Business & Finance

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin visited Killowen Farm, Courtnacuddy, Enniscorthy, on 5th May to celebrate Killowen’s huge success to date and the €4m investment by the Dunne family and Enterprise Ireland which will enable this family-run business grow its cream cheese production, and create up to 25 new jobs locally bringing its workforce to 72 people. The Taoiseach described it as “a real Irish success story”. The Dunne Family have been producing yogurt from milk supplied from its own 260-cow herd under the Killowen Farm brand since 2004. Killowen uses only milk and live cultures and does not add any preservatives or additives to its product range. As far as possible, it uses locally grown fruit in its flavoured yogurt range. Killowen exports to international markets including Dubai, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore, and domestically sells yogurts under the Killowen Farm brand to major supermarkets and specialist retailers, and is also a supplier to Aldi Ireland, Dunnes Stores’ Simply Better range, SuperValu’s Signature Taste range, and Tesco’s Finest range. n

Top: Taoiseach Micheál Martin with

Minister James Browne and Nicholas Dunne, owner Killowen Farm, Courtnacuddy, Enniscorthy.

Right: Taoiseach Micheál Martin unveils plaque to mark the occasion.

Below: Taoiseach Micheál Martin with the Dunne family at Killowen Farm, Courtnacuddy.

All photos: Mary Browne.

Killowen’s €4m expansion

Above: Killowen’s new 4-pack yogurts, available nationwide. Below: Taoiseach Micheál Martin with Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Barbara-Anne Murphy, Tom and Mary Dunne, and Tom Enright CEO of Wexford County Council. Pic: Mary Browne.

Above: Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Killowen Farm with Pauline, Nicholas and Judith Dunne. Pic: Mary Browne. Below: Taoiseach Micheál Martin trying his hand at packing with Maria Buit and Rebecca Murphy. Pic: Mary Browne.

Business supports

The Business Expansion Grant is designed to assist a business in its growth phase after the initial 18 month start-up period. Sole traders, partnerships or limited companies that fulfill the following criteria can apply: - Located and operating within the LEO geographic area. - A business, which, on growth, will have the capacity to progress to the Enterprise Ireland portfolio - A business employing up to 10 employees - A manufacturing or internationally traded service business - A domestically traded service business with the potential to trade internationally. For more information and how to apply click here: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Wexford/Financial-Supports/Business-Expansion-Grant/ The Agile Innovation Fund is now available for small businesses in Wexford: Introduced by Enterprise Ireland, the Agile fund will help clients of LEO Wexford respond more quickly to market opportunities and challenges like Brexit. Offering fast-track approval and a streamlined online application process, the new Agile Innovation Fund will allow companies to access up to 45% or 50% in support for product, process or service development projects with a total cost of up to €300,000. For more information click: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Wexford/Financial-Supports/Agile%20Innovation%20Fund/ n

Datapac’s new Community Contribution Initiative

Datapac launches new Community Contribution Initiative and gives over 500 days back to community.

Enniscorthy-based Datapac, Ireland’s leading technology solutions and services provider, has launched its new Community Contribution Initiative which will provide employees with an additional three days of paid leave per year to engage in volunteering activities with organisations of their choice. The company will give over 500 days back to the community as part of this programme. The launch of the new initiative reinforces Datapac’s commitment to promoting a positive work/life balance for its team. The company is encouraging employees to use this programme to champion the causes that matter most to them and enhance their wellbeing. Datapac is rolling out the programme as communities begin to reemerge from the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic and rebuild important connections. This is the latest initiative introduced by Datapac to support employee wellbeing, following the launch of its Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in conjunction with Laya Healthcare last year. This 24/7 resource is completely free, confidential and offers round-the-clock support and counselling to the team. Karen O’Connor, General Manager, Datapac: “Over the span of our 40 years in business, we have always supported and strengthened our greatest and most important asset: our employees. A person’s time is their most valuable asset, which is why we want to empower our people to spend their time in the most enriching way possible. “Everyone has a cause that is near and dear to them, yet due to the constraints and pressures of modern life, it can be difficult to find the time to fully contribute our efforts to them. With this new

Karen O’Connor, General Manager, Datapac

L-R: Kevin Hall, Senior Systems Engineer, Datapac and David O’Connor, Director, Sheil Kinnear.

initiative, we are dedicated to supporting our employees’ wonderful contributions to their communities.”

Datapac has also announced that it has delivered a complete digital transformation solution to 130-year-old accountancy practice, Drinagh-based Sheil Kinnear.

Following Sheil Kinnear’s recent merger with a second accountancy practice, Datapac digitally transformed the business by integrating both IT systems and migrating all company devices, software packages and data to the cloud.

The solution supports effective remote and hybrid working and has improved collaboration for Sheil Kinnear’s employees, whose desktops now run securely in the cloud. Datapac also refreshed the company’s security posture with cloud-based firewalls and backups. The now fully cloud-based Sheil Kinnear has seen significant cost savings due to a reduction in the need for hardware upgrades and maintenance. The company is also better able to serve its customers with improved workflows. As well as its head office in Drinagh, Sheil Kinnear also has locations in Enniscorthy and Arklow.

Doing Wexford proud in national Student Enterprise Awards

A mini-company from Gorey Community School has won the ‘Best Business Report’ award at the recent national Student Enterprise Programme awards attended by An Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar. ‘Clonough Handmade Soap’ is run by young entrepreneur Niall O’Shaughnessy under the guidance of his teacher, Mr Andrew Killane.

In addition, a student enterprise from Ramsgrange Community School competed for the overall award in the Intermediate category of the National Final held in the Helix in Dublin on the 18th May. ‘Little People, Big Pasts’ was among the Top 5 entrants in that category. Second year students Louise Byrne, Ben Cassidy, Ellie Byrne Donnelly, Aoibhínn Doyle and Matthew Haskins turned stories their class had gathered from local people as part of a history project into a wonderful published book that they marketed and sold. The students were mentored throughout their business journey by their teachers Ms. Deirdre O’Donohoe and Ms. Louise Walsh. Although not winning the overall prize, to have been included in the Top 5 was a wonderful achievement.

Michael Nevin, chair of the Education Enterprise Committee of the Local Enterprise Offices, said; “This is the 20th year of the Student Enterprise Programme and the standard continues to improve year on year. There have been some amazing ideas in from across the country and while not all made the final on the 18th they can be very proud of what they have achieved. That experience will stand with them forever and hopefully will light the spark of entrepreneurship with them that they will carry into later life.”

The enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, sees over 24,000 students from almost 500 secondary schools across the country take part yearly. The students compete across three categories, Junior, Intermediate and Senior and judging took place virtually via electronic submissions. Each student enterprise is challenged with creating, setting up and running their own business, which must show sales of their service or product. The Student Enterprise Programme also has a new range of online resources at www.StudentEnterprise.ie, which features regular blogs and a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.

Further information around the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #wexfordsep and #studententerprise on social media. n

Above: L-R Niamh Hatchell (EPA), Niall O’Shaughnessy (Clonough Handmade Soap), Cllr Michael Whelan, Angela Lawless (LEO Wexford). Below: Little People Big Pasts L-R: Niamh Hatchell (EPA), Aoibhínn Doyle, Matthew Haskins, Cllr Michael Whelan, Ellie Byrne-Donnelly, Angela Lawless (LEO Wexford), Louise Byrne and Ben Cassidy.

TFM’s major investment in Enniscorthy premises

The official opening of Templetuohy Farm Machinery’s new, world-class premises on the Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy, took place on 6th May 2022.

A major investment by TFM has ensured that their impressive, modern farm machinery dealership in Enniscorthy is now in a position to provide an even greater level of service to the agricultural community in the south east of Ireland.

Farmers and contractors can avail of sales and service across a huge range of machinery including John Deere, SIP, Kramer, Lemken, Shuitemaker, Perrard, Sauter, Solsteer and Mazzotti self-propelled sprayers.

TFM was established in 1982 by Jimmy and Joe Butler. In 1983, very soon after opening their first depot at Templetuohy, Co. Tipperary, TFM was appointed as a John Deere dealer. Since then TFM has grown to be a six-outlet group located at Templetuohy (head office), Clonmel, Portlaoise, Enniscorthy, Kilkenny and Tuam.

Meeting customers’ demands for new and used tractors and machinery while also providing service and support that customers can rely on time and time again is the reason the TFM name has become synonymous with farm machinery. A team of over 100 highly-trained people forms the backbone of the service and support structure within TFM including 15 employed in sales and over 50 in service.

TFM are market leaders in Farmsight technology which uses a combination of intelligent machines along with the latest communication technology and dealer service packages. This ensures customers get the very best utilisation from their machines in terms of machine performance, uptime and fuel efficiency while also documenting field and crop data.

The dedicated and hard working sales, service and parts team at TFM in Enniscorthy are looking forward to serving their customers, new and old, at their state-of-the-art premises on the Old Dublin Road.

Check out the local team at: https://www.tfmltd.com/ourteam/our-enniscorthy-team/

Templetuohy Farm Machinery, Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy, Y21 A006. Tel: 053 9236601 / 9236602. https://www.tfmltd.com admine@tfmltd.com

Monart Spa wins Irish Tatler ‘Service Excellence Award’ 2022

Monart Destination Spa has again been announced a winner at the prestigious Irish Tatler Spa Awards 2022. The ‘Service Excellence Award’ was presented to the team at the luxury 5-star destination spa at the awards ceremony which was held in Dublin recently. The awards, first staged in 2009, are designed to highlight excellence and innovation in Ireland’s wellness and spa industries. The coveted awards are presented to winners who have been nominated by Irish Tatler readers and judged by an industry panel. The expert judging panel spent the last few months travelling up and down the country rediscovering old favourites, trying out the newest treatments and handpicking Ireland’s most fabulous spa experiences. A glamorous ceremony and luncheon was attended by guests from spas all over Ireland and hosted by Irish Tatler Editor Jessie Collins. Commenting on the occasion Jessie said: "The Irish Tatler Wellness & Spa awards offer those working in the spa and wellness industries the opportunity to raise their profile and to recognise exceptional team members." Commenting on the win, Liam Anthony Griffin of Monart Destination Spa said: “We are honoured to be awarded the ‘Service Excellence Award’. Operating when we were allowed to during the pandemic certainly proved challenging, but every member of the team at Monart Destination Spa went to every effort to ensure that guests could still relax and simply enjoy a ‘great escape’ experience. “It is always our goal to ensure that each and every guest at Monart receives the highest standard of service and attention and this is a huge credit to the team at Monart who deliver this service every day. The icing on the cake on this occasion is that the team have been nominated by the readers of Irish Tatler for this award, it truly is a testament to their commitment.” The multi-award-winning Monart Destination Spa is situated just outside Enniscorthy and is regarded by all the top Travel Guides as one of the world’s leading destination spas. All treatments at Monart offer guests extensive use of the thermal suite, which is key to the Monart experience. Monart is dedicated to ensuring you relax and renew in the stunning and peaceful environment. For details see www.monart.ie n

Women in business

The Local Enterprise Office’s Women in Business Network facilitates female entrepreneurs to gather, share experiences and receive business advice from each other.

Roundtable discussions are facilitated by a Network member and attendees rotate between tables and topics. This enables attendees to meet a mix of other business women and get tips on topics such as confidence, marketing, and accountability. At the Network event on 25th May, tables were facilitated by business mindset coach Jo Flood, marketing consultant Paula Ronan, branding specialist Mary Fleming, and Breege Cosgrave, Acting Head of Enterprise and Economic Development with Wexford County Council. And, in a departure from normal, there was a special treat, with Ruth Gallagher, CreativeSound.ie, getting everyone involved in a musical activity! Ruth provides team-building workshops through music for personal and team development and wellbeing. Female entrepreneurs can also join in on Facebook in the private group, LEO Wexford Women in Business Network, which has over 240 members.

“The Women in Business Network is very much in line with one of Enterprise Ireland’s key objectives in its Action Plan for Women in Business – and we’re delighted with its success in supporting female entrepreneurship in Wexford,” says Breege Cosgrave, Acting Head of Enterprise and Economic Development at Wexford County Council. Bookings for the Network can be made at https://www.localenterprise.ie/Wexford/ n

Women in Business (WIB) Network meeting on 28th April 2022 in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, with guest speaker Angie Mezzetti of the Women in Leadership podcast. Above left: Cllr Maura Bell and Breege Cosgrave, Acting Head of Enterprise and Economic Development, Wexford County Council. Above right: Jagdeep Sahans, Soul Scribe Calligraphy, and Calodagh McCumiskey, Spiritual Earth. Below left: WIB Network facilitator Deirdre O'Flynn and guest speaker Angie Mezzetti, Women in Leadership podcast. Below right: Lorraine Furney, Gorey Physical Therapy, and Anne Colgan, The Haven Group.

– monthly networking event

Roundtable discussion at the May Women in Business Network meeting, organised by the Wexford Local Enterprise Office. Christine O'Brien and Gina Arcari at the May Women in Business Network meeting in the Riverside Park Hotel.

Roundtable discussion at the May Women in Business Network meeting, organised by the Wexford Local Enterprise Office. Krittiya Hutjumpol and Jagdeep Sahans at the meeting in the Riverside Park Hotel.

Anne-Marie Hollowed-Murray and Siobhan Cahalane. Roundtable discussion at the May Women in Business Network meeting, organised by the Wexford Local Enterprise Office. Almost 40 female entrepreneurs attended the May meeting of the Women in Business Network, organised by the Local Enterprise Office. Held in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, on 25 May, the Network brought together women representing diverse businesses to share and learn from each other.

Roundtable discussions focused on the journey that business people are undergoing today. The different groups learned how to write an elevator pitch introducing their business, how to plan for business this year with all of its uncertainties, and wellness tips that work for the individual businesswoman.

Female entrepreneurs can also join in on Facebook in the private group, LEO Wexford Women in Business Network, which has over 240 members. n

Wexford haulier continues with Mercedes-Benz One of Ireland's largest transport companies, Perennial Freight, has chosen to further modernise its fleet of commercial vehicles by placing an order for 26 new Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty Actros trucks. The new Actros will be delivered on a phased basis over the next two years. Finished in the Company’s distinctive cobalt blue livery, first units will soon begin operation out of its Taghmon base in Wexford, servicing daily routes across Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe.

Established in 1998 and now with offices in Ireland, the UK, France, Belgium, Holland and Poland, Perennial Freight is widely recognised as one of Ireland’s largest transport companies, with a fleet of over 750 trailers and a further 130 trucks operating transport services across continental Europe. n

Feasibility Study Grants

Feasibility Study Grants are designed to assist the promoter with researching market demand for a product or service and examining its sustainability. It includes assistance with innovation including specific consultancy requirements, hiring of expertise from third level colleges, private specialists, design and prototype development. The maximum Feasibility Study Grant payable shall be 50% of the investment or €15,000 whichever is the lesser. Expenditure may be considered under the following headings: Market Research - Consultancy Costs - Technical Development/Prototype/ Innovation - Salary/Own Labour Research - Miscellaneous Costs Please contact Wexford LEO for an application form for the Feasibility Study Grant. Phone: 053 919 6020. Email: info@leo.wexfordcoco.ie n

Congrats

Beautique salon on Wafer Street, Enniscorthy, celebrated five years in business last month. Well done to Sam and her team there.

Aideen Vonno’s Eco Kind shop at Duffry Hill hit the one-year-inbusiness milestone on 25th May. Aideen says, “We are so grateful for everyone who has supported Eco Kind in our first year open. The refillers, the coffee drinkers, the plastic-free shoppers, all of our suppliers and the small Irish businesses who are stocked in our little shop.”

We urge our readers to continue to support local businesses. n

L-R: David O’Connor, Director, Sheil Kinnear and Kevin Hall, Senior Systems Engineer, Datapac. See story page 108