Portwest - your one-stop shop for staff uniforms

Portwest have been providing uniforms to companies since 1904. Over this time, they have learned many valuable lessons in providing a seamless uniform service. This allows you to ensure that your staff are impeccably dressed, with minimum hassle. The process starts with a full consultation to determine your requirements and then the Portwest design team will put forward ideas that match your brand. A sizing service can be provided (for 40 or more people) where they will come on site and measure your team, ensuring every employee gets their perfect fit. They have taken this a step further this year also with the introduction of their Base Scan’N’Fit service, which allows them to scan a team members foot and make bespoke recommendations, including what insole is suitable for the wearer to ensure maximum comfort. Another service offered by Portwest is ‘man packing,’ meaning they will deliver your uniforms pre-packed with everyone’s name on it. For larger contracts, there are several bespoke solutions available. These include agreed stockholding, production of custom items, catalogues and more to meet your business needs. Portwest supply uniforms to more than 200 customers throughout Ireland and you can be assured of always getting the best quality, value and service. For more information about this or any of Portwest’s services, contact them directly on 098 51777 or email sales@portwest.ie

BUILDERS MERCHANT TO THE CORE

This month, a new sign went up over six well-known builders’ merchants across Dublin. That sign read ‘CORE’ and with a new slogan ‘We Supply. You Build’ - it officially announced the rebrand of these dedicated and long-standing expert builders providers and tool and plant hire specialists. CORE is the result of an ambitious growth strategy overseen by Emma Maye and Alan Hegarty since the couple acquired their first builders’ merchants in Clondalkin village in 2016. Clondalkin Builders Providers, as it was then known, was widely recognised as a ‘real builders’ merchant’ supplying numerous housing schemes, schools, hospitals and infrastructural projects since it was established in the 1980s. It is a source of personal pride to Emma and Alan that many of the employees who started with Clondalkin Builders Providers in the 1980s remain with the CORE group today. CORE CEO Emma Maye says, “Employees are the cornerstone of our business. To use an apt building metaphor, they are the foundation of every business decision we make. In fact, not just the foundation. They are the mortar holding the bricks of our business together. By valuing our employees and their well-being, we have built a team around us that shares our vision for the future.” CORE Founding Director Alan Hegarty says about CORE’s future, “CORE’s objective for the future is to continue to invest in our employees and to improve and enhance our customer service. We have maximised our offering to customers in the Dublin area by acquiring builders’ merchants in key locations in Coolock, Blackrock, Ringsend and Kimmage. We hope to continue our growth through further acquisition and to encourage building throughout the Leinster area.” The CORE group also owns www.build4less.ie one of Ireland’s first eCommerce sites for building materials.

Rachael Blackmore and CORE CEO, Emma Maye pictured recently officially opening CORE builders` providers at it’s rebrand. The company is one of Dublin’s leading builders merchants employing 115 staff across its six branches.

NEW VICE PRESIDENT, HONORARY TREASURER AND BOARD MEMBERS AT HAI

Paul Candon (United Hardware CEO) has become Vice President of Hardware Association Ireland (HAI). Senan Foley (Glanbia) is the new Honorary Treasurer.

At a recent board meeting in Galway of Hardware Association Ireland, President Michael O’Donohoe thanked, on behalf of the board, outgoing directors Dave Gavin, Mark Lohan, and Sean Moran for all their dedication and contribution to the board of HAI over many years.

Three new directors, each of whom are well known in the sector, were also appointed - Senan Foley (Glanbia), Eddie Kelly (Brooks/Murdocks), and John Peare (DPL). HAI would like to congratulate and thank the new incumbents for coming on board and wishes them well.

Paul Candon. Senan Foley.

YOURPRO ENTERS IRISH MARKET

A leading European technology platform that matches qualified local tradespeople and consumers quickly, efficiently and with a guarantee of a quality service has officially launched in Ireland. The platform will initially roll out services across the greater Dublin area with plans to expand throughout the country.

YourPro is investing ¤1 million initially to establish its presence and employ its local team. The company is a technology platform for urgent repairs, home improvements and renovation services connecting consumers with skilled local tradespeople in their area. YourPro has been successfully operating since 2015, with operations across Greece, Cyprus and Portugal, where over 350,000 customers have used it to access qualified plumbers, painters, electricians, gardeners, carpenters and more.

As well as connecting tradespeople with suitable jobs from consumers in their locality, YourPro’s platform streamlines administration, appointments and back-office tasks. Uniquely it also provides each tradesperson with access to a dedicated account manager as well as bespoke market insights so they can grow their businesses and increase efficiency. According to the Founder and CEO, Andreas Grammatis, the platform’s success to-date in Europe has been phenomenal and the selection of Ireland as its next market was based on the knowledge that Irish tradespeople are more tech-friendly than many other European markets. Having trialled their services in central Dublin at the end of 2021, they have seen an encouraging response from consumers and tradespeople.

There are over 90 job categories of trades available via the site www.yourpro.ie including renovations, cleaning services, pest control, tiling, painting, plumbing, general repairs etc.