bISME Volume 1 Issue 2
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AUTUMN 2018
T H E B U S I N E S S O F I R I S H S M Es
Crunch decisions
Alison Cowzer on building a biscuit business and the challenges ahead for SMEs
THERE IS A SOLUTION TO BROADBAND WASTELAND It’s time for action INCLUSIVE RECRUITMENT A Guide from the Employer Disability Information service SAVE MONEY ON ENERGY Five top tips from Pinergy CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR BREXIT Don’t be complacent, time to act now
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Contents
bISME Volume 1 Issue 2
THE
AUTUMN 2018
T H E B U S I N E S S O F I R I S H S M Es
Crunch decisions
Alison Cowzer on building a biscuit business and the challenges ahead for SMEs
THERE IS A SOLUTION TO BROADBAND WASTELAND It’s time for action INCLUSIVE RECRUITMENT A Guide from the Employer Disability Information service
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SAVE MONEY ON ENERGY Five top tips from Pinergy CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR BREXIT Don’t be complacent, time to act now
Volume 1 Issue 2 Autumn 2018
Published by IFP Media Castlecourt, Monkstown Farm, Glenageary, Co. Dublin, A96 T924 Tel: +353 1 709 6900 Email: info@ifpmedia.com Web: www.ifpmedia.com Editor: Bernard Potter Design: Ciarán Brougham Advertising: Bryan Beasley Chief Executive: Rebecca Markey Accounts: Tricia Murtagh Administration: Sue Nolan The bISME is the official publication of ISME. Individual views expressed in the magazine do not necessarily constitute ISME policy. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this publication, the publishers assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Copyright The bISME 2018. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form without the express written permission of ISME.
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A Message from the Chief Executive Neil McDonnell calls for political action on a range of urgent issues affecting the SME sector. The b News The latest news on the SME sector and the wider economy. The Big Interview: Alison Cowzer Co-Founder and Director of biscuit-maker East Coast Bakehouse, Alison Cowzer tells The bISME about how she and her team built the business and identifies the key challenges ahead for SMEs. ISME: At work for you An update on the latest developments in ISME training and lobbying activity. The b Insight: Contingency planning for Brexit Don’t be complacent, think how your business could prepare for Brexit.
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The b Issue: Delivering Broadband ISME proposes a solution that would maximise Ireland’s opportunity to deliver data transmission speeds of at least 1GB/second. Energy Focus: Five Money-saving Tips Colm Foley, Head of Pinergy Smart Business provides some advice on how your business can maximise energy efficiency while minimising costs. Personal Injuries Compensation A guide to the services provided by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) Employer Disability Information: Inclusive Employment Advice on the key principles underlying a successful inclusive recruitment process. Another side of… Adam Coleman, ISME Member, CEO of HRLocker and avid surfer.
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T H E B U S I N E S S O F I R I S H S M Es
17 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Phone : (01) 662 2755 E-mail: info@isme.ie Web: isme.ie
bISME
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A Message from the Chief Executive
Delays on policy initiatives frustrate SME sector We are delighted to be publishing the second issue of The bISME and pleased with the positive response we’ve received for Issue 1. Like everything we do, we want to hear from you so please contact us if you would like to be included in futures issues or, indeed, would like to advertise in the publication.
Neil McDonnell, Chief Executive, ISME SUMMERTIME BLUES
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It’s summertime and the politicians have headed for the hills. We won’t see them back until September. It has been a frustrating time watching the output from Leinster House. The Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 took a bad Sinn Féin Banded Hours Bill and, arguably, made it worse for employers. We have registered our serious objections to the Bill, and we will have to wait until the autumn term to see where this will go. The Joint Oireachtas Business and Enterprise Committee produced a worthwhile report on The Cost of Doing Business. They listened to our views and incorporated them into their report. Of course a committee report isn’t Government policy but, as a cross-party body, the Committee’s report is useful as it secures opposition buy-in to enterprise policy. The insurance issue is dragging along, with a lot of reports, recommendations and studies coming out of the Department of Finance but relatively slow progress in terms of any tangible advance. It isn’t good enough. We will look to you in the near future to give us a helping hand with contacting your local politicians to keep their feet to the fire on the issue. ISME NATIONAL COUNCIL
Next year is our biennial AGM, when we elect the new ISME National Council (NC). We are really keen to broaden our base, particularly in the areas of construction, distribution, and industry. If your business is in one of these sectors, and you’d like to get active in policy-making and the media, we’d like you to step forward next spring. Give it some thought! The current NC has been really active this year, which you’ve no doubt seen and heard in recent media coverage. DON’T MISS OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE!
Don’t forget to keep November 21st free. It’s our annual conference in the Citywest Hotel and promises to be even bigger, brighter and better than last year’s. The title is ‘Think 25 – Looking ahead for Irish Business’.
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Never was it more apparent than now that planning and looking to the future is essential to any business. This applies across so many areas in business and life including technology, staffing, infrastructure and social demographic changes. We hope to get each SME thinking about what this means for its business at the conference. You can find out more about the programme, book tickets or exhibit on isme.ie. We have invested in a new website which went live in early August. We decided to undertake this based on research and feedback from members, and also an awareness of how vital a good website is to any business or organisation. We have focused on making it easy to use and navigate, a challenge when you consider the amount of information we provide. For ISME members, we’ve completely overhauled the Members Area with a new-look Members Directory, sections where members can access publications, guides and reports, plus new features such as a Members Forum, and tools to upload member news and job vacancies which will be published on isme.ie. We encourage all members to log into the Members Area to make sure their business is listed on the directory. The Members Area has been designed as place where members can do business with each other. You can book courses, events and become a member online. Lastly, we’re very sorry to witness the sign-off of Conall O Móráin Sunday Business Show. His was the only show devoted to business throughout the whole Today FM schedule, and he was a determined advocate for small businesses nationwide. But Conall and co. haven’t gone away, they’ve just moved to a podcast. From all of us in ISME, we wish them well in the new format and we’ll tune in. Enjoy the rest of the summer.
Neil McDonnell Chief Executive, ISME
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The b News
THINK 25 Make sure Wednesday November 21st is in your diary because ISME will be holding its annual conference in the Citywest Hotel, Dublin. ISME will be marking 25 years in operation in November and this has inspired the theme: Think 25 – Looking ahead for Irish Business. We want to consider what Irish business will look like over the next 25 years – the challenges, opportunities, the Irish business landscape and what we’ve learned since 1993. The conference will have a new structure with talks, interviews and panel discussions on the main stage chaired by Conall O Móráin in the morning and breakout sessions in the afternoon. Starting with breakfast and networking at 8am, the day will offer lots of opportunities for attendees to network, visit the exhibition area and be inspired by the guest speakers. Exhibition stands are now on sale and to find out more you can contact sales@isme.ie Tickets will go on sale in September and you can read about the programme here.
ALLINALL INGREDIENTS OPENS NEW FACILITY ISME were delighted to attend the opening of AllinAll Ingredients’ new premises on June 15th. An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, officially opened AllinAll Ingredients’ state-of-the-art manufacturing and R&D facility in Rosemount, Blanchardstown, Dublin. The company, which has been in the food industry for over 20 years, develops and manufactures ingredients, sauces and blends for the processed food market. Its R&D team has developed over 500 new products so far this year and last year it developed over 900. AllinAll is one of ISME’s longest-standing members.
Colm Furlong, Ulster Bank; An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; Daniel Hickey, CEO, AllinAll Ingredients; and Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland. Photograph: Paul Sherwood.
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GOODBYE TO THE SUNDAY BUSINESS SHOW Sunday, July 1st, was a sad day for ISME with our Chairman Ciaran Murtagh joining Conall O Móráin on air to say goodbye to The Sunday Business Show as its final edition was broadcast on Today FM. The Sunday Business Show was one of the best advocates for SMEs and start-ups and we want to thank Team SBS for all their wonderful work. The good news is that their hard work is not over as Conall and the team will be moving online with podcasts very soon, go to teamsbs.com to sign up now.
CODEX ACQUIRE STAPLES IN IRELAND ISME Member, Codex Office Solutions announced in June that it has completed the acquisition of the Irish office supplies business of Staples Advantage Ireland Ltd – the Irish arm of the American giant. “As part of the acquisition, Codex welcomes the Irish Staples team into the Codex family and looks forward to managing these new customers, which have both a strong local and global presence,” said Siobhan O’Connor, Managing Director, Codex Office Solutions.
Siobhan O’Connor, Managing Director, Codex Office Solutions salutes the Staples acquisition.
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Category The b News
A TONIC FOR BUSINESS On a sunny Friday afternoon on May 25th in Croke Park we hosted our annual lunch. ISME member Patrick J. Rigney spoke about his experiences with the branded drinks sector and the growth of his business, The Shed Distillery in Drumshambo, Co. Leitrim. Before the lunch began, as guests mixed and mingled, everyone was invited to sample some of Patrick J. Rigney’s Drumshambo Gunpowder Irish Gin. View the lunch video here.
ISME MEMBERS: WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND? THE IRISH WEATHER “The warm weather is conducive to feeling lethargic and less energetic. Therefore, this influence is reflected in the sales of ice-cream and conversely the demand for hot drinks like soups, coffee, etc. increases with cooler temperatures. The sunny conditions attract people to the coast and visitors are less inclined to visit indoor attractions. “ FRANCES CONNOLE - THE BURREN CENTRE AND THE KILFENORA CÉILÍ-BAND PARLOUR
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“What´s not to love about this great weather. Full access to sites, not getting stuck in bogs (which was the state of Irish building sites for the previous nine months), happy customers and office doors wide open. It’s heavenly! “ TERRY HOBDELL – IRISH FENCING SERVICES “From our present heatwave to February’s Storm Emma, Irish weather is changing. We’ve adapted to a remote work-cloud strategy in Typetec so no matter the conditions, we’re able to continue working and collaborating wherever we may be.” MARK FITZGERALD, TYPETEC “Purchasing thoroughbred racehorses is our business. Firm ground will impact negatively on some of our clients’ racehorses. However, it worked very much in our favour last year at Royal Ascot as one of our purchases, Barney Roy, broke the track record when winning the St James’s Palace Stakes on firm ground. “ ANNA DOYLE, PETER & ROSS DOYLE BLOODSTOCK LTD.
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Pictured at the ISME Annual Lunch in May: ISME chair Ciaran Murtagh presenting the ISME Medal to guest speaker Patrick J. Rigney, Managing Director, The Shed Distillery; and Neil McDonnell, Chief Executive, ISME.
NATIONAL PROJECT AWARDS 2018 Entries for the Ireland Chapter of the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) National Project Awards, sponsored by PwC, are now open. Over 120 applicants entered the awards last year, which celebrate the country’s leading project managers and teams and their forward-thinking projects. Spanning the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, the prestigious awards give Irish businesses and community groups the opportunity to showcase the outstanding achievements of project managers within their organisations. Entries for nominations are now open at projectawards.ie. The deadline for all nominations is September 14th, 2018. For full details on the National Project Awards see projectawards.ie.
SHOPPER ANONYMOUS REBRAND Ireland and UK-based customer experience specialists, Shopper Anonymous, rebranded to become insight6 in July 2018. Leza Nulty, Customer Experience Director for Ireland delivered a customer-experience masterclass to some 50 businesswomen who attended the Fingal Enterprising Women Summer Network event in Donabate in July. The event was hosted by LEO Fingal and was a great opportunity for female entrepreneurs, both established and aspiring, to mix with other women in business. Find out more on Intelligent-insights.ie/
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USEFUL EVENTS FOR SMEs: Go-2-Tender Workshop Thursdays, 13th & 27th September Great National Ballykisteen Hotel, Co. Tipperary
Taking Care of Business Tuesday, 25th September
ISME’S NEW WEBSITE Check out our new website which we have designed to be easy to use and full of information on isme.ie. We’ve added new features to the Members Area, including a Members Forum which allows members to discuss issues and share information, along with tools where members can upload their business news and advertise job vacancies. You can also book training courses and events, and join ISME online.
Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Limerick.
Selling to Government Introduction Breakfast Briefing Wednesday, 26th September
The Joint Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation published its Report on The Cost of Doing Business recently. ISME appeared before the committee with its recommendations and proposals. The report deals with our call to enact a law on perjury, high insurance premiums and the need for rates alleviation measures.
SUMMER ECONOMIC STATEMENT The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, recently published the Government’s Summer Economic Statement (SES). The SES forms a key element of the reformed budgetary process by providing a policy background for the discussions in the Dáil and, subsequently, at the National Economic Dialogue. The SES 2018 sets out that the Government is targeting a deficit of 0.1 per cent of GDP next year, or better, which accomodates a budgetary package of €3.4 billion.
Be Prepared Grant The Be Prepared Grant (available from Enterprise Ireland) offers up to €5,000 to assist in the cost of developing a strategic response to Brexit. The grant aims to support clients to access external resources and to give guidance on how to respond to the threats and opportunities of Brexit. The grant can be used to cover consultants’ fees and expenses for both domestic and international employee travel.
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European Cyber Threat Summit Wednesday, 24th October The Helix, DCU Campus, Dublin
EMPLOYER DISABILITY INFORMATION – IMPACT SURVEY
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COST OF DOING BUSINESS REPORT
Granville Hotel, Waterford
The Employer Disability Information (EDI) service is coming to the end of its pilot phase. ISME, in association with Ibec and Chambers Ireland, has been assisting EDI in the development of this project. We are conducting this follow-up survey with a view to measuring the impact of the project over the last two years. Please take two minutes to complete this survey: Available here
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The Big Interview
Crunch decisions Co-Founder and Director of biscuit-maker East Coast Bakehouse, Managing Director of The Company of Food and a Dragons’ Den investor, Alison Cowzer has a track record in identifying businesses with growth potential. In this interview, she tells the bISME about the development of her East Coast Bakehouse operation, identifies the challenges ahead for SMEs and shares her advice on how to succeed in today’s highly competitive marketplace. How did you get into the food sector? My career started in marketing, and then moved to the food sector in 2002 when we acquired the Fruitfield Foods business from Nestlé. The food sector is very dynamic, innovating constantly and always alive to changing consumer trends and tastes. Everywhere you look, food is to the fore in the media, lifestyle publications and social media. Irish food has an outstanding reputation. It’s a very exciting sector to be involved in and, for me, it really helps to be able to experience the product personally.
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My business mentors from the start were my parents, who both ran small businesses. How did East Coast Bakehouse come to fruition? The real impetus for the foundation of the East Coast Bakehouse business was the fact that although we consume approximately €240m of biscuits p.a. in Ireland, the vast majority of that is imported. So, a group of us, who had worked together previously in the food business, began putting together plans to open a biscuit factory, both to serve the Irish market, but also to export to other markets. The project took about two years to get up and running, from finding a suitable site, which we located in Drogheda, to fitting out the Bakehouse, and then launching in 2016/2017. Since then, we have launched the East Coast Bakehouse brand in Ireland and the brand is also available in 18 countries around the world. We’re also producing biscuits for other brands and for major retailers. The facility is built for
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Alison with East Coast Bakehouse Co-Founder, Michael Carey.
scale, so large contracts are important to grow the business into the future. The biscuit and snacking market is highly competitive. What makes your product stand out in this busy space? We believe there is a real opportunity to develop a brand made in Ireland, using great Irish ingredients like Irish butter and Irish oats. Our brand promise is ‘Baking Better Biscuits’, and it’s one which we believe we are delivering on. The reaction to our biscuits is extremely positive and it really is a thrill to hear consumers tell us that they love our biscuits. In reality, it’s all about producing good food. We’re also working on some new innovations, in line with changing consumer preferences for healthier ingredients, reduced sugar options, protein enhancement and much more. What can we expect from East Coast Bakehouse over the next few years? Building the business over the next few years will involve focusing on innovation and new products in line with a very dynamic consumer landscape. Research is showing us that, while snacking is still in growth, consumers are seeking new innovations such as protein enhancement, reduced sugar, and natural ingredients that challenge all of us in the food industry to work hard to develop new products in line with those trends. We’re looking forward to growing our exports, and we’re very encouraged with the interest in our products that we have seen from global customers. Later this year, we’ll be moving the factory to two shifts to increase capacity and, ultimately, to three shifts as the business grows. Our target is to get to 100 jobs, and we’re well on the way to reaching that milestone.
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The Big Interview Category What do you think are the challenges for businesses? The biggest challenges are around knowing the consumer and understanding what the market is really looking for. The days of assuming you know what your customers want are long gone. It’s all about gaining insights into your customers’ needs now and in the future. The pace of change is something we all need to get used to. Never be comfortable, always be alive to the need to anticipate change and adapt quickly. Brexit, of course, is the spectre that is dominating the entire business environment, particularly the food sector. Never before have the foundations of business been so volatile and that’s tough to manage on a daily basis. We have, however, responded with a new approach, reducing our reliance on the UK and seeking to develop other markets. It’s not an easy task, developing new markets takes significant time and investment. It doesn’t happen quickly but we are conscious that it is imperative to future-proof the business. Do you have a business mentor? My business mentors from the start were my parents, who both ran small businesses. I grew up understanding from an early age the importance of the customer (who is always right, even when they’re wrong!), the importance of the bank manager, and how cashflow is so important for SMEs. We learnt those lessons from the chat around the kitchen table, a great way to really understand how business works. What three important pieces of advice would you impart to an SME business in today’s competitive climate?
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My advice to SMEs is to focus on the customer and always be ready for change. Change is not an option and moving with your customers’ needs and expectations is crucial. Get to know your market and your competitors really well. Many SME owners are so buried in the day-to-day that they find it difficult to get out of the trenches and learn from those around them. Networking has a bad rep and many are not comfortable walking into a room full of strangers, but making contacts and learning from each other is crucial, particularly in the food industry.
Co-Founder and Director of biscuit-maker East Coast Bakehouse, Alison Cowzer.
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bISME
Asking for advice is often the first step to building strong relationships within your industry, and those contacts can be invaluable as you build and grow your business.
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The Big Interview
Passion, planning and people are the three ‘Ps’ to which many business owners attribute their success. Would you agree?
of business, everyone is ‘passionate’ about everything to a point where it loses its impact! Check out comedian David Mitchell’s SoapBox video on ‘Passion’ and you’ll never use the word’ about business again. Keep your passion for your partner and bring your drive, commitment and energy to the office - that’s my advice!
I believe the word passion is over-used in terms
Planning and people are clearly important to build
a successful business but knowing the market is also vital. A business with out of date plans that do not focus on the customer, is not likely to succeed, so looking outwards and moving at pace is crucial. At East Coast Bakehouse we’re very fortunate to work with a team who are dedicated to building a successful business and who bring the drive and energy to deliver it, even with the many challenges
that a start-up brings. Describe your experience of being on Dragons’ Den? Dragons’ Den was without doubt one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had. The opportunity to meet almost 100 entrepreneurs over two series, and hear their stories was a real privilege and one which I’ll never forget. Every pitch was delivered with real honesty, energy and such commitment that it made it very difficult fo r us Dragons to say no. In fact, that was the difficult bi t, ha ving to explain why I wasn’t investing in opportunities which may have seemed a perfect fit for what I was seeking in an investment. The sweet-spot of investment, i.e., a great promoter, a great product and a real market insight is a powerful combination that is worth battling the other Dragons for, and I have made investments that I believe will really succeed. How do you feel about being asked to be the keynote speaker at the ISME Annual Conference on November 21st?
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I’m thrilled to be invited to speak at the ISME Conference on November 21. SMEs are the lifeblood of the Irish economy, delivering over one million jobs and are a source of massive innovation and growth. I look forward to meeting the delegates and discussing how we can deliver growth and success for SMEs across the country. T: +353 1 244 0680 E: daragh.monahan@eastcoastbakehouse.com East Coast Bakehouse, Donore Road, Drogheda, Co.Louth, A92DV76, Ireland
Meet Alison Cowzer at the ISME Annual Conference on November 21st, in the Citywest Hotel and find out more on The ISME Website
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Effective Communication Skills for SMEs Monday, 10th September Dublin Recruitment Skills for SMEs Tuesday, 11th September Cork Sales Innovation: Steps to Success Part 1 Wednesday, 12th September Dublin ISO 9001:2015 General Awareness Training Wednesday, 12th September Dublin Finance for Non-Finance Professionals Wednesday, 12th September Dublin Sales Planning & Lead Generation Wednesday, 12th September Dublin Effective Communication Skills for SMEs Monday, 17th September Dublin Consumer Law Ready Tuesday, 18th September & Wednesday, 19th September Dublin
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Business Writing Thursday, 20th September Dublin Employment Law Thursday, 27th September Dublin
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ISME at work for you
ISME pushes for greater SME access to finance Getting access to finance is a vital component in the success of many SMEs. Without this, the knock-on effect of partially successful loan applications, or outright refusals, is stark and impacts on business productivity. ISME is constantly monitoring the latest data trends on bank loan applications and the sourcing of finance through our Bank Watch Surveys, issued quarterly. Our latest Q2 2018 report was released in the third week of June, with a 10 per cent response rate from our members and other SMEs. The results showed a significant increase in the number of refusal rates, increasing from 24 per cent to 36 per cent in Q2 2018. Demand for credit remained on par with Q1 2018 at 31 per cent, while waiting time from decision to drawdown of finance increased from six to eight weeks. ISME has voiced its concern about the high number of refusal rates, as well as the length of time it is taking for SMEs to
access finance, and has called for banks to promote the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) funds. The latest results for this quarter were disappointing and unsatisfactory. ISME has made the case to Government that more needs to be done to promote greater access to finance. As part of this call to action, the Association, on behalf of the SME community has called for: • Honest and reliable reporting from the rescued banks, through the Department of Finance and Central Bank; • Investigation of other sources of finance that can be made available to viable cash-starved SMEs, such as SBCI and Microfinance Ireland; and • A reduction in the uncompetitive interest rates charged to SMEs. A full breakdown of the report can be found here.
At ISME, we are constantly monitoring the latest data trends on bank loan applications and the sourcing of finance through our Bank Watch Surveys, issued quarterly.
Cold Calling & Appointment Making Thursday, 27th September Dublin Effective Communication Skills for SMEs Friday, 28th September Cork ISME Annual Conference Wednesday, 21st November City West Hotel, Dublin
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ISME at work for Category you DRIVING SALES FOR BMW
ISME Skillnet was delighted to deliver training to over 50 BMW and Mini dealership sales representatives at Mondello Park, Naas, Co. Kildare recently. On the day, the team were briefed on the new features of the 182 models being released into the Irish market. The sales training and insights on how to sell the models were delivered by Peter Turley of SalesTalk who regularly provides sales training for SMEs through ISME Skillnet. ISME SHARES SUSTAINABILITY INSIGHTS
ISME Learning & Development were invited to attend the International Week at Sweden’s prestigious MDH University to deliver a presentation on The Challenges Faced by SMEs for Sustainable Businesses. ISME is a vital strategic business partnering this exciting Erasmus project, which focuses on strengthening Europe’s software innovation capacity by learning from EU regions with proven ICT strength and sharing it across the other regions. Attending on behalf of ISME were Adam Weatherley, Learning & Development Manager and Sheila Flannery, Erasmus Project Manager. ISME LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT: Q3 UPDATE
We are hosting a number of training courses over the coming months which will include: Recruitment Skills
for SMEs, Finance for Non-Finance Professionals, ISO Training, Consumer Law Ready Training, Business Writing and much more! Find out more on isme.ie/learning. Since February, we have hosted six GDPR events in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, and Kilkenny. There will be more events to cover this important new EU regulation. If this interests you, please contact adam@isme.ie. Finally, to tackle the geographical issue of providing training across the country, we have commenced identifying and talking to Learning Management System providers, exploring opportunities to bring certain types of training to your doorstep. If you would like to see ISME Skillnet Training closer to you, please contact us on skillnet@isme.ie.
St Paul’s Area Development Enterprise CLG, better known as the Spade Enterprise Centre is now in its 28th year of operation. Spade opened in September 1990 in the former St.Paul’s Church, North King Street, Dublin 7. Spade was founded in the late 1980s, during times of high unemployment, with the aim of assisting individuals to start up their own business. The Church was converted to an enterprise centre in 1988/89, and continues to offer quality incubator workspace today. The centre which has expanded over time now has three locations, comprising of 38 units. There are 14 food production kitchens and 19 offices, some of which have been recently refurbished as part of an ongoing upgrade plan in the centre. New Office Suites Spade have six newly refurbished offices, with hi-speed broadband and VolP telephony available. The facilities in the Centre are kept to a high standard. Tenants have access to Hi Speed Broadband, in-house secretarial services, central reception facility, conference room and off street car parking. Spade is conveniently located, not far from Dublin City Centre. It is also close to the Luas line at Smithfield, Broadstone and Heuston Station. Incubator space available is offered on a monthly licence basis. Enquiries can be directed to the Business Development Manager, Susan Richardson at 01-6174830 or by e-mail at susan.richardson@spade.ie and further information can be obtained from www.spade.ie.
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The Spade Enterprise Centre offers a variety of units ranging in size from 14m2 to 140m2 Food Grade and Office Space
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The b Insight
Contingency planning for ISME has been issuing warnings about Brexit preparation for so long now that it’s probably becoming a bore! But, nonetheless, it is important for you to continue contingency planning for what might happen. We urge you not to be complacent. There is simply too much political volatility for anyone to make assumptions about what will happen in 2019. The most obvious issue arising for goods is that of tariffs. T ariffs wi ll ad d co st an d ad ministration, but 80 per cent of goods currently traded across the border have a tariff < 10 p er c ent. O f o ur current trade with NI, 30 per cent would not be affected by WTO tariffs at all. If you want to check out the tariff status of goods you trade, contact InterTradeIreland here, who provide great support to SMEs for Brexit. VAT is arguably a more serious issue for most traders, since, even though it is recoverable, it will have an immediate cash flow impact at point of import. Even if the UK follows a European Free Trade Association/European Economic Area or Turkish model of EU relations (which they have so far ruled out), import VAT liability arises. Start planning for that now, if it applies to your business. However, it is so-called ‘non-tariff b arriers’ t hat w ill likely have a greater effect for most businesses, and in ways that may be very difficult to predict. These can be technical measures, such as sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures for food, or non-technical ‘Rules of Origin.’
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TRANSPORT
There are also many other areas of business that could be affected. Services are freely traded within the EU, but would not be covered if the UK became a third country. This would particularly impact road, rail, and air transport services. Brexit could mean the end of the mutual recognition of driving licences, vehicles, registration documents, and certificates o f p rofessional c ompetence f or drivers. British carriers, including EasyJet, International Airlines Group (which includes British Airways), Flybe, Jet2 and Virgin Atlantic will have curtailed rights travelling in and out of EU Member States. The EU currently requires that train drivers hold specific licences and certifications. Those issued by the UK will no longer be valid in the European Union after the withdrawal date, potentially impacting cross-border rail services.
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UK seafarer certificates w ill n o l onger b e automatically recognised by the EU-26. This may have an impact on seafarers working on ships transiting the Irish Sea. DATA PROTECTION AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Regarding data protection, the EU rules for transfer of personal data to a third country will apply to the UK. If the UK decides to diverge from the protections provided in the GDPR regulations, this will be highly impactful for the delivery of services, particularly financial and insurance services, in Ireland. Enforcement of intellectual property rights might no longer apply to the UK. This could mean that complaints regarding IP breaches would no longer be entertained in the UK.
INTERNATIONAL LAW
A big area that will be impacted by Brexit is private international law. This could have possible consequences in the areas of family law, adoption, custody, divorce and access to children. If the UK totally withdraws itself from the EU, and ECJ jurisdiction, it will remove itself from the ‘norm’ of reciprocity. Under current rules, when a person is divorced in the UK, that divorcee is entitled to automatic recognition in Germany or Ireland. Company law could be similarly affected. UK companies may lose their limited liability status. This would have significant implications for shareholders if a third party were to sue. In summary, whole areas of business will be affected by Brexit in non-economic ways, which are very difficult to pr edict. Mo re th an 40 ye ars of cu stom, practice and cross-border mutual recognition are threatened in ways we simply cannot quantify. If you want to delve deeper into the administrative, regulatory and legal areas threatened by Brexit, you can check the list of Brexit Preparedness Notices compiled by the EU Commission here.
Act now!
CONTENTS
The b Issue
Delivering broadband – It’s time for a new, more effective strategy Ross McCarthy, MD, Keystone Procurement and ISME National Council Member, looks at the obstacles to better broadband access across Ireland and outlines ISME’s solution.
PATCHY PROGRESS
Since Telecom Eireann’s privatisation, the delivery of broadband to major cities and larger towns has been on a case by case basis. Lack of broadband is impeding economic progress and the capacity of firms in areas with poor connectivity to grow. This is clear from the data on Irish domestic SME firms, when compared to peer firms across the EU. It is hard to see Ireland get to the interim goal of 30MB per house/business by 2025 based on our approach today, let alone universal 1GB connections by 2040. “We have had more broadband plans than we have had Taoisigh since 1999” – Ross McCarthy, MD, Keystone Procurement and ISME National Council Member.
In 1999, when Telecom Eireann was privatised, Ireland was in an exciting phase of economic growth. Since the initial flotation, the financial equivalent of Lanigan’s Ball has ensued with various privatisations and flotations taking place in the interim period. We have had more broadband plans than we have had Taoisigh since 1999. Some progress has been made in the cities and larger towns but definitive progress has been both patchy and relatively recent. ISME is very concerned at the manner in which the past two Fine Gael-led governments have handled broadband delivery and we have adopted an alternative view on broadband roll-out in our recent pre-budget submission. A succession of failed initiatives have fallen short of national and EU objectives and we believe we need a change of direction now. Across Europe, there is a vision for all states to become a Gigabit (1GB) society. This denser use of applications running over the telecoms infrastructure, requires faster speeds to sustain multiple, simultaneous demands from multiple simultaneous users – ranging from video conferencing to data storage, and from content streaming to VOIP calls. A strong, core broadband infrastructure in rural Ireland helps to release the pressure on Dublin and secures the future of regional towns and rural businesses in Ireland. In Canada, they have designated broadband as a utility on a par with electricity and water.
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DELIVERING THE 1GB SOCIETY
As a result of this, ISME included a recommendation to purchase the wholesale (core) network (wires, exchanges and poles) back from the Eir group. We estimate this will cost in the order of €2 billion and give the state the control needed to manage investment in the network strategically as we do with electricity, gas and water. It would maximise our chance of delivering the 1GB society vision and build on our potential strength as a base for STEM and other high-value jobs dependent on access to high-quality telecoms infrastructure. As a percentage of the proposed Ireland 2040 capital outlay, this would account for less than three per cent. Alarmingly, no such provision is made in the Government’s plan. Given the potential multiplier effects this could deliver, we believe this is shortsighted and incorrect. The status quo entails Eir, Vodafone and E-Net delivering three broadband networks that run the risk of becoming micro-monopolies. There is also a funding hole in the order of €250m within the plan – confirmed by the European Court of Auditors. Faced with this vista, a broadband version of the certainty offered by state-owned wholesale entities, like Eirgrid for electricity management, is vastly preferable to compounding the error made when we sold the telecoms network almost 20 years ago. We favour ensuring the network is open to all operators to re-sell telecoms services including broadband. This is the path being taken by the Italian State and we believe it would be a much better path for businesses in Ireland than that being currently pursued by the Irish Government.
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T H E B U S I N E S S O F I R I S H S M Es
ISME have watched aghast over several decades as Minister after Minister has overseen the mismanagement of broadband delivery across the State. Early in my career, I was involved in negotiating and designing the introduction of telecoms products. In some cases, this involved designing how they would work in mediated meetings with the regulator and the former state monopoly. In other cases it involved trying to improve these ‘committee’ outputs in a live environment with (understandably) disgruntled customers. Back then, what we now call broadband was a digital subscriber line. Its introduction was problematic at the time and the results have been underwhelming for about 15 years.
bISME
THE
Energy The b Focus Focus
Five ways to be more energy efficient and save money Colm Foley, Head of Pinergy Smart Business, provides some advice on how your business can maximise energy efficiency while minimising costs.
T H E B U S I N E S S O F I R I S H S M Es
Energy costs can be a major expense for many businesses. In a recent survey for Pinergy Smart Business, carried out by Red C, 57 per cent of Irish business owners said that they are not actively monitoring their energy consumption, leading to high business costs. It also revealed that 90 per cent of companies said that they have good intentions to change their behaviour and reduce their energy costs within the next 12 months. In our work with energy-efficient businesses, we’ve seen five key steps they’ve taken to become more efficient. 1. Energy efficiency is a team sport It is not just the responsibility of business owners. Encourage your employees to save energy by keeping them informed with energy-saving tips and initiatives. 2. ‘Light up’ your business efficiently Lights being left on unnecessarily is ultimately energy wasted, which directly translates to higher energy costs. Remind your team to turn off lights (and, of course, other equipment) when not in use. If your
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business uses incandescent light bulbs, switch them out for more efficient and cost-reducing LED light bulbs — these will instantly use up to 80 per cent less energy than conventional lighting and can last up to 25 times longer. To reduce unnecessary lighting usage, you can install occupancy sensors to automatically turn off lighting when there is no one there. 3. Watch out for the ‘Energy Drainers’ • Ensuring computer monitors are turned off when not in use is an easy way to save on your energy bill. If left on during nights and weekends, they can add significantly to your energy costs. Ask your staff to set automatic sleep modes or manually turn off when not in use. • Many devices continue to draw a small amount of power even when they are switched off. It is important to unplug equipment not in use. These ‘energy drainers’ suck energy even when in standby mode and you can easily avoid this waste by unplugging devices or using a power strip on/ off switch to cut off all power to the appliance. • Printing and paper can be costly for a business. Make sure that you only print when necessary and double-sided where possible.
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Energy Focus
4. Mind your fridge!
5. Access generous incentives
• If your business uses refrigerators, make sure the refrigerator coils are cleaned twice a year and replace door gaskets. You can test for slight gaps between the door’s seals, by seeing if a piece of paper fits between the seal when the door is closed. This will help your refrigerator to operate as efficiently as possible while retaining optimum coolness.
There are often Government incentives that support businesses installing energy efficient and renewable energy solutions such as LED, solar, wind and heat pumps. Your business can avail of these as well as receive partial and full funding from Pinergy.
• With large or walk-in refrigeration systems, service them at least once a year. When annually maintained, your refrigerator will have a longer life and function more efficiently.
Pinergy’s latest innovation is Pinergy Smart Business, a technology-led energy offering to make businesses’ energy usage transparent. It’s quick to access and easy to understand. Businesses already using it are able to control, monitor and reduce their energy consumption and have been able to make immediate changes that are saving them real money. Also, there are no more estimated bills. Clear analytics show how your business is performing across each site and we offer different payment options to suit your needs.
• Consider refrigeration technology such as Fridge Saver or Chillscoop. This ensures that all products refrigerated are kept at the correct temperature. A thermostat sensor is fitted and as refrigeration cycles are measured against product temperatures instead of air, this significantly reduces the frequency of each cycle. This can achieve reductions as high as per cent while producing a much colder storage area.
INSTALL PINERGY SMART BUSINESS
WANT TO GET STARTED?
ISME have partnered with Pinergy to offer Smart Business with an exclusive 10 per cent discount on electricity to Members, find out more here.
T H E B U S I N E S S O F I R I S H S M Es
See your energy in a new way with Pinergy Smart Business Contact colm@pinergy.ie www.pinergy.ie/business CONTENTS
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bISME
THE
Insurance
Personal injuries compensation: what can businesses do?
PIAB removes a lot of the processing costs previously associated with personal injury claims.
A brief guide to the services provided by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). PIAB is the body which assesses personal injuries compensation in Ireland. It is independent and assesses compensation in relation to personal injuries suffered by people in motor accidents, workplace accidents and public liability accidents. PIAB meets regularly with ISME to understand the concerns of its members and is committed to providing information to small businesses, in order to assist them. UNDISPUTED
T H E B U S I N E S S O F I R I S H S M Es
PIAB handles undisputed personal injury claims and removes a lot of the processing costs previously associated with these claims. Liability is not an issue in the claims it handles, and its role is specifically to assess compensation for the injuries. It does this using a process whereby the claimant submits details of their injuries and losses sustained. PIAB employs a team of highly experienced in-house claim assessors who review medical reports from a team of medical practitioners who are on the PIAB independent panel. It also has regard for the Book of Quantum and the level of damages awarded by the Courts for injuries of a similar nature. PIAB assesses approximately 13,000 claims every year and the majority of its awards are accepted by both parties. LESS COSTLY THAN A COURT CASE
The advantage of the PIAB system for the person the claim is made against is that most add-on legal/litigation costs are not payable. PIAB does not pay legal costs generally to claimants, and its own processing costs are very low â&#x20AC;&#x201C; averaging 6.2 per cent of the amount of the final award last year. PIAB resolves undisputed claims in approximately seven months â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this takes a far shorter time and is considerably less costly than a court case or private settlement, which could take over three years. By resolving claims quickly, PIAB has ensured far fewer claims go to court. It has removed hundreds of millions of euro in litigation processing costs from
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the system over the past 14 years. These processing costs would otherwise have been paid for by policyholders. The cost to a business of having a claim against them processed by PIAB is â&#x201A;Ź600, with the only additional costs usually being the cost of medical scans or medical examinations. When PIAB has assessed a case, the person or organisation the claim is against still has the right to accept or reject the award (as does the claimant). If either party rejects the award, PIAB releases the claim and the claimant may initiate legal proceedings if they so wish. Businesses facing a claim (or their insurers, if insured) are required to take two decisions in the PIAB process: 1. Do they consent to the assessment process? 2. Do they accept the award? PIAB is required by law to write to the person or business a claimant states is responsible for the accident. That person or organisation has 90 days after PIAB contacts them initially to consider the claim and decide either to have a case assessed, or not, by PIAB. This is known as consenting to the process. A business facing a claim will normally (with their insurers) consider during the 90 days whether they believe they were responsible for the accident. If they do not consider they were responsible, then they can think about not consenting to the process. In the event that they do consent to PIAB assessing the claim and making an award, they can decide whether to accept or reject the award. These are two decisions for the business/insurer facing the claim to take, and it is vital that businesses inform PIAB of their decision. This prevents them entering the PIAB system by default. For further information see www.piab.ie or contact tel. 1890 829 121 or enquiries@injuriesboard.ie
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Inclusive Recruitment Category
Inclusive recruitment – how to get it right A diverse and inclusive company employs people with disabilities. However, many employers worry that they aren’t equipped to include people with disabilities in their recruitment process. Fear not, employers! Employer Disability Information (EDI) details the key steps to inclusive recruitment. Here is the essential guide. Job analysis This is the first step in any recruitment process and the best way to ensure a good job-person match. By analysing the job, we’re getting up-to-date information about the core functions of the role, how it is organised, the work environment and the qualifications required. Don’t forget - a job analysis describes the job, not the person who fills it.
Testing Some companies use assessment centres and online testing. These tools can prove to be a huge barrier to applicants with disabilities, in particular nonvisible disabilities. Consider whether you can waive this requirement for disabled applicants. A work trial or placement may be a better way to assess the abilities of applicants with disabilities.
It also helps to ensure you have the support of senior and middle management to guarantee success. They play a key role in decision-making and influence the company’s approach. To encourage the employment of people with disabilities, develop a competencybased job description.
Ensure that the testing location and material are accessible for all types of disability, including neurodiverse applicants, specifically applicants with Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD) like dyslexia and those with sensory and physical disabilities. Check with your test developer to ensure the test is flexible and accessible to all.
Shortlisting At this stage, applicants with disabilities are often screened out of the process. Their CVs and applications look different to other applicants and they may have gaps, less work experience and alternative qualifications. However, people with disabilities are creative thinkers, problem-solvers and exceptionally resilient. They have had to navigate their lives and work in a different, and often more difficult, way than their non-disabled peers. When shortlisting, many companies now state that applicants who meet the qualification requirements and have disclosed a disability on their CV or application form, will be automatically invited to interview. That way, you are communicating your commitment to inclusion and encouraging the disclosure of a disability.
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Interviews The main purpose is to establish whether applicants have the skills and capability to do the essential and core elements of the job. You don’t need to change your interview process – just ensure it is competency-based to get the best result. Members of the interview panel should be appropriately trained in disability awareness. Ask all candidates the same open and direct questions about their ability to perform the functions of the role. Don’t worry about the disability or how it may impact at work. Focus on the ability of candidates. Remember to be open-minded as to how the job can be done – people with disabilities will approach tasks differently. Getting supports There are financial support grants available and the Employer Disability Information team are always here to help you make your workplace a more inclusive and understanding place. You can also view the full Inclusive Recruitment Guide here. To find out more, contact EDI on info@ employerdisabilityinfo.ie, visit employerdisabilityinfo.ie or call on 01 6762014 086 1700 472.
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T H E B U S I N E S S O F I R I S H S M Es
Applications Flexibility in how someone can apply for the role is a key positive step for people with disabilities. We rely heavily on online recruitment these days, so make sure your hiring site is accessible to all. Remember to provide an alternative means for people with disabilities to contact the company to request accommodation at interview. If your application is timed, allow applicants with disability the time they need to fill in forms.
THE
bISME
Another side of Adam Coleman, CEO, HRLocker
Surf’s up… and so is productivity What do you like to do outside of work? I like to get in the water as much as I can, so swimming and surfing. This year I’m starting to rebuild my 1973 VW Beetle (once-award-winning, currently melting in my garage). When and why did you start surfing? When I was growing up, I worked as a lifeguard on the Galway beaches and one of my work colleagues showed me you could surf in Ireland. I gave it a try but never went back to it until 1996 when working with Digifone. We did a teambuilding event at Delphi Lodge in Killary, Co Mayo. I did my first lesson with Cathal Bennet at Carrowniskey beach. (now Cathal owns Ben’s Surf Clinic in Lahinch). As result of this one lesson, I was hooked!
T H E B U S I N E S S O F I R I S H S M Es
The beach boys: Adam with his son Tomás.
A series highlighting the lives of ISME members and personnel beyond the workplace. In this edition, The bISME talks to Adam Coleman, CEO of HRLocker and an avid surfer.
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Where do you surf? I began surfing in Ireland, but now have surfed a lot overseas. I surf mostly in Lahinch, but our holidays always take us to other surfing ‘L’ spots. Lahinch and along the coast of Ireland from Wexford to Donegal is fabulous with lots of really good locations, but the County Clare area is my favorite. The surfing scene in Ireland is big and growing fast, attracting lots of people. It is a great community for ideas around business and conservation. Have you surfed in other countries? If so, where? Yes, I’ve been lucky enough to have surfed all around the UK, Portugal, France and Barbados, as well as on the west and east coast of the USA, but there are so many more places on my bucket list, it’s endless. Why do you enjoy it so much? It allows me escape the noise of life and a busy world to a place where I can really think and relax. It is great for fitness without killing myself in a gym.
Is surfing a therapeutic activity after work? Yes, it’s a great leveller and beneficial for mind space. Surfing, like swimming, helps me clarify my thoughts. You’re on your own with the elements, but you do meet some great and unexpected people who are on a similar journey. Surfing, sport and lifestyle played a big part in my decision to move to Lahinch - for the quality of life and because it’s a great place to bring up a family. It’s also why HRLocker is based there. Does surfing and keeping fit influence other areas of your life? While I’m a very social person; surfing gives me personal downtime. It helps me to organise myself. Plus, the more productive you are, the more time you have to surf! To really enjoy surfing you need to be fit and when you’re fit you have more energy in general. So, yes, it does help. How important to you is work-life balance? Very important, I love to encourage people and businesses to be more flexible with their workforce because with flexibility and encouragement comes more productivity and really good working relationships – that’s what HRLocker is about. It’s hard for me to separate work from life. Are they not the same thing? How does this work for HRLocker? ‘Being able to work anywhere anytime because technology allows it’ is my mantra and is what our culture revolves around at HRLocker. We’ve now combined life and work and are on a mission, like our software, that enables people to do the same: not allowing location to dictate your job or lifestyle. I really enjoy the journey we’re on in HRLocker. I love where I live and the people I work with, so I just need more work and more people and, oh yeah, more clients of course!
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