Message from / The CEO ISME Welcomes / New Members ISME / News Mentoring/ ISME Skillnet Mentoring & Coaching programme continues Training Courses / Course Updates
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Dear member, The Government’s summer economic statement has flagged a very significant spending package for Budget 2023, and it looks like the 5% spending cap limit will be broken. This is very worrying, and suggests we are back to spend-spend-spend budgetary policies. The Great Recession is not that long ago, and one of its origins was run-away public spending. We hope Ireland is not going that way again. ISME acknowledges that high inflation is impacting many, but it is not possible for Government to mitigate inflationary impacts for everyone. They must target the poorest and lowest paid. We set out our priorities for Budget 2023 in our Pre-Budget Submission. This is a very comprehensive submission this year, but the main priorities are summarised: • • •
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A comprehensive package of tax reform, including a solidarity USC levy of 3% on all PAYE workers earning over €100,000 per annum. The raising of an additional €500 million annually in CGT by lowering it to 25%. The elimination of the punitive “PRSI Transition Zone” for lower paid workers, by charging a new 2% rate of PRSI on weekly earnings up to €440 per week and a new 6% PRSI rate on marginal earnings above €440 pw. This change would increase the take-home pay for all full-time workers earning less than €880 per week. Measures to increase the number of firms listing on the Stock Exchange, and we want to make it easier for employees to invest in them. The cost of rent and housing is now so high that employers are buying accommodation for their employees. Private landlords must be attracted back to the rental market via the taxation system to increase the stock of available housing.
The cost of deep retrofit means that Government must address the cost of financing it, otherwise homeowners will not insulate their houses. The Department of Enterprise has announced a successor to the Covid Credit Guarantee Scheme known as the Covid 19 Loan Scheme. Loans under the scheme: • • • •
range from €25,000 to €1.5 million are available for terms of one to six years are available without security where the loan amount is less than €500,000 typically feature a lower interest rate than other comparable lending in the market
As before, success of the scheme rests on the willingness of the bankers to lend. We would appreciate your feedback on the scheme as we will be asked to relay it to the Department of Enterprise. Lastly, it is evident that Covid continues to significantly affect workplaces; there are fresh waves of new variants, and reports of elevated levels of infection. Please continue to practice workplace protection measures, and keep you and your workforce safe. Neil McDonnell | CEO | neil@isme.ie
NEW MEMBERS: NEW MEMBERS
New members:
Access Cinema Agricultural Magnetics Ltd AWN Consulting Limited Ballintrillick Environmental Group CLG t/a The Benwiskin Centre Biocel Limited Chai-Yo Restaurant Connect Hearing CW Applied Technology (Shannon) Ltd. Data Ireland Dental Tech Group GSP Fire Ltd. Harris Group Harte Peat Ltd. M & P Fire Solutions Ltd. Murtech Engineering Ltd. Propel 2Gether Think Total Zero Carbon
NEWS NEWS ISME Finance Finder Explore the funding options available to SMEs with our new product, the ISME Finance Finder powered by Swoop Funding. This online tool offers loan choices to SMEs in minutes, streamlining the funding application process. For a start-up or a business looking to expand, improve cashflow, refinance debt, acquire a business, purchase property, stock or invest in a new market, the ISME Finance Finder will provide easy access to the funding opportunities available to them. The platform can also be used to secure funding for big ticket items such as vehicles, buildings, and equipment through the Asset Finance option. Your funding journey starts now by going to https://www.isme.ie/finance-finder/
ISME’s Pre-Budget Submission ISME published its Pre-Budget Submission 2023, and a revised version of its recommended changes to the social protection system on 14th June. The main measures sought by ISME in the Budget are: •
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Save with ISME We had added more ways for ISME Members to reduce their costs and get added benefits for their business by adding four new programmes in 2022. Our latest affinity is 10% discount on dental services with Dublin Dental Clinic, this includes fillings, root canals, extractions, crowns, orthodontics, bridge, veneers. Get full details here. Other savings available include 30% discount on 35% discount on AA membership for Roadside Rescue, Home Start & Rescue Plus Cover for company membership only; 20% discount on a range of HR Services from MSS ‘The HR People’; and 30% discount on website development and design subscription from XYZ. View all our Affinity programmes here.
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A comprehensive package of tax reform, including a solidarity USC levy of 3% on all PAYE workers earning over €100,000 per annum. The raising of an additional €500 million annually in CGT by lowering it to 25%. The elimination of the punitive “PRSI Transition Zone” for lower paid workers, by charging a new 2% rate of PRSI on weekly earnings up to €440 per week and a new 6% PRSI rate on marginal earnings above €440 pw. This change would increase the takehome pay for all full-time workers earning less than €880 per week. We want to see measures to encourage an increase in the number of firms listing on the Stock Exchange, and we want to make it easier for employees to invest in them. The cost of rent and housing is now so high that employers are buying accommodation for their employees. This creates a BIK problem for both employers and employees, and is unacceptable. Private landlords must be attracted back to the rental market via the taxation system to increase the stock of available housing. The cost of deep retrofit means that Government must address the cost of financing it, otherwise homeowners will not insulate their houses.
Read the full submission here.
NEWS NEWS Ireland’s First Digital Marketing & Media Apprenticeship ISME member BuyMedia is working with the National Apprenticeship Programme to create the first Digital Marketing Apprenticeship programme in Ireland. This Apprenticeship programme will be grant aided and will allow ISME members to employ a Digital Marketing & Media Apprentice to help their businesses grow. As part of the submission and approval process we need to give an estimate of the number roles that could be available in industry for these apprentices. BuyMedia are asking ISME members to contribute and have their voices recognised and heard by completing this form.
Member News ISME Member AsIAm, Ireland’s national autism charity, has been chosen by Marsh, the world’s leading insurance broker and risk advisor, to be its official charity partner in Ireland for 2022. AsIAm works to remove the barriers faced by autistic people, through its wide range of support, information and advocacy programs. The partnership with Marsh will enable them to sustain and expand this work. For more information, please visit www.AsIAm.ie
Get your Member Discount Don’t forget when booking any of our Learning and Development courses, to be logged into isme.ie so you can avail of the ISME Member discount.
ISME in the news In the media in June some of the topics covered were: • • • •
The ISME Finance Finder The cost of living and remote working Increasing the minimum wage Pre-budget submission.
You can view and listen back to a selection of ISME’s media coverage here.
Back in Business Mentoring & Coaching programme We are delighted to be able to announce our Back in Business Mentoring & Coaching programme – a continuation of our successful 2021’s Back to Business programme which is a complimentary service for ISME Members. You can read more about this on page 10 and apply here.
HSA Annual Report 2021 The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) published its Annual Report 2021 in June highlighting the broad scope of work activity carried out during the year, including its range of tools and supports to enable enterprises, employers and employees to meet their statutory obligations for the goods they manufacture or import, while ensuring they keep themselves, and their workplaces healthy and safe. In this, the final year of its strategic cycle, the Authority also laid the groundwork in 2021 for its next strategy, which will see the organisation grow significantly to deliver an additional focus on occupational health hazards, in particular those associated with psychosocial and ergonomic risks, and exposure to chemical and biological agents. Read full details here.
NEWS NEWS Skillnet Ireland’s Skills Connect initiative The ISME Skillnet is delighted to offer two fully funded programmes from Skillnet Ireland’s Skills Connect initiative suitable for jobseekers, recent graduates, people looking to get back to the workforce or looking for a career change.
ISME Skillnet & UCD Professional Academy Offer During July we will continue to run our special offer for the ISME Skillnet & UCD Professional Academy. The price is reduced from €625 to €495 for Members and from €675 to €525 for nonmembers.
Skills Connect offers free, online training which will help reskill and develop the skills that employers are looking for today. Through this programme, the ISME Skillnet can offer two innovative training and upskilling programmes, each offering practical work placements or projects on completion. There are 12 places per programme. To find out about the eligibility criteria click here.
This exciting new partnership will provide flexible learning that fits easily into a busy SME’s life and easy access to industry-focused courses that deliver job-ready skills. As an alternative to oncampus learning, the academy will deliver all expert instructor-led courses via UCD’s interactive online study environment.
The programmes include:
Find our more here.
Digital Marketing & Strategy Diploma with the Dublin Business School. A 12 week programme, one evening per week, 7.30-9.30pm commencing 19th September and concluding on 12th December 2022. This is an industry-led course, which has been designed by industry experts in Digital Marketing covering the latest trends, strategies, real-world experiences, and best practices in the Digital Industry. This practical hands-on course provides a complete overview of all the core channels and how they fit together to plan and deliver successful digital and social media marketing campaigns, applicable for both B2B and B2C businesses. Office Administration and Management Diploma with the UCD Professional Academy. A 12 week programme, one evening per week, 6.30-9.30pm, commencing 20th September, concluding 6th December 2022. Here the trainee can gain the skills and knowledge needed to keep offices running like clockwork, and to maximise efficiency and productivity in the office and deliver this central support role with confidence and reliability. If this sounds interesting please send an email to skillnet@isme.ie with your expression of interest and CV, stating which programme you would like to attend.
InterTradeIreland July events During July InterTradeIreland will run Go2Tender Construction Workshop on 13th July, 9.30am1.30pm and Equity Advisory Clinics on 19th and 21st July at 8.30am-3.30pm and on 26th and 28th July at 1.30-5.15pm. Register to attend here.
NEWS NEWS View on demand If you missed any of our HR updates to date, you can purchase a recording of the seminars here. The webinars include: • •
Managing a remote or hybrid workforce with Tracy O’Brien & Cait Lynch Absence Management, Income & Sick Pay with Tracy O’Brien & Cait Lynch Contracts and Handbooks with Tracy O’Brien & Cait Lynch Bullying in the workplace with Tracy O’Brien & Adam Weatherley Recruitment, Equality, GDPR and Best Practices with Tracy O’Brien & Adam Weatherley
Register for SEAI Introduction to Energy Management Training: Creating an Energy Action Plan
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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is offering free training to help businesses create an energy action plan.
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Training is taking place regularly over the coming months.
Download issue 17 of the bISME
To learn more and register view the SEAI Eventbrite Page
• An interview with Nigel Heneghan, MD, Heneghan Strategic Communications talking about about how things have changed and yet stayed the same in communications • The ISME Finance Finder – a new online tool offering funding solutions for Irish SMEs • What needs to be done now to tackle rising insurance costs • Tips on maximising your website’s potential an much more
New SEAI Energy Academy Course: Leading Sustainable Change for Decarbonisation The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) Energy Academy has released a new free e-learning course “Leading Sustainable Change for Decarbonisation” aimed at providing you with the essential concepts needed to lead sustainable change within your business. • •
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Learn how your business can approach, measure, and report on sustainability Find out how Ireland came to the target of netzero emissions and what decarbonisation means for your business Explore what the circular economy is the benefits of circularity for your business
Join the SEAI Energy Academy now on www.seai.ie/energyacademy .
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In this issue ISME’s you can read the following:
Download your copy here
NEWS
ISME Skillnet Mentoring & Coaching programme continues in 2022 We are delighted to announce that additional funding secured to continue 2021’s Back to Business Mentoring & Coaching programme, a complimentary service to our loyal membership.
ISME’s Back in Business Programme 2022 Business coaching and mentoring is a proven, highly effective method to review, improve and grow a business but it is costly.
In Q4 2021 we successfully delivered a powerful programme providing mentoring and coaching to 65 businesses to ensure they were well equipped to get back to business as the pandemic eased. The engagements completed focused on several critical business areas, including improvements to operations (HR, Recruitment, Finance), the introduction of new technologies, the use of social media for sales and marketing, introducing new products and services, and assist with geographical reach and open international markets.
The renewed funding puts this back in the reach of SMEs. To continue to offer our member companies a fully funded business coaching and mentoring programme comes at a very good time for Irish SMEs. To hear a mentor’s or coach’s experience, or a business owner sharing fresh perspectives, can shine a new light on to different situations.
The sectors that engaged were the ones that had been particularly affected by the Covid restrictions. Small retail, travel and tourism and business services organisations were very keen to secure a highly qualified business advisor to help them with their business plan implementation or their own personal development. Karen Holland, from Brickfield Education Labs had this to say about her experience with the Back to Business coaching: ‘’I'd like to say a huge thank you for my recent presentation and public speaking skills mentoring sponsored by ISME. Jason was an amazing coach, very engaging and very insightful. His instructions and guidance were extremely easy to follow from a nervous beginner's standpoint. I now feel more confident. I have greater understanding of the process of being able to present in a more professional manner whilst also dealing with the stresses and expectations that arise. It is an ongoing journey, as we often say to our clients, but I can see myself making progress and that is a great thing. I really appreciate the support and guidance that ISME provides, to help us entrepreneurs to succeed’’.
Each engagement will consist of six hours of face-toface coaching and mentoring. We will provide a suitable business advisor / qualified coach with either domain or sector experience (or both). Our panel of 30 coaches were carefully selected via a robust tendering exercise in 2021. They have been through ordeals that many businesses are going through themselves. Therefore, offering to share their experience allows the development of a trusted partnership, and set a confident path to success. The progression of this relationship will aid a business owner to delve into their true purpose, both personally and professionally. The areas we have covered, but not exclusively: • Digital and Automation • Growth and Finance • People and Leadership • Business Improvement Strategies • Business Processes Private sector businesses based in Ireland with between 5 and 250 employees are eligible to participate in the ISME Back to Business initiative. Additionally, you must be an existing ISME member to avail of this programme. This is a complimentary offering in addition to your membership. We will be taking online applications asking applicants to complete a strategic positioning document with details on why you/your business wants to participate in this programme and what you would like to achieve. To register an initial expression of interest, please fill out the form here or email skillnet@isme.ie.
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
Upcoming Short Courses CCTV & GDPR webinar Dates: 14-07-2022
Upcoming longer Programmes Leadership & Managing the Blind Spots Dates: 06-09-2022 to 27-09-2022 Certificate in SME Management Dates: 28-09-2022 to 30-11-2022
Find out more >
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT ISME Skillnet has partnered with The UCD Professional Academy to address Irish SME’s skill gaps. The Academy will offer our members and non-members, a world-class learning experience with career-enhancing qualifications. This exciting new partnership will provide flexible learning that fits easily into a busy SME’s life and easy access to industry-focused courses that deliver job-ready skills. As an alternative to on-campus learning, the academy will deliver all expert instructor-led courses via UCD’s interactive online study environment. Each programme comes with a UCD Professional Academy Diploma in an area of your choice. The programme categories have been broken down in to five key titles, all of which align to ISME’s learning and development strategies: • Leadership & Management • Marketing (including Digital & Social Media) • Digital and IT (eCommerce, Artificial Intelligence, Transformation Management) • Business Programmes (Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, GDPR etc) • Data Analytics for Business, Finance and Marketing These programmes will be substantially subsidised by the ISME Skillnet by up to 50%. They will be highly affordable to companies that would often see these types of programmes out of reach financially. A full list of all courses can be found and booked here.
Find out more >