Cork Chamber is delighted to present the President of Integrated Network Solutions at Flextronics, Caroline Dowling. Flextronics is a Fortune 500 supply chains solutions company with more than 150,000 employees and operations in over 30 countries, including 3 locations in Ireland (Cork, Limerick and Dublin).

A graduate of Harvard Business School, Caroline will share her insights on future mobile technology trends as well as strategic growth opportunities in the market.

Join with your fellow Cork Chamber members to hear Caroline's unique story of the challenges in growing a multi-billion dollar business.

Take 5 minutes to complete our short economic trends survey on your company’s experience over the first quarter of 2014 and your outlook for the forthcoming quarter.

To begin the survey - please CLICK HERE.

All members who complete this survey, will be entered into a draw to win a meal for two in Oysters Restaurant, Cork City’s first ever dedicated Seafood Restaurant.

As always, your input is vital in informing our policy priorities and your responses will be integrated into our strategic planning and advocacy throughout 2014 from our meetings with senior government and political officials to our wider strategic and lobbying work for the Cork region

Please complete the survey by close of business on Thursday 27th March

Minister for Research and Innovation Mr Seán Sherlock TD, has announced a new €200,000 Enterprise Ireland fund to help entrepreneurs in Cork explore the feasibility of their start-up ideas. The fund can provide up to €25,000 towards the cost of a feasibility study to help new entrepreneurs to validate their start-up ideas. The aim of the fund is to boost start-ups and stimulate growth and job creation in Cork City and County.

Deadline for applications: 6pm on Friday 25^th April 2014

Full details of the fund including application form are available from: www.enterprise-ireland.com/corkfund.  

Enquiries to corkfund@enterprise-ireland.com or call Enterprise Ireland, Cork at +353 21 4800231

Cork Chamber today welcomed the announcement of the formation of Cork INC (Innovated, Networked, Connected). Cork Inc will be tasked with creating a ‘whole region’ approach to marketing Cork.

Speaking this morning Conor Healy, Chief Executive of Cork Chamber, said, “This is a very welcome initiative and one the Chamber has championed over many years.  However, it is important now that impetus is not lost and that Cork Inc receives both the resources and proper structures needed to ensure that Cork, as a region maximises to the full its tourism and economic development potential.”

Do you wish to become an effective manager? Want to learn how to build an effective team? Our Certificate in Supervisory Management course will equip you with the new skills set to help you excel in your management role - BOOK NOW!


The Business School also has a limited number of tickets available for the PMI National Conference – 10^th April in the Aviva Stadium – only €125.00!!

The PMI National Conference is taking place on 10^th April 2014 in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

The PMI will present Ireland's premier Project Management event which will include many distinguished speakers, including Sean Gallagher and Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan complemented by networking, panel discussion sessions and an option to take a tour of the beautiful Aviva Stadium.

Attending this conference will ensure you stay up to date with the latest topics in the project management profession. Learn about practical and proven project techniques and gain new business or potential clients while networking with the experts.

Click here to book – special discounted price for Members of €125.

Reducing Energy Costs for your Business, Cork Chamber, April 3

Places still remain for the free ISO 50001 Energy Management Standards seminar which takes place in Cork Chamber, 3 April 09:30am - 12:00 pm. The event is being hosted by the Enterprise Europe Network, in association with Energia. Email: liz@corkchamber.ie

Atlantic 2014, Atlantic Communication Technologies Event, Santandar (Spain), April 14-15

The Regional Government of Cantabria, in association with the Enterprise Europe Network, is organising the inaugural Atlantic business meetings. The scope of this event is to create a meeting point between administrations, companies, technology centres, universities and other European Atlantic organisations from the ICT sector. Email: eimear@corkchamber.ie

Date: March 28, 2014
Time: 9.15 to 12 noon
Venue: Council Room, Main Quad, UCC

The Irish Exporters Association's Asia Trade Forum will hold a Cork event on doing business in Asia with speakers sharing their experiences of breaking into Asian markets.
 
The event will also mark the partnership between the Asia Trade Forum and the School of Asian Studies, UCC, in the delivery and promotion of the new Diploma in Business, Language and Culture in East Asia. 
 

Speakers will include:

• Juan Blanes, Glenmar Shellfish
• Trevor O’Regan, PM Group
• Kevin O’Leary, Qumas

All welcome but places are limited.  Please RSVP to ashleybeston@irishexporters.ie or call 016424170

On Friday 28th March from 2pm to 4pm we would like to invite you to Cork Chamber Offices on Summerhill North. Open to both members and non-members you will have an opportunity to meet with key members of the team to learn the specific ways in which Cork Chamber can help your business.
 
Please forward this information to anyone who would be interested in learning more about Cork Chamber or feel free to pop in for a cup of coffee on the day. Contact us on 021-4509044 to book ahead.

Date: Thursday 27th March
Time: 7-8.30am
Venue: Gresham Metropole Hotel

The Breakfast Briefing will focus on electricity transportation infrastructure. Main Speaker: John Lowry, Grid Link Project Manager, Eirgrid. John will provide an update on Eirgrid’s developments in the Cork area, provide information on recently announced Grid25 initiatives and discuss the Grid Link project.

A light breakfast buffet will be served from 7am. Speaker commences at 7.30 am sharp. Open to both members and non-members of Energy Cork and is a free event but registration is essential. Please confirm your attendance via kieran_lettice@external.corkcity.ie

Date: Friday 11th April
Time: 12.30pm to 14.30pm
Venue: Cork County Hall

At this workshop, you will hear from award winning CSR experts, Karina Howley, CSR Manager, KPMG and Greg Canty, Managing Director, Fuzion Communications.
The event is free to attend but places are limited. Please contact Amy Woods, Chambers Ireland at amy.woods@chambers.ie or call 01 400 4319/ or Teresa O’Halloran, South West Regional Authority at tohalloran@swra.ie.

Ireland’s largest independent drinks distributor, Barry & Fitzwilliam has been awarded the prestigious Gold Standard Award in the Deloitte Best Managed Company Awards in Dublin recently. A winner of the Deloitte Best Managed company award in 2011, this subsequent award has been awarded to just 15 companies throughout Ireland, following four consecutive years of operating at the highest level of business performance. The awards were presented by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, TD.

Treat your mother to a delectable Mother’s Day Lunch in the 5 star Castlemartyr Resort. Enjoy a two course lunch for €25 per person or a three course lunch for €35 per person. To make a booking or to purchase a voucher for the above offer contact 021-4219000 or info@castlemartyrresort.ie. The Voucher is valid for 12 months.

Period of the offer available: Offer valid until 30^th April.
Summary of offer:                              
Limited dates free in May/June & July. Book your party with us (numbers must be 100 and over), delicious finger food menus available, complimentary room hire decorated with our center pieces & candle light and over night stay for the party guest at The Best Western Montenotte Hotel with spectacular views over looking the City, and our Chamber colleagues can enjoy a 10% discount on final food bill (mentioned on booking) call 021 4530050 or email events@themontenottehotel.com  www.themontenottehotel.com

A special opportunity to find out about how the Scouts can help you...

Scout Ireland which has over 45,000 members is holding its annual conference in the Silversprings Moran Hotel on 29/30 March. An information briefing on the relevance of Scouting in the community and business is taking place on Friday 28th at 6pm at the Convention Centre of the hotel. The event will be of special interest to public representatives and senior management including human resources management of companies in Cork. R.S.V.P. to southernprovince@scouts.ie Tel: 021-4310034 by 12 noon 28th March

Date: Tuesday 1st April 2014
Time: 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Venue: Clarion Hotel

The seminar follows on from the "Outlook" Retail report and will be hosted by Simon Healy, AIB Retail Sector Specialist (former Chief Executive of ADM Londis & SMS Consulting) and Mark Brendan, AIB Head of Digital Marketing & Innovation. Contact Elmarie Kelleher, Regional Business Banking Manager. Tel 086-0231486. Email: elmarie.m.kelleher@aib.ie

These events have been specifically designed to help small and start-up businesses understand and benefit from the services provided by many of our State offices and agencies.

By attending one of these events you will:

• Meet with representatives from a range of State offices and agencies throughout the event
• Get practical information and advice
• Find out ways to save your business money
• Get supports and tools to assist you in your business

More information available here

Date: Thursday March 27th

Time: 6.30pm

Venue:  Imperial Hotel

Cost: Free

Please contact Thos O’Leary at olearyt@focusireland.ie or call 021 425 1731 for more information

Mirror Mirror on the wall who is the fittest corporate team of all? Over 5,000 people have scaled 11,937 feet over 14 years. Have you missed out? It's not too late. Sign up now and be part of the adventure that changes lives.

Date: Begins Saturday March 29th with the Light it up Blue Gala Ball
Venue: Maryborough Hotel & Spa, Douglas
Time: 6.30pm
Cost : €75

The Cork Association for Autism are gearing up for their Light it up Blue campaign which will begin with their Light it up Blue Gala Ball on March 29th at the Maryborough Hotel and Spa, Douglas. This black tie affair is one of the organisations biggest fundraisers in the year with all funds going directly towards the CAA's 'Building for the future' project. Tickets for the Light it Up Blue Gala Ball can be booked at the C.A.A. fundraising office at 18 Cook St., by calling 021 427 1808 or online at www.corkautism.ie.

Date: Thursday 10th April
Time: 7.30am Coffe/Light Refreshments; 8am Presentation
Venue: Hayfield Manor Hotel

Guest Speaker: Jennifer Cashman, Employment & Industrial Relations Partner, Ronan Daly Jermyn
If you would like to atttend, please RSVP to SocialMediaCork@brightwater.ie

Date: 2 April
Time: 8.45am
Venue: Macroom E
Cost: €3 per person
Register online at http://macroom-e.com/our-programmes/upcoming-training/
This month’s Guest Speaker is well-known PR Consultant, Lucy O ’Donoghue. In March 2012 Lucy left secure full-time employment to pursue a path of discovery to personal and professional fulfilment. She now runs her own PR and Event Management company, Lucy O'Donoghue Consulting