Business & Finance

Spotlight on women in leadership at Women in Business Network

Increasing the numbers of women in leadership roles is the theme of the March meeting of the LEO (Local Enterprise Office) Wexford Women in Business Network on Thursday, 24 March.

The guest speaker is Meliosa O’Caoimh, the Country Chair of the Irish chapter of the 30% Club. The 30% Club is a global business campaign aimed at achieving better gender balance at leadership levels and throughout organisations, for better business outcomes. Established in 2015, the Irish Chapter hosts more than 260 organisations, representing more than 600,000 employees. Melíosa is the Country Head of Northern Trust, a leading global financial services company. Northern Trust is the third largest provider of fund administration and custody services in Ireland, employing more than 1,600 people in its offices in Dublin and Limerick.

Melíosa is Chair of Business in the Community’s “Worker of the Future” Committee and is also on the Board of the National Maternity Hospital Foundation. “We’re delighted that Melíosa will share her insights which will be of huge interest to women in business across Co. Wexford,” said Breege Cosgrave, Acting Head of Enterprise and Economic Development at Wexford County Council. The network is running online for now, with free Zoom meetings monthly and a dedicated Facebook Group called LEO Wexford Women In Business Network.

The free March Network meeting is on Zoom on Thursday, March 24, at 11.30am. Bookings for the Network can be made on the LEO’s website.

About the Women in Business Network: Meliosa O’Caoimh, the Country Chair of the Irish chapter of the 30% Club.

Wexford LEO’s Women in Business Network supports and empowers women as we navigate these uncertain times. Using Zoom, it connects female entrepreneurs to share their stories and gain insights relevant to their business role. In a supportive spirit and authentic space, women share what they do and are supported in the challenges facing their businesses. Along the way, they pick up valuable information and ideas to implement in their business and personal life. The membership spans from start-ups to self-employed, CEOs to changemakers. This is where they belong – in a warm, welcoming, and safe environment. The network is supported as well by an active Facebook Group with over 150 members.

Previous speakers:

 Holos Skincare’s Niamh Hogan, Wexford LEO’s leading light for the 2021

National Women’s Enterprise Day.  Sinéad McSweeney, Twitter VP, Global

Public Policy and Philanthropy.  FoodCloud co-founder Aoibheann

O’Brien.  Jewellery designer Chupi Sweetman.  Sustainability consultant Marie-Doyle

Henry, Astrum Consulting.  CEO Bevin Mahon of DentalTech.  Bord Bia’s consumer insights specialist

Grace Binchy.  Letterkenny-based Accountant Online founder Larissa Feeney.  Paula Fitzsimons, founder of the female rural entrepreneurs Acorns programme.  Cathy Corbett, executive coach with

LIFT Ireland.

About the 30% Club:

The 30% Club is a global campaign supported by Board Chairs and CEOs of medium and large organisations, committed to achieving better gender balance at leadership levels and throughout their organisation, for better business outcomes.

Established in 2015, the Irish Chapter hosts more than 260 organisations representing more than 600,000 employees.

https://30percentclub.org/chapters/ireland/ n

Sinéad McSweeney, Twitter VP, a previous speaker at the LEO Wexford Women in Business Network.

Local Enterprise Week 7th-11th March

Local Enterprise Week is organised every year by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices across the country. Taking place from Monday 7th to Friday 11th March, each Local Enterprise Office has its own programme of events. See the full line-up for Wexford below. Be informed and inspired by a great line-up of speakers and topics. Discover the supports and programmes available to help your business to thrive. Book your place today at: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Wexford/Training-Events/Local-Enterprise-Week-2022/

Tel: 053 919 6020 –Wexford Local Enterprise Office Join us for Local Enterprise Week 7th-11th March

L-R Christine Fortune, Sales Manager ICT Services and Solutions, Datapac, Tom Malkiewicz, IT Manager, Special Olympics Ireland, and Matt English, CEO, Special Olympics Ireland.

Enniscorthy’s Datapac helps Special Olympics Ireland to go the distance

Enniscorthy-based Datapac, Ireland’s leading technology solutions and services provider, announced at the beginning of February 2022 that it has implemented a fully managed ICT solution and security upgrades for Special Olympic Ireland (SOI). This represents an evolution of the long-term relationship between SOI and Datapac which, since 2006, has provided managed print services to Special Olympics Ireland, as well as a host of additional volunteering services including personnel, logistics and warehousing facilities.

SOI identified the need for a fully outsourced and integrated managed ICT solution to enable ongoing benefits for almost 8,000 athletes in 293 clubs nationwide. Datapac was successfully awarded the contract through a competitive tender process. Key integration of Datapac’s service management team and SOI stakeholders ensured a seamless onboarding process for staff transitioning to the new system. The managed services solution designed by Datapac has been implemented across SOI’s five locations, with a dedicated IT helpdesk solution available to the head office in Blanchardstown, Dublin, and bases in Cork, Sligo, Belfast and Abbottstown, Dublin. The flexible and scalable service provided by Datapac helps to facilitate SOI events around the country such as sporting fixtures and charitable functions. Access to Datapac’s customer support centre through a variety of convenient media allows SOI staff to receive the ongoing support that they need, including access to a 24-hour support service. Datapac provides a complete and proactive approach to managed security, underpinned by industry leading Sophos™ firewalls, cutting-edge HPE Aruba secure wireless technology, and a range of managed services including vulnerability testing of devices across the organisation. This ultimately protects and provides peace of mind to all who engage with SOI, including almost 8,000 athletes in 293 clubs across the country. This solution is helping SOI to securely roll out services such as virtual training courses and online ‘Together at Home’ video sessions as part of its Young Athlete Programme, which is a play and sports activity programme for children aged four to 12 years with an intellectual disability. The advanced managed solution supports in excess of 200 devices, enabling employees to safely work from home. Provision of advanced communications technology in the form of the Microsoft Office 365 suite and remote working hardware ensures that the great work done by SOI never skips a beat, no matter where their staff are located. Datapac’s proactive monitoring of the organisation’s IT infrastructure allows swift responses to potential issues or threats, ensuring minimal staff downtime and business disruption. Regular Disaster Recovery (DR) tests are carried out, which play a vital role in providing business continuity. The fully managed IT support helpdesk, with dedicated phoneline, ensures that a team of experienced engineers are always on hand to assist with day-to-day IT queries, further enhancing the employee experience while working remotely. Christine Fortune, Datapac’s Sales Manager ICT Services and Solutions, says, “Datapac has a long history of supporting Special Olympics Ireland beyond professional services and we’re happy to offer our facilities, volunteers and become involved in any way we can. We were delighted to be chosen to work with Special Olympics Ireland on this project and continue to build on our valued relationship.” www.datapac.com n

Enniscorthy & District Chamber Black Tie Ball

Attendees at the 2019 Enniscorthy & District Chamber Black Tie Ball

After a series of false starts, the annual Enniscorthy & District Chamber Black Tie Ball will now be going ahead in The Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, on Saturday night, April 16th (Easter Saturday). After such a prolonged period of lockdown, the Chamber believes the mood and timing is right for this event at which the cares and worries of the past two years of Covid restrictions can be put to one side in the convivial company of friends and business acquaintances. The Ball is being billed as the social highlight of the Easter season in the county. Considerable planning has gone into the event which includes a champagne reception on arrival, a sumptuous five-course dinner with a choice of wines, and dancing afterwards to the sounds of Brass & Co – a 13 piece musical combo from Waterford.

Mr. Ivan Yates, well known TV personality, businessman and retired politician has very kindly agreed to act as guest speaker for the Ball and his incisive comments and remarks on topics of the day will no doubt be eagerly awaited.

Tables of ten for company bookings will guarantee a night to remember for group attendees, and individual tickets are also available to purchase. With demand expected to exceed supply, early booking is strongly advised.

Corporate tables and individual tickets can be ordered in advance by contacting the Enniscorthy & District Chamber office on 053 9232006 during office hours or by email at admin@enniscorthychamber.ie n

Enniscorthy North Business District

(Old Dublin Road)

The works tender documents for Phase 1 works for the Enniscorthy North Business District were advertised in January 2022. The tender assessment and procurement of a contractor is expected to be complete by the end of March and it is hoped that construction will commence in April. A grant application has been submitted for central funding for Phase 2 works. n

Green for Micro

The objective of the Wexford Local Enterprise Office Green for Micro programme is to help prepare small businesses for the low carbon, more resource efficient economy of the future. This is a FREE programme, available to companies with up to ten employees. Developing a ‘greener’ policy can offer many benefits to your business, including: ● Increased cost savings ● Increased resilience to climate change impacts ● Increased access to customers

● Improved corporate image ● Opportunities for higher and additional value on products and services ● Reduced environmental footprint and greenhouse gas emissions ● Improved resource efficiency (for example: using less energy, water and materials) Click here to download the Green for Micro brochure: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Green/2 021-Feb-LEO-Green-For-Micro-Brochure-FINAL-pdf.pdf n

Up to 30 jobs land in Wexford’s ‘Lapp’

Up to 30 new jobs could be created in Wexford thanks to a new business which has set up in Ardcavan Business Park. Lapp UK & Ireland is one of the world's leading manufacturers of cables, cable connectors, cable harnessing and assemblies, and has set up its new Wexford base with help from Wexford Co. Council and local businessman Derek Kent of Ardcavan Business Park. Lapp now has eight people employed locally but plans to increase that up to 30 employees over the coming years. https://lapplimited.lappgroup.com