Across the globe, governments are increasingly recognising the economic value of the seas as a source of energy, materials, food and transport. In 2012, the Irish Government published an Integrated Marine Plan which includes a goal to increase the turnover from our ocean economy to exceed €6.4bn by 2020.

Cork Chamber recognises the vast economic potential of the Maritime Sector for Cork businesses and is currently participating in a European Project funded through the ‘Regions of Knowledge’ Seventh Framework Programme called the Resource Efficiency Maritime Capacity Project (REMCAP). REMCAP is a collaborative project involving 14 partner organisations from six European maritime clusters The main objective of REMCAP is  to develop the clusters' ability to promote innovation and enable sustainable growth across the key markets of offshore wind; ocean energy; fishing; aquaculture; blue biotech; aggregates and dredging and seabed mining.

For more information visit the REMCAP website HERE or contact  Claire 

The Ambassador of Canada to Ireland, Kevin Vickers, was appointed in January 2015. He previously served as the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons.  The Ambassador comes from New Brunswick and has proud Irish ancestry. He looks forward to improving and strengthening trade relations between Ireland and Canada. 

Ambassador Simon S.K. Tu of the Taipei Representative Office was posted to Ireland last week and during his first week, he visited Cork to attend the Lennox Robinson Literary Festival. This  year’s guest speaker and recipient of the Lennox Robinson Literary Award was renowned Taiwanese novelist and short-story writer, Professor Ying Tai Chang. The Ambassador’s previous posts included New Zealand and South Africa and he is looking forward to developing bilateral relations between Ireland and Taiwan. 

Pictured L-R are: Hsiu-Mei (Shirley) LIN, Deputy Director of the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland, Pete Duffy, writer & Lennox Robinson Literary Festival Committee member, Billy O’Callaghan, writer & Lennox Robinson Literary Festival Committee member, Ying Tai Chang - writer & Distinguished Professor of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology Taipei, Tracy S.K. Tu, Ambassador Simon S.K. Tu, Taipei Representative Office in Ireland and Conor Healy, CEO Cork Chamber. 

The Chambers Ireland Corporate Social Responsibility Awards are now accepting applications. The awards are open to all businesses and are free to enter. There are a range of categories covering different areas of CSR and all relevant information can be found on www.csrawards.ie. The Awards are a great chance to gain recognition for your company’s commitment to being a responsible and sustainable business. Applications are made online and will be open until Tuesday 21^st April. If you have any queries at all regarding the awards, please contact Amy Woods here  or 014004319.

1. Fundraising Team of the Year award - Read More HERE 

2. Cork's first Open House weekend to showcase architectural gems - Read More HERE

3. Most Trusted Leader Award - Read More HERE

4. Awards to Recognise Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility Launched - Read More HERE 

5. Cork Student Entrepreneurs compete to win place at National Finals - Read More HERE 

6. New Cork business, BTS Recruitment, headed by Alf Smiddy and Ernest Cantillon, launch online talent platform for hiring in hospitality in Ireland - Read More HERE

7. Mick O'Dea draws inspiration from Irish War of Independence - Read More HERE 

8. Irish music legends TRIAD, SCULLION & KIERAN GOSS perform Triskel Christchurch Patrick's Week 2015 - Read More HERE

9. The Chris Mee Group and Willis Risk Services are delighted to announce a new strategic Risk Management Partnership - Read More HERE

10.  Irish workers are burning the midnight oil, according to Regus survey - Read More HERE

Join the Enterprise Europe Network, to learn about Lille.  Located in Northern France, on the border with Belgium, the Lille region provides access to 78 million consumers and 5 European capitals within a radius of 300km. The region has a particularly strong food industry, and is home to many food industry leaders.  Hear more about the Boulogne-sur-Mer seafood centre in Lille, the largest seafood processing centre in Europe, and two leading regional clusters include the Nutrition, Health, Longevity (NHL) and Eurasanté clusters representing the region’s strengths in the food and pharma/healthcare sectors. 

Following the seminar, there will be an opportunity for one-to-one meetings and networking with the speakers from Lille and also with some of the UCC food research and EU project experts. There will be a brief introduction to food research at UCC (Prof. Alan Kelly, UCC) and H2020 opportunities in this area (Dr Sonia Monteiro, UCC). SMEs in the food/health sectors that are investing in R&D or have experience of EU projects are invited to join this meeting to investigate potential areas of future collaboration.


(Please advise when booking for this event if you would like to stay for this meeting/networking opportunity and if there is anyone in particular that you would like to speak to during a 1:1 meeting.)

Date: Tuesday, 31^st March
Time: 7.30am – 9.00am
Venue: Clarion Hotel
Cost: €25 / €35 non members
To book:  HERE

Did you know that Cork houses one of the world’s leading research & innovation facilities housing 460 researchers, scientists and engineers, across 38 nationalities and attracting 11,500 visitors per year? The Tyndall National Institute brings companies from around the world to Cork to collaborate and is spinning out successful start-ups, as well helping growing companies through research. Tyndall is focused on developing technology solutions for health, communications, energy, agriculture, food, marine and the environment sectors.

A proven leader and technology sector executive, Dr. Drain has delivered significant successes in major US and international business roles. He has over thirty years industrial experience in technology and business management in diverse industrial segments.  Join with your fellow Cork Chamber members to hear about this global success story and how YOU can get involved.

BOOK EARLY*

*Booking events early gives you immediate access to the attendance list, ensures that you are kept up to date with all news relating to the event and positions you on the attendance so that others can find you, network with you and vice versa.

Date: Wednesday, 15^th April
Time: 5.30pm – 7.00pm
Venue: AIB South Mall
Cost: FREE for Cork Chamber members
To Book: HERE

Cork Chamber is proud to partner with AIB Bank on South Mall for the April Business After Hours Networking Event. AIB Bank and its predecessors, the Munster Bank and The Munster & Leinster Bank, have supported the people and businesses of Cork from its 66 South Mall premises for 150 years and this iconic building is now celebrating its 100th year anniversary this year. Completed in 1915, this beautiful building is recognised as one of the most historically significant banking premises in the country.

Join with your fellow members for the best networking event in town – you can bank on it!

 
BOOK NOW

Is your business customer focused?

Do you sell to your customers on a daily basis?

How many times do you WIN that sale??

How you deal with and manage your relationship with your customers affects your bottom line.

Once you learn some Influencing & Negotiating Skills, you will be able to turn those WIN – LOSE moments into only WIN – WIN opportunities!

This course starts on the 11^th March next, don’t miss your chance, BOOK NOW!

If you’re attending the Lille event…be sure to register for a meeting with some of UCC’s agrifood researchers and find out about Horizon 2020 opportunities from them. Contact Katherine for further information. 

India Business Opportunities in Infrastructures, Cork City Hall, 12th March, 12:30 pm to 3pm

The Cork Chapter of the Ireland India Business Association (IIBA) are organising a free lunchtime seminar on Thursday, 12 March. The seminar will outline opportunities in the areas of energy, IT, clean-tech, renewable and smart cities. This event will feature a number of Indian specialists from these areas and will outline opportunities for Cork companies. BOOK HERE. 

A delegation of business leaders and Chambers are shortly to travel to the US. The purpose of this trip is to discuss the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and to lobby the US administration for an SME-friendly trade agreement. Divergences in regulations and standards have been identified as one of the main obstacles for effective market access to the United States.

We are looking for any member companies who have experienced difficulty entering the US market due to regulatory divergence?  If your company has experience any of these issues or you would like to discuss further, please contact Emma Kerins on t: 01-4004303 or  E: here

10% Discount on ALL services for Chamber Members ONLY!! 

Many of you may be familiar with and have even used the services of An Scolaire, situated across the road from UCC. But did you know that we also offer a wide range of services to the business community? We have gained vast experience over the years and are confident that both our service and product will not be beaten. We treat each job uniquely and no job is too big or too small. For all your printing, copying, binding, stationery and laminating needs please contact Frank on 021-4274138 or  email here.  We also provide a collection and delivery service 7 days a week.  

Date: 3^rd - 7^th March
Time: 8pm
Venue: Cork Arts Theatre
Cost:  €10 Concession
To Book: 021 4505624

This fund-raising event for the Cork Arts Theatre will see ten short plays performed over the course of the evening.  All of the plays take place in a public park setting with the only stage furniture being a park bench.  It promises to be an evening filled with entertainment with something for everyone. Offer for Chamber Members:  Concession rate for Chamber members €10 with code “CHAMBER 10”

The challenge for organisations today is that ‘service’ does not only take place face-to-face. Consumers expect to be able to interact with companies across many different channels – online, over the phone and face-to-face – to suit their needs and they expect a consistency of brand experience and high levels of service regardless of how and when they make contact.

• How do you ensure the customer gets a consistent experience across so many touch points?
• How do you ensure your website and your people deliver on the promise of your brand?
• How can Amazon achieve its mission to become the earths most customer centric company with no face to face contact with customers? 

All these issues and more will be addressed by John Aves in his presentation.

More details here.