InBUSINESS Yearbook 2022 by Ashville Media Group

THE

2022

InBUSINESS InB YEARBOOK

CONNECTING IRISH BUSINESS

CHAMBERS IRELAND: A YEAR IN REVIEW

CHAMBER DIRECTORY: FULL NETWORK LISTING

InBUSINESS YEARBOOK 2022

CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP: EVOLVING MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

SHANE HERATY

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CISCO IN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND, OUTLINES WHY BUSINESSES NEED TO EMBRACE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION

Inclusive

Connectivity 2.70

@ChambersIreland 000 InBUSINESS YB 2022_Cover_V1.indd 1

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Contents Editor: Adam Hyland

Editorial Assistant: Eva-Marie McNamee (Chambers Ireland) Editorial Contributors: Eva-Marie McNamee Mags Brennan Ian Talbot Shane Conneely (Chambers Ireland)

COVER STORY

Shane Heraty, Managing Director of Cisco in Ireland and Scotland, outlines why businesses need to embrace technological innovation, and how his company is creating a digitally inclusive future

Inclusive

Connectivity

“If

Design Assistant: Neasa Daly Production Manager: Jane Matthews Production Executive: Nicole Ennis Managing Director: Gerry Tynan Sales Director/Chairman: Diarmaid Lennon

Published by: Ashville Media Group, Old Stone Building, Blackhall Green, Dublin 7 Tel: +353 1 432 2200 Email: info@ashville.com Web: www.ashville.com On behalf of: Chambers Ireland, 11 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, D02 FY84 Tel: +353 1 400 4300 Email: info@chambers.ie Web: www.chambers.ie All articles © Ashville Media Group 2022. 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

the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that work is not necessarily a place to go, it is something you do, and you can do it from anywhere,” Shane Heraty, MD of Cisco in Ireland, says. “Businesses will have more employees than ever before either working remotely or working in a hybrid model, so organisations need to plan for this in relation to their teams, their business partners, and their customers and how they engage with them.” Working in a remote or hybrid model is something most people have had to get used to over the last two years, and Shane is no different. Having worked with Cisco in Qatar for ten years as Country Manager and then Country Director, he returned to Ireland to take on the role of Managing Director for Ireland and Scotland 18 months ago, but only had his first in-person meeting with his team at the end of February. For him, the changes the working world has seen has meant businesses and organisations must embrace a new way of working that enables all personnel to contribute equally. “It is absolutely key for businesses now that we put more of a focus and urgency on digital transformation and the need to deliver digital-first services,” he says. “At Cisco, we are very conscious that every company and every industry has had a unique set of challenges, but there have been some unifying thoughts, and one is that what can be delivered digitally, must be delivered digitally.”

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Shane Heraty, Managing Director of Cisco in Ireland and Scotland

Chamber Membership

InBUSINESS talks to Managing Director of Cisco in Ireland and Scotland Shane Heraty about why businesses need to embrace technological innovation and creating a digitally inclusive future CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022

CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022

FOREWORD

OPPORTUNITY

Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland Ian Talbot explains how opportunities abound for Ireland and Irish businesses if we take action now

reland, and the world, is in a very different place to where we were nearly two years ago. As a result of the pandemic, a largescale reassessment of how society, business and politics interacts with the world around us continues to gather momentum. With the health of our future on the line, and the window of opportunity closing, we must ensure that we act quickly – and together. As we work towards building a sustainable economic recovery, we are fortunate that we do so at a time when Ireland is well positioned to exploit new technologies and demands that can transform how we do business on this island. In the context of major challenges – the climate crisis, global energy supply and Brexit among them – Ireland is

uniquely placed to provide solutions. In doing so, we have the opportunity to chart a new course in our economic history. With a goal of achieving a 51% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 – fewer than eight years away – there is a lot of work that must start immediately if we are to be successful. Driven by the global need for cleaner energy, the development of a significant renewable industry in Ireland during this decade will play a decisive part in making that possible. As an island nation on the edge of Europe, we have a major geographical advantage in being able to draw on our natural resources to deliver technologies such as floating offshore wind and wave generation to power our future.

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

Achieving this will bring significant opportunities for businesses and people with the requirement for scientific and technical expertise to develop, operate and maintain this infrastructure. Importantly, our regional areas will also benefit from high-skilled jobs which can provide longterm security and rebalance the distribution of economic opportunities in Ireland. On top of this, we also have the very real opportunity to become a net energy exporter through the supply of excess energy to international markets. Converting our excess renewable electricity into hydrogen will also give us a pathway to generating green ammonia, which will catalyse the decarbonisation of our farming sectors. Innovation in battery storage, and technologies like green hydrogen, will allow us to modulate our electricity demand curves, while also facilitating the decarbonisation of our transport networks. The potential is enormous.

SHARED ISLAND

With two jurisdictions on the island, the challenges we face are of course not only ours. This has been recognised by the Government in Ireland, the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government through the Shared Island initiative, to which €500 million in capital funding was committed in Budget 2021. Available until 2025, this investment will go towards delivering cross-border infrastructure, achieving greater connectivity on the island, supporting a northsouth programme of research and innovation, deepening health links and working on joined up approaches to environmental issues including climate and biodiversity. The Shared Island initiative arrives at an important time and can play an integral role in creating strong and enduring relationships that will help us to tackle these challenges together. I saw the opportunities presented by this initiative first-hand during an event co-hosted by Chambers Ireland and the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Belfast last year. Powering Change Together brought together Taoiseach Micheál Martin, then-First Minister Paul Givan and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill, to speak on the climate crisis and the response it required. It was clear that all parties recognised the urgent need for action, and I am hopeful that cross-border collaboration will play an important role in delivering the required response.

About Chambers Ireland

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

Inclusive Connectivity

Sustainable Future

07 09

COVER STORY:

Building a

[CHAMBERS NEWS]

Message from the President

HYBRID A recent Cisco survey found that 58% of office workers anticipate that they will now work up to eight days or more each month from home. “That could result in every business meeting having at least one person remote or at home,” Shane says. “That is a very important consideration as people tool up to the hybrid work environment.” For two years we were all in the same boat when it came to enforced remote working models, but there is now, as Shane says, a nuance that needs to be addressed, not just through embracing the technology needed, but also the culture shift required. “You are going to have a scenario where members of the team will be in the office environment, some using a regional hub, and others working from home. Organisations need to ensure equal empowerment and participation for all, and technology is a key part in the collaboration tools Cisco develop. But equally it is a cultural requirement, a shift in mindset.” How Cisco provides the capabilities and support to do this can be broken down into four key customer priorities, Shane says. “The first is the applications businesses use, and their performance. Then there is the transformation of the infrastructure. Then there are the collaboration tools to ensure standardisation of experience. Finally, and critically, there is the security infrastructure to wrap around all of that

04 InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

IT IS ABSOLUTELY KEY FOR BUSINESSES NOW THAT WE PUT MORE OF A FOCUS AND URGENCY ON DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND THE NEED TO DELIVER DIGITALFIRST SERVICES.”

Jason Clarke

Art Director: Alan McArthur

SUSTAINABILITY

On sustainability more broadly, we must see further progress to the European Green Deal – a critical part of EU efforts to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050 – and the benefits that will bring. Importantly, the policy initiative will deliver a level playing-field across the European Union with common expectations and responsibilities for all. As part of this sustainability effort, we must also focus on making our economy more circular. That means prolonging the life cycle of products and materials so that waste is minimised. Given our finite resources, it simply isn’t possible to continue along the path of ‘take – make – waste’. Instead, we must focus on improving product design, supporting ease of repair, and providing the conditions to allow for reuse.

12 Policy Priorities

Chambers Ireland: A Year of Engagements

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Here in Ireland, the publication of the whole-ofgovernment Circular Economy Strategy in late 2021 has paved the way for the development of a circular economy in Ireland by allocating resources to educating stakeholders about what it means, initiatives currently in place, the opportunities that are available and how Government will drive the necessary changes. As a relatively new concept, this is a crucial first step but must now be followed by consistent action from the State and business community. Overall, I am optimistic that we are building the foundation of a more resilient and sustainable future. However, that future will be driven by what we do in the present. In considering that, we know that business has a fundamental leadership role to play. Positive actions not only benefit business and society, but also set an example to staff which they can take home and use as inspiration for their own actions. That is an important responsibility, and one that I firmly believe business in Ireland is wellplaced to uphold.

Toolkit for Sustainability Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

CHAMBERS FOREWORD:

Chambers Awards 2021

Building A Sustainable Future

Opportunities abound for Ireland and Irish businesses if we take action now, writes Chief Executive Ian Talbot

Chambers Ireland Directory

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Support local to lift us all

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Contents

THE

2022

InBUSINESS InB CONNECTING IRISH BUSINESS

YEARBOOK

CHAMBERS IRELAND: A YEAR IN REVIEW

CHAMBER DIRECTORY: FULL NETWORK LISTING

InBUSINESS YEARBOOK 2022

CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP: EVOLVING MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

SHANE HERATY

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CISCO IN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND, OUTLINES WHY BUSINESSES NEED TO EMBRACE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION

Inclusive

Connectivity a2.70

@ChambersIreland

Go to chambers.ie for the online edition

The Year In Pictures

Looking back over the last 12 months with some snapshots of Chambers Ireland’s work in representing members both nationally and internationally

Eurochambres

The advocacy body for Chambers across Europe is focusing on key areas for the year ahead [ Local Government InBUSINESS ] Page

Page

92 Town and Village Renewal Scheme revitalises towns and villages across Ireland, Sligo heritage buildings get upgrade, and Leitrim sees funding for Manorhamilton Space.

Page

94 ULSTER

Cork leads €53m Public Lighting Project; Limerick welcomes Mid-West Regional Enterprise Plan and €180m fund; and plans get underway for N/M20 Cork to Limerick.

Page

CONNACHT

LEINSTER

MUNSTER

Trees and Connected Hubs planted across Fingal; Dublin Lord Mayor signs partnership with Belfast, Liverpool and Manchester Mayors; and women’s caucus launches in Meath.

Donegal travel infrastructure and Repowering Buncrana get funding; Belfast women’s centre construction begins; and councils join forces to celebrate the Best of the North West.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh

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DECADE OF CENTENARIES PROJECT

ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT

THE BEST OF THE NORTH WEST

Fingal sets out ambitions to increase tree cover across county Fingal County Council unveiled a new ten-year strategy it hopes will boost the number of trees across North Dublin. Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh launched the “Forest of Fingal” tree strategy at a special community tree planting event in Skerries to mark the culmination of National Tree Week. Across the week, the council distributed some 16,000 free trees to residents of Fingal to plant at home, including native species Alder, Hawthorn and Birch. With the overall cover of tree canopy in Fingal currently sitting at 6.5%, the council wants to signiﬁcantly increase the number of trees in the county and ensure it delivers a tree population that not merely survives but thrives. “We are aware of just how valuable trees are to helping combat climate change, which is why we want to ensure we are doing as much as possible to increase one of our most important natural assets,” says Cllr Ó Rodaigh. “It’s never too late to plant a tree. They provide a positive impact, particularly on the environment and in climate change mitigation, so the more trees we can introduce across the county, the better we will be able to safeguard the economic, social and environmental resilience of Fingal for generations to come.” InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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Recognising Local Contributions

The 2021 Excellence in Local Government Award Winners

In Association with

08/04/2022 13:01

Our Local Government InBUSINESS Supplement continues to look at the important role played by local authorities in Irish enterprise

In Association with

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The Cutting Edge

The 2021 Sustainable Business Impact Awards honoured companies that have shown excellence in sustainability over the course of the year

08/04/2022 13:19

CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 FOREWORD

Building a

Sustainable Future Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland Ian Talbot explains how opportunities abound for Ireland and Irish businesses if we take action now

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InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 FOREWORD

OPPORTUNITY

SHARED ISLAND

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SUSTAINABILITY

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 AFFILIATED CHAMBER LOCATIONS

the

Chamber

Network etwork

Letterkenny etterkenny

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sligo Ballina CarrickCarrick On-Shannon Westport

Ballyhaunis

Cootehill Dundalk

Cavan

Drogheda & District

County Meath

Longford ongford Mullingar A Athlone

Galway

Tullamore & District Laois

Dublin South Dublin n County Kildare

Ennis

Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown R Bray & District

Arklow & District

County Carlow

Shannon

Fingal Dublin

Kilkenny

Limerick

Enniscorthy & District

County Tipperary Tralee

Waterford d Mallow

Count County W Wexford

Dungarvan & West Waterford W

Cork Bantry

Cobh & Harbour

Further details of each affiliated Chamber can be found between pages 97 to 104

40 8,000 Afﬂiated Chambers

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business members represented across the country

1,758

Total lobbying returns in 2021, of which Chambers accounted for 48%

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

With eyes now firmly fixed on charting a course out of the pandemic, the business community has been finally afforded time to consider the best approach to delivering growth and stability in this most important decade. As an organisation that has pledged its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a key part of our work going forward will be to continue advocating for businesses to adopt and integrate sustainability as a core value in how they take on this task. Representing more than 10,000 businesses through our network of 40 chambers, our work is deeply rooted in communities throughout Ireland. We believe the long-term health of these communities, our economy, and society in general, depends on the actions we take today. As a focal point in the lives of the millions of people on this island, it is crucial that businesses recognise their role in helping to protect and sustain that health. By taking a wider view of the impact of decisions on stakeholders – staff, community, our environment and more – we ensure that the results of our actions are positive and enduring. This in turn will help to provide a foundation for sustainable economic growth, the achievement of our climate targets, and the creation of thriving towns and cities across the country. For companies that follow the sustainability path, the benefits to the organisation can be significant and extensive. Businesses that have taken steps to integrate sustainable practices have reported achieving greater levels of trust among customers, improving employee retention, and reducing costs across the business. The fruits of decisions today fuel progress far into the future. Within our organisation, we are fortunate to have a network of chambers that have made significant efforts to promote the SDGs to their members and communities. As a result, we have seen consistently high levels of engagement with our Sustainable Business Impact Awards and witnessed the building of an impressive community of responsible business leaders. Over the coming decade, we are particularly excited to see this community grow even further. By acting now, you can transform your business into one that is even more deeply engaged with your community. This will make you more attractive to customers and staff, more responsible and efficient in your use of resources, and contribute to a more secure, resilient and sustainable future for your business and the communities it serves. In the long-term, that means a business and planet that is healthier and better able to deal with the challenges we will face in the future.

A Message

Mags Brennan, President, Chambers Ireland

“BUSINESSES THAT HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO INTEGRATE

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES HAVE REPORTED

ACHIEVING GREATER LEVELS OF TRUST AMONG CUSTOMERS,

IMPROVING EMPLOYEE RETENTION, AND REDUCING COSTS ACROSS THE BUSINESS. THE FRUITS OF DECISIONS TODAY

FUEL PROGRESS FAR INTO THE FUTURE”

from the

President InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 SPONSORS

SPONSORS Chambers Ireland wishes to thank its sponsors for their continued support.

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 ABOUT CHAMBERS IRELAND

Who : we are

Chambers Ireland works to advance Irish businesses at home and abroad by empowering, lobbying, representing, growing and delivering for our network.

THE WORK OF CHAMBERS IRELAND A glance at Chambers Ireland’s main areas of activity:

REPRESENTING IRISH BUSINESS INTERESTS As a lobbying organisation, we represent Irish business interests at local, regional and national level to the Irish Government, while also exerting influence through our presence on key policymaking boards and councils.

SUPPORTING BUSINESS AND STRENGTHENING THE NETWORK Chambers Ireland supports SMEs and larger businesses in Ireland through the Chamber Network. We provide information and advice to businesses on a range of topics and issues.

INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE Chambers Ireland is an active member of both EUROCHAMBRES and the International Chamber of Commerce, which represents businesses at EU, panEuropean and international level. Chambers Ireland engagement on these important business platforms ensures greater visibility and competitiveness for Irish business on a global stage.

As Ireland’s largest business network, our primary aim is to advance business competitiveness across the country through developing the best environment to do business at all levels, while facilitating the growth of our Chamber Network. Our Network consists of local and regional affiliated Chambers, for which Chambers Ireland acts as one voice at national level on behalf of this Network. By engaging with business members through our Chamber Network and by encouraging better business practices for long-term development at local, regional and national level, Chambers Ireland works to advance Irish businesses both at home and abroad. Chambers Ireland monitors the relevant policy issues that businesses care about and are affected by, and represents the views of our business members to Government. Through research, lobbying and representation on influential policy-making boards and councils of importance to the Irish Government – including the National Competitiveness Council, the National Corporate Social Responsibility Stakeholder Forum and the Retail Forum – Chambers Ireland is a respected voice in the business community. Our membership and participation on these fora is strengthened by our engagement with Chambers Ireland’s own policy taskforces, our Public Affairs forum and Chief Executives forum. INTERNATIONAL PROFILE In addition to these various levels of domestic influence, Chambers Ireland also engages at a European and international level, as a member of the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the largest business representative organisation worldwide, and as a member of EUROCHAMBRES, the association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry. As a member of the ICC, Chambers Ireland acts as the Irish national committee of the ICC, which allows us to advocate the interests of our members to the intergovernmental organisations that legislate on international trade. The work of the ICC includes promoting the importance for open trade, business self-regulation, fighting corruption, dispute resolution and more. Chambers Ireland is also one of the national Chambers of commerce members of EUROCHAMBRES, the voice of the business community at EU level, representing over 20 million businesses across Europe. EUROCHAMBRES aims to improve the conditions of the Single Market to facilitate trade within and beyond the EU, through engagement with the EU institutions and coordinating projects to benefit businesses across all countries of the European Union.

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11/04/2022 12:34

CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF KEY AREAS WHERE CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP CAN BENEFIT YOUR BUSINESS: PROMOTION, SUPPORT AND EVENTS

Chambers:

Evolving Membership Benefits Being a member of a Chamber means your business can gain benefits across a number of areas. From building a profile for your business and building contacts, to getting advice on running or resolving your problems, your Chamber is here to help.

With 40

accredited Chambers nationwide, the Chamber Network is Ireland’s largest business representative organisation, working to enhance economic and social development in our towns, cities, and communities in order to make them better places to work, live and do business.

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Networking through Chamber events is a great source of peer support. Chambers plan their services to offer support in the form of information to resolve issues in your business. Chambers host events, including business briefings, conferences, seminars, exhibitions, business owners’ forums, HR round tables, lunch and learns, plus Awards. Networking at these events is an excellent way to promote your business. There are many opportunities to share news and promote your business via our various communication channels, such as newsletters, the Chamber website and Chamber publications and social media.

DEVELOP

Chambers have organised training for members to help them adapt to new environments and develop the skills they need to compete. The training that Chambers provide is always current and engaging, which benefits all its members. Enhance your knowledge and skills, or those of your team members, at workshops on subjects such as HR and legislation changes, mobile marketing, brand management, customer service, accessing finance for business, and embracing digitalisation.

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP

LEADERS IN POLICY ADVOCACY

Chambers is dedicated to campaigning for direct action on the key issues that affect business and the long-term development of the region. We work hard to make sure that the interests of the business community are upheld in local, regional and national policy making. Chambers work to influence current and future policy that will support business throughout the country. They are also active in preparing submissions on various issues that influence future strategy for business in Ireland.

GROW/ INTRODUCTIONS

Chambers provide targeted introductions for businesses to help them expanded both their customer base and their supply chain. This is all done virtually so you can establish important contacts without having to meet the organisation representatives in person.

REPRESENTATION

Chambers regularly attend important meetings to represent its members requirements in important discussions at national and local level to provide the business voice on economic, infrastructure, skills and county development. Chambers is the only business represented on a wide range of working groups including strategic policy committees of the County Council and state and semi-state entities whose activities influence economic

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activity. At these meetings we provide the business voice on topics such as development, retail, infrastructure, broadband, sustainability and skills. As a member, you can connect with key influencers to make sure your voice is heard.

SUPPORTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Chambers are at the heart of supporting local communities. They lobby and work hard to enhance the community in which you live and work by engaging the key decision-makers. Every day, our affiliated Chambers work closely with local businesses, stakeholders and decision makers to improve local economic and social environments and ensure that the necessary physical and social infrastructure are in place to facilitate growth.

LEADING BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT ON SUSTAINABILITY

As we enter an importance phase of action on sustainability, Chambers are there to help business with this journey. Whether you have an established strategy in the area or are just making your first steps, your local Chamber can provide your business with information, advice and an opportunity to discuss the topic with fellow businesses to help identify opportunities in the area. All our members have access to our Sustainable Development Goals toolkit.

05/04/2022 15:26

CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 POLICY

created hotspots across many sectors. We can expect that the rebound in prices has already abated, and that our supply chains will adapt and find a new equilibrium over the coming year too. However, energy prices will remain an important theme this year, unfortunately. Geopolitical concerns involving Russia, and also the Gulf States, will see the prices for energy remain high – even if conflicts in those areas do not escalate.

Remaining

Competitive Irish businesses are in a strong position of growth despite the challenges faced. Shane Conneely, Director of Policy and Communications Chambers Ireland outlines what Chambers Ireland will focus on in 2022

2022

is poised to be a year when Chambers Ireland can at last turn its policy focus away from the twin crises of COVID-19 and Brexit, and this will allow us to renew and intensify our efforts at improving the Irish business environment. Infrastructure will be key to improving our local built environment, integrating our cities and towns, and embedding us deeper into global value chains. Growth is expected across the global economy in 2022. As a small, open, advanced economy, Ireland is positioned to outperform our peer nations. When the world economy grows, we grow, only more so. Our challenge will be in remaining competitive while our economy heats up. MAINTAINING COMPETITIVENESS The inflation our economy experienced in 2021 is likely to continue for much of 2022. There were three underlying components to 2021’s inflation. Firstly, there was energy cost, secondly there was the rebound in prices for goods where demand had collapsed in 2020, and finally there was the supply chain effects as transport disruption and input bottlenecks

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 POLICY PRIORITIES With the immediate drivers of increased costs for business being short-run reactions to the crises the global economy has suffered, and so arising from international forces which are outside of the capacity of our national government to affect, Chambers Ireland’s policy focus is going to target the medium-term and long-term threats to our competitiveness. The key policy issues for our network over the coming 12 months will be: rbanisation U Labour force developments Decarbonisation Competitiveness COVID-19/Brexit Businesses throughout the country are challenged by the poor state of our cities and towns, even when they are based outside of them. An inadequate supply of affordable housing has led to increased wage demands to support climbing rents. The hollowing out of our town centres reduces the economic vibrancy of entire regions, while the increased congestion harms quality of life and the environment. The urbanisation agenda involves the transformation of our cities and towns, building the infrastructure and investing in the built environment to make our urban spaces more attractive places to live and work. An increased demand for labour is going to see a rise in immigration as sectors with skills gaps seek to fill them with employees from abroad, and this will inevitably place even more pressure on our already overstretched housing stock. This tight supply of skilled labour will make it ever more important that our State

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 POLICY

educational and training programmes help people throughout their working lives to train, to upskill, and to retrain so that they and their families prosper, regardless of labour force developments. Energy supply risks make the need for a sustained national effort to become energy self-sufficient by investing in renewables essential. The current energy price shock is a Europe-wide phenomenon. Ireland has abundant and underexploited renewable energy resources and we are part of the largest market in the world, which means

decarbonisation brings Ireland greater opportunities than any of our EU peers. Underpinning all of this, Chambers Ireland will strive to ensure that Irish businesses can remain competitive as we ensure the longrun prosperity that comes with capturing greater shares of global value chains. Finally, we will have to continue responding to the twin crises of COVID-19 and Brexit. Even if, as we hope, their relevance recedes over 2022, their impact will be felt for years to come, and I am sure each will have surprises for us before they are done.

UPSKILLING THE LABOUR FORCE Another emergent concern for Irish businesses will be around skills availability. Even before the Covid-19 crisis, there were huge skills shortages in areas of skilled labour such as cheffing, data-analytics, the life sciences, construction (engineers, QS, wet-trades), and logistics, and these shortages will only be exacerbated as economic activity increases. The availability of skilled staff is already presenting a problem for many of our members. A particular concern is in sectors where there were large lay-offs as a result of COVID-19. Over the course of the past two years, Revenue statistics have demonstrated that a large proportion of workers who were on the PUP have moved to alternative sectors. Those still on PUP typically have a demographic profile which is older, and so are unlikely to be a good fit for many of the service sector jobs where there in an immediate high demand for staff. The Central Bank’s forecasts suggest that Ireland will be encroaching upon full employment by mid-2024. This is very likely to result in strong competition to attract skilled staff.

REMOTE WORKING The twin crises of COVID-19 and Brexit have accelerated other processes that were already well underway within our economy involving flexible and remote working. Some city-based businesses are profiting from the wider availability of staff that remote working offers, however that is putting them in competition with businesses in regional towns that rely on workers from their locality. Other businesses are operating remote-only business models, which is leading to individuals taking up residence in regional areas, increasing property costs there. Between these two trends we can foresee a couple of outcomes: A higher labour input cost in regional areas, and a reduced pool of workers for those operating office-only businesses in cities – which in turn is likely to create a more competitive marketplace for attracting talent in the urban zones.

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05/04/2022 15:27

CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 CHAMBERS IRELAND: A YEAR OF ENGAGEMENTS

CHAMBERS IRELAND:

The Year of

Engagements CHAMBER AWARDS 2021 JUNE 2021

Taking a look back at some of the Chambers Ireland events and engagements throughout 2021.

Gerald Hurley, CEO Waterford Chamber and John McSweeney, president, Waterford Chamber with the Chamber of the Year Award

The annual Chamber Awards seek to recognise the outstanding work of the Chambers Ireland network around the country. They also provide an opportunity to showcase successful event ideas, campaigns and policies that have contributed to the development of chambers and business more broadly. This year the awards took place virtually and saw Waterford Chamber being awarded Chamber of the Year.

PARTNERSHIP WITH UNICEF MARCH 2021

In the earlier part of the year, Chambers Ireland partnered with UNICEF to promote family-friendly workplaces. Chambers Ireland and UNICEF Ireland launched a guide, adapted from a document released by the International Chamber of Commerce and UNICEF, which included measures that business leaders can take to achieve both short- and long-term positive impacts in the workplace. Addressing the needs of working families – and supporting global relief efforts – ensures a faster collective recovery from the crisis and bolsters reputation and credibility as a trusted employer.

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SDG TOOLKIT LAUNCH JULY 2021

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) toolkit is a practical guide for businesses of all sizes across Ireland who wish to begin incorporating the Goals into their company, or are looking for inspiration on how to expand on their engagement with the SDGs. In July, Chambers Ireland hosted a webinar where we heard from industry experts who shared tips on different ways to align a business with the SDGs and encourage staff to follow suit.

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 CHAMBERS IRELAND: A YEAR OF ENGAGEMENTS

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS IMPACT AWARDS SEPTEMBER 2021

PLACES MATTER ROUNDTABLE MAY 2021

Chambers Ireland hosted a virtual roundtable on Sustainable Towns and Cities in the COVID-19 Re-opening to discuss best practice in the re-opening of sustainable cities and communities, and how local economies can be supported to thrive. The discussion followed the launch of a new Guide to Best Practice by Local Authorities in safely re-opening towns and cities across Ireland.

The Sustainable Business Impact awards, hosted by Chambers Ireland and sponsored by BAM Ireland, showcase the best of sustainable development and social responsibility by companies of all sizes across Ireland. The UN Sustainable Development Goals are at the heart of these Awards, celebrating sustainable business practices and championing Chambers Ireland’s alignment with the Goals. The awards were again hosted virtually this year. Earth’s Edge was named as a finalist alongside AIB, Aldi and Boots, and ultimately won the Outstanding Achievement in Sustainable Business Impact Award. They delivered a high level of impact across all of the categories in which they were nominated. The company won an Excellence in Community – Volunteering Award for its Explore, Experience, Evolve initiative, and was a finalist for five other awards.

ALL-ISLAND CLIMATE CHANGE EVENT OCTOBER 2021

Klair Neenan, Managing Director of SSE Airtricity; Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, NI Chamber; and Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland launch the All Island Climate Change Event

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In October, Chambers Ireland, together with Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) and with the support of SSE, hosted “Powering Change Together”. The hybrid event was hosted in Belfast by renowned journalist Tommie Gorman, and business leaders were invited to attend online. Taoiseach Micheál Martin, First Minister Paul Givan and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill each spoke at the event. A panel of prominent business figures then discussed ‘green’ opportunities for business and what global agreement on climate action means for companies across the island of Ireland. The event was held ahead of COP26 and was an opportunity to lead the climate conversation at a crucial time.

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 CHAMBERS IRELAND: A YEAR OF ENGAGEMENTS

REVIVING EUROPE EVENT OCTOBER 2021

The EUROCHAMBRES Reviving Europe three-day online series was an opportunity to exchange views and opinions on some of the key policy levers at the EU’s disposal to drive the economic recovery and, in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe, provide concrete ideas about the type of Europe that businesses want.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS NOVEMBER 2021

In November, Chambers Ireland hosted the Excellence in Local Government (ELG) awards virtually. The awards were sponsored by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, highlighting the positive impact of local government across Ireland. In total, this year saw 90 projects from 20 local authorities shortlisted as finalists in 16 categories. Cork City Council has been named Local Authority of the Year after it won three individual accolades at the awards. The council’s winning projects included initiatives that allowed children to participate in sports during COVID-19 restrictions, transformed the city centre of Cork into a people-first amenity without cars, and provided nine sheltered housing apartments through the renovation of two derelict townhouses and the infill of a vacant site.

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 CHAMBERS IRELAND: A YEAR OF ENGAGEMENTS

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CHAMBER FEATURE INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Generation How Chambers of Commerce around the world can help businesses in changing times

With COVID-19 pushing businesses to embrace digital opportunities, a new report from the Dubai Chamber and the International Chamber of Commerce – Generation Next: Chambers 4.0 – examines how chambers of commerce can support business to capitalise on this transformation. : HERE ARE FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM THAT REPORT: 1. CHAMPION ESG There has been a surge in private sector engagement with environmental, social and governance principles in recent years. The needs of consumers and businesses are expanding beyond profits and personal benefits, and as a result the parameters that define value are shifting. Chambers of Commerce must help businesses manage this shift, while they themselves champion the core elements of environmental sustainability, social empowerment and good governance. 2. MODERNISE PROCESSES The pandemic has laid bare supply chain vulnerabilities worldwide, and the lessons to be drawn are considerable. A rush to protectionism would be counterproductive; instead embracing digitalisation, automation and data intelligence to modernise and simplify processes is key to boosting efficiency and developing overarching security solutions. Chambers can support this process by facilitating the sharing of best practices and insights from industry leaders. 3. INSPIRE ENTERPRISE Small and medium-sized enterprises continue to play a vital role in the global economy and are key to providing employment for the world’s rapidly growing workforce. To effectively support them, chambers of commerce must work to cultivate an entrepreneurial ecosystem. This involves inspiring independent thought among young entrepreneurs, promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration within the business community, and helping businesspeople recognise the value in some failure, which leads to resilience.

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4. EMBRACE DIGITAL Digitally enabled trade can provide significant economic benefits, efficiency gains and environmental rewards. To achieve these, governments need to enact reforms that incorporate digital requirements in trade agreements; international standardisation should be drawn up by bodies such as the World Trade Organisation and the International Chamber of Commerce; and global industry must embrace digital solutions and invest in digital training. Importantly, the digital divide must be bridged for benefits to be shared equally. 5. ACHIEVE NET ZERO Looking to global challenges beyond the pandemic, businesses must now orientate themselves towards the challenge of achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Chambers of commerce will be instrumental in this shift by facilitating communication and collaboration among industry leaders to share problems and ideas; running education and upskilling programmes in areas such as sustainability and cybersecurity; and developing thought-leadership on emerging economic, technological and social trends.

Generation Next: Chambers 4.0 Transforming Disruption into Opportunity for Global Business

The Generation Next: Chambers 4.0 report was published during the ICC World Chambers Congress in Dubai. To read the full report, visit bit.ly/ GenerationNextChambers

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

Toolkit for

Sustainability The time for action on the Sustainable Development Goals is here

n 2019, Chambers Ireland and our network of local Chambers placed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the heart of its long-term strategy. Now, at the start of 2022 we are less than eight years away from the deadline for reaching the targets across all the goals. If Ireland – which has to report on its progress on reaching the goals along with all United Nations countries – is to stand any chance of achieving these goals, it needs business to get active on building sustainability and the ethos behind the SDGs into their operations and their strategy. It’s important to provide a clear and accessible path for businesses of all sizes to participate in our efforts as a county towards building a more sustainable future. To assist with this, Chambers Ireland and local Chambers have released an extensive SDG Toolkit for Business to encourage employers of every size to advance their sustainability journey by integrating the goals into their day-to-day activities.

TOOLKIT The Toolkit for Business provides advice on simple ways businesses can incorporate small changes into how they operate to engage with sustainability and gender equality, and how they engage their staff in the process. Each SDG links to different aspects of our everyday lives – both within and outside of the workplace – and the smallest of changes we make can be linked to numerous Goals. The SDG toolkit gives simple tips on how employees can make a difference in their normal daily activities. Whether you have a good understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals, or are just beginning to learn about the Goals and wish to know more, this Toolkit will give ideas on how you can make an impact. BENEFITS You might still be asking: What benefits might come from aligning my business with the Sustainable Development Goals? Companies who have committed to incorporating specific Goals into their business practices and policies report that they experience far-reaching benefits across their business, such as: oosting their profit margins and make B savings across their business. Gaining greater trust among their customers. Winning new contracts by appealing to businesses looking to implement a more sustainable supply chain. Improving employee retention by working towards a common goal. Increasing feelings of stability by developing sustainable plans for the future. Growing their customer base by attracting sustainably-minded consumers. Improving performance as management and staff work with a greater sense of purpose. Strengthening relationships with staff, key stakeholder and partners.

The toolkit was based on significant contributions from the Sustainable Business Council (SBC), a Chambers Ireland-led group of experts in the areas of sustainability, citizenship and diversity from across the NGO and corporate sectors.

The Chambers Ireland SDG Toolkit for Business is available from your local chamber.

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CHAMBER SPOTLIGHT WATERFORD CHAMBER

Winning Ways for

Waterford

WATERFORD CHAMBER, THE CHAMBER OF THE YEAR 2021, ON TURNING CHALLENGES INTO POSITIVES

2021:

A year of ultimate highs and incredible lows. Another year of Covid-19, but amongst the hardship, Waterford Chamber was named Chamber of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Awards, which has meant so much to us and has made us more determined than ever to support our business community in every way we can.

Photo: David Murphy Studio

RECOGNITION We were particularly delighted that our hard work was recognised by Chambers Ireland, as we are shortlisted for six awards this year, winning Best Local Authority Collaboration for the Bank of Ireland Better Together prize fund we won for Tramore, in partnership with Waterford Local Enterprise Office. This followed a few days later with the announcement that we were named Chamber of the Year, an accolade we are immensely proud of.

Colm Blake, Zurich Ireland; Gerald Hurley, CEO Waterford Chamber; John McSweeney, President, Waterford Chamber, and Ian Talbot, CEO Chambers Ireland.

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Added to this was the news that Waterford was named the Best Place to Live in Ireland, so while there have been many challenges, it was a year of exceptional positives and we will continue to work with the Local Authority and other organisations in attracting inward investment and talent to Waterford. These accolades certainly helped that.

LOBBYING We are all too aware of how tough it has been for our members and the wider business community, but we can safely say it has been one of the most engaging years we have ever had in Waterford Chamber. Just as many of our members have had to learn to adjust, we are equally adapting to change. Like many businesses we have had to think on our feet, firefight and be innovative in our approach. After many years of lobbying for Waterford to be recognised as a university city, that ambition is now one step closer with the announcement of the Technological University of the South East (TUSEI). However, the work doesn’t end there, as we continue to ask for comparable funding to other regions and the appointment of an independent Chair of the new Governing Body for the TUSEI. In addition to the university, and along with our extensive lobbying of Government and ongoing meetings with senior Government Ministers, Oireachtas Members and the Local Authority and Councillors on other key issues such as the Waterford Airport, the N24, city centre regeneration, broadband and much more, we have been extremely active in terms of the green agenda for Waterford. EVENTS In terms of events, while most remained online, there were many highlights, not least of which was the Waterford Business

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CHAMBER SPOTLIGHT

Photo: Garrett Fitzgerald

WATERFORD CHAMBER

Lynda Lawton, Operations Manager, Waterford Chamber; John McSweeney, Waterford Chamber President and Gerald Hurley, CEO Waterford Chamber, pictured with Minister Simon Coveney and Senator John Cummins.

Awards. The online presentation was very well received, with fantastic winners and a special note of congratulations to the Overall Waterford Business of the Year nearForm, and Entrepreneurs of the Year Sandra and David Whelan of Immersive VR. Thanks also to the ongoing support of Waterford City & County Council, WLR, Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber, our panel of judges and of course our category sponsors. This year’s awards take place virtually on Friday, 4 March, and our shortlist has revealed some fantastic businesses right across the city and county, showcasing the strength and depth of the Waterford business community. July brought our Annual Golf Classic to Waterford Golf Club, which was a muchneeded day away from the office or home for the teams who took part, while September saw us get a brief window to host our wonderful President’s Lunch at the Strand Inn in Dunmore East, with guests Henry de Bromhead and PGA winner Seamus Power. September drew to a close with Toys4Engineers Week, which was a phenomenal success, with more than 800 students from across the South East Region tuning in to ‘Engineering Careers-Making a Better World’, sponsored by Red Hat. We also had a large audience at our Green Deal webinar, ran three online conferences, an

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extensive social media campaign promoting jobs in the region, a speed networking event, and more than 80 one-to-one Meet the Buyer meetings. INITIATIVES The Regional Leaders programme, which is designed by the business community for the business community, extended further into the region this year with participants from Wexford, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Carlow, and we currently have more than 40 leaders and 60 participants enjoying the benefits of one-to-one mentoring, group learning sessions and inspiring speaker lunches. The Waterford Shop Local Gift Vouchers initiative was integral in supporting the business community last year, processing orders exceeding €700,000, a seven-fold increase on our 2019 figures, which is a welcome boost for local businesses in early 2022. As we finalise our calendar of events for 2022, we look forward to a new way of working with a hybrid model of live and online events. We also have an extensive lobbying agenda ahead of us with a series of meetings lined up with senior Ministers and Government officials. There is positivity abound that this is Waterford’s year, and one thing is certain – Waterford Chamber will be there every step of the way.

STRATEGIC PANELS We continue to encourage our members to get involved with our strategic panels and engage with the panel leads on a wide range of issues that are pertinent to their business. The panels include: Economic Development & Enterprise Higher Education R&D Training and Learning Environmental Sustainability, Transport and Climate Action Digital Transformation and Smart City Tourism, Hospitality, Arts & Culture These panels were established this year to assist in the development of Waterford as we look to 2040.

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 CHAMBERS IRELAND: THE YEAR IN PICTURES

CHAMBERS IRELAND: The Year in PICTURES

DUNGARVAN CHAMBER

InBUSINESS looks back over the last 12 months with some snapshots of Chambers Ireland’s work in representing members both nationally and internationally.

DUNGARVAN CHAMBER

Colourful messages on the streets of Dungarvan popped up in the run up to Christmas, reinforcing the importance around Shopping Local & Supporting Chamber Vouchers. 2021 saw record-breaking sales on Chamber Vouchers, when more than a920,000 was purchased.

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin met with Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber members at the start of October to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing businesses at a Chamberorganised forum on future-proofing Dungarvan & West Waterford as a place to live, work, stay and play. This was the first visit by a Taoiseach to Dungarvan to meet the business community.

DUNGARVAN CHAMBER Dungarvan embraced outdoor dining and the re-imagining of public space throughout 2021, as seen in Grattan Square.

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The pop-up picnic area brought an outdoor dining option that invigorated the area.

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 CHAMBERS IRELAND: THE YEAR IN PICTURES

The Cross Border Tourism Conference, which was moved online to zoom in April, 2021. More than 200 delegates from all over Ireland attended this conference, including Irish Independent Travel Editor Pól O Conghaile.

DUNDALK CHAMBER

WEXFORD CHAMBER New Wexford Chamber President Brendan Crowley, Managing Director of Wexford Bus.

WEXFORD CHAMBER Wexford Chamber held a Business After Hours in Johnstown Castle in September, which took place outdoors with limited numbers to comply with COVID-19 guidelines.

WEXFORD CHAMBER Vice President Lorcan Kinsella, Billy Walsh and Acting CEO Emma Dunphy at the President’s Lunch in November.

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WEXFORD CHAMBER A shop local campaign took place countywide in November with input from a range of businesses across Wexford.

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022

Launching the business case at Shannon Airport in March: Observing social distancing protocols were (front) Stephen Keogh, President Shannon Chamber, and Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, President of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) with (back l-r): Dermot Kelly, chair, Shannon branch IHF; Darragh McAllister, incoming President, Ennis Chamber; Donnacha Hurley, President, Limerick Chamber; and Ken Deery, CEO, Galway Chamber.

Photo: Eamon Ward.

CHAMBERS IRELAND: THE YEAR IN PICTURES

SHANNON

KILKENNY

President Colin Ahern, CEO John Hurley, and Administrator Róisín McQuillan at Mount Juliet for the Kilkenny Chamber Golf Challenge that took place in August at the Championship course at Mount Juliet.

The winners of the Golf Challenge gathered for a celebratory picture outside a local business.

KILKENNY

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CHAMBERS IRELAND 2022 CHAMBERS IRELAND: THE YEAR IN PICTURES

Attending the launch of Mayo’s Climate Call to Action in November were (back row, left to right): Martin Keating Head of Environment, Climate Change and Agriculture, Mayo County Council; Laura Dixon, Climate Action Officer, Mayo County Council; Gerry Luskin, President of Ballina Chamber, Cllr Michael Smyth, Cathaoirleach, Mayo County Council; Cllr Blackie Glavin, Chair of Climate, Environment and Emergency Services SPC, Mayo County Council; Tom Gilligan, Director of Services, Mayo County Council; Susan Heffernan, Project Manager, The Mary Robinson Centre; and Cllr Mark Duffy, LeasCathaoirleach, Ballina MD Front row (left to right): Declan Turnbull, Head of Ballina Municipal District at Mayo County Council, Deputy Alan Dillon TD, Mags Downey Martin, CEO Ballina Chamber of Commerce, and Deputy Dara Calleary TD.

BALLINA

NORTHERN IRELAND Sir Mo Farah was the guest speaker at NI Chamber’s President’s Banquet in November. The Olympic Champion was interviewed on stage by broadcaster Craig Doyle.

NORTHERN IRELAND

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From left to right: First Minister of Northern Ireland Paul Givan, Chambers Ireland CEO Ian Talbot, Northern Irish Chamber of Commerce CEO Ann McGregor, Micheál Martin, Martin Pibworth from SSE, First minister Michelle O’Neill.

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CHAMBER FEATURE EUROCHAMBRES / EUROCHAMBRES PRIORITIES FOR 2022

Eurochambres

PRIORITIES for 2022 The advocacy body for Chambers across Europe is focusing on key areas for the year ahead

aving emerged from the grip of COVID-19 and the situation now appearing more optimistic, 2022 marks an important year for the European Union as it works to deliver a strong policy agenda to achieve a resilient economic recovery and meet its climate targets. EUROCHAMBRES, as the chief advocacy body representing chambers of commerce throughout Europe, has established its focus for this year in key areas including trade and digitalisation, sustainability, and work and skills. Chambers Ireland’s CEO, Ian Talbot sits on the Board of EUROCHAMBRES and is also a Deputy President. TRADE AND DIGITALISATION To build a resilient recovery, Europe must continue to eliminate trade barriers within the single market, strengthen and establish links with international markets, and embrace the digital transition.

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CHAMBER FEATURE EUROCHAMBRES PRIORITIES FOR 2022

In 2022, the focus will be on progressing efforts to make trade within Europe more seamless. The EU’s pursuit of the Digital Single Market initiative, as part of its Digital Decade, will play an important role in delivering this outcome. Key files that will be prioritised include the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Digital Services Act (DSA) and the AI Act. In terms of international trade, EUROCHAMBRES will continue to advocate for a fair and balanced economic relationship with China, seek to promote the establishment of stronger relations with African regions, and pursue the implementation of an ambitious EU-US transatlantic agenda. The UK remains a key trading partner for EU states, and a close trading relationship must remain a key objective of post-Brexit negotiations. As has been seen during COVID-19, long supply chains become a risk during a crisis. The EU must prepare for such developments in the future by increasing its stockpile of strategic reserves and supporting the growth of key industries in Europe to ensure a sufficient level of self-reliance. The Single Market Emergency Instrument, which aims to ensure the free movement of goods, services and people, with greater transparency and coordination in times of crises, will be crucial in this effort. SUSTAINABILITY The focus on sustainability remains strong at EU level, with several initiatives set to progress this year which will be closely monitored. The proposal for sustainable corporate governance and due diligence across the supply chain is a top priority for EUROCHAMBRES and is expected to arrive in Q1 2022. In addition to this, the proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive

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(CSRD) is also expected. This will build on the existing Non-Financial Reporting Directive by extending the scope to all large companies and companies listed on regulated markets, requiring the audit of information and introducing more detailed reporting requirements. As crucial elements of the energy transition and decarbonisation, C02 pricing, accounting rules and regulation of gas and hydrogen will also be high on the agenda. We also expect to see developments to the Zero Pollution Action Plan – which aims to stop pollution by 2050 – and its progress will be closely monitored as it relates to industrial pollution. In July 2021, a proposed revision of the Energy Eﬃciency Directive (EED) by the European Commission was issued as part of its Fit for 55 package. This sets out a more ambitious annual target for reducing energy use at EU level. Once approved, the directive will guide how national contributions are established and almost double the annual energy saving obligation for Member States. We are also hopeful to see further action towards making our economy more circular by shifting to design and practices that encourage durability, reusability and repairability. The Sustainable Products Initiative will be particularly important in achieving this goal. WORK AND SKILLS COVID-19 has shone a light on labour and skills shortages, and these will require the attention of the EU in 2022. In line with wider developments, the European Commission has established digital skills as a priority in its Work Programme for this year. EUROCHAMBRES will feed into this process to ensure the needs of businesses are considered. The organisation will also participate in two new working

groups established by the European Commission to examine the relationship between vocational education and the green transition, as well as improvements to adult learning. With 2022 having been designated the Year of Youth, the organisation will examine means for improving labour market access for young people and take a position on the role of higher education in shaping the labour market. With the unveiling New Pact for Migration and Asylum’s talent package expected in early 2022, EUROCHAMBRES will also need to monitor the EU Talent Pool, talent partnerships, and the implementation of other labour migration-related portfolios. It will also explore opportunities offered by the Pact for Skills. ADDITIONAL PLANS To increase its impact, a concerted effort will be made to develop evidence-based content across different policy dossiers to reinforce messages and contribute to processes across the institutions. Where appropriate, work will be undertaken with partner organisations on initiatives to strengthen this message. The arrival of Luc Frieden as our new President presents a valuable opportunity to reinforce relations with EU policymakers at the most senior level, and this will be an objective for the organisation throughout 2022. To achieve this, EUROCHAMBRES will embark on a new round of meetings with European Commissioners, and also reach out to relevant MEPs with the support of Chamber national organisations across the EU.

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CHAMBERS AWARDS WINNERS 2021

Waterford Chamber named CHAMBER OF THE YEAR The Chamber Awards seek to recognise the outstanding work of Chambers around the country.

Category Descriptions

aterford Chamber of Commerce has been named ‘Chamber of the Year’ at the 2021 Chambers Ireland Awards, sponsored by Zurich. The awards recognise the outstanding work of chambers of commerce throughout the country in supporting local, regional and national business. Waterford Chamber was shortlisted in six of the seven award categories and was recognised for its high level of activity throughout the year, despite challenging operational conditions. It won Best Local Authority Collaboration as it partnered with Waterford City and County Council to showcase the seaside town of Tramore as part of a successful application to the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Awards. This resulted in Tramore receiving €20,000 towards community projects. President of Chambers Ireland, Mags Brennan said: “Being named Chamber of the Year is testament to the scale of ambition shown by Waterford Chamber during such a challenging period. It reflects the huge amount of talent and dedication within the team and underlines how impressively they have managed and adapted their activity to meet the needs of their members. “What truly impressed our judges was how much Waterford Chamber engaged with its community. This is a group of strong communicators, relationship builders and people who care deeply about their city and county. Despite the obstacles, the team produced a series of excellent projects which undoubtedly contributed positively to the economic resilience of Waterford and put it in a better position as we move towards recovery.” Upon receiving the award, President of Waterford Chamber, John McSweeney said: “It’s a tremendous honour to be named Chamber of the Year and we are humbled and overjoyed in equal measure. It is wonderful to see the hard work of the team recognised and our work in

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Partnership for Business This category highlights initiatives where a Chamber has successfully worked in partnership with another organisation. We looked at how this collaboration has helped to support and develop business in an area.

supporting the Waterford business community will continue in earnest.” CEO of Waterford Chamber, Gerald Hurley added: “I couldn’t be prouder of my team, Lynda Lawton, Michael Lynagh, Angela Jackman and Lisa Power, who all worked tirelessly throughout the year. To see their commitment and innovation recognised is fantastic. Like every other business we have had to adapt in what was one of the toughest years in businesses in living memory, but they rose to the challenge with grit and determination and we are proud that the Waterford business community is stronger for it. This wouldn’t have been possible without our Board, corporate partners and all our members who have shown such strength in times of adversity.” Director of Corporate Life and Pensions at Zurich Ireland, Joe Creegan, commented: “Zurich is delighted to once again support the annual Chamber Awards. It is more important than ever to acknowledge the excellence of the Chamber network and the resilience of their members as they continue to support local economic development. We are proud to be associated with these awards and to support the important work Chambers undertakes in fostering a vibrant business community of all sizes and sectors across Ireland.” The annual Chamber Awards seek to recognise the outstanding work of the Chambers Ireland network around the country. They also provide an opportunity to showcase successful event ideas, campaigns and policies that have contributed to the development of chambers and business more broadly.

Best Digital Marketing Campaign This category aims to highlight online campaigns run by Chambers in the last year which showcase the work of the Chamber, generally or specifically, on individual projects and makes best use of online platforms. Virtual Event of the Year In this category we looked for the best examples of virtual events run by Chambers in our network throughout the year. We want to hear about how you hosted these event(s) online and whether they focused on sharing information, promoting a partnership or as a way of supporting your members. Best Membership Initiative This category looks at highlighting best practice and originality within the area of membership recruitment, celebrating members of the Chambers network whose creative ideas and hard work have resulted in increased business membership in their locality. Most Innovative Project Chambers, as leaders of their business community need to be innovative in the projects they work on. In order to get sufficient stakeholder support and membership buy in, projects that the Chamber works on must catch the imagination of all. We looked at these projects from concept to completion and how it has benefitted a Chamber and membership. Most Successful Policy Campaign The policy and public affairs activities of Chambers are an important representative function Chambers are active in on behalf of their members. Running a successful campaign is not easy but the benefits of a successful campaign can bring real positive change to business. Local Authority Collaboration Having a successful collaboration with your local authority is a key relationship for a Chamber. There are many unique ways a Chamber can work with its local authority for the betterment of the area.

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CHAMBERS AWARDS WINNERS 2021

BEST DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN XPLORE LOCAL - Tralee Digital Infrastructure

Xplore is a digital infrastructure for towns developed by a Galway-based company, Booniverse. In a step to a more digitalised town, Tralee chamber have worked hard to get the town live on the app and website in April 2021. The app and website offer retailers, hospitality and customers the opportunity to engage locally, remotely and ﬁnancially with businesses in the town, and provides a framework to support Tralee’s high street. This helps the local community and keeps people up-to-date with the goings-on in Tralee town. The app also provides a boost for tourism with the support of self-guided tours and highlighting hikes and trails.

VIRTUAL EVENT OF THE YEAR DUNGARVAN CHAMBER Dungarvan Live

Waterford Chamber collaborated with Waterford City and County Council with the aim to showcase the offerings of the seaside town of Tramore. This collaboration resulted in the successful application to the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Awards. The Begin Together Awards is an initiative to provide grants to future-focused projects in the community. This collaboration resulted in Tramore receiving €20,000 towards community projects. Of this, €€15,000 will be used to support the development of an outdoor market space for food and craft businesses at the old Tramore Railway Station, with €5,000 provided to Tramore Tidy Towns. With these extra supports, the shared resources of working together, the resulting developments in the area will hopefully lead to further economic growth and improved quality of life.

VIRTUAL EVENT OF THE YEAR DUNGARVAN CHAMBER Dungarvan Live

Dungarvan Live was Dungarvan’s ﬁrst online fashion show and was broadcast on Facebook Live in December 2020. Within 24 hours, more than 10,000 people had viewed the show across Ireland, the UK, America, Australia and Asia. Eunice Power from (And Chips & Eunice Power Cooking For You) supported by Regina Mangan (Liberty Blue Estate Agents) and Paul Flynn (Tannery restaurant, Townhouse & Cookery School) combined to be a brilliant on-screen team. Evidence showed that local retail sales increased, and shops gained new customers and social media followers after the event. This initiative aimed to promote stock from each business coming out of the Covid-19 lockdown and to also to promote Dungarvan as a great destination for retail. With the video featuring beautiful scenery of the Dungarvan surroundings, it was a brilliant tool to highlight the attractiveness of the area.

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CHAMBERS AWARDS WINNERS 2021

MOST INNOVATIVE PROJECT ARKLOW CHAMBER Cheers for Charity Campaign

‘Arklow Chamber Cheers for Charity’ is an initiative created by Arklow & District Chamber of Commerce that proved to be an innovative perspective during the disruptive times of 2021. The fundraising initiative encouraged members to donate in lieu of attending Christmas parties which had been cancelled due to COVID-19. The team then used these funds to purchase products from a wish list compiled by charities of items from local businesses. People are in need of the vital services provided by local charities this year more than ever, and a donation such as this has the potential to make the festive season a little easier for those who need it and helps bring business and the community together.

MOST SUCCESSFUL POLICY CAMPAIGN CORK CHAMBER Sustainable Cork Programme

The Sustainable Cork Programme, initiated by Cork Chamber in May 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, is designed to set a vision for a more sustainable and resilient Cork, empowered by a thriving business community. The Programme is being activated across every strand of Chamber activity. The programme began with two elements: sector-by-sector Think Tanks and a public survey. On completion, the ﬁndings of both were published in a report ‘Building Economic Resilience’ and made available to members. The programme then continued into Phase 2 using insights from the consultations, creating a new webinar series with speakers offering the latest on built environment, sustainable and economic perspectives.

BEST MEMBERSHIP INITIATIVE DROGHEDA & DISTRICT CHAMBER

Tapit Cashback and Very Important Members Scheme

Launched in July 2021, Tapit Cashback was founded by Garrett Gunn and Gavin Duffy, who having worked in IT, designed a simple way for retailers to market their business locally while at the same time rewarding customers. A shopper simply downloads the app and links their VISA debit or credit card, or both, to the app. They then pay in store as normal and when they are ﬁnished, they’ll get a notiﬁcation informing how much cash has been earned. Once €25 is reached, it can be deposited straight back into your bank account. This dynamic cashback strategy rewards businesses by driving loyalty, consumers with cashback for shopping locally, and chamber members by giving discounts for themselves and their employees.

PARTNERSHIP FOR BUSINESS GALWAY CHAMBER Mindfulness Month

At the beginning of the pandemic, Galway Chamber focused their efforts on a business recovery programme, which aided businesses on financial and cash flow matters as well as practical issues arising as businesses opened their doors after lockdown. The second wave of lockdown emphasised that while information focused around finance, grants and business supports are still vital for businesses, mental health of employers, employees and their families is hugely important also. The chamber partnered with prominent Galway healthcare sector employer Medtronic, along with Laya Healthcare, national youth mental health charity Jigsaw, Yoga Mara, and Sheila O’Malley Workplace Wellbeing. The campaign focused around five pillars; Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit.

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•Networking •Software •IoT •Mobility & Wireless •Security •Data Center •Collaboration •Cloud & Computing •Services Excellence in Business Awards

Cisco

Best Provider of IT and Cybersecurity Solutions to SMEs

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COVER STORY

Shane Heraty, Managing Director of Cisco in Ireland and Scotland, outlines why businesses need to embrace technological innovation, and how his company is creating a digitally inclusive future

Inclusive

Connectivity

“If

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Shane Heraty, Managing Director of Cisco in Ireland and Scotland

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Jason Clarke

IT IS ABSOLUTELY KEY FOR BUSINESSES NOW THAT WE PUT MORE OF A FOCUS AND URGENCY ON DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND THE NEED TO DELIVER DIGITALFIRST SERVICES.”

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to ensure connectivity is possible, but possible in a secure fashion.” CHALLENGES Cisco, as the largest cybersecurity vendor in the world, is in a unique position to provide solutions for businesses of every size. “The perimeter has moved from the outside wall of your head office to wherever your employees are connecting from,” says Shane. “All of this technology needs to be underpinned by a robust and secure infrastructure, and Cisco conducts all of our business with our partners, such as Exertis, to provide incredible capability and knowledge within the cybersecurity space in the Irish market. That knowledge of Cisco’s portfolio and our partners gives the reassurance customers require.” Shane mentions that Cisco prevents 25billion attempted ‘bad behaviours’ globally every single day: Five times more than there are Google searches. “That gives an indication of the level of activity we are seeing in cyberspace,” he says, “but equally, that our footprint across the global internet gives us a unique visibility on those bad behaviours and an ability to advance security for our customers and partners.” ACCESSIBILITY Given Cisco’s size, smaller companies may think they will be unable to access the level of digitisation and cybersecurity needed to remain competitive in this changing world, but they can. “Cisco is very aware of the opportunities digitisation can offer SMEs specifically,” Shane says, “and SMEs have become a key priority for us. We launched a bespoke portfolio that delivers simplified solutions to solve complex IT problems. SMEs may not have a Chief Technology Officer or full-time IT staff, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the same requirements, so we provide the same performance and protection as our larger customers.” The company has also launched 34

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a financing package that supports the purchase and use of the necessary technology and platforms with 0% financing over an agreed term. Providing the necessary supports to the SME community has naturally led to Cisco providing supports to local communities too, as seen in last year’s ICU FamilyLink project at University Hospital Galway. This saw Cisco and its partners provide the technology that enabled families of patients to connect with them when visiting was not allowed. “That was a really nice partnership to be involved in,” Shane says, “and we are continuously working to support initiatives through our Global CSR and our Time to Give programmes that will positively impact our citizens’ experience. “There are 72,000 of us globally and we are each given five days per year to support engagements in the local community. The pandemic brought out the best in us and our partners as we mobilised technology to support business continuity, not just in enterprise, but also in local community.” SMART TOWN One local community that has seen huge benefits from working with Cisco is the town of Ennis, Co Clare. Cisco used funding from its global Cultural Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme to pilot its Smart City platform there to increase connectivity and provide real-time information that will help bring people back to the town to spend money, and enhance their experience. “There are 20billion devices connected to the internet today. By 2023 that’s going to be 29billion, which is nearly four devices per person,” Shane says. “Every one of those creates an opportunity to enhance a person’s visit to a town if secured effectively. “One of the initial metrics we identified is traffic and traffic flow, and identifying available parking spaces. You can get real-time data presented on screens in the town to encourage traffic to go to the best parking facilities. In certain towns and cities, 50-60% of traffic can be cars circling while looking for a parking space. If we can alleviate that, it’s positive for the visitor experience, will have a great impact on encouraging return footfall, as

IF YOU LOOK AT CONNECTIVITY AS A BASELINE ENABLER FOR HYBRID WORKING, IRELAND IS VERY WELL POSITIONED, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO INNOVATE.” Shane Heraty, Managing Director of Cisco in Ireland and Scotland

well as reducing journey times and thus carbon emissions.” Traffic is only the starting point, Shane says, with retail an obvious area in which real-time data can present huge opportunities. “It’s about identifying where people might be in town at that time, and if there are sales or offers in certain stores, you can get realtime data telling you to go there. Also, town planners with realtime data of footfall can identify where to promote people to visit. If everybody is shown to be down one end of town, why not use this interconnected real-time data to encourage them to visit other attractions, reducing congestion and boosting the overall economy?” CHAMBERS Partnering with a local community to create a Smart Town platform of course needs a solid partnership on the ground, and Shane says Cisco benefited from the expertise of the local Ennis Chamber and Chambers Ireland. InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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Jason Clarke

needs and enables them to participate in the larger community. We continuously leverage our technology to support that goal of a digitally inclusive future for all, and are excited about the role we can play and the partnerships being formed as we look to develop the next generation of a digital society.”

“Engagement with the Chambers gives you a unique perspective on the workings of the town,” he says. “With the specific example of Ennis, you’ve got counsellors, council members, members of Chambers, members of the Western Development Commission (WDC), so you get a holistic view of how the town operates on a municipal level, but also a visitor level, and that informs how best to address the pain points.” SMART COUNTRY Moving from a town to national level, Shane is optimistic about Irish businesses embracing the digital future and the hybrid working model. “If you look at connectivity as a baseline enabler for hybrid working, Ireland is very well positioned,” he says, “but we need to continue to look for ways to innovate and better enable the hybrid workforce of the future. “Key initiatives such as those with the WDC and the regional hubs network will be essential in offering flexibility to support hybrid working,” he adds. “At Cisco, we will continue to innovate around application performance because businesses need to ensure the applications their teams use, and the applications their customers use as an interface into their business, are performing at an optimal level. We are also looking at ways in which AI can pick up on personal behaviours and physical movement so that it can better identify when someone in the remote environment is looking to contribute.” INCLUSIVE Shane points out that developments in digital technology and a new focus on the hybrid model serve more than just businesses. “Connectivity has a far broader impact on our economy and society,” he says. “Broadband access is a universal necessity to drive that inclusive recovery we are all looking for, because it powers a person’s access to basic InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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UPSKILLING He points to the Government’s new Digital Strategy launched in February, saying that while it shows a lot of ambition, it also addresses the skills gap that has emerged. “Cisco and our partners have a significant role to play in this,” he says, “enabling youth to understand our industry so that we can get a greater participation at third level. Also, the latest figures show female participation in engineering at third level is around 12 or 13%, so we need to change how we engage with the second level to have more female participation. Post-pandemic, there is a requirement to reskill and upskill, and we can support individuals to understand their suitability to our industry, to support that upskilling and reskilling. “Our Network Academy, a global programme we developed to enhance capabilities in tech, has brought 32,000 students through the programme in Ireland to date, with 6,000 coming through between the end of 2020 and now. We provide a very clear skills-to-jobs pathway through 24 learning partners in Ireland delivering those courses to all levels.” With such initiatives in place, the future of Irish tech leadership looks bright, exemplified by recent developments which saw Cisco use its CDA programme to invest in two new portfolio solutions with Irish indigenous companies. “They have now been added to the Cisco global list,” Shane says. “CDA has enabled us to support local business to develop new solutions that are now being sold globally, and that is another success story Cisco is proud of.” 35

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Further Education & Training supports the evolving needs of every Irish business providing the right skills to equip your workforce in staying cutting edge. FET is dynamic, vibrant and accessible. Available in every corner of the country and online, FET and apprenticeships are the ideal enterprise partner for Ireland’s forward-thinking employers. We help employers ensure their people flourish with the diverse training and skills required in the future world of work. Visit solas.ie or contact your local ETB for more information.

GENERATION APPRENTICESHIP

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IB PARTNER PROFILE

Responding to Challenges Skills to Advance meets the evolving skills needs of the Irish workforce

kills to Advance is a policy in Further Education and Training aimed at developing the skills of people in employment. Developed in 2018 by SOLAS and the Department of Education and Skills, it has been rolled out with the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) around the country. Skills to Advance enables targeted skill development for employees in the Irish workforce, particularly those who have lower skills levels in vulnerable sectors and who need more opportunities to advance in their working lives and careers, to sustain their employment, to avoid displacement or to avail of emerging job opportunities. The policy also supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who need some assistance to invest in and develop their workforce. This policy draws on a vision of the workplace in Ireland where upskilling during one’s working life is considered normal practice and has a direct correlation with enhanced job security, higher earnings and autonomy at work for employees. Indigenous and multinational firms systematically invest in the development of their staff and benefit through improved productivity and competitiveness of their employees and businesses. Skill to Advance was developed in response to evolving skill needs and remains central to assist those facing changes in their work due

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20 months and will continue to change and evolve as we progress to a new business environment. This new environment will require a workforce that is highly adaptable and flexible. To ensure workers can achieve this agility, there is a real need for continuous upskilling and reskilling to perform their current tasks and to take on additional tasks to allow them to sustain and grow business. Skills to Advance works collaboratively with the Education and Training Boards, employer bodies and key stakeholders to design, develop and cascade targeted regional and sectoral initiatives to

NOW MORE THAN EVER, INITIATIVES SUCH AS SKILLS TO ADVANCE ARE CRITICAL TO ALLOW BUSINESS TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO EXTERNAL CHALLENGES to technology advances, changing work practices and market diversification. Further education and training opportunities offered through Skills to Advance incorporate digital, socio-emotional and technical skills development to enhance employee skills and support increased productivity in Irish SMEs. Now more than ever, initiatives such as Skills to Advance are critical to allow business to respond effectively to external challenges, including those arising from Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. The structure of our workforce has changed dramatically over the past

provide these agile and relevant upskilling opportunities. These initiatives include Leadership and Management, Developing Leaders for Hospitality and Tourism, Green Skills and Digital Skills for Business Improvement. The focus of developing skills to future-proof our workforce in vulnerable occupations, businesses and sectors is centre to the core mission of the Skills to Advance Initiative. Recent events only highlight that those in vulnerable sectors run the risk of being most impacted and need to be engaged in life-long learning to enhance their opportunities.

08/04/2022 11:29

PARTNER PROFILE AIB

Aiding Businesses Through

Adversity

Catherine Moroney, Head of Business Banking, AIB, and outgoing Chambers Ireland President

Catherine Moroney, Head of Business Banking at AIB and outgoing President of Dublin Chamber, looks back over a dramatic two years, and forward to a promising future Q: Looking back on your two years as Dublin Chamber President, what were the highlights?

A: There have been many, but a key one was witnessing how Dublin Chamber staff and members responded to the pandemic. The Chamber had to pivot to deliver all member services virtually and produce quality policy submissions for Government attention, for example on the Future of Work, infrastructural development priorities and business supports. Another highlight for me personally was the progression of the sustainability agenda. We achieved this both with the continuation of the Sustainable Dublin 2050 series and the development and delivery of the Sustainability Academy (both sponsored by AIB). The Sustainability Academy has been a game-changer because it delivers detailed practical steps to aid businesses progress their sustainability journey. Seeing this initiative win an award at the International Chambers Congress in Dubai in November 2021 brought international recognition to Dublin Chamber and was a definite highlight.

The challenge was to ensure we retained that connectivity and relevance, which we did, as did the Chambers across Ireland. From the outset of COVID-19, the many networking, influencing and business events that would normally happen changed dramatically. I must confess – I would love to have been able to meet more ‘in person’ during my Presidency – I always say, the internet is for information, but human interaction is where wisdom and innovation evolves. We have proved we can connect well virtually, but I look forward to getting back to meeting in person. Q: How important are Chambers for businesses in Ireland? A: I believe Chamber membership is a valuable resource for businesses in Ireland. AIB recognises the importance of Chambers nationally and we have found them a beneficial way for our teams to connect with businesses, customers and key stakeholders. AIB is proud to be members of local Chambers throughout the country and of Chambers Ireland as their Corporate Partner.

Q: What did you find most challenging about being President during COVID-19?

A: Casting my mind back to February 2020 when I received the chain of office, I expected a very different term to what transpired! I would say that the importance of the Chamber over the past two years was even more evident than pre-pandemic, in that we continued to be a central point of connectivity for businesses and a rapid way to mobilise feedback from business, and to share that in real-time with our partners across government and industry. 38

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Q: What business trends do you foresee in the near future? A: We have experienced an accelerated level of change over the past two years, and this will continue. We have yet to see how this will evolve, but the focus on developing Ireland as a sustainable circular economy will continue, as will the pace of digital transformation, which will also help evolve the Future of Work landscape and our City/Suburb landscape. Chambers will continue to play a vital role in influencing these developments.

“AIB RECOGNISES THE

IMPORTANCE OF CHAMBERS NATIONALLY AND WE HAVE FOUND THEM A BENEFICIAL WAY FOR OUR

TEAMS TO CONNECT WITH

BUSINESSES, CUSTOMERS AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS”

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PARTNER PROFILE IRISH WATER

Managing a

Precious Resource Irish Water’s Certified Water Stewardship Programme is helping to secure water supplies for future generations

ffective governance and management of freshwater supplies is one of the most fundamental public goods challenges of our time, according to the World Economic Forum. This is against a backdrop where less than 1% of the world’s freshwater is readily available for human consumption, and there will be an expected increase in demand of 40% by 2030. Over 1.7 billion people are currently living in river basins where water use exceeds recharge. Ensuring access to water and sanitation for all is one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and with the challenge of climate change, there is a greater onus of responsibility in how we conserve and manage our precious water resources here in Ireland to protect the wider environment. Irish Water is taking proactive steps to ensure we have sufficient water for future generations and that our supplies are safe, secure, reliable and sustainable, by supporting the business community through our award-winning Water Stewardship Programme. We provide world class support to customers seeking to reduce their water use and strengthen their environmental credentials through verifiable action. This online training InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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“THERE IS

A GREATER ONUS OF RESPONSIBILITY IN HOW WE

CONSERVE

AND MANAGE

OUR PRECIOUS WATER RESOURCES HERE IN IRELAND TO

PROTECT THE WIDER ENVIRONMENT”

allows businesses to participate at a time that suits their busy schedules, and will help their employees and customers make conscious decisions about water consumption that will benefit people and nature. The innovative programme is the first of its kind globally. It is an international best practice certification accredited by the European Water Stewardship Standard (EWS). The initiative is being implemented with the endorsement of key business stakeholder groups including Chambers Ireland. It has been made possible thanks to the funding from Irish Water and the Lean & Green Skillnet, with support from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and is a clear demonstration of Ireland’s growing reputation and leadership actions on water stewardship and climate action. The specialised training provides business owners with the knowledge and expertise to lower water consumption and reduce operating costs while protecting the environment. Small changes such as identifying water waste on site, setting a baseline for water use, raising awareness amongst staff and customers, or upgrading to water-efficient devices can help to save water and money. More than 450 water stewards have been trained to date, and more than 1,000 new water conservation projects have been put in place by our business customers as a result of being on the programme - with 100% positive feedback from graduates. 39

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PARTNER PROFILE ZURICH

Master Trust

Experts Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life and Pensions, Zurich Life, on a new way to cover pension scheme governance

you have a company pension scheme in place for your employees, you will be aware of the ever-increasing regulatory demands. Irish company pension schemes have until the end of this year to fully comply with new European legislation - the Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision (IORP II). While the directive places several new requirements on pension scheme trustees, it aims to improve the governance and communication standards of workplace pension schemes. Ultimately, it will lead to the consolidation of company pension schemes and improved governance standards. IORP II is the main driver of a move into ‘master trusts’. A Master Trust is simply a defined contribution (DC) company pension scheme set up under trust. It differs from traditional DC pension schemes in that multiple employers all co-exist under the one trust deed, hence the term ‘master trust’. The key benefit of a master trust arrangement with Zurich is that all trustee duties are carried out by Zurich Trustee Services Ltd (ZTSL), one of Ireland’s largest and most respected trustee companies. Companies operating under the Zurich Master Trust arrangement will not need to appoint their own trustee boards to manage the associated governance and compliance requirements – all scheme governance is managed by ZTSL. ZTSL, a separate legal entity to Zurich Life Assurance plc, has a trustee board of directors comprising of four directors who are responsible for providing high-quality scheme governance to the Zurich Master Trust. They follow a strict governance framework and meet formally each quarter. Their responsibilities cover the key areas of scheme governance such as reviewing investment performance and the scheme default investment strategy, monitoring and reviewing the Registered Administrator performance, managing the relationships with Pensions Authority, Revenue and Financial Services & Pensions Ombudsman, along with Trustee 40

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Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life and Pensions, Zurich Life

administration and Governance reporting. In an era of increasing scheme regulatory complexity and cost, the Zurich Master Trust future-proofs employee pension provision by bringing expertise and dedication to scheme governance. Over the years we’ve always taken a positive, active approach to managing money, and we are widely recognised for our excellence in investment management. We have been voted number 1 for investment excellence for the last seven years by Brokers Ireland at the Financial Excellence Awards, most recently in 2021.* Our hands-on approach and long-term consistent track record of investment outperformance results in better retirement outcomes for scheme members. People retiring with Zurich have enjoyed better retirement pots as a direct result of our better investment returns.** This investment excellence and scheme governance pedigree, coupled with our firstclass administration platform and our employee engagement solutions, is why more and more local and international companies choose Zurich as their Company Pension partner. Businesses who choose Zurich Master Trust will enjoy all the benefits of Zurich’s pension expertise, without the need to appoint their own trustee boards to manage the associated governance and compliance requirements. If you would like to find out more, please get in touch with joe.creegan@zurich.com Zurich Life Assurance plc is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

*Source: Awarded Investment Excellence, Brokers Ireland 2021. **Source: Zurich Life & MoneyMate, November 2021.

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PARTNER PROFILE DHL EXPRESS IRELAND

Consistency and Sustainable

Growth DHL Express Ireland has been a beacon of stability during uncertain times

would certainly be apt to describe 2021 as tumultuous: for businesses, for families, for individuals. From a logistics perspective, it has been a year like no other. A surge in global trade has driven very high demand, but this has been hampered by capacity issues on the supply side. Add the impact of the pandemic and Brexit into the mix and you have a ‘perfect storm’ of events. Throughout all of this uncertainty, DHL has striven to be a beacon of consistency and stability for our customers. The surge in global trade activity can be attributed to a lack of availability in the more traditional supply chain services. At DHL Express Ireland, our business revolves around international express transportation. A large amount of airfreight moves on passenger commercial airlines, but with COVID-19, those passenger fleets were effectively grounded from March 2020. It didn’t take long for the express industry to pick up the slack, ensuring 2021 saw record shipment volumes on both our outbound and inbound lanes. CHALLENGE Considering DHL’s total volume position is now significantly above where it was pre-COVID-19, a new set of challenges presented itself throughout 2021. Ensuring sufficient staffing numbers to deal with the InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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unprecedented growth, and playing a vital role in battling the pandemic while also dealing with the implications of Brexit meant that 2021 was a rollercoaster. With the boost in volume since the pandemic hit, additional flights and capacity have been added on a daily basis into and out of Dublin and Shannon. A significant number of extra courier drivers have also been hired to handle this volume, and even before the pandemic the Customs team was growing in preparation for Brexit. All of this was done to ensure we were keeping Irish business connected with their global customers and suppliers. OPPORTUNITY Given the speed at which these changes have had to be made opens up opportunities for 2022, and the aim at DHL Express Ireland is to continue on the current growth path. There are very significant investment plans for the next couple of years in order to maintain the service levels DHL customers have come to expect. There will be a new facility opening in Cork in late Q1 2022, with several other new facilities in the pipeline. SUSTAINABILITY Sustainability is a primary focus area for 2022 and beyond. At DHL there is already a variety of service options for minimising and/or avoiding logistics-related emissions, waste and other environmental impacts along the entire supply chain. This year, DHL Ireland are taking it a step further and Electric Vehicles (EVs) are a major part of this. Over the next three to four years, DHL Express Ireland will replace the current van delivery fleet with EVs, with the first phase of this plan already in motion. Throughout 2022, sustainability will continue to be a priority in line with the global GoGreen initiative – a worldwide environmental protection programme which demonstrates DHL’s strong sense of environmental responsibility and commitment to supporting our customers, to grow sustainably. 2022 is set to be an exciting year. With light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, employees returning to the workplace and businesses getting back to ‘normal’, we look forward to seeing where the next 12 months take DHL! For additional information on any of our services, check out www.dhlguide.ie. 41

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS

Local

WINNERS 2021

RECOGNISING

CONTRIBUTIONS Cork City Council claims top spot at the 2021 Excellence in Local Government Awards

n November, Cork City Council was named Local Authority of the Year after it won three individual accolades at the Excellence in Local Government Awards 2021.

The awards, hosted by Chambers Ireland and sponsored by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, highlight the positive impact of local government across Ireland. In total, 90 projects from 20 local authorities were shortlisted as finalists last year. Cork City Council was the winner of three awards: Health and Wellbeing, Enhancing the Urban Environment, and Heritage and Built Environment. The council’s winning projects included initiatives that allowed children to participate in sports during COVID-19 restrictions, transformed the city centre of Cork into a people-first amenity without cars, and provided nine sheltered housing apartments through the renovation of two derelict townhouses and the infill of a vacant site. In announcing the winners, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot said: “The range of work that was undertaken by Cork City Council and the impact it has achieved speaks to the central role of local authorities in developing our communities and providing for the needs of its citizens. From the early days of the pandemic, it saw opportunity in creating a more peoplefocused city centre and undoubtedly inspired other local authorities and

THE WINNERS Local Authority of the Year

Cork City Council

Supporting Sustainable Communities

Laois County Council - Abbeyleix Community Climate Action Project Best Practice in Community Engagement

South Dublin County Council - South Dublin County Council Development Plan (CDP) Public Consultation Health & Wellbeing

Cork City Council - Sports on the Green Supporting Tourism

Monaghan County Council - The Patrick Kavanagh Centre and the branded Kavanagh Trail Promoting Economic Development

Donegal County Council #BuyDonegal Local Authority Innovation

Limerick City and County Council - ‘Council Connect’ Staff app

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive Chambers Ireland, Cllr. Colm Kelleher, Lord Mayor of Cork, and Conor Healy, CEO, Cork Chamber of Commerce

communities across Ireland. That is an achievement of which all staff should be proud.” “As we look back on this challenging period, we can say that we have seen the very best of local authorities. Their commitment has delivered initiatives that improved both their communities and the lives of their inhabitants.” Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, Peter Burke TD, also commented on the Awards, adding: “I must also congratulate Cork City Council on being named Local Authority of the Year. These awards have demonstrated the high level of service provided by our local authorities and to claim this title reflects the extensive impact it has made in very difficult circumstances. This achievement is a credit to the staff who proudly serve Cork city each day by enacting initiatives that make a positive difference in the lives of its citizens.”

Sustainable Environment

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown - County Council dlr’s Coastal Mobility Route Best Library Service

Meath County Council - Laptops for Loan Sustaining the Arts

Kildare County Council - Kildare COVID-19 Notebook project Enhancing the Urban Environment

Cork City Council - Re-Opening a More Resilient Cork City Centre Disability Services Provision

Monaghan County Council - My Right to Vote - General Election voter education Festival of the Year

Monaghan County Council - Cavan Monaghan Online Science Festival 2020 Heritage and Built Environment

Cork City Council - Infill Housing Conservation Project, 5-6 Shandon Street & JP Curran St

Commemorations & Centenaries

Cavan County Council - Bringing History to Life Despite the Odds! Age-Friendly Initiative

Applications for the Excellence in local Government Awards 2022 will open on 31 March, 2022, and close on 5 May, 2022. If you wish to receive updates on the ELG Awards, please email carly.mooney@chambers.ie

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South Dublin County Council - Policy for Rightsizing and Allocation of Age Friendly Accommodation

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11/04/2022 12:45

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS WINNERS 2021

SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES LAOIS COUNTY COUNCIL Abbeyleix Community Climate Action Project

HEALTH & WELLBEING CORK CITY COUNCIL Sports on the Green

Laois County Council set out to creatively engage the community of Abbeyleix with the topic of climate change. Artist and Science Communicator Niamh Shaw worked with Abbeyleix Tidy Towns for six months, examining aspects of climate change, making videos of work already ongoing, hosting online discussion panels featuring local speakers and international experts, organising interactive citizen science workshops, and building capacity and confidence in the members on science communication and digital storytelling.

BEST PRACTICE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL South Dublin County Council Development Plan (CDP) Public Consultation

The Council’s aim was to reach out to all the people who live, work and engage in recreation within the County to engage them in the preparation of the new County Development Plan 2022-2028. The innovations carried out as part of the consultation process used an array of technologies and dynamic marketing tools to raise awareness and facilitate engagement in the overall process. This helped to provide access to all who wished to contribute towards the planmaking process and the future development of the County.

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Since COVID-19 restrictions were first introduced in 2020, many sports programmes were put on hold. This left some young people, particularly those in at-risk groups, struggling with both their physical and their mental health. From these restrictions, Sports on the Green was developed to provide young people with sports sessions on the green area of their own housing estate, removing key barriers to engagement including cost, time, transport, and access. It allowed participants the opportunity to train with professional coaches and offered a pathway for them to continue their physical activity journey. It also served as a powerful tool for community engagement.

11/04/2022 12:45

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS WINNERS 2021

SUPPORTING TOURISM MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL

The Patrick Kavanagh Centre and the branded Kavanagh Trail

LOCAL AUTHORITY INNOVATION LIMERICK CITY AND COUNTY COUNCIL

‘Council Connect’ Staff app

With a gift for illuminating the extraordinary in the everyday, Patrick Kavanagh’s work is strongly inﬂuenced by his local rural village of Inniskeen in County Monaghan. Now laid to rest on the grounds of Inniskeen’s 19th century St Mary’s Church, this special place has aptly become home to the Patrick Kavanagh Centre. In a full celebration of Kavanagh’s life, the centre is a beautifully appointed, interactive space that engages and inspires visitors, with its centrepiece the European Heritage Award-winning ‘Pincer Jaws of Heaven’ film. Moreover, the centre is perfectly located for exploring the very heart of the rolling hills of rural Monaghan, through the Kavanagh Trail of Inniskeen or wider Kavanagh Country.

PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL #BuyDonegal

#BuyDonegal showcased the best of business in Donegal. It provided an opportunity for businesses to highlight their fantastic range of products and services and, most importantly, motivate people to buy them. The initiative, developed by Donegal County Council, initially ran from November 6th to December 31st, 2020. #BuyDonegal encouraged consumers to buy a Donegal product or service and post on social media with the hashtag #BuyDonegal. The supporting website buydonegal.com had a constant ﬂow of traffic during the campaign, with visitors from more than 40 countries. More than 250 businesses, from designers and makers, to food and drink producers and retailers were involved.

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The outdoor staff of any local authority in Ireland provide critical services and this work is often carried out in the worst of weather at the most unsociable times. Most of these staff members do not have access to email. Limerick City and County Council developed a staff app ‘Council Connect’ with the primary objective being to ensure these staff members were kept up to date and included in all Council staff correspondence. This proved critical during the COVID-19 pandemic when staff were unable to attend offices and depots. All staff members were given access to the app, with daily live updates and videos ensuring they all felt part of the Council as they continued to deliver services remotely.

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

11/04/2022 12:45

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS WINNERS 2021

BEST LIBRARY SERVICE MEATH COUNTY COUNCIL Laptops for Loan

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the digital divide which caused disproportionate hardship to those students who are disadvantaged or marginalised. A donation of a809,100 by Facebook enabled Meath Council Library Service to purchase more than 900 laptops that supported Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied students who did not have digital devices to continue their studies from home. The laptops were also made available to the wider community to assist with further education, return to learning, and to other organisations working with those who are economically, educationally or socially disadvantaged.

SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT DÚN LAOGHAIRE-RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNCIL dlr’s Coastal Mobility Route

The Coastal Mobility Route has delivered a high-quality, safe and attractive active travel route that extends along 4.5km of the coastline and connects a series of villages including Blackrock, Monkstown, Dún Laoghaire, Glasthule and Sandycove. The project reconfigured the public realm to respond to COVID-19 risks, creating safer and improved facilities for walking and cycling. It also enhanced the public space to provide safe and inviting places that now welcomes everybody from commuters to schoolchildren, and provides an attractive leisure route for local families and visitors while supporting local businesses.

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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SUSTAINING THE ARTS KILDARE COUNTY COUNCIL Kildare COVID-19 Notebook project

During the early days of the pandemic, Kildare County Council launched the Kildare COVID-19 Notebook to actively engage older people and those cocooning in the county, or were otherwise hard to reach. Working with partners including the Kildare Age Friendly network, citizens were encouraged to take an A5 Moleskine notebook, delivered to homes, and complete it however they wished. The notebook was then to be returned for digitisation as part of an archive for the county and beyond. More than 80 notebooks have been returned to date, and include personal accounts of COVID-19 experiences, photographs, press clipping, drawings, recipes, poems and prayers.

11/04/2022 12:45

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS WINNERS 2021

ENHANCING THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT CORK CITY COUNCIL Re-Opening a More Resilient Cork City Centre

After the city was temporarily reconfigured to accommodate an al-fresco summer, Cork City Council moved to reopen the city with a permanent, more ambitious plan with a suite of enhanced initiatives. These ranged from pedestrianised streets to bike parks, signage and street furniture, making the city centre a people place without cars. This enabled a whole spectrum of business, retail, cultural and other activities within the city to make it an enhanced living and compact urban experience attractive to everyone.

DISABILITY SERVICES PROVISION MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL

My Right to Vote - General Election voter education

Monaghan County Council identified a low participation rate among voters with an intellectual disability. Public consultation highlighted the significant lack of awareness on how to vote and a lack of suitable inclusive training to support people with intellectual disabilities to exercise their right to vote. This project built on the successful easyto-read guide to voting produced in 2019, to develop an inclusive voter education programme in partnership with local disability training organisations. This project supported 600 adults with an intellectual disability in the county to independently cast their vote for the General Election 2020.

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL

Cavan Monaghan Online Science Festival 2020

The Cavan Monaghan Science Festival 2020 was coordinated by innovative and adaptable librarians from Monaghan County Library Service who reached almost 15,000 men, women and children across the region. Although it was the fifth year of the festival, everything was new. A new website, a new webinar platform, a new way of connecting with facilitators, a new way of delivering public lectures, a new way of delivering workshops to schools, a new way to reach out to the local communities. However, the objective remained the same - to deliver a science festival that inspires a greater interest and understanding of STEM in our lives.

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InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

11/04/2022 12:45

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS WINNERS 2021

HERITAGE AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT CORK CITY COUNCIL

Infill Housing Conservation Project, 5-6 Shandon Street & JP Curran St

Cork City Council renovated two derelict 18th century townhouses on the corner of Shandon Street and John Philpott Curran Street, and infilled a corner site on the corner of John Philpott Curran Street and Cathedral Avenue to provide a total of nine sheltered housing apartments. This has transformed the image of an urban block in the historic Shandon Quarter of the city, turning it from derelict to active, habitable, accessible and energy efficient accommodation, for occupation by elderly members of the local community. Revitalising run-down urban streets with renovations of historic structures and architecturally appropriate new housing raises the sustainability of the neighbourhood, lifts communities and transform peoples’ lives.

COMMEMORATIONS & CENTENARIES CAVAN COUNTY COUNCIL Bringing History to Life Despite the Odds!

2020 was a difficult year for Cavan County Museum, with the museum’s doors remaining closed for most of the year due to COVID-19. Despite their challenges, the museum committed to find a new way to bring history to life. Two stunning short films, both filmed on site at the museum, were produced and released for the public to freely access. A Letter from The Trenches, filmed in the museum’s renowned WW1 replica trench, explores the experiences of a young Irish soldier in WW1. The Messenger shone a light on the often-ignored role of women in the War of Independence. The museum also produced three publications with information on WWI, 1916, the Battle of the Somme and War of Independence.

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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AGE-FRIENDLY INITIATIVE SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL Policy for Rightsizing and Allocation of Age Friendly Accommodation

The South Dublin Policy for Rightsizing and Allocation of Age Friendly Accommodation is a definitive strategy document to support appropriate housing choices for older people, supporting them to live independently in their communities for longer. Based on local and national research on rightsizing, it provides clear and coherent policy to support those wishing to right-size, including owners and tenants, and to meet the accommodation needs for older social housing applicants. Its impact will increase as more than 300 new age-friendly homes are delivered in local communities across South Dublin to allow older persons in underoccupied homes to move to more appropriate age-friendly accommodation. This also supports more efficient use of existing public and private housing by freeing up larger homes for larger households.

11/04/2022 12:45

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05/04/2022 17:08

The Cutting Edge

Travel company Earth’s Edge wins ﬂagship sustainability award

Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland, Ian Talbot said:

n September, adventure travel company Earth’s Edge became the first SME to win the flagship Outstanding Achievement in Sustainable Business Impact Award at the Sustainable Business Impact Awards, previously known as the CSR Awards. The awards, hosted by Chambers Ireland and sponsored by BAM Ireland, showcase the best of sustainable development and social responsibility by companies of all sizes across Ireland. Earth’s Edge was named as a finalist for the award alongside AIB, Aldi and Boots. By winning the Outstanding Achievement in Sustainable Business Impact Award, Earth’s Edge was judged to have delivered a high level of impact across all of the categories in which it was nominated. The company won an Excellence in Community – Volunteering Award for its Explore, Experience, Evolve initiative, and was a finalist in five other awards categories. The Explore, Experience, Evolve programme provided students from a school in the inner city of Dublin with free guided activities in Ireland’s great outdoors, while its other nominations were chosen for a broad spectrum of work focused on people and the environment. This included efforts to offset carbon emissions through tree planting, providing interest-free small business loans to a network of freelance staff in Latin America, Asia and Africa, creating an equipment lending programme for porters in Kilimanjaro, and developing a health and wellbeing programme for its staff who were working from home in Ireland. Host of the event, Chambers Ireland created the awards to advance the cause of sustainability across Irish business. In 2019, the organisation placed the UN Sustainable Development Goals at the heart of its policymaking. As part of this work, it recently launched an SDG Toolkit for Business. This guide is available on the Chambers Ireland website. In addition to lead sponsor BAM Ireland, the awards are supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development, EPA Ireland, One4all and Waterford Crystal.

“Earth’s Edge has shown exactly what is possible when a business places sustainability at its heart and follows through across all aspects of its work. The results they have achieved clearly come from a genuine and enduring commitment to achieving progressive and inclusive outcomes for all. For a business of seven people to have made such positive impact across three continents is truly outstanding. They have taken their community ethos to great lengths and provide a fantastic example to businesses of all sizes on how to deliver eﬀective results through targeted actions and smart use of resources.” Chief Operating Officer of BAM Ireland, Tadhg Lucey said: “Congratulations to Earth’s Edge and to all involved in the Sustainable Business Impact Awards 2021. BAM is delighted to once again be the main sponsor of these Awards, which champion the innovative initiatives undertaken by Irish businesses towards corporate responsibility and a sustainable tomorrow. It has been inspiring to see the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals being acted upon with such commitment and focus by all the entrants.”

Pictured l-r: President of Chambers Ireland, Mags Brennan; CEO of Chambers Ireland, Ian Talbot; Chief Operations Officer of BAM Ireland, Tadhg Lucey; and Managing Director of Earth’s Edge, James McManus Applications for the Sustainable Business Impact Awards 2022 will open online on 9 March, 2022. The deadline for submissions is 27 April, 2022. To join our mailing list for the Awards, email carly.mooney@chambers.ie

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05/04/2022 16:16

w SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS IMPACT AWARDS 2021 CATEGORY WINNERS ■ OVERALL WINNER: Outstanding Achievement in Sustainable Business Impact

Earth’s Edge ■ Excellence in Communication Boots Ireland - Boots Ireland ‘Safe Space’ Initiative

■ Excellence in Community Partnership with Charity (LIC) John Cradock Ltd Jigginstown House: A residential facility for vulnerable young adults

■ Excellence in Community Partnership with Charity (MNC) Aldi Ireland Aldi Ireland & FoodCloud Partnership

■ Excellence in Community Volunteering (LIC) Earth’s Edge Explore, Experience, Evolve

■ Excellence in Community Volunteering (MNC) Medtronic Spotlight Pilot Medtronic and COPE Galway

■ Excellence in Community - Community Programme (LIC) Permanent TSB

■ Excellence in Community - Community Programme (MNC) DMG Media Supporting Communities Across Ireland through COVID-19 campaign

■ Excellence in Environment (LIC) Hotel Doolin Ireland’s first carbon neutral hotel and pandemic work

■ Excellence in Environment (MNC) Aldi Ireland Aldi’s Plastic & Packaging Pledges

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNICATION BOOTS IRELAND Boots Ireland ‘Safe Space’ Initiative

In June 2020, Boots Ireland launched a Safe Space initiative in partnership with Safe Ireland. Women who experience domestic violence can go to any one of 89 Boots stores and access a Safe Space in a pharmacy consultation room. In this conﬁdential space, they can contact one of the 39 frontline specialist domestic abuse services across the country and access free, conﬁdential support and advice. Boots Ireland developed a strategic communications campaign to highlight the vital support that is available through its stores nationwide throughout the pandemic, at a time when it was needed most.

■ Excellence in Workplace (LIC) SSE Airtricity Proud sustainability partner to Dublin Zoo

■ Excellence in Workplace (MNC) VMware

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY Partnership with Charity (LIC)

JOHN CRADOCK LTD. Jigginstown House: A residential facility for vulnerable young adults

VMware Ireland’s Virtual Workplace

■ Excellence in Social Enterprise William Fry Social Impact+

■ Excellence in SME Spotlight Oral Care Zero Waste Box™ Dental Aligner Recycling Programme

■ Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion AIB Mentor Her

Building Affordable Family Homes - A Partnership With Ó Cualann

Young adults exiting State care are at higher risk of homelessness, with some among the most vulnerable members of local communities across Ireland. Homeless Care, a charity based in Kildare, was committed to addressing this issue. John Cradock Ltd shared this vision and established a long-term strategic partnership to deliver on their aligned goals. The partnership commenced with little fanfare but big ambition and reached its objectives in 2021 with the completion of a purpose-built residential training facility and the signing of a licencing agreement to secure its operation for the next three years. In collaboration with Kildare County Council and local society, it supports some of the most vulnerable members of the local community and enables them to reach their potential.

*LIC: Large Indigenous Company | *MNC: Multinational Company

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05/04/2022 16:17

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY Partnership with Charity (MNC)

ALDI IRELAND Aldi Ireland & FoodCloud Partnership

Food waste and food poverty are two large issues within Ireland. In order to reduce its food waste and help local communities around Ireland, Aldi partnered with FoodCloud, who redistribute food to local charities and communities. Surplus food redistribution is a win-win for people and our planet, and offers an opportunity to build a better, more sustainable and food-secure future for us all. Since partnering with FoodCloud in 2014, Aldi has donated more than 2.16 million meals to over 200 charities saving the sector more than €2.6 million. The partnership continues to grow with Aldi expanding its donations to a larger number of communities in 2021, and they are aiming to donate 2.25 million meals by the end of 2021.

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY Volunteering (MNC)

MEDTRONIC Spotlight Pilot Medtronic and COPE Galway

407 employees. 1,463 hours. 1,913 beneﬁciaries. This programme was launched in December 2020 and was completely revamped due to COVID-19 restrictions. Medtronic employees offered their time, skills and voices to support COPE Galway at a time of immense pressure and concern in the community. A menu of volunteering opportunities was provided to employees to accommodate all levels and time commitments. Some packed hampers to brighten a socially-distanced Christmas, others taught IT and ﬁnancial planning skills, more supported wellness and resilience opportunities for charity volunteers, and hundreds attended virtual advocacy sessions to learn how their voice could improve the lives of others. This is not the end of the Medtronic and COPE Galway partnership, but it was a special and memorable highlight for all involved.

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY Volunteering (LIC) EARTH’S EDGE Explore, Experience, Evolve

Earth’s Edge specialises in adventure trips to locations such as Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu and Everest Base Camp. But they’re well aware that expeditions such as these aren’t within everyone’s grasp. To address this, the company launched Explore, Experience, Evolve. Through its voluntary work and connection with Warrenmount School, Earth’s Edge takes groups of marginalised female students on free outdoor adventures to experience the physical and mental beneﬁts of exploring the great outdoors. These adventures within Ireland help them feel empowered, happy and enthusiastic about ﬁtness and the outdoors. As the initiative has evolved over the years, it now serves as a reward for students who report good attendance and behaviour.

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY Community Programme (LIC)

PERMANENT TSB Building Affordable Family Homes - A Partnership With Ó Cualann

The housing crisis is arguably the biggest social and economic issue that has faced Ireland in recent years, and the onset of the global pandemic has only ampliﬁed the challenge. In July 2020, Permanent TSB announced a three-year partnership with Ó Cualann to support the agency in developing fully integrated, co-operative and affordable housing schemes in communities across the country. As part of the partnership, Permanent TSB will provide Ó Cualann with €350,000 to fund the resources needed to accelerate its plans to build more than 1,800 houses across Ireland over three years. The partnership, and the Ó Cualann model, is an innovative way to address the housing crisis and is the ﬁrst of its kind in Ireland.

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05/04/2022 16:18

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY Community Programme (MNC)

DMG MEDIA Supporting Communities Across Ireland through Covid campaign

DMG Media’s Supporting Communities Across Ireland through COVID strategy acted as a lifeline to Irish SMEs and the entertainment industry by supporting small businesses with free advertising, and Irish artists and venues with free broadcast studio events. This allowed these businesses and artists to maintain contact with DMG Media’s audience of 3.6 million while also upskilling and learning to do business online. As the largest sales drive in the history of DMG Media, the initiatives also built the DMG Media team’s company pride, developed a greater sense of purpose and increased job satisfaction. It had the further beneﬁt of fostering national pride and reconnection with experiences lost during the pandemic.

EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENT (LIC) HOTEL DOOLIN Hotel Doolin-Ireland’s ﬁrst carbon neutral hotel and our pandemic work

During the first lockdown, Hotel Doolin had to close and used this time as an opportunity to contribute to the local community. The hotel staff met with many people who it hadn’t previously known and provided staff with the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of people in the locality. It also spread the message of how to become a carbon neutral hotel by organising webinars for other businesses, and offered several site visits before the pandemic. Hotel Doolin was the first hotel to be certified as carbon neutral by Green Hospitality and invested significant amounts of its own time to guide other businesses in how to achieve the same outcome.

EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENT (MNC)

EXCELLENCE IN WORKPLACE (LIC)

ALDI IRELAND Aldi’s Plastic & Packaging Pledges

SSE AIRTRICITY SSE Airtricity, proud sustainability partner to Dublin Zoo

The production of plastic is increasing globally, which has resulted in a rise in plastic waste. Aldi’s pledge of reducing and removing unnecessary waste from its products addresses its ongoing commitment to becoming a more sustainable business across its entire product range. To date, this project has seen the removal of more than 2,050 tonnes of virgin plastic, the transition of 930 tonnes of non-recyclable packaging to recyclable packaging, and the removal of difﬁcult to recycle plastics from stores.

As Ireland’s largest generator and provider of green energy, SSE Airtricity is serious about delivering a positive impact in society, and is committed to supporting customers and communities as it works towards a cleaner, greener future. The company has been a proud Sustainability Partner of Dublin Zoo since 2017. Dublin Zoo attracts more than one million visitors every year, making it Ireland’s favourite family attraction. Dublin Zoo not only offers a great day out, but a journey of learning and discovery about wildlife, conservation and sustainability. The sustainability partnership affords SSE Airtricity a unique opportunity to deliver on its commitment to a greener future while supporting the conservation and sustainability efforts of Dublin Zoo.

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05/04/2022 16:19

EXCELLENCE IN WORKPLACE (MNC)

EXCELLENCE IN SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

VMWARE VMware Irelands Virtual Workplace

WILLIAM FRY Social Impact+

VMware’s Virtual Workplace project aims to enable company employees to continue to thrive and do their best work while nurturing a sense of belonging as they work from home and adapt to a new way of working into the future. The project was guided by a belief within VMware that creativity sparks innovation and inspires employees to think differently and challenge the status quo. Whether it’s the products they develop, their approach to sustainability, commitment to diversity and inclusion, or how they give back to the community, VMware ﬁnds unique ways to bring people together.

As a corporate law firm, William Fry believes it can empower and further advance the impact of social enterprises by sharing their wideranging skills and expertise. This form of meaningful upliftment equips social enterprises with foundational knowledge, and creates long-term sustainable impact in the community. Through Social Impact+, the firm is able to align its pro bono work with the areas its clients, people and community have said matter most to them. These include gender equality, social inclusion, neurodiversity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellbeing. Defining pro bono as both legal and non-legal support helped to create a programme that allowed all of its staff to work together and use their skills to make a positive and lasting difference in the community.

EXCELLENCE IN SME

EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

SPOTLIGHT ORAL CARE Zero Waste Box™ Dental Aligner Recycling Programme

AIB Mentor Her

Spotlight’s Zero Waste Box Recycling Programme allows patients and dentists to recycle all brands of dental aligners safely and conveniently from their clinic. The company delivers a specialised box designed to sit conveniently in the reception area of a dental clinic. From there, clients can deposit their used aligners when they are ﬁnished with them. When full, the box is collected by TerraCycle, with the plastic aligners then recycled and manufactured into new plastic products. Through this, Spotlight aims to reduce aligner waste and plastic pollution on a scale that has not been done before.

AIB’s Mentor Her addresses Goal 5 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals to ‘Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’ by supporting women at every level in AIB to realise their career potential. This supports AIB’s aim to achieve gender balance and embed diversity and inclusion in the company. Women are matched with senior mentors for one-on-one mentoring and join a dedicated peer mentoring circle facilitated by past mentees. They develop a network of peers across AIB and beneﬁt from a bespoke interactive ‘women in leadership’ programme developed by external speakers to complement Mentor Her. AIB adapted the entire programme to become fully virtual in 2020, ﬁnding it to be more inclusive for women in its branch network and the UK.

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05/04/2022 16:20

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PARTNER PROFILE PENINSULA

Attracting and Retaining

TOP

Talent

Working life has changed, and businesses need to respond to secure and keep the best staff

The

past two years have caused people to stop and reflect on their lifestyle and working life. Personal responsibilities and health have taken priority over work. Employees are also more aware of what other businesses can offer in the form of benefits and career development opportunities. This has led to what has become known as the ‘Great Resignation’. While employees are resigning in vast numbers, there is an upside for businesses on the lookout for new staff: The market is full of great talent. So, how can you go about attracting and retaining top talent?

HOW TO ATTRACT GREAT STAFF For businesses to set themselves apart from the competition, it’s crucial to keep up with the times. With the Right to Request Remote Working Bill 2021 soon to come into effect, now is the time to reassess your working arrangements. Remote or hybrid working options will appeal to top talent, as having a better work-life balance increases InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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employee job satisfaction. Other ways you can set your business apart from the competition include: eveloping your employer brand and D promoting your business as a desirable place to work. Use social media to create brand awareness and advertise vacancies. reating an employee-focused workplace C culture. Employees value their personal time and appreciate when their employers are considerate of this. ffering benefits adds value when trying O to attract top talent. Benefits can range from gym memberships to team-building activities to performance bonuses. HOW TO RETAIN GREAT STAFF Building a team that works well together and helps a business grow takes time and quite a lot of planning. And while success doesn’t happen overnight, employers always want to keep teams and employees that do well.

USEFUL WAYS TO RETAIN STAFF INCLUDE: Flexibility: If possible, accommodate individual preferences on working hours. Also, track workloads and ensure they’re manageable within working hours. Wellbeing: Support employees through issues such as stress and burnout. Consider introducing an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). C ompensation and benefits package: Provide guidance on salary increases and timeframes. Benefits to consider include pension contribution, healthcare contribution, and gym membership. Progression: Maximise opportunities for employees to develop. Facilitate and financially support training and education. Where promotions aren’t feasible, look for moves that allow employees to gain different development experiences. Consultation: Allow employees to voice their opinions through regular consultations.

Employee retention is underpinned by effective recruitment and induction processes. Follow through on what was offered at the job offer stage and provide your staff with continued support and training. For free advice on this topic, Chamber members can call the dedicated HR and Health & Safety line on 0818 253 104. 55

08/04/2022 11:23

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05/04/2022 16:20

InBUSINESS RECOGNITION AWARDS 2021

Celebrating Success Acknowledging and celebrating achievements in business is as important as ever, as the winners of this year’s InBUSINESS Recognition Awards 2021 showed outstanding resilience and innovation in the face of unprecedented challenges.

he annual InBUSINESS Recognition Awards recognise and reward outstanding business achievement and innovation, and aim to acknowledge the contributions of individuals to grow business in this country. Winners of the Awards this year were chosen across 24 categories based on broad criteria including growth, profile of business, range of services and customer care. Drive for success and achievement is part of the DNA of these companies and individuals, and all are very worthy of this recognition, setting the standard for business in Ireland today. The last two years have been extremely difficult for business in Ireland, with unprecedented challenges brought about by the global pandemic. Companies have had to embrace the move to remote working, while the emphasis on the mental health of staff has become a crucial topic, as has maintaining the sense of company culture when employees can be dispersed across office and home in hybrid working environments. For smaller businesses, the challenge has been managing to reopen and thrive after closures, refinancing, accessing stimulus packages, and reorganising the workplace to ensure it is both safe and productive. Despite the challenges, business has persevered, and the business leaders and entrepreneurs of Ireland have maintained and strengthened their focus on recovery and growth. Many of the Recognition Awards winners this year have shown these qualities of tenacity and determination at a time when the pandemic has continued to disrupt. These qualities, combined with agility, innovation and creativity, are what has seen them through the crisis. Business and Government agencies are also doing their utmost to make it feasible for those that have been impacted to not only survive, but thrive again. Chambers Ireland, Ireland’s largest business organisation with a network of Chambers of Commerce in every major town and region in the country, actively engages in research and lobbying activities on a range of public policy issues of interest to our members. By drawing upon the expertise of our members and the businesses they represent, we are in a unique position to understand the concerns of all sectors of business from all regions of Ireland, and are acutely aware of the different types of challenges the last two years have presented. Supporting SMEs, facilitating trade, and strengthening the Chamber Network to provide support at local level, all remain top priorities for us, as businesses continue to embrace new ways of working, and succeeding.

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WINNERS PENSIONS & LIFE ASSURANCE Zurich AGENCY SUPPORT TO BUSINESS Skillnet Ireland AGENCY SUPPORT TO START UP’S & SME Local Enterprise Offices BUSINESS BANK AIB BUSINESS BROADBAND PROVIDER Virgin Media EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT Hay’s Recruitment ENERGY PROVIDER TO BUSINESS Bord Gáis Energy RETAIL EXCELLENCE LloydsPharmacy LIFE SCIENCE COMPANY Health Beacon TOURISM Fáilte Ireland LOGISTICS COMPANY DHL BODY FOR FURTHER EDUCATION AND APPRENTICESHIPS SOLAS CYBER SECURITY & COMPLIANCE COMPANY Stryve WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY Bord Na Móna EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT UCD Smurfit HEALTH & WELLBEING HeaNet & Educampus FINANCE PROVIDED TO MICRO BUSINESS & START UPS Microfinance Ireland COMPANY IN FINANCIAL SOFTWARE Sage Ireland ACADEMIA COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRY Science Foundation Ireland IRISH BRAND O’Brien Fine Foods -Brady Family MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN IRELAND Lagan Breedon Group BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR ICON BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR David McCourt COMPANY OF THE YEAR Lidl

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

05/04/2022 16:20

LIDL

JP Scally, CEO, Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland says that taking a strong stance on issues has meant Lidl has not only grown as a business, but made a lasting impact in society. With over 5,000 employees across the country and five new store openings in 2021, Lidl continues to be one of the strongest-performing retailers in the country. Chief executive JP Scally says, “Lidl stands out from the competition quite simply due to the quality of our team.” In 2015 Lidl became the first nationwide retailer to commit to paying all employees the Living Wage as a minimum. “Since then we have continued to increase our entry level wages in line with the Living Wage recommendations. This, along with a comprehensive benefits package, career progression opportunities and industry-leading training and development programmes ensure we can continue to attract and retain the best possible talent.”

GROUNDBREAKING INITIATIVE In April last year, Lidl became the ﬁrst major retailer worldwide to oﬀer free female sanitary products in stores in an initiative aimed at targeting period poverty, as well

JP Scally, CEO, Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland.

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COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2021

Lidl: A Strong Stance and Lasting Impact as committing to quarterly donations of period products to the Simon Communities to ensure people experiencing homelessness can access these essential products. “This ground-breaking initiative truly has cemented our position as one of the real champions of women in Ireland, alongside our hugely successful partnership with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. We’re not afraid to take a strong stance on issues that may seem controversial to some, but will have a long-standing impact on the communities we operate in, our employees and society as a whole.” Scally states that sustainability plans and CSR initiatives will continue at pace over the coming years. “There is a lot of work to be done in this area, as we have some big targets in place, but there is a huge appetite across the business to meet these.”

WE’RE NOT AFRAID TO TAKE A STRONG STANCE ON ISSUES THAT MAY SEEM CONTROVERSIAL TO SOME, BUT WILL HAVE A LONGSTANDING IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITIES WE OPERATE IN, OUR EMPLOYEES AND SOCIETY. INNOVATIVE EFFICIENCY Predicting that inflation and raw material prices will be a major focus across the retail sector in 2022, Scally outlines a two-pronged plan of attack across Lidl operations: “We consistently look for ways to increase efficiency and reduce costs in our own operations to absorb these additional costs as best as possible. Innovations and reductions in packaging have reduced costs and our increased investment in solar energy has offset increasing energy prices.” Coupled with ever-increasing automation and digitalisation of processes, the retail giant is in a strong position to continue expanding and providing the value and quality its customers have come to expect. Several new stores are due to open in 2022, along with a continuing programme of modernisation and upgrading of older stores. Scally reveals that there are, “many exciting things to come in the partnerships space” supporting Ladies Gaelic Football and another big sponsorship deal to be revealed in the spring.

05/04/2022 17:17

DAVID MCCOURT BUSINESS MAN OF THE YEAR

A Transformational Force in Technology David McCourt, Chairman of NBI, focuses on connectivity, technology and content across his business interests, investing in opportunities to advance these pillars in underserved regions of the world. Irish-American entrepreneur David McCourt has been widely lauded as a transformational force in the technology, media and telecom industries since the 1980s. His first venture into the telecoms industry, McCourt Cable Systems, quickly became the largest privately-owned designer and builder of cable systems in the United States and defined industry standards. However, it was the founding of the first competitive telephone company in the United States, Corporate Communications Network, which truly cemented his reputation as an industry visionary. That company later merged with MFS Communications and was eventually sold to WorldCom for USD$14.5bn. By the mid-1990s, as Chairman and CEO of C-TEC, a diversified telecommunications company based in Pennsylvania, he was one of the youngest CEOs of a publicly traded company, aged just 35. In a 2018 interview with the Guardian newspaper,

David McCourt, Chairman of National Broadband Ireland.

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THE FOUNDATIONAL ETHOS ACROSS MCCOURT’S BUSINESS INTERESTS IS A FOCUS ON CONNECTIVITY, TECHNOLOGY AND CONTENT, INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE THESE PILLARS IN UNDERSERVED REGIONS OF THE WORLD.

McCourt stated, “A lot of my success is down to luck and the fact I’ve focused on trends rather than fads. Media, communications, technology and sport have been big growth industries, and I like to think I have been involved in disrupting them.” In November 2019, the Government contracted National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to deliver the highly anticipated National Broadband Plan (NBP). As the Chairman of NBI, David McCourt has helped grow and inspire a team of over 1,200 people working on the NBP.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Described by the Economist as possessing “incredible credentials as a telecom revolutionary”, McCourt has had a colourful career. Further to holding senior roles as CEO, President or board member at some of the world’s biggest telecom network operators, he has founded or bought 20 companies in nine countries, receiving prestigious awards and accolades along the way. In the 1980s he also founded a successful television channel in the Caribbean nation of Grenada, and delivering content to underserved areas of the world would later become a recurring theme in his career. McCourt’s work in TV production during the 1990s and 2000s, saw him recognised for his citizen diplomacy, working in partnership with the United Nations to examine the global impact of conﬂict on children around the world; his work on educational programming for children earned him an Emmy in 2005, and his debut book ‘Total Rethink’ became a Wall Street Journal bestseller in 2018.

CONNECTIVITY FOCUS Today, the foundational ethos across McCourt’s business interests is a focus on connectivity, technology and content, investing in opportunities to advance these pillars in underserved regions of the world. Reﬂecting on the past two years, as the option to work from home went from a perk to a necessity, McCourt says, “COVID-19 accelerated a trend that had already begun by a full generation.” According to McCourt, there is a huge opportunity to rethink our reliance on cities as the epicentres of employment and opportunity. “Opportunities should be the same no matter where we live; why should we not have an opportunity to work for Arthur Cox, KPMG, Facebook, NBI or anywhere else just because you choose to live in a rural community?”

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

05/04/2022 17:18

How will the National Broadband Plan empower your workforce? The NBI™ network is Ireland’s new high-speed fibre broadband network, being rolled out as part of the Government’s National Broadband Plan. The NBI™ network will deliver initial speeds of 500Mb and 1Gb for business and residential users and is future-proofed, so as your data needs grow, our speeds will too. We believe equal access to better broadband will empower every person, every community and every organisation in Ireland to achieve more, both locally and globally.

Check your Eircode at NBI.ie

BUILDING A LIMITLESS IRELAND

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05/04/2022 20/12/2021 17:22 16:58

Clear focus. Better outcomes. With more than 38,000 employees ICON is the world’s largest CRO with a singular focus on clinical research and commercialisation. We are completely committed to achieving customers’ clinical development programs. Regardless of size, we work your way to deliver better outcomes.

ICONplc.com

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ICON

Dr Nuala Murphy is President of Global Specialty Solutions at ICON; her work at the cutting edge of clinical research was instrumental in bringing the first COVID-19 vaccine to market.

BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Businesswoman of the Year: Dr Nuala Murphy

Dr Nuala Murphy leads the Global Specialty Solutions team at clinical research specialist ICON. Her division covers the spectrum of clinical development and commercialisation, focused on shifting the paradigm in clinical research and transforming clinical trials through a wide range of services.

DRIVING TRANSFORMATION When the pandemic struck, ICON was contracted by multiple pharma and biotech companies to support them in the development of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Due to the imposed travel restrictions, potential risks of infection at clinical sites and the need to protect patient safety, the teams were motivated to apply innovative methods and technology to initiate these new trials. They deployed remote study management and decentralised clinical trials at unprecedented speed. “It allowed us to really show the industry that you can do large-scale development in a remote setting,” Dr Murphy states. In one such project, Dr Murphy led a large global team of therapeutic and operational specialists for the implementation of Pﬁzer‘s and BioNTech’s vaccine clinical trial, which included remote and on-site clinical monitoring, safeguarding data quality and integrity in the evolving pandemic environment. This landmark study involved 153 sites in the US, Europe, South Africa and Latin America to ensure the recruitment of more than 44,000 trial participants over a fourmonth period. “Being part of the vaccine solution, being able to show how we can drive transformation and having so many employees being part of it, has been a really proud moment for us.”

MAJOR ACQUISITION On 1 July 2021, ICON announced the completion of its acquisition of PRA Health Sciences, the second

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Dr Nuala Murphy, President Global Specialty Solutions at ICON.

BEING PART OF THE VACCINE SOLUTION, BEING ABLE TO SHOW HOW WE CAN DRIVE TRANSFORMATION AND HAVING SO MANY EMPLOYEES BEING PART OF IT, HAS BEEN A REALLY PROUD MOMENT FOR US. biggest acquisition by an Irish company in 2021. The acquisition has more than doubled the number of employees and created the world’s most advanced clinical research organization driven by healthcare intelligence. “From the business side, the acquisition of PRA Health Sciences has been a phenomenal story for ICON and a phenomenal story for Ireland, representing the largest healthcare acquisition in Irish history and we’re certainly proud of that,” she states. “I’ve been in this industry for many years now and being able to be part of cutting edge, clinical research is a reason to wake up in the morning. It’s a team eﬀort and I’m certainly proud about what our teams have been able to do, and to see this recognised independently from an organisation like Chambers Ireland is important, so I can only thank you from the bottom of my heart for that.”

05/04/2022 17:19

VIRGIN MEDIA BUSINESS BUSINESS BROADBAND PROVIDER

Leading the Way in Business Connectivity and Online Security Emer Kelly, Head of Sales and Marketing, Virgin Media Business, on investing in Ireland’s digital future, and helping companies adapt to a new way of hybrid working whilst keeping data secure. Since the start of the pandemic and throughout 2021, Virgin Media Business has needed to be adaptive to be able to tackle the challenges faced by our customers to ensure they could continue to not only function, but flourish. I’m honoured to receive this award on behalf of the incredibly hard working team here in Virgin Media Business and this recognition reinforces how all of our efforts over the last year really are making a difference for Irish business in how they operate and stay competitive.

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NETWORK UPGRADE Our recent €200 million investment announcement to upgrade our entire network to fibre showcases how, even through challenging times, we are committed to innovating and investing in Ireland’s long-term digital future and we’re working harder than ever to offer the very best connectivity for businesses, both small and large, right across the country. Virgin Media’s broadband network already provides Ireland’s fastest broadband, offering 1 Gigabit speeds. This new €200m investment will bolster Virgin Media’s long-term network strategy, providing business customers with far greater speeds

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

05/04/2022 17:25

VIRGIN MEDIA BUSINESS BUSINESS BROADBAND PROVIDER

and choice, fuel future Irish connectivity needs and underpin digital innovation for consumers, businesses, and communities nationwide.

SECURE DATA In 2021 we also launched our software-defined networking in a wide area network (SD-WAN) offering, a brand new nextgeneration networking service. Our cloud-based SD-WAN solution is helping companies adapt to a new way of hybrid working whilst keeping data secure and enabling enterprises to optimise their data to gain a competitive advantage. The SD-WAN approach uses cloud-native software to connect enterprise networks (including across different sites and data centres) with more open and flexible hardware, with no need to buy additional services and bandwidth to access cloud-based applications. Large organisations can also access cloud data, applications and software-as-a-service (SaaS)-based offerings from multiple branch sites. We’ve partnered with Versa Networks, one of the leaders in the industry, to provide a fully managed package covering both the software and the network elements of SD-WAN. Our SDWAN includes tailored next-gen security as standard, including traffic encryption, an integrated firewall and a central management platform.

Emer Kelly, Head of Sales and Marketing, Virgin Media Business.

OUR CLOUDBASED SDWAN SOLUTION IS HELPING COMPANIES ADAPT TO A NEW WAY OF HYBRID WORKING WHILST KEEPING DATA SECURE AND ENABLING ENTERPRISES TO OPTIMISE THEIR DATA TO GAIN A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

ACROSS SITES Businesses also need to react quickly to different levels of demand across different sites and locations. With our SD-WAN solution, sites can be connected using a central platform and portal that employees manage remotely. It’s increasingly more important that staff can use the technology and be productive from day one on a new site. Our state-of-the-art technology provides better visibility of products and people across

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diﬀerent locations to help with deployment decision making. For Customers that sign up to our SD-WAN solution, we’re able to oﬀer a fully managed package that delivers the best in software and network support. You’ll also get 30 years’ of network experience and superfast connectivity, ensuring your business is in the best possible position for its digital transformation, all on our fast, reliable and secure network.

05/04/2022 17:25

It’s time to clear the air.

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05/04/2022 03/02/2022 17:26 11:28 02/02/2022 12:59

BORD NA MÓNA WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Bord na Móna: Ireland’s Climate Solutions company Bord na Móna is supporting Climate Action and expanding Ireland’s renewable energy infrastructure, as well as helping with transitioning to a circular economy. The year 2021 saw some major milestones for Bord na Móna as it largely completed its transformation into Ireland’s Climate Solutions company. The Climate Action Plan has committed Ireland to the generation of 80 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. In support of this ambition, Bord na Móna has pledged to expand Ireland’s renewable energy infrastructure. Its pipeline of renewable energy projects spans a broad spectrum including onshore wind, onshore solar, battery technology, biogas and is entering the embryonic space of green hydrogen production. This pipeline means that the company is on track to supply renewable energy to one-third of Irish homes by 2030, particularly via the installation of wind turbines on cutaway bogs.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY Bord na Móna Recycling is the company’s waste management business and collects over 450,000 tonnes of waste from a customer base exceeding 135,500 people and organisations. It is also helping to guide Ireland towards a new circular economy; Bord na Móna’s waste innovation is aimed at contributing to a reduction in the national carbon footprint and supporting waste policy. The company already has plastics and tyre recycling activities and will be broadening those over the next decade. Moving beyond waste management, Bord na Móna is focused on helping Ireland transition to a circular economy. This entails rethinking waste solutions for climate action, repurposing waste into commodities, reducing what is exported overseas, and minimising what is sent to landﬁll.

BOOSTING BIODIVERSITY The company also has a renewed focus on rehabilitating peatlands, using the power of these lands to help the climate. Already, almost 19,800 hectares of bog have

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been rehabilitated with an ambition in the company’s current Peatland Climate Action Scheme to rehabilitate over 30,000 hectares significantly boosting key biodiversity and other environmental metrics across Ireland. Bord na Móna’s overarching ambition is to be a leading and commercially successful climate solutions company. In this decade the company aims to be a source of high-quality jobs and an international exemplar of a business that completely transforms itself and assumes a leadership role in delivering climate solutions. Emerging from the 2020/2021 financial year with a return to profitability for the first time in about six years, Bord na Móna anticipates a strong performance in 2021/2022. The story of Bord na Móna is a very positive one. From a business perspective, the company is playing to megatrends such as the green agenda, which is potentially very commercially successful. Ultimately, Bord na Móna profitability is recycled back into employment, the environment and government via dividends and tax. If Bord na Móna is successful, then it is a success story for Ireland Inc, communities and the natural environment as well.

BORD NA MÓNA’S WASTE INNOVATION IS AIMED AT CONTRIBUTING TO A REDUCTION IN THE NATIONAL CARBON FOOTPRINT AND SUPPORTING WASTE POLICY INDUSTRY.

David McCourt, Chairman of Tom Donnellan, National Broadband CEO, Bord na Móna.Ireland.

05/04/2022 17:27

TRANSFORMING YOUR BUSINESS Hays is the leading global specialist recruitment group, and the market leader in Ireland. We are the experts in recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people across a wide range of specialised industries and professions. We operate across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. At Hays, we believe the right job can transform a person’s life and the right person can transform a business. We’re passionate about connecting our candidates with the right job for them. With offices in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway we are perfectly placed to solve all your recruitment needs.

For more information visit hays.ie

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HAYS IRELAND

Arlene Sheridan, Senior Client Engagement Manager at Hays on their award-winning approach to recruitment What does it mean to be named Best Executive Recruitment Company at the InBusiness Recognition Awards? We are absolutely delighted! It’s great recognition for the work we do. Our drive is to help our clients with strategic hires that will have a real impact on their business, so to win an award for that is a real bonus. I’m really proud of my team and the work they do to continuously provide the best solutions for our clients and candidates.

What makes Hays stand out? From a business perspective, all of our recruiting experts are specialists in their own area and oﬀer advice and insights, whether that is recruitment trends or salary benchmarks, or more topical areas like Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, to help our clients secure top talent.

EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT

Hays Ireland: Career Experts Can you tell me about the training tools and talent pathways Hays provide to upskill staff? Hays is known globally for our associate training programmes. We also have a Rising Stars Programme where some of our senior recruitment consultants help develop innovative ideas to help drive recruitment practices. We invest very heavily in our training and development and that is ongoing throughout your career or your business’s path.

What is the most important thing companies need to keep in mind when developing a hiring or talent strategy? At present, we are in a candidate-driven market. They may be receiving multiple offers and the power is in their hands. In order to stand out from the competition, employers need to make sure they have a strong benefits package, including flexible or hybrid working practices, and outline what the career path will look like. Our Salary Guide insights show that just under 90% of employees say a company’s purpose is also important when considering a new role, so for an organisation to promote its purpose is vital.

How do you think companies will manage the new hybrid working environment, and how can you help? We’re proud to share our market leading insights with our clients, such as our recently launched annual Salary Guide. We found that 21% of employers said they were going to let their employees decide how often they work from home, but almost two thirds of employees say they would be tempted to move jobs if another company oﬀered more ﬂexibility. Findings like this and our What Workers Want guide enable us to detail what is important from both a candidate and employer perspective.

How do you ensure you match the right people with the right job/company? Our goal is to become lifelong partners with our clients and candidates, so when businesses are recruiting it is not just a once-oﬀ service. We understand from a hire point of view their business, their culture, the reason for their hires. From a candidate point of view, we engage with people early in their career, supporting them with their career choices. That is one of the most important things –understanding the motive for hiring or for looking for a new job.

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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Arlene Sheridan, Senior Client Engagement Manager, Hays Ireland

05/04/2022 17:29

BEST MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN IRELAND 2021

N4 Dual Carriageway Castlebaldwin to Collooney Project Despite two lockdowns due to the Global Covid-19 Pandemic, this €12.5m project was completed on-program. The 14km stretch of Dual Carriageway on the N4 between Castlebaldwin and Collooney required supplying and placing 35,000 cubic metres of Cement Bound Granular Mix Basecourse and 125,000 tons of Bituminous materials, all of which were supplied from our Sligo depot.

Lagan Rosemount Business Park Ballycoolin Road Dublin, D11 K2TP.

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Get In Touch Phone: +353 1 8859900 Email: info.lagan@breedongroup.com @breedonireland

05/04/2022 07/02/2022 17:30 12:01

LAGAN BREEDON GROUP

Operating steadily in a mature industry, Lagan is focusing on acquisitions and key areas such as health and safety and sustainability says Terry Lagan, Managing Director. Part of the Breedon Group, Lagan is Breedon’s construction materials and contracting business in the Republic of Ireland. Operating throughout Ireland, Lagan quarries produce crushed rock, sand and gravels for a variety of uses in the roads and general construction industry, and other products range from roof tiles to agricultural lime. The Original Lagan Group Business was set up in 1989, which originally comprised an asphalt production and contracting division along with a bitumen emulsion production plant. The business developed from there to cover the entire island, with operations from Cork to Donegal and Galway to Dublin, becoming the largest independent producer of construction materials in the Republic of Ireland. Following the acquisition of the Lagan Group in 2018 Terry Lagan joined Breedon Group as Managing Director of Lagan. He outlines just some of the high proﬁle projects that Lagan has been involved with over the last year, including: “The Cork City Airport overlay, the completion of the N4 dual carriageway in Sligo for Roadbridge, the Dunkettle interchange project in Cork for Sisk where we are the main supplier for aggregates, Readymix Concrete and the Asphalt pavement contract.” The quality and high standards which these clients demand were instrumental in Lagan achieving this Award, along with the business results and increased focus on health and safety, and sustainability.

The pandemic hasn’t had any major ramiﬁcations in the way the company does business, Lagan muses: “Working from home, virtual meetings…outside of that our strategy remains the same.” Despite some challenging times for construction overall, Terry Lagan says, “2021 was a very good year overall; the trend has been improving year on year and 2021 exceeded our expectations.” Overall he says: “The industry sector is at a level of maturity now with most focus on maintenance rather than new projects.” He predicts: “Health and safety as well as innovation, and sustainability have been and will continue to be the key trends going forward.”

MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN IRELAND

Lagan: Exceeding Expectations

LOOKING FORWARD Looking forward to 2022, he reveals the Breedon Group’s continued focus on potential acquisitions to grow the Breedon business in Ireland. Speaking about the Chambers Ireland Recognition Award, Lagan says: “It’s a reﬂection of all the hard work that the whole team have put in through the years, but particularly in these last two years with the added complication of COVID-19.” He cites many qualities of the business which he sees as instrumental in earning them this Award: “Focus on Research & Development with particular focus on innovation; quality control; substantial investment in plant and equipment; training and environmental standards,” but he underlines that, “Our number one focus is on Health & Safety at all times. Sustainability is also a key factor within the business going forward.”

HEALTH AND SAFETY AS WELL AS INNOVATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE KEY TRENDS GOING FORWARD. EXCEED EXPECTATIONS The challenges they faced were similar to many others, with Lagan citing COVID-19 issues including the lockdown in January and February which severely impacted the construction sector, as well as the challenges of staﬀ shortages when employees were forced to self-isolate.

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Terry Lagan, Managing Director, Lagan, part of the Breedon Group.

05/04/2022 17:31

SCIENCE FOUNDATION IRELAND BEST IN ACADEMIA COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRY

Science for the Economy Research and Innovation are key enablers for the productivity, competitiveness and resilience of enterprises, says Dr Siobhan Roche, Director of Science for the Economy at Science Foundation Ireland. Established in 2003, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is the national science foundation for investment in scientiﬁc and engineering research, funding research in universities and other academic institutions in Ireland. “One of our core ambitions, which is set out in our strategy ‘Shaping our Future’, is to develop Ireland as a competitive, innovative country—to become a global innovation leader,” says Dr Siobhan Roche, Director of Science for the Economy at Science Foundation Ireland.

INDUSTRY BENEFITS SFI seeks to foster academic-industry interactions by building strategic partnerships with industry to perform cutting-edge, industry-informed STEM research, enhancing Ireland’s competitive advantage and helping to build resilience. “The scientiﬁc advances resulting from SFIsupported research lead to new products, innovations and services, new companies, spin outs and high-value jobs,” says Dr Roche. “SFI helps Ireland compete on a global scale by building our nation’s reputation in research, and supporting highly-trained postgraduates as they move from academia into industry.” There are many beneﬁts to industry when partnering with academia, from connecting into world-class expertise and research to progress projects, gaining access to specialised facilities and testbeds, and of course access to talent—many highly skilled graduates move on to work with partner companies. In 2020, SFI-supported researchers were involved in nearly 1500 collaborations with industry, involving companies both large and small and collaborations extending across the country, from Donegal to Kerry.

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME The SFI Industry RD&I Fellowship supports academic researchers that wish to spend time in industry worldwide through the temporary placement of highly skilled academic researchers with an industry partner. Industry partners beneﬁt from the expertise of the Fellow embedded in

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Dr Siobhan Roche, Director of Science for the Economy, Science Foundation Ireland.

their company bringing innovative solutions to industry challenges, providing support to enhance competitive advantage and future resilience, as well as developing links with academia to seed future longer-term collaborations. “The programme provides a particularly strong platform for companies, such as SMEs, to build their research and innovation capabilities through collaborating with academic experts.” underlines Dr Roche. “When you consider some of the challenges that companies are facing right now in terms of sustainability and digital transformation, it is notable that nearly half of the awards granted in 2021 were focused on these areas.”

SFI HELPS IRELAND COMPETE ON A GLOBAL SCALE BY BUILDING OUR NATION’S REPUTATION IN RESEARCH, AND SUPPORTING HIGHLYTRAINED POSTGRADUATES AS THEY MOVE FROM ACADEMIA INTO INDUSTRY. A new call for applications opens in Q1 2022, and, eager to increase the number of SMEs engaging in the programme, SFI staﬀ are available to support companies in collaborating with academic experts through this mechanism. “We’ve put a lot of focus over the last 10 years or so, working in partnership with the higher education sector, to build this really strong and robust, collaborative research ecosystem in Ireland,” Dr Roche notes. “I think this is one of the real strengths in Ireland—we can do this because we’re a small and highly connected country.” See www.sﬁ.ie/funding/industry-collaboration/ for more.

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

05/04/2022 17:32

SFI advert

A4 HR.pdf

21/12/2021

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CMY

Connecting industry and individuals with science and innovation in Ireland

To find out about our funding programme visit www.sfi.ie

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05/04/2022 10/02/2022 17:33 09:40

MICROFINANCE IRELAND BEST FINANCE PROVIDER TO MICRO BUSINESS & START UPS

Microfinance Ireland Wins InBusiness Recognition Award for Second Consecutive Year MFI continues to service the financing needs of small businesses Microfinance Ireland (MFI) is the Government funded lender to businesses that have difficulty securing funding from commercial banks. We provide unsecured loans of up to €25,000 to businesses that have fewer than ten employees and turnover of up to €2m. The disruption in the economy in both 2020 and 2021 led to a significant increase in demand for our loans. This was due to MFI being the first lender to launch a specific COVID loan, and due to our higher risk appetite than commercial lenders. Our ability to react quickly was underpinned by the significant support provided to us by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, who are our key stakeholder. MFI have recently received the InBusiness Recognition Award for Finance Provider to Micro Business & Start Ups 2021. This is the second consecutive year that MFI have received the award and the third time in the past four years. Des McCarthy, MFI’s CEO, commented: “We are delighted to have received this award, which is recognition of the significant efforts of our staff to continue to service the financing needs of small businesses over the last few years, no matter what challenges were put in their path. We aim to continue our journey of supporting small business using our new funding line from the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), which gives us the ability to finance small and micro businesses that need finance to start and grow their businesses.” A key 2021 milestone for MFI was securing a new €30m liquidity facility from SBCI. This SBCI facility has allowed MFI to reduce the interest rates on all new loans to 5.5% (4.5% if submitted through the Local Enterprise Offices network) and gives MFI the capacity to significantly increase its lending in 2022. One of the interesting trends in 2021 was the number of new businesses that were started. This was reflected in the demand for our loans for start ups, and is a real sign

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of business confidence given that much of the economy was subject to restrictions during that time. Many of these customers were referred to us through the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) who are a key MFI partner, assisting businesses in preparing loan submissions and also delivering the free mentoring sessions we provide to our customers which helps drive their success. With very strong economic growth projected for 2022, our expectation is that many more small businesses will be coming to us for loans to start up or expand, and our new lower cost SBCI liquidity will enable us to service those needs. In addition to the regular business needs, we also hope to assist small businesses who meet our criteria to fund projects in the areas of Sustainability and Digital. These are two key areas for most businesses and are often supported by government grants. We can potentially support businesses undertaking improvements in these areas if there is a gap between the project cost and the grant available that cannot be funded by the business. While we continue into 2022, we do so in the knowledge that we are well funded and have the resources to fulfil our mandate of supporting viable small businesses to drive economic activity and create employment in what promises to be a more stable year for businesses across Ireland.

Des McCarthy, CEO, Microfinance Ireland.

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

05/04/2022 17:34

www.microfinanceireland.ie

We’re financing your future Need help to finance your business? MFI are now offering a lower rate of 5.5% APR on all new loans.

Simon Evans Owner & Inventor Little Big Bikes

Microfinance Ireland benefits from a guarantee funded by the EU under the Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI). MFI also benefits from the support by the EGF Guarantee Instrument, implemented by the European Investment Fund with the financial backing of the member states contributing to the EGF. Microfinance Ireland (MFI) has been supported with funding from the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI)

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05/04/2022 17:36

LLOYDSPHARMACY RETAIL EXCELLENCE

Continuously Enhancing Customer Experience Dervila McGarry, Head of Marketing at LloydsPharmacy, on continuously working to enhance customer service and making a difference to their customers in Irish communities.

OUR PHARMACY TEAM’S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO PROVIDE EXPERT PATIENT CARE. THIS IS WHAT SETS OUR PHARMACIES APART AND WHY PATIENTS REMAIN LOYAL.

At LloydsPharmacy we are continuously working to enhance our customers’ shopping experience,” says Dervila McGarry, Head of Marketing at LloydsPharmacy. LloydsPharmacy is Ireland’s leading pharmacy chain, with 91 pharmacies located across Ireland. With a strong presence in Irish communities, its focus is on oﬀering patients and their families an extensive range of medications, products and advice for their health and wellbeing needs, as well as a free ‘click and collect’ service.

EXPERT CARE “Our pharmacy team’s number one priority is to provide expert patient care. This is what sets our pharmacies apart and why patients remain loyal. With extensive training each year, our pharmacy teams can offer advice on many health matters including pain management, vitamins, skincare and chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol and blood pressure. The teams are accessible either by phone or face-to-face in the privacy of our care rooms, to listen and offer support when it is most required.” Throughout the pandemic, the pharmacy colleagues have demonstrated their unwavering commitment and dedication, managing to keep their pharmacies open throughout to serve their customers. With new protocols in place including PPE, social distancing and Perspex screens, they always made patients feel safe and supported, ensuring their needs were met whilst delivering an excellent customer service. “Some additional changes include our free click and collect service online so customers can pick up their online orders from their local pharmacy. We have two online doctor services – Lloyds Online Doctor and My Clinic. They provide high quality, convenient and affordable healthcare for all non-emergency medical issues where a face-to-face visit may not be required.”

ENHANCED EXPERIENCE LloydsPharmacy outlets oﬀer a range of services and wellness clinics including ﬂu vaccination, medicine

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Pharmacy assistants are trained to advise customers with product knowledge as well as lifestyle advice.

management packs, blood pressure checks, BMI monitoring, emergency contraception, skin analysis, express prescription service, and smoking cessation. One-to-one private consultations are available with pharmacists, or with the highly trained health coaches or skin consultants. COVID-19 boosters and antigen tests are available in select stores. “Whilst many people go to pharmacy for a prescription or over-the-counter medication, LloydsPharmacy stands out in the market for the extensive range of products in three focus categories, which together account for around 55% of total retail sales: Pain management, Vitamins and Skincare. We have trained Pain Advisors, Health Coaches and Skin Advisors in all pharmacies, and colleagues are trained on product knowledge as well as lifestyle advice to support customers select the right product tailored to suit their needs,” says McGarry. “Early 2022 will see LloydsPharmacy enhancing our omni channel oﬀering to ensure our patients have access to a more convenient experience, including the launch of our app and an online prescription upload service. We are continuously working to enhance our customers’ shopping experience with many pharmacies open late and at weekends, and a growing range of products available in-store and online.”

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

05/04/2022 17:37

Ireland’s Leading Pharmacy Chain

+ Late night opening + Monthly prescription reminders + Click and collect service

+ Blood pressure and BMI monitoring + Emergency contraception + Flu & COVID vaccinations

+ Private consultation rooms

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05/04/2022 20/12/2021 17:38 11:40

ZURICH BEST IN PENSIONS & LIFE ASSURANCE

An Active Approach to Investment Management An active approach to investment management has kept Zurich at the top of their game, with business resilient in challenging times, says Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions. Zurich has a long tradition in the Life and Pensions market in Ireland, spanning 40 years and over that period we have grown our new business market share significantly to be become number 2 in the market. We are also a market leader in the provision of Group Retirement and Protection benefits for employees working for many of Ireland’s largest employers. At Zurich we provide retirement savings across the whole spectrum of workers with a range of fund options with different characteristics depending on whether people want a secure investment or an investment with more risk attached.

CHANGING DEMANDS In addition to our award-winning investment management track record, we continue to review our product offering to meet the changing demands of our customers. We are focused on continuously improving our communication and using technology creatively to build trust and highlight the importance of thinking longterm when it comes to saving for retirement. We have also continued to bring new products to the market, including the Zurich Master Trust. A Master Trust is in effect, one large scheme established under trust, to which any employer can be affiliated. Zurich Trustee Services Limited, with years of experience as a trustee, will act as trustee to the Zurich Master Trust. This will allow existing and new employer-sponsored pensions schemes comply with regulatory requirements, while giving employees access to Zurich’s superior investment performance, delivered consistently over many years.

investment management strategies to a more actively managed approach. Unlike many of our competitors who adopt a passive approach to investment management under the mantra of lower costs, we have moved quickly to reposition a number of our investment options by selling out of certain asset classes or individual stocks and buying in to others, to deliver added value to our customers’ retirement accounts.

DRIVING VALUE Our key focus is about driving value for our customers. We believe the best way that we can drive value is through the out-performance of our investment funds. In particular for our Pension customers, higher investment returns have a huge impact on their ﬁnal pension pot at retirement. The combination of the increasing cost of the State Pension in Ireland and only one-third of private sector workers contributing to a private or company sponsored pension scheme is building up challenges for future generations who will be forced to defer retirement or accept a lower income in retirement. We cannot aﬀord to lose time in addressing this future challenge. Our innovative investment solutions and employee engagement tools are designed to bring pension schemes to life and help employees look forward to a great retirement.

ACTIVE APPROACH Despite the challenges over the year, our business has proved very resilient. Our active approach to investment management has delivered signiﬁcant added value to our customers and we have also seen interest from companies and individuals looking to move away from passive

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Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Zurich Life Assurance.

WE ARE FOCUSED ON CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING OUR COMMUNICATION AND USING TECHNOLOGY CREATIVELY TO BUILD TRUST AND HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF THINKING LONG TERM WHEN IT COMES TO SAVING FOR RETIREMENT.

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

05/04/2022 17:39

At Zurich we believe small actions can have great impact. When it comes to pensions, Zurich has one of the best managed fund returns in Ireland over the last twenty years.* One reason why Zurich is a great choice for your employees’ retirement savings. Take a small action for your employees’ future and talk to us today about a Zurich Company Pension Plan. Call Mark Bowers on 01 209 2299 or visit Zurich.ie/corporate.

Warning: The value of your investment may go down as well as up. Warning: Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance. Warning: If you invest in this product you may lose some or all of the money you invest. Warning: Benefits may be affected by changes in currency exchange rates. *7% annualised returns for the Zurich Performance Fund over the past 20 years from 30/11/2001 to 30/11/2021. Source: Rubicon Investment Consulting Limited.

Zurich Life Assurance plc is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. 6554_Chambers_A4 Advert_ZL PA 6544 1221.indd 1 1C_Zurich_CI Yearbook 2022_ND_V1.indd 1 251495_1C_Zurich _Chambers_Recognition Awards Brochure22_ND_V1.indd 1

17/12/2021 17:39 14:59 05/04/2022 20/12/2021 11:24

BORD GÁIS ENERGY ENERGY PROVIDER TO BUSINESS

Managing Energy Usage Sustainably Colin Bebbington, Director of Energy, Marketing & Data, Bord Gáis Energy, on helping customers manage their energy usage sustainably, simply and affordably. We’re delighted to be recognised by Chambers Ireland as Best Energy Provider to Business 2021. The entire team at Bord Gáis Energy is committed to supporting our customers and adapting to their needs and this recognition is testament to their hard work—2021 was challenging for everyone as we navigated a year of on/oﬀ COVID-19 restrictions. It was also a year of unprecedented price volatility amidst threats to energy security of supply. As a business we remained committed to supporting our customers however we could. There was also much focus on Ireland’s low carbon future and Bord Gáis Energy supports the ambitious targets of the Government’s Climate Action Plan. It’s a challenging yet exciting time for the industry as we explore how best to support the transition. As a company committed to net zero, our strategic focus is to help customers to manage their energy use sustainably, simply, and aﬀordably. We’re building out our product mix to become a one-stop shop for energy use, energy management, product advice and product sourcing to make homes and businesses more sustainable.

WE’RE BUILDING OUT OUR PRODUCT MIX TO BECOME A ONESTOP SHOP FOR ENERGY USE, ENERGY MANAGEMENT, PRODUCT ADVICE AND PRODUCT SOURCING TO MAKE HOMES AND BUSINESSES MORE SUSTAINABLE.

create a new revenue stream. Additionally, our partnership with Energlaze is helping to make deep retrofit of homes and businesses more sustainable, affordable, and accessible. We also launched a range of innovative and flexible plans for our business customers with smart meters to help improve energy efficiency and reduce businesses carbon footprint.

INDUSTRY TRENDS We’re proud to support Ireland’s SMEs in running and growing their businesses and in 2021 launched a series of free ‘Imagine a Better Way for your Business’ events for SMEs, which oﬀered free practical marketing advice and supports. We’re seeing more businesses adopt Demand Side Management technology, which enables them to monitor and manage energy usage in real time, as well as tools like our energy insight solution which uses sensor technology to show what energy is being used and where. This enables businesses to make decisions on how to optimise their energy usage. We also oﬀer an industry leading product and service, FlexPond, which facilitates customers to earn revenue from participating in the Demand Side Response scheme. We’re seeing radical changes in the way people consume energy and will have to consume energy if we are to meet our low carbon targets. As a major energy supplier, we have a key role in helping our customers understand what is required and what changes they need to make to achieve this; in essence, helping them use less energy.

THINK DIFFERENTLY In summer 2021, we launched a new brand positioning ‘Imagine a Better Way’, which challenges us to think diﬀerently and really imagine a better way of meeting our customers’ needs in terms of products, services, our Rewards Club and through our partnerships and sponsorships. We signiﬁcantly boosted our renewable energy portfolio in 2021 with the announcement of solar and wind power purchase agreements (PPAs) and we also developed our longterm partnership with the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) to help farmers access solar energy generation to reduce costs of input, reduce their carbon footprint and potentially

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Colin Bebbington, Director of Energy, Marketing & Data, Bord Gáis Energy.

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

05/04/2022 17:41

Powering today, protecting tomorrow Transforming our energy supply, solutions and services to enable a lower carbon future.

To find out more visit: www.bordgaisenergy.ie/sustainability

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05/04/2022 03/02/2022 12:32 13/01/2022 17:41 15:36

LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICES AGENCY SUPPORT TO START UP’S & SME

The First Stop for any Fledgling Business Padraic McElwee, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprises, says they are proud to help set new entrepreneurs on the pathway to success. For many of Ireland’s fledgling businesses the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) will be the first step they take on their entrepreneurial journey. As the businesses grow, the LEO, located in the Local Authority, sets them on a pathway which leads all the way to Enterprise Ireland, who will support them to enter greater global markets, with all of this underpinned by funding from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. “This ‘pathway to success’ ensures Ireland continues to develop many successful global businesses and the Local Enterprise Offices take pride in being the facilitator of those early first steps,” says Padraic McElwee, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprises.

NEW BUSINESSES Over the course of the pandemic, there has been a shift in people’s values and attitudes, and many people are ready for the challenge of striking out on their own. “We are seeing people viewing work differently, placing a higher value on what they do, how they do it and where they do it, so if a business does not fit an employee’s new views, they are looking to leave and maybe start a business of their own that suits them,” says McElwee. “We already have experienced significant increased participation in our ‘Start Your Own Business’ programmes in 2021 which are now leading to new applications for feasibility and priming grants for early stage businesses. “The landscape is definitely in flux but there are still exciting things happening and we will see some great new companies popping up in 2022.”

OUR STRATEGY HASN’T CHANGED, BUT OUR WAY OF HELPING CLIENTS HAS. WE REMAIN THE FIRST STOP FOR ANY SMALL BUSINESSES LOOKING TO START OR GROW BUT WE HAVE HAD TO ADAPT.” 82

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ADAPTING APPROACH While the LEOs strategy hasn’t changed, McElwee says the way of helping clients has evolved greatly. “We remain the ﬁrst stop for any small businesses looking to start or grow but we have had to adapt to our clients needs in how we communicate with them, what types of supports they need and when they need them. “For example the trading online voucher was always one of our main supports, but when the pandemic hit, it became our key support. Many businesses had no intention of going online, but then it became a situation that they needed to, or they would shut their doors. The supports haven’t changed for small businesses, but we’ve had to adapt to how we deal with them and the timeline of what they need. “In 2022 we will focus more on working with small businesses in the digital and online space to maximise that presence and we will continue to foster entrepreneurship for those who have a great idea or may want to start their own business.”

Padraic McElwee, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices.

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

05/04/2022 17:42

STARTING OR GROWING YOUR OWN BUSINESS? THE LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICES SUPPORT THOUSANDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES EVERY YEAR WITH TRAINING, MENTORING, EXPERT ADVICE AND FINANCIAL SUPPORTS TO ENABLE THEM TO START AND GROW. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICE OR VISIT LOCALENTERPRISE.IE #MAKINGITHAPPEN

Grow Start Pre-Start In partnership with

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05/04/2022 06/01/2022 17:43 10:55

SOLAS BODY FOR FURTHER EDUCATION AND APPRENTICESHIPS

Solas: Education and Training Igniting Growth In an exciting and innovative time for education, SOLAS has had a milestone year according to CEO Andrew Brownlee. “This is an exciting time for everyone working and participating in Further Education & Training, and SOLAS is at the heart of what is a dynamic and exciting sector: 2021 marked the first full year of implementation of Transforming Learning, the ambitious Future FET Strategy that was published in 2020 and—despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting public health restrictions—it was a significant and successful year right across the sector,” says Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority. It was also a milestone year with links to Further Education and Training (FET) and apprenticeships being featured through the CAO platform for the first time; meaning school leavers can explore apprenticeship and PLC opportunities through the CAO platform. The last year also saw the launch of the 10 year Adult Literacy for Life Strategy; increased Nearly Zero Energy Building and retrofit places; Green Skills modules on FET programmes; and the continued success of vital projects such as Mitigating Against Educational Disadvantage Fund, eCollege, Skills to Advance and the work of our Skills & Labour Market Research Unit.

Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS

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WITHIN THE SECTOR WE ARE ALL PULLING TOWARDS STRATEGIC SHARED GOALS THAT WILL SHAPE HOW IRELAND LOOKS IN DECADES TO COME, FOR THE BETTER.

APPRENTICE SUCCESS Over the course of the last year SOLAS along with apprenticeship partners has seen great success with Apprenticeship in terms of registrations and the setting up of the National Apprenticeship Oﬃce. “Registrations for Apprenticeships have recovered to levels last seen before the recession,” Brownlee notes, “which is a signiﬁcant achievement and on track for targets set for 2025.” Apprenticeship closed 2021 on a positive note, with over 8,100 apprentice registrations this year across 62 programmes and 23,400+ apprentices employed by over 8,250+ active apprenticeship employers. “Implementation of the national Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is well underway. Excellent progress has been made on the deliverables set out in the Action Plan and 2022 will bring new and exciting opportunities including the further development and launch of programmes such as Advanced Cybersecurity Practitioner, Wind Turbine Technician, Manufacturing Data Integration Engineer, Advanced Quantity Surveyor, Software Solutions Architect, and Transport Operations and Commercial Driving.”

FUTURE EDUCATION The disruption posed to in-person teaching as a result of the COVID-19 public health restrictions was a significant challenge across the board, but particularly for workshopbased apprenticeships that could not be transferred to online learning. Despite this, progress is being made on tackling apprenticeship training backlogs created by the pandemic, with this set to be cleared by 2022. Challenges posed by COVID-19 were admirably met by SOLAS, the ETBs and education providers across the country, with blended learning and digital solutions coming to the fore to support learners. However, a major challenge will now be reaching more disadvantaged learners and re-engaging these cohorts with what FET has to offer as the pandemic restrictions hopefully continue to ease into 2022. “Over the coming years, FET will play an important part in igniting growth across society in areas of key priorities for the economy and society, such as climate action, housing and skills,” says Brownlee. “Within SOLAS as well as across the broader Further Education landscape, there is an awareness of how we fit into important national priorities, and that within the sector we are all pulling towards strategic shared goals that will shape how Ireland looks in decades to come, for the better.”

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

05/04/2022 17:43

GENERATION APPRENTICESHIP

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05/04/2022 08/02/2022 17:44 10:11

When a child loses their home, they lose their entire world. There are almost 4,000 children homeless in Ireland. Donate now.

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04/02/2020 05/04/2022 16:09 17:21

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Town and Village Renewal Scheme revitalises towns and villages across Ireland, Sligo heritage buildings get upgrade, and Leitrim sees funding for Manorhamilton Space.

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Cork leads €53m Public Lighting Project; Limerick welcomes Mid-West Regional Enterprise Plan and €180m fund; and plans get underway for N/M20 Cork to Limerick.

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Trees and Connected Hubs planted across Fingal; Dublin Lord Mayor signs partnership with Belfast, Liverpool and Manchester Mayors; and women’s caucus launches in Meath.

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Donegal travel infrastructure and Repowering Buncrana get funding; Belfast women’s centre construction begins; and councils join forces to celebrate the Best of the North West.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh

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€25.5M

funding for Active Travel in Fingal The Department of Transport announced €25.5m in funding granted to 44 Active Travel projects across Fingal. Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan confirmed that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has allocated these funds as part of a national annual spend of €289m on walking and cycling infrastructure in 2022.

Artist Uisce and Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh at the launch of the Women of Fingal Tapestry in Rush Library. Created by artist Agnieszka “Uisce” Jakubczyk, the tapestry captures aspects of Fingal’s women throughout the ages, from finds uncovered on the Drumanagh excavations to revolutionary women. The project was funded by Creative Ireland and overseen by Christine Baker, Fingal County Council Heritage Officer.

[ COUNTY MEATH ]

Meath Women’s Caucus launched

he Meath Women’s Caucus, launched by Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council Cllr Sean Drew in the Solstice Arts Centre, has been established to promote women in politics and enhance female participation in local government, with the objective to further gender equality among elected members of the council and in society. Women continue to be underrepresented in local government. Nationally, 226 women took seats in the local elections in 2019, making up 24% of all councillors across the country. In Meath, 28 women, out of a total of 78 candidates, ran in these elections; 14 were successful, meaning just 35% of the current elected members on Meath County Council are women. The mission of the caucus is to bring together women and gender minority councillors from all parties; to advance networking opportunities and supports; and promote the visibility of women’s leadership in the council and local community. It will also work to encourage and support other women in the community to seek leadership roles and produce consensus-based motions and policies to Meath County Council to improve issues faced by women councillors and women constituents.

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Cathaoirleach Cllr Sean Drew, Minister Helen McEntee and Meath Women’s Caucus Members

“The establishment of the Meath Women’s Caucus is a positive development which will see us working together to encourage women to get involved in local politics,” says Meath Women’s Caucus Chair Cllr Maria Murphy. “We look forward to the opportunity to engage with many women and groups in our communities to highlight the need for more female representation, while working to remove the barriers holding women back from achieving their full potential and creating a space for informal mentoring and sharing of information.”

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NEW CONNECTED HUBS OPEN IN COMMUNITY CENTRES ACROSS FINGAL

ingal County Council opened a number of new Connected Hubs across the county to help the community access facilities to remote work, study or undertake digital skills training. Being able to use high-speed connectivity in easily accessible community locations is a key driver for the council to help improve the options available to people in Fingal and is essential for creating a digitally inclusive society. The Council received €40,000 from the government’s Connected Hubs Scheme and has used the funding to enhance and add capacity to remote working infrastructure in existing Community Centre BCPs: Fingal Liam Rodgers, Applewood, Tyrrelstown and Luttrellstown Community Centres. Connected Hubs provides a space for remote workers, students, start-ups and SMEs to study or conduct business. Facilities include meeting rooms, co-working and collaborative spaces and hot desks that can be booked for a day, week or longer-term. Facilities also host online meeting technologies including smart screens and high-speed broadband. “The pandemic has brought many challenges to communities over the past two years, not least the move to a more remote and hybrid working set-up,” says Chief Executive of Fingal AnnMarie Farrelly.

[ COUNTY MEATH ]

Two Meath schools participate in Decade of Centenaries project Award-winning children’s writer Brian Gallagher is working with two Meath primary schools – Boyerstown NS, Navan and St Patrick’s NS, Slane – over a two-month period to increase pupils’ understanding of the revolutionary period in their local areas. The project is an initiative of the Meath County Council Decade of Centenaries Cathaoirleach Cllr Sean Drew with author programme and managed by the Brian Gallagher, Chief Executive Jackie county library service. Gallagher is Maguire, County Librarian Ciaran Mangan, also one of the featured writers in and Executive Librarians Tom French and a new publication, Class Novels: A Dympna Herward. Guide for Primary School Teachers, produced by Meath County Council Library service. The 68-page guide highlights the best of juvenile ﬁction, including many titles which deal with the period 1912-1923. “We’re delighted to be able to offer this new resource to teachers to support them in their very important work in the classroom,” says Cllr Sean Drew, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council. InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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[ COUNTY DUBLIN ]

Dublin Lord Mayor signs partnership with Mayors of Belfast, Liverpool and Manchester

ord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland signed an agreement in Belfast with the Mayors of Belfast, Liverpool City and Greater Manchester establishing a new co-operative partnership that will develop practical approaches to accelerate the delivery of net-zero commitments in each of the four cities and city regions, which have a collective population of over 5 million. “Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge facing our nations and our planet,” says the Lord Mayor. “That is why we have developed ambitious climate agendas to become more equitable, fairer, prosperous and greener cities. Each of us is committed to the protection of our people and our economies and we are firmly of the view that working together will give us the best chance of realising the benefits of transitioning to a low carbon economy.” The four partner cities have each committed working north, south, east and west to: share best practices, knowledge and experience; connect organisations and facilitating R&D, business and investment collaborations; coordinate joint participation at events (including the Net Zero Summit in June 2022, the Green Summit in October 2022 and Dublin’s Climate Action Week 2022) and host, where appropriate, incoming delegations.

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[ COUNTIES CORK AND LIMERICK ] [ COUNTY LIMERICK ]

Limerick City and County Council welcomes new Mid-West Regional Enterprise Plan, alongside €180m national fund The Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Daniel Butler has welcomed the launch of the new Mid-West Regional Enterprise Plan, along with a national fund of up to 180m to support projects aimed at boosting regional enterprise development. The plan has been developed by a Regional Steering Committee, chaired in the Mid-West by Professor Eamonn Murphy and including the Enterprise Agencies, Local Enterprise Ofﬁces, the Local Authorities, Regional Assembly, higher and further education bodies and local industry leaders among others. The new Mid-West plan outlines a number of actions and strategic objectives for delivery between now and 2024. The ﬁve strategic objectives are: digitalisation and innovation; sustainability; enterprise in regional towns/ rural areas; supporting SMEs, start-ups and microbusiness; social enterprise and tackling areas of high unemployment. The new Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) will have up to 180m in funding nationally, to support the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative projects that can enable and sustain enterprise and employment growth in the regions.

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Details of preferred transport solution for N/M20 Cork to Limerick project published

multi-modal transport project, which includes active travel infrastructure for walking and cycling, improvements to public transport, new and improved safe road infrastructure and environmental integration for communities along the N20 transport corridor between Cork and Limerick, is now proposed. Eighty kilometres of new and improved dual carriageway road between Cork City and Patrickswell, Limerick will address the existing road’s safety deﬁciencies, which contribute to a fatal collision rate four times the national average. The road design, including cross section, road type (Protected Road or Motorway), junction strategy and accommodation works will be developed during the next phase of the project, within the 500m-wide preferred roadbased option. The project will deliver 80 kilometres of transformative active travel (walking and cycle) infrastructure, connecting together the communities of Cork, Blarney, Grenagh, Rathduff, Mallow, New Twopothouse, Buttevant, Charleville, Bruree, Banogue, Croom, Patrickswell and Limerick. “[This] is an important step forward in progressing a range of transportation solutions connecting Limerick and Cork as identiﬁed in the government’s National Development Plan 2021-2030, that will incorporate public transport and active travel infrastructure for walking and cycling from its inception, as well as to the upgrading of national road infrastructure which will deliver needed safety improvements for all users,” says Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan officially opened a new plaza in Watergrasshill, Co Cork. Funded by Cork County Council and the National Transport Authority, the new plaza is a joint project between the Council and Watergrasshill Community Association who identified the area by means of creating a focal point for community events.

InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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€1.8M fund announced for community and voluntary groups in Cork

Following another challenging year for the community and voluntary sector, Cork County Council announced over €1.8m to support local communities in 2022. The annual Community Fund Scheme is administered locally by the eight Municipal Districts and provides financial assistance to a range of different community, sporting and voluntary organisations under three distinctive fund types: The Capital Fund, Community Contract and Amenity Fund.

€400M

Lilly investment endorses Limerick as biopharma hub Eli Lilly and Company is to invest €400m in a new manufacturing facility in Limerick with the creation of more than 300 jobs for highly skilled workers such as engineers, scientists and operations personnel at its new facility in Raheen. In addition, an estimated 500 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the manufacturing centre.

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funding for Limerick under Town and Village Renewal Scheme Three towns and villages in County Limerick are to benefit after Limerick City and County Council was successful in the latest round of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. Projects in Askeaton, Doon and Patrickswell will share funding of €1m in the scheme which focuses on projects which can help to enhance rural towns and villages, with a particular emphasis on stimulating economic development.

[ COUNTY CORK ]

Cork County Council leads €53m Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project for South West Region

PHOTO: BRIAN LOUGHEED

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Noel Cummins, Contracts Director, Le Cheile Consortium (LCC) Enerveo, Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Gillian Coughlan, and Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey

ayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan has welcomed the contract signing of the Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project for the South West Region (PLEEP-SW) which will see five local authorities invest 53m in upgrading their public lighting. Led by Cork County Council, PLEEP South West will upgrade 77,162 public lights across the region’s local authorities, Cork County Council, Clare County Council, Kerry County Council, Limerick City & County Council and Waterford City & County Council, as well as Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Part of a National Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project, 21 local authorities will collaborate in the upgrading of approximately 220,000 public lights to LED. Once complete, the project is set to reduce CO2 emissions by 22,000 tonnes each year, while saving the local authorities 12m in energy and maintenance costs annually. “Once complete, the South West regional project is predicted to reduce CO2 emissions by 5,000 tonnes each year, while saving the five local authorities 5m in energy and maintenance costs annually and helping to meet energy efficient targets,” says Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan. “The project will also survey and collect data on the condition of the public lighting infrastructure to enable local authorities to plan and invest in the upgrading of public lighting for our communities into the future.”

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[ COUNTY SLIGO ]

Hazelwood House, Hazelwood, Co Sligo

€96k announced for Sligo’s heritage buildings

inister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD announced that 512 heritage projects across every county in the country will beneﬁt from a total of a4m under this year’s Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Of this fund, a96,000 has been allocated to 20 projects in Sligo, ranging from historic shopfronts to larger country houses. Through grants of up to a15,000, the BHIS assists owners of heritage structures – those on the local authorities’ Record of Protected Structures and those in Architectural Conservation Areas – to meet their obligations to care for their properties. The scheme is not limited to private dwellings and also provides assistance to a wide range of other important heritage buildings.

[ COUNTY LEITRIM ]

Funding of €44,100 announced to develop plans for an Outdoor Public & Cultural Exchange Space in Manorhamilton Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD announced over a850,000 in funding to support 19 rural regeneration projects across the country. The investment, under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, aims to breathe new life into rural communities, support remote working, tackle vacancy and dereliction, and enhance town centre living. This strand makes funding of up to a50,000 available to local authorities to assist them to contribute to a pipeline of signiﬁcant, well-developed projects which will subsequently progress to construction stage with the help of more investment in the future. Leitrim County Council announced that a44,100 has been awarded to Manorhamilton. This funding will be utilised to carry out development work for an Outdoor Public & Cultural Exchange Space in Manorhamilton. “Funding such as this helps to develop and improve the public spaces in our towns and villages and thereby bring vibrancy back to these communities and in doing so further strengthens the ability of towns such as Manorhamilton to attract new residents, further investment, and visitors,” says Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council Cllr Paddy O’Rourke.

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[ COUNTY LEITRIM ]

€1.1m announced for Leitrim under Town and Village Scheme

Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Biodiversity and Land Use at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine turned the sod and planted the first tree to mark the development of the 105-acre Cloonamahon Native Woodland Park, Sligo. This site is being 100% funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under its Woodland Creation on Public Land scheme, introduced by Minister Hackett in 2020 to encourage public bodies to use their lands for the creation of public lands. The HSE Cloonamahon complex is a circa 200-acre site owned by the HSE, bordering approximately 15 acres of forest owned by Coillte and 23 acres of land owned by Western Forestry Co-operative. From left: Paul Reid, CEO, HSE; Dermot Monaghan, A/Chief Officer, HSE CHO 1; Edel Quinn, Head of Service, Disability Services CHO 1; Marina Conway, CEO Western Forestry Co-operative; Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Biodiversity and Land Use at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Paul Taylor, Cathaoirleach, Sligo County Council; Deborah Meghan, Director of Stewardship & Risk, Coillte; and Frank Feighan, Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy.

[ COUNTY SLIGO ]

€1.3m announced for Sligo’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme projects

inister Heather Humphreys announced major funding for County Sligo under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. “With an allocation of €1.3m, Sligo has received the largest funding of any Local Authority in the country,” says Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Cllr Paul Taylor. “This is great news for the people of Sligo and is due to the outstanding work of the Council’s project team and the local communities they work alongside. In recent years, we have transformed our county with a number of exceptional walkways, trails and recreation areas, and the funding announced for projects in Aclare, Calry, Kilglass, Ballygawley, Keash and Ballymote will further enhance our range of facilities for the local communities and the visitors to these areas.” Sligo County Council’s Chief Executive Martin Lydon believes the delivery of these projects “confirms our status as a major centre for economic growth. The Council’s elected members, staff and the various project teams are committed to delivering for our county. These projects will be a major addition to our recreational infrastructure and will further improve our tourist offering in this key area.”

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD announced almost a18.5m to benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. The funding is being provided under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme as part of Our Rural Future and places a strong emphasis on projects which tackle vacancy and dereliction by bringing landmark town centre buildings back to life. The Minister announced a total of a1,102,167 for County Leitrim for the following projects: Redevelopment of the derelict Mohill Station House (a500,000) into a multi-purpose facility to be used by community, arts and heritage organisations, Carrickon-Shannon (a238,804), Dromahair (a250,000), Keshcarrigan (a88,245), and Rossinver (a25,118). In welcoming the funding announcement for the approved projects in Leitrim, Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Cllr Paddy O’Rourke said: “This investment of over a1.1m in Town and Village funding for Leitrim will have significant benefits for the county as a whole in supporting the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages.”

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funding for Donegal roads and cycling and walking infrastructure

The Department of Transport confirmed allocations of more than €35m for Donegal for 2022. When added to the Transport Infrastructure Ireland funding of €29.5m confirmed in December and National Transport Authority funding of €5.6m confirmed in January, this equates to a total allocation of approximately €70m for maintenance and upgrades to the county’s roads and cycling and walking infrastructure in 2022.

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin attended a meeting of the North West Regional Development Group in the Guildhall in Derry to hear first-hand the positive impact the fund is having on regional growth across the North West City Region and the need for continued support from his government to maintain the collaborative approach to developing the region on both sides of the border. He was welcomed by An Leas-Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Martin McDermott, the Mayor of Derry and Strabane Alderman Graham Warke, and members of the North West Regional Development Group.

[ COUNTY ANTRIM ]

Multi-million-pound transformation planned for Belfast’s Cathedral Gardens

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An urban forest, a large multi-use events space and a permanent memorial to the Belfast Blitz are just some of the features included in ambitious plans unveiled for the multimillion-pound redevelopment of Cathedral Gardens. Belfast City Council aims to transform the area between St Anne’s Cathedral and Ulster University’s Belfast campus into a unique world-class public space. Building upon the historic Cathedral area, other proposed features in the redevelopment include garden ‘rooms’ located under the canopies of the mature trees in the urban forest, public art, interactive audio-visual water and lighting features, outdoor dining areas and a range of play features for young children. “These are extremely exciting and innovative plans which reflect our aim to create an exceptional urban space for families, students and visitors to enjoy all year round, night and day,” says Cllr Áine Groogan, Chair of Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee. “Alongside Ulster University’s investment in its new campus, the landmark £100m Belfast Stories project which we recently announced and other significant projects already underway in the area, this part of the city centre is undergoing a radical transformation. We hope that Cathedral Gardens will play its part in breathing new life into the area.”

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[ COUNTY DONEGAL ]

Councils join forces to celebrate the Best of the North West

he Best of the North West will be showcased widely as part of an exciting new collaborative tourism campaign launched by Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council, working in partnership with Visit Derry and Donegal Tourism CLG. The £90,000 domestic marketing initiative is aimed at encouraging local people and visitors across the island of Ireland to book a staycation. This campaign is funded through the North West Development Fund, in conjunction with the Executive Office and the Irish government. The campaign is part of the North West Regional Development Programme, which aims to grow the value of the visitor economy. It follows on from the North West Tourism Product Development Programme, which was launched last year, supporting 30 tourism businesses on both sides of the border in developing new collaborative, bespoke products to enhance the region’s tourism offering, which will now feature within the marketing campaign.

€1.46M for Repowering Buncrana Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys announced that €1.17m has been awarded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), supported by €292k match funding committed by Donegal County Council, for the Repowering Buncrana regeneration project, which proposes a suite of interventions that will work to strengthen the shore front and counter the disconnect with Main Street, address vacancy and deliver new employment opportunities in the town centre. InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2022

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Anne Marie Conlon, Head of Economic Development, Donegal County Council; Odhran Dunne, Chief Executive at Visit Derry; Cllr Graham Warke, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council; Cllr Jack Murray, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council; Sarah Nolan, Marketing, Donegal County Council; Aeidin McCarter, Head of Culture with Derry City and Strabane District Council; Garry Martin, Director of Economic Development, Emergency Services and Information Systems, Donegal County Council

[ COUNTY ANTRIM ]

Work commences on €6.5m women’s centre

onstruction started on the new Shankill Shared Women’s Centre to coincide with International Women’s Day 2022. The a6.5m EU-funded centre for women and their families near Lanark Way will be the new home for Shankill Women’s Centre. It will be shared with Clonard Women’s Group, enabling a broad range of services to be delivered jointly to women and families from both communities. “This will be an incredible new asset for the local community when it opens. It will provide education, training, health awareness, childcare and a range of other activities for women and their families in a welcoming, safe and comfortable environment,” says Lord Mayor of Belfast Cllr Kate Nicholl.

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