November 2022 ISME Member's Monthly

Message from the CEO

Dear member,

Government has very belatedly announced the details of its TBESS scheme to address soaring energy costs It is also now open to certain trades and professions, but leaves businesses to carry 60% of the increase and is subject to a €10,000 cap. There is an increased cap where a business has multiple MPRNs in connection with a single trade, which is subject to a €30,000 cap.

The “social chapter” policies seem to be moving on very quickly, with the Government discussing Domestic Violence Leave last month, which we gave media feedback on. We know that responsible employers are already assisting victims of domestic violence, but we need to see that provisions will not be abused by people who are not the victims of domestic violence.

The Government also been talking (over our heads) about Collective Bargaining. We have not been fairly represented by IBEC on this issue, and we remain excluded from LEEF (the Labour Employer Economic Forum) where these things are discussed. Our Chair, Margaret O'Rourke Doherty, has written to the Taoiseach on the issue, and we hope to have a constructive engagement with his office before he stands down in December. However, you should be aware that the LEEF Report Proposals would have fundamental impacts on your business, and this is an area we will ask you for local lobbying assistance on in future.

Just about the only good news we had during October was the announcement that the Revenue Debt Warehousing scheme has been extended into 2024. We think this is a rational, sensible measure, since most of the businesses with warehoused debt would have found it very difficult to repay the Revenue while dealing with the energy crisis, and an 8% increase in the minimum wage in January. However, our view of the warehousing is that even by 2024, at least of the €2 58bn in outstanding debt will have to be written off by Revenue. Those sales lost throughout the pandemic can never be made back, and the red ink has to land on someone’s balance sheet. It might as well be the Government’s they were the ones who shut our businesses down!

Don’t forget If you need money, use the ISME FINANCE FINDER!

It’s great to be back on the road, and the team members and I are enjoying meeting you the members again The November Roadshows move to Limerick, Athlone and Galway,. I look forward to seeing you at one!

Ballyvolane

ISME welcomes new members

ISME news

Campaign

We will be promoting our Shop Local 2022 campaign from November and the theme is Think, Spend & Support LOCAL. The key message in the campaign is to get purchasers to think before they buy, chose local and support each other. On our Shop Local portal we have both B2C and B2C listings and we invite Members, no matter what type of business you have, to participate and advertise for free by filling in the form here.

Last Roadshows in 2022

We are now over halfway through the Roadshows and so far, are delighted with the interest and engagement of the businesspeople present. The good news is there’s more to come in November where will be hosting events on Wednesday, 9th November, 9 11am in the Strand Hotel, Limerick, Wednesday 16th November, 4.30 6.30pm in the Athlone Springs Hotel, Athlone, Co. Roscommon and finally on Thursday 17th November, 9 11am in the Maldron Hotel Galway, Oranmore, Co. Galway

The programme is as follows:

ISME Update:

• Neil McDonnell, CEO | Adam Weatherley, Learning & Development Manager

HR Issues for Business:

• Neil McDonnell in discussion with John Barry, Managing Director, MSS The HR People

Cybersecurity for SMEs:

• David Waldron, Managing Director, Tier3Tech | Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) local representatives, details tbc

Pitch my business & Networking

Please send in your questions or comments for the speakers while registering here, particularly for the Cyber Security and HR discussions, so we can address issues that relate to your business on the day.

Each attendee will have a 2 minute slot to give an elevator pitch to promote their business A great opportunity to network with fellow business people in your area. Don’t forget your business cards!

Everyone is welcome so please bring along your colleagues, clients or friends in business. Refreshments are provided at all events and it’s free to attend.

Sponsored by ISME Skillnet.

To find out more and book your free space visit here

ISME news

ISME in the news

ISME featured in the media this past month speaking some about the following subjects:

• Is workplace culture in crisis?

• Professional Recognition in Hair & Beauty Industry

• 12 month extension to the Debt Warehousing Scheme

• ISME Roadshows Series 2022

• Collective Bargaining

You can view and listen back to a selection of ISME’s media coverage here.

ISME Finance Finder

Looking at plans for 2023 and beyond, then explore the funding options available to SMEs with the ISME Finance Finder powered by Swoop Funding This online tool offers loan choices to SMEs in minutes, streamlining the funding application process.

View our new series of Q&A videos with Andrea Reynolds, CEO with Swoop

Funding about the online portal that explain how it works, the funding available and more here.

Your funding journey starts now by going to www.isme.ie/finance-finder

Employee Awards Programmes

Up to now, the Small Benefit Exemption Scheme allowed Irish employers to provide a non cash tax exempt benefit to Irish employees of up to €500 once per year. The exemption threshold is now increased from €500 to €1,000 per employee per year. Employers can give two tax-free rewards in a year up to the threshold instead of just one.

Two ISME Members offer tax free reward products Allgo Rewards Card, details here, and One4All Rewards, find out more here.

ISME taking bookings now for ads for the 2023 Wall Planner

We will be printing and distributing our popular 2023 ISME Wall Planners to the membership before the end of the year. We offer advertising space on the planner, a great B2B tool which will be distributed to all ISME Members nationwide. There are four sizes available for advertising, and as always, ISME Members receive a discounted rate. Book your spot now as they sell fast.

Download the spec here or email marketing@isme ie for more information.

ISME news

ISME Wellness Programme

ISME partners with Laya healthcare and their health & wellbeing provider, SpectrumLife to provide 24/7 Mental Wellbeing Support Programme (EAP) for ISME Members. We offer unlimited access for your employees and their families to a 365 freephone EAP service, accessible via website, app, or live chat. The cost for up to 30 employees is €500 + VAT and each subsequent employee €9 per employee Find out more here.

ISME welcomes the announcement by the Revenue of the 12month extension to the Debt Warehousing Scheme

ISME has welcomed the announcement by the Revenue of the 12 month extension to the Debt Warehousing Scheme, while expressing surprise that this should be an administrative decision by them rather than a decision by Government.

Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME said: “It is clear that a great many businesses are financially challenged this winter by the confluence of the energy price crisis, general inflation costs, increasing labour costs, and the imminent collection of Revenue debt. Recent reports suggested that the Revenue would call in the Sheriffs to collect this debt early in the New Year.”

Read the full release here

ISME expresses grave concern at collective bargaining proposals

ISME has expressed the grave concern of its membership at the questionable proposals produced by the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) “High Level Working Group” on 5th October 2022, regarding collective bargaining.

LEEF is an entity from which ISME, a representative body of a significant number of Irish Small and Medium Enterprises, and other small business representatives, have been deliberately excluded. As such, a representative body, ISME has been requesting admission to LEEF from as far back as December 2018.

ISME takes no issue with LEEF other than with the fact that it is unrepresentative of small enterprise. The employer’s side is composed exclusively of the representatives of large enterprises, despite the reality that they make up only 0.2% of active enterprises in the State. LEEF businesses are mostly comprised of multinational employers or the public service and semi states.

Keep reading here

SEAI SME Business Webinar:

Reduce your use and

ISME

energy transition.

Join the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) online SME Business Briefing on 17th November at 10.00am to learn how your business can save energy and money.

This

•

reduce

• SEAI supports

and bills this winter.

to help you further reduce costs and move away from fossil fuels.

• How to

The webinar will include special guest Shane McCullough from the Strategic Banking Cooperation Ireland (SBCI) who is give advice on how you can fund your renewable energy investments.

To register for the event go to: Webex Events (classic)

SEAI

Recently

Efficiency Guide for Retailers

Guide is for Irish retailers aims to

to help businesses use and

outlined will help retail businesses

them towards SEAI resources to help ensure

is available on the

website here.

practices.

ISME news

Integrity at Work Online conference

As the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 is enacted in Ireland and the EU Whistleblowing Directive is transposed into member States' law, employers and regulators need to prepare for the changes that are coming into place. The Integrity at Work Conference, titled ‘New Opportunities Workplace Accountability in a Changing Legal Landscape’ will take place at 9 00am 10.15am and 1.00pm 2.01pm, 21st 24th November.

The conference presents an opportunity to explore the practical implications for employers in implementing the amended Protected Disclosures legislation in Ireland and to discuss the importance of whistleblowing in highlighting risks within organisations

You can view the Conference Agenda here and book your place here. Sessions will be both live and recorded with a 'listen back' option for any sessions you miss. Tickets cost €180 and but ISME members can get a 10% discount, just type ISME in the ‘Enter promo code’ box when selecting your tickets

Reduce costs with ISME

We had added more ways for ISME Members to reduce their costs and get added benefits for their business in 2022.

Access the following savings:

•35% discount on AA membership for Roadside Rescue, Home Start & Rescue (cover for company membership only)

• 30% discount on website development and design subscription from XYZ

• 20% discount on a range of HR Services from MSS ‘The HR People’

• 10% discount on dental services with Dublin Dental Clinic

View all our Affinity programmes here.

Learning & Development

Limited spaces remaining for Skills connect programme

ISME Skillnet are offering two industry led and fully funded programmes for people who are not in employment, subject to eligibility criteria and the availability of places.

If you are currently not in employment and wish to upskill or reskill, click here to see if you are eligible.

The programme we are running is: Office Administration and Management Diploma

Have you applied for your free business mentor?

If you are a private sector business based in Ireland with between 5 and 250 employees, you are eligible to participate in the ISME Back in Business initiative.

Business coaching and mentoring is a proven, highly effective method to review, improve and grow a business but it is costly.

Our panel of experienced mentors and business advisors have either sectorial or domain expertise. 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.

Apply for your mentor here

Member Feature

AsIAm Helping Tralee Employers Connect with Local Autistic Talent

Working in collaboration, ISME Member, AsIAm and Specialisterne Ireland aim to support the autistic community in Tralee, Co. Kerry to gain meaningful employment in their local community.

AsIAm is Ireland’s National Autism Charity. We are working to create a society in which every autistic person is empowered to reach their own personal potential and fully participate in society. Specialisterne Ireland is a specialist consultancy that recruits and supports autistic and neurodivergent people in gaining employment.

This project is inspired by a recent survey of the Irish autistic community, which estimated that as many as 85% of autistic people in Ireland are un or under employed. Within the autistic community we have a cohort of people with a vast array of skills and talents that are looking for work.

We know that businesses want to engage and hire autistic employees but don’t know where to start or don’t want to get it wrong. This project will bridge that gap and connect employers with local autistic talent.

We will work directly with candidates and local companies to ensure all parties are supported throughout the process. We will achieve this by delivering free Autism Friendly Recruitment Training to companies throughout Tralee. While also working with candidates to upskill them with Careers Clinics including CV prep, mock interviews and preparing them for the workplace. We will be providing on going support to the employer and the candidate as they take up the role.

Alongside this we will be working with existing local organisations on the ground to upskill and train them so that in 12 months time we have a sustainable model of employment for autistic people in Tralee and Kerry.

At present we are currently engaging with key stakeholders within the community in Tralee including Employability, Intreo, MTU and local businesses.

We know that work is a human right, and that the autistic community is ready to work.

If you are interested in undergoing the free training for your business or would like more information, please contact us at niamhgr@asiam.ie