director, Music Venues Trust. Announcing the details of Output Belfast 2020, Cllr Deirdre Hargey, Chair of Belfast City Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee, said, “Now in its sixth year, Output Belfast is an unmissable event for those working, or who want to work in the local music industry, and the wider creative sector.”

Cavan County Council has leveraged over a80,000 for recreation projects in the county under Measure 1 of the 2019 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

The funding will support small-scale local projects with funding of up to a20,000 for investment in outdoor recreation facilities and the promotion of existing recreation infrastructure.

Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Leas-Chathaoirleach of Donegal County Council enjoying the new mobile phone coverage at Malinbeg, Co Donegal at the launch of the new initiative bringing mobile coverage to the secluded location along the Wild Atlantic Way. Funded under the Department of Rural & Community Development’s Digital Innovation Programme, this project has been rolled out as part of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce.

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[ COUNTY DONEGAL ]

The future is bright for young people with disabilities

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etterkenny Institute of Technology was a hive of activity on November 16 for the Donegal Careers Training and Lifestyle Fair, where hundreds of young people with disabilities and their families came along to explore different options to achieve their career dreams and ambitions. To help them on their way, 45 different service providers shared their expertise, information and guidance, through information stands and presentations on the supports their organisations provide in areas such as education and training, recreational activities and lifestyle, careers options, funding supports, independent living supports and more. The voice of young people took centre stage at the event, with a number of short video screenings that captured the real life experience of young people with disabilities and what it means to them to be included in social events and community activities and to be treated just like everyone else.

John Wallace and Jack Campbell described their experience of being part of the workforce in a local business, Kelly’s Diner & Mountain Top Centra; how having a job can be life-changing by increasing confidence, self-esteem and allowing them to play their part in the everyday life of their local community; and how being given a chance by an employer had opened up so many options for them and allowed them to progress in life, just like their peers.

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Donegal Youth Councillors helping out at a recent training and careers fair for young people with disabilities in Letterkenny Institute of Technology

DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL SIGNS UP

TO ALL-IRELAND POLLINATOR PLAN

Donegal County Council became the 17th local authority on the island of Ireland to sign up to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan on Wednesday, November 20. At a short signing ceremony in the council offices in Buncrana, Cllr Nicholas Crossan, Cathaoirleach, Donegal County Council was joined by Joe Peoples, Director of Housing, Corporate & Cultural Services, and members of Buncrana Tidy Towns and Donegal County Council staff to witness the signing of the agreement between Donegal County Council and the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Under the agreement, which will require a cross-directorate approach, Donegal County Council has committed to consider the AllIreland Pollinator Plan in its policies, plans and management decisions and has committed to undertake a number of actions each year to help pollinators. The National Biodiversity Data Centre has outlined 30 actions that local authorities can take to help pollinators, and Donegal County Council will report annually on progress.

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Nicholas Crossan signing the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan Agreement in Buncrana in November with council staff and local community interests.

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SOCIAL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FUND 2020–22

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OPENING TH JAN 16 2020

09/01/2020 20/12/2019 09:19 13:29

DPS_

CASH GRANTS OF UP TO €50,000 TRAINING & BUSINESS SUPPORTS NATIONWIDE PEER NETWORK The objective of the Social Enterprise Development Fund is to find and back Social Enterprises that add to the social and economic fabric of their community by way of social impact. The fund will provide critical support to the most innovative and impactful Social Enterprises across Ireland, helping them to: —

Increase their social impact

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Increase their traded income

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Create more jobs

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Develop long-term, effective and sustainable solutions.

Visit socialinnovation.ie/sedfund2020 for more information

Proudly supported by

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Informing you about the work of local authorities in supporting the business needs of their community...

To tell us what your local council is doing for business email sorcha.corcoran@ashvillemediagroup.com

In Association with

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IB PARTNER PROFILE

DHL – Helping Irish Businesses Grow Your delivery partner works as an extension of your brand, faceto-face with your customer, so it’s important you choose wisely.

O

ur world is now so connected that borders and distance no longer restrict a buyer’s choice of vendor.

This benefits both the consumer, with increased choice, as well as giving Irish businesses the opportunity to compete on the global market. There is plenty of strategic advice available to businesses in terms of how to enter established markets but one easily forgotten element is the necessity to partner with a trusted logistics provider.

International businesses require an express logistics provider that mirrors the principles of their own business. A sale does not end with the monetary transaction; the company you choose to deliver to your customers will act as an extension of your own company brand. Little Bow Pip, an Irish children’s hair accessory brand discovered this when it switched its import and export requirements to DHL in November 2018—just in time for the Black Friday rush!

Little Bow Pip is a family-run business founded by Nikki Whelan in Swords. She had struggled to find baby hairbands for her own children that had the fabric quality or level of design she required, and set up Little Bow Pip to import high quality

fabrics and manufacture handmade bows specifically designed for delicate baby heads and their fluffy soft hair.

Since Whelan’s consultation with DHL’s e-commerce sales team in 2018, Little Bow Pip has gone from strength to strength both nationally and internationally. Whelan says: “DHL have been an excellent support to our business in many different avenues. The support and transition to set up our account was brilliant—we had two members of staff on site with us. If there are ever any issues there is always a rep at the end of the phone to assist.

DHL go over and above to ensure the customer’s package is received.

Thanks to DHL we now have a service we are confident in for our customers!”

For any small e-commerce business in its start-up phase Whelan advises: “It’s not always about shopping for the cheapest price. It’s more about the service you want to offer your customers. You get what you pay for and the benefits speak for themselves. With DHL we receive next day delivery, a local Swords-based customer service team to deal with tracking and collection queries, consistent support from our dedicated sales rep and the security

SPEED OF DELIVERY IS NOW A TOP PRIORITY FOR ONLINE SHOPPERS AND BUSINESSES ENTERING AN ESTABLISHED MARKET NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. PARTNERING WITH DHL ALLOWS YOUR BUSINESS TO REACH OVER 220 COUNTRIES. InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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Nikki Whelan, Founder, Little Bow Pip

of knowing that our bespoke products are in safe hands.”

Speed of delivery is now a top priority for online shoppers and businesses entering an established market need to be able to compete on a level playing field. Partnering with DHL allows your business to reach over 220 countries and territories.

Our network, coupled with our trusted brand can support you in taking your business global!

For more information please contact ie.e-commerce@dhl.com.

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09/01/2020 16:38

LIFESTYLE: dining

WORKING LUNCH

THE BATHS AT CLONTARF

FOOD WITH A VIEW THIS HISTORIC ICONIC DUBLIN BAY VENUE, THE BATHS AT CLONTARF, OFFERS A DESTINATION FOR EATING, DRINKING AND A VIEW TO SIT BACK AND ENJOY FOR HOURS.

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VENUE DETAILS Address: 123A Clontarf Rd, Clontarf, Dublin 3 Telephone: +353 1 969 6580 Email: bookings @thebaths.ie Website: www.thebaths.ie Opening Hours:

hether you would like to Tues - Thurs 5pm - 10pm sip on a gin and tonic while Friday sitting in a bathtub sofa 12pm - 10pm looking over the North Saturday Strand, are looking for a 11am - 10pm brunch spot with a view of the Sunday 11am - 9pm Poolbeg Towers, or some casual dining focusing on healthy eating and local produce, Dublin Bay located Baths at Clontarf has you covered.

This unique venue first opened circa 1886, originally known as the Clontarf Baths and Assembly Rooms. The Baths' 25x40m sea water pool offers a safe swimming environment with all the benefits of sea water swimming.

The seaside-themed restaurant and cocktail bar were lovingly refurbished by Serendipity By Design to give the venue a contemporary update with a vintage twist. The menu focuses on healthy eating and local produce with a conscious effort to cater for vegetarians and vegans.

The Baths restaurant and bar open for dinner Tuesdays to Thursdays from 5pm, for lunch and dinner Fridays from 12pm, and for brunch and dinner, on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am.

A selection of signature cocktails are also available so you can sit back and relax for hours.

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INNOVATION NATION

NOTPLA OOHO! EDIBLE & BIODEGRADABLE PACKAGING

InBUSINESS looks at the latest innovations and technologies that are shaping our future.

In this issue: ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES.

The alternative to plastic, Notpla’s Ooho is an edible and biodegradable range of flexible packaging made by combining seaweed and plants which biodegrades naturally in 4-6 weeks.

The packaging is home compostable with no micro-plastics and no waste for centuries. This technology is a plastic-free solution to wasteful sauce pots, condiment sachets and single-use plastic. notpla.com

ROTHY’S SUSTAINABLE SHOES Rothy’s is redefining comfort, style and sustainability by repurposing plastic water bottles into a beautiful, durable, machine washable and comfortable shoe range for women.

Rothy’s is giving life to discarded plastic bottles, transforming them into soft yarns which are 3D knit to precise dimensions. Paired with recycled foam insoles abd carbon-free rubber out-soles, Rothy’s production process leaves zero waste behind. Rothy’s offers five stylish silhouettes in an array of signature patterns and colours. rothys.com

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LIFESTYLE: innovation

MINSTRY OF SUPPLY VELOCITY SUIT Using human-centered design and innovative materials, Ministry of Supply has created sweat-proof, flexible, and machine-washable apparel. It is dedicated to combating waste in the textile industry by reducing its carbon footprint utilising recycled materials at all applicable stages of its production process. The Velocity is high-tech suiting designed to outperform classic wool in every situation. The suit features resilient stretch fabric that retains crisp lines, is wrinkle-free, and has a modern fit that’s form flattering and sharp. ministryofsupply.com

EVOWARE SEAWEED-BASED PACKAGING

Seven McDONALD’S restaurants in the UK and Ireland are to trial collection of unwanted plastic toys to be recycled into coffee cups, bins, outdoor equipment and vegetable planters.

An eco-solution for plastic waste problems, Evoware has created an edible alternative to the commonly used multi-layered plastic sachet.

Evoware designs products using seaweed as the main material to make a positive impact on the environment and contribute to the livelihood of seaweed farmers. Its seaweed packaging products are eco-friendly, biodegradable or even edible and healthy for the body. evoware.id

Entrepreneur John Beckett has launched FORESTRY PARTNERS, a 12-month roadmap to get 250 tech companies to create 25k tons of CO2 equivalent offsets and achieving 200 acres of planted or committed trees.

MONKEY CUPS Monkey Cups, the Irish designed barista coffee cup, is helping to turn the tide on single-use plastic disposable cup wastage while offering a great alternative for coffee on the go.

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www.monkeycups.ie

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LIFESTYLE: travel

Cityfor all Seasons A

AS CANADA’S LARGEST CITY, WITH A THRIVING GLOBAL BUSINESS, ENTERTAINMENT AND TOURISM HUB AND TECH HOTSPOT IT’S NO WONDER TORONTO IS RANKED IN THE TOP TEN OF TOP GLOBAL TRAVEL DESTINATIONS.

“T

oronto” comes from the Mohawk phrase “tkaronto” meaning “where trees grow in the water”. Seen as “Canada’s Downtown” this global city sits on the northern shore of Lake Ontario and has a shoreline stretching 43 km. Famous for its progressiveness, the city is a vibrant and exciting destination enriched with history and culture, with a diverse population of 2.9 million people. While English and French are recognised as Canada’s two official languages, it is home to over 200 languages and dialects.

Toronto is a city for all seasons, each offering a unique and quintessential experience whether it be the cherry blossoms of Spring, the full force of the heat in the Summer, the enriching colours of

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Autumn or snow filled streets of Winter. Whatever the weather, this buzzing city truly is a place where you’ll find a unique way of looking at the world throughout its dynamic neighbourhoods, each with its own distinctive character.

Travelling through the city couldn’t be more convenient. Whether taking Toronto’s Underground PATH, travelling by bus or by streetcar, it is easy to navigate throughout this exciting city. Transfers are free between subways, buses and streetcars.

To get a taste of the dynamic neighbourhoods, ride the 501 “Red Rocket” streetcar along Queen Street from The Beaches in the east to the west end, through the heart of downtown and passing through the eclectic neighbourhoods of Leslieville, Riverside, Queen West, West Queen West, Parkdale and Roncesvalles along the way.

GETTING THERE

BY AIR: Toronto is served by two airports: Toronto Pearson International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, located on Toronto Island.

Aer Lingus flies from Dublin to Toronto four times a week and up to six times in the Summer. The flight time is 7.5 hours.

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LIFESTYLE: travel

WHERE TO MEET...

Chelsea Hotel

With a diverse population of 2.9 million people, Toronto is home to over 200 languages and dialects.

Situated in the heart of downtown Toronto, The Chelsea Hotel offers nine Business Suites designed specifically for corporate gatherings of up to 10 colleagues, ideal for spontaneous meetings, brainstorming sessions or corporate gatherings. www.chelseatoronto.com

EAT...

Canoe

Located on the 54th floor of the Toronto Dominion Centre and offering exceptional views of Toronto, Canoe highlights Canada’s flavours and ingredients through seasonal tasting menus and à la carte dishes to craft inspired dishes reflective of Canada’s diverse landscape, history and culture. www.canoerestaurant.com

SLEEP...

Hotel X Toronto CITY CENTRE Located at the heart of Toronto, the City Centre is a good starting point to discover what this city is made of. With no shortage of prime shopping spots, restaurants and Broadway-style shows, this area is home to the bustling public open space of Yonge-Dundas Square. Amongst the digital billboards and neon lights, this downtown Toronto public space is hopping with street performances, concerts and events that appeal to locals and tourists alike.

Where else could you refresh with some free Yoga in the Square followed by watching your favourite comedy movie at the outdoor City Cinema. Every September, The Toronto International Film Festival dominates the area, screening the latest blockbusters.It is also home to the CN Tower; this iconic landmark soars 1,815ft offering jaw-dropping views and for the brave amongst us, a glass floor revealing a unique view of 113 storeys straight down.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT Soaring above the clouds, Toronto’s Financial District is home to a bustling business core. Toronto has grown into a global tech hub and is home to over 30,000 tech jobs – more than the Bay Area, Seattle and Washington D.C. combined in 2017. Canada is recognised internationally for its stability and quality-of-life rankings. The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) are home to over 3,000 listed companies with a total market capitalisation of almost $3.0 tr. Toronto has become a leader in InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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The only hotel of its kind in Downtown Toronto, the Hotel X Toronto is the epitome of inviting hospitality, with a focus on sustainability and the greater Toronto community. With a heated rooftop pool. city skyline views, this luxurious urban resort it is unmatched in Toronto. www.hotelxtoronto.com

SEE...

Casa Loma

Constructed between 1911 and 1914 by E.J. Lennox, Casa Loma is the only full-sized castle in North America.

This stunning location is a popular location for use in film and television including X-men, Scott Pilgrim Vs the World and Ready or Not. Don’t miss the breathtaking view of Toronto from one of the towers. www.casaloma.ca

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LIFESTYLE: travel

BUSINESS EVENTS:

TORONTO

Richard Branson Live @ Haste & Hustle 2020

Haste & Hustle is an event for entrepreneurs to connect with one another, get inspired and educated by multiple speakers and get prepared to take on the next challenges of their business.

DATE 1 April, 2020 LOCATION Meridian Hall www.c100growthsummit.org

Growth Summit 2020

Connecting with thinkers and deciders from business, government, academia and other sectors to tackle the most pressing challenges and solutions to Canada’s economic future.

DATE 2 April, 2020 LOCATION Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) www.c100growthsummit.org

blockchain technology. The TSX lists more blockchain companies than any other global stock exchange. It is also home to the birth of Ethereum, the second largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin.

OLD TOWN To get a true sense of Toronto, a visit to the historic heart of Old Town is a must. This history of Canada can be felt at Fork York, site of the Battle of York. For the history buffs, stop off at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel to see an iconic piece of the Toronto skyline. The 28-storey structure was the tallest building in the British Empire. If you are feeling peckish and a little bit curious, pay a visit to the St Lawrence Market. It’s considered to be one of the best markets in the world. Originally opened in 1803, it is home to over 120 vendors offering a variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, baked goods, antiques and artisanal crafts.

TORONTO ISLANDS We can all get overwhelmed by the chaos of the city and luckily Toronto offers an easy escape – just hop on a ten minute ferry ride to escape from the city to discover a world of car-free streets, tree-filled picnic spots, quaint cottages and calm beaches. The Toronto Islands are made up of a group of small islands. The crescent-shaped Centre Island is the largest and most popular where you can rent paddle boats, stroll across the boardwalks or relax in Centre Island Sky Ride, taking in picturesque views of the island. Rent a bicycle and discover the community of 300 homes and their award-winning gardens across the Ward’s Island and Algonquin Island. In the evening, hop aboard one of the three regular ferries and take in the spectacular view of the Toronto skyline as the sun sets.

Toronto Tech Summit 2020

The Toronto Tech Summit focuses on Customer Experience, Innovation, AI and Machine Learning, the Internet of Things, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.

DATE Spring 2020 LOCATION Mars Discovery District www.torontotechsummit.com

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St Lawrence Market

Skyline view of Toronto from the Toronto Islands as the sun sets

Yonge-Dundas Square

FOOD & DRINK While Toronto is infused with flavours of the world, there are several Toronto and Canadian dishes you must try. Poutine, a dish that includes french fries and cheese curds topped off with gravy, is a popular dish. A symbol of Québécois cultural pride, it is a common French street feed. For the best poutine in Toronto, check out NomNomNom Poutine, a small food stall located in the Kensington Market. They even offer vegetarian gravy. Another local food to sink your teeth into is Pearmeal Bacon Sandwich. The cured bacon is made from lean pork loin rolled in cornmeal with honey Poutine mustard for a crispy signature sandwich. Sandwich lovers of the world associate the best Pearmeal Bacon Sandwich in Toronto with the Carousel Bakery at St Lawrence Market. Wine production is a growing industry in Canada so why not pair your food with a glass of Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet, Baco Noir or the world famous Ice wine, a dessert wine produced from frozen grapes picked from the vine.

Whether on business or for pleasure, the city of Toronto is brimming with ideas for you to create your own adventure.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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LIFESTYLE: books

InBUSINESS looks at the latest books offering insights for executives, budding entrepreneurs, and other professionals, highlighting the climate change issues and the solutions to enact change through innovation.

ON FIRE: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal

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n Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal gathers for the first time more than a decade of Naomi Klein’s impassioned writing from the frontline of climate breakdown, and pairs it with new material on the staggeringly high stakes of what we choose to do next.

Here is Klein at her most prophetic and philosophical, investigating the climate crisis not only as a profound political challenge but also as a spiritual and imaginative one. Delving into topics ranging from the clash between ecological time and our culture of ‘perpetual now,’ to rising white supremacy and fortressed borders as a form of ‘climate barbarism,’ this is a rousing call to action for a planet on the brink.

Klein makes the case that we will rise to the existential challenge of climate change only if we are willing to transform the systems that produced this crisis. On Fire captures the burning urgency of the climate crisis, as well as the energy of a rising political movement demanding change now.

YOUR TRAVEL COMPANION

The Testaments AUTHOR: Margaret Atwood PUBLISHER: Chatto & Windus AVAILABLE: dubraybooks.ie

Joint winner of the 2019 Booker Prize, in the electrifying sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood answers the question that has tantalised readers for decades What happened to Offred?

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AUTHOR: Naomi Klein PUBLISHER: Penguin RRP: 28.00 AVAILABLE: easons.ie

How To Give Up Plastic Around 12.7 million tonnes of plastic are entering the ocean every year, killing AUTHORS: over 1 million Will McCallum seabirds and PUBLISHER: 100,000 marine Penguin mammals. By AVAILABLE: easons.com 2050 there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight.

The accessible guide, How to give up Plastic, by Will McCallum, head of the Oceans, Greenpeace UK and campaigner at the forefront of the anti-plastic movement, will help you make the small changes that make a big difference, from buying a reusable coffee cup to running a clean-up at your local park or beach.

Plastic is not going away without a fight. We need a movement made up of billions of individual acts, bringing people together from all backgrounds and all cultures, the ripples of which will be felt from the smallest village to the tallest skyscrapers. This is a call to arms - to join forces across the world and to end our dependence on plastic.

No One Is Too Small To Make A Difference No One Is Too Small to Make A Difference collects the history-making, ground-breaking speeches of Greta Thunberg, the young activist who has become the voice of a generation and made history across Europe, from the UN to mass street protests. The book is a rallying cry for why we must all wake up and fight to protect the living planet, no matter how powerless we feel. Our future depends upon it.

AUTHOR: Greta Thunberg PUBLISHER: Penguin AVAILABLE: easons.com

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09/01/2020 16:09

45 MAGAZINE TITLES ▲ 10 EVENTS ▲ 3.6 MILLION REACH

DID YOU KNOW

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You’ve almost certainly read our magazines or attended our events.

Our mission is to connect your brand with the largest audience in Ireland.

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07/01/2020 10/03/2016 12:10 26/01/2016 15:03 09:04

LIFESTYLE: podcasts

EAR TO THE

THE IB

Could you tell us about Climate Queens and why you created this podcast?

Climate Queens is a podcast series focusing on raising awareness on the effects humans are having on the planet and highlighting positive solutions that people can introduce in their daily lives. We met in Dublin back in 2017 while volunteering and became instant friends. We kept exchanging climate-related articles, books, videos. While Katie was looking for podcast recommendations that were easy to listen to, we realised there was a gap in the market for something like this!

InBUSINESS SPEAKS TO CLIMATE QUEENS KATIE HARRINGTON AND CLODAGH KELLY ABOUT SPREADING AWARENESS OF THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE PLANET AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

What is the message / goal of the Climate Queens podcast?

It can be difficult to accept that we are (living) in a climate crisis. The main message of Climate Queens is that knowledge is power. When we know more, we can do more. We encourage the simple act of sharing our episode with a friend or family member. We want our conversations to be approachable and enjoyable to listen to, providing hard-hitting facts along with simple good news or solutions.

Why do you think this topic is so important?

We believe that it is important to connect the dots for everyone to wake up and realise that this climate crisis really does affect us all. Taking action is a great first step to create change. It is so important that we all work together, learn together and support each other to create change on an individual and systemic level.

What challenges do you face when making the podcast?

We never set out to be podcasters, yet here we are, out of passion and necessity as we see it. Neither of us are extremely tech savy, but our reasons for creating this podcast outweighed this minor detail, so we went back to basics and researched how to start a podcast, what equipment we needed and channeled the circular economy by borrowing mics and asking other podcasters for advice. We were saturated with information about the climate but we did not know what information was real and where to begin looking! So we do face challenges in really trying to make sure that the facts we share are as verified as Katie Harrington possible and include articles and Clodagh Kelly links in our show notes.

Climate Queens podcast is an Audio Boom production and is available to dowload online.

InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

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Can you share a recent Climate Queens highlight?

The last episode for 2019 was out on ‘Black Friday’ 29 November, all around slowing down and curating a sustainable festive season for yourself. You can expect to hear more from us in 2020. We will be back with more monthly episodes with more guest appearances to really delve deep into specific topics.

GROUND

InBUSINESS RECOMMENDS THREE PODCASTS TO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS QUARTER.

MADE IN IRELAND

MOTHERS OF INVENTION Former Irish President Mary Robinson and comedian Maeve Higgins host Mothers Of Invention, a podcast on feminist climate change solutions from women around the world. Each episode features powerful solutions to climate change – from the grassroots to the board room – all over the world.

NOT TO BE MISSED

MET ÉIREANN The Met Éireann podcast talks about all things weather and climate. Each podcast includes a monthly climate summary for Ireland and closes with a song from the Met Éireann choir – The Isobars.

THE BUSINESS PICK

180 DEGREES 180 degrees, hosted by SEAI, is a podcast series that looks at energy choices and speaks with experts for advice when it comes to transport, our homes, business and technology.

They also discuss Ireland’s energy future and offer advice on what individuals can do to support our transition to a low carbon economy.

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D I S E C A R R A D C I E T D IN TH S A L P S E N O O C T 0 0 .

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Global plastic Waste In this issue, InBUSINESS looks the at Global Plastic Waste, which ranks Ireland as one of

the largest producers of plastic waste in Europe.

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InBUSINESS | WINTER 2019

09/01/2020 16:13

•

•

CSR AWARDS

2020 •

Chambers Ireland would like to thank all the companies who took part in the CSR Awards 2019 Applications for the CSR Awards 2020 will open in March 2020.

For more information, please contact Carly.Mooney@chambers.ie

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07/01/2020 14:59

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