In January 2014 Irish Water assumed responsibility for public water services. Since then, your Local Authority has been issuing bills for water services to your business on Irish Water’s behalf and continued to manage all queries in relation to business accounts. The transition period for changeover to Irish Water managing all aspects of business accounts directly, including billing for water services has now begun.

Irish Water recently briefed Chambers Ireland on the process of the rollover and the services which will be available to business customers which included a brief on the telephone service for business accounts which is being rolled out on a phased basis since mid-July, beginning with Meath and Monaghan County Councils. Until transfer, any customer account queries can still be directed to the relevant local authority. At point of transfer, each customer will be sent all the new contact information. One important point made by Irish Water at this briefing was that it will be important for business customers to cancel any standing orders they have with LAs (once notified of the transfer) for water charges or grouped commercial rates and water charges, as these will not be automatically cancelled and the money will be accepted on the LA side. In relation to business-specific payment plans which were in place with LAs, all formal payment plans on the systems of LAs will be transferred to Irish Water, however in the absence of an official payment plan with their LA, but where one existed informally, businesses will need to contact Irish Water directly to discuss this.


For more information please see  website 


Read Customer Information Booklet here. 

Domains for website use are a leading indicator of SMEs plans for future economic activity.

It is therefore encouraging to note that the number of .ie registrations recorded a 13.4% increase in 2015 over 2014 bringing the total number of .ie domain registrations to 218,000.  With this growth, Ireland now has 46 domains per 1,000 people.

Of further good news is the availability of .ie domains with fadas for the first time being available to purchase.

For further information and to purchase a domain, click here. 

Date: Friday 2^nd September
Time: 7.30am – 9.30am
Venue:  Clarion Hotel
Book HERE

Cork Chamber will examine the challenges and opportunities for Irish businesses impacted by the recent “Brexit” vote.  We will have a panel of expert speakers including Minister Dara Murphy TD, Dr Barry Heavey, IDA Ireland and Terence O’Rourke, Chairman of Enterprise Ireland, who will explore the ramifications of this significant shift in the politicial and economic landscape* 

*This event will run until 9.30am, due to the panel discussion and interactive audience Q&A.

Date: Thursday 8^th September
Time: 7.30am – 2.30pm 
Venue: Lee Valley Golf Club
Cost: €300 for a team of 4
Book HERE 

**No afternoon slots available** 

Cork Chamber is delighted to announce that the Golf Classic 2016 will take place on Thursday 8^th September in Lee Valley Golf & Country Club in association with Vhi Healthcare.  The Golf Classic is a fourball scramble and always offers plenty of challenges as well as some great prizes to be won on the day. 

This competitive and fun annual event continues to offer fantastic value for money, with your entry fee including refreshments for you and your team on arrival, a full round of golf at the award winning Lee Valley Golf & Country Club, burgers at the 10^th tee, as well as music, entertainment and a BBQ on the terrace later that evening.  You will also receive a goody bag and a chance to win some top-notch prizes – always a great day out!

The timesheet for this event is filling up fast, so please BOOK NOW to reserve your slot.

Starts 1st September next - €160 for Chamber Members!

• Would you like to have an EMPTY INBOX at the end of each day?!
•  Would you like to schedule realistic days and never have to worry about forgetting to do or follow-up on a piece of work?
• Would you like to have an organised system that will help you work more effectively on a daily basis?

The Practical Productivity course will provide you a practical and workable solution to managing your workload and time more effectively in the work place!

This 8 day Lean Six Sigma Programme is designed to help your business become better & faster.

Green Belts are:

• All about Continuous Improvement
• A Weapon in reducing Costs

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a significant impact on your business so DON’T MISS OUT!!

Enterprise Ireland

• Enterprise Ireland recently produced a video, ‘UK Referendum - Practical Guide for Companies’
• Meanwhile, their ‘Sterling Impact Calculator’ is designed for Irish exporters to the UK to help them understand the impact of movements in the sterling/euro exchange rate on their business. It also picks up ‘natural hedges’ in a company’s business through purchases sourced in Sterling. Access the tool here.

See here for further information on Enterprise Ireland’s UK-focussed supports.

Brexit-related articles of interest include:

• Economic Outlook (with Brexit focus), Michael Enright and Co. Solicitors
• Bank of England expected to cut interest rates to a record low (Irish Times)
• Confidence is stable as shoppers ignore exit (The Times)

Please let us know if you have any content for the BREXIT UPDATE section that you feel would be valuable to fellow members.

Contact Katherine or Eimear for more information.

Do you have a great business idea from anywhere in the world?

New Enterprise Ireland Fund Offers €50K seed money to plant and grow your start-up in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland is opening a new seed fund offering €50k seed investments for mobile start-up companies, from anywhere in the world, to locate in Ireland in return for an equity stake.

The International Competitive Start Fund (CSF) is a competition open to globally ambitious start-ups from anywhere in the world.  Under the competitive fund, up to 10 winners will receive €50k seed funding as well as top-class business development support from Enterprise Ireland. 

Applications to the fund will be accepted online from August 24th to September 7th.

The best 20 applicants will be invited and sponsored to pitch in Cork, Ireland on November 18 at The Global Startup Gathering, a celebration of the global start-up community. 

Full details on the fund and eligibility criteria are available here. 

The third edition of Meet in Italy for Life Sciences (MIT4LS2016) is an international event designed to boost business, partnering and networking opportunities in the life sciences sector. It will particularly focus on the areas of pharmaceutical/nutraceutical; biology/biotechnology; medicine, human health and well-being; medical devices; IT applications for health; and related value-chain activities. MIT4LS and Startup Europe will present StartupOn, a dedicated boot-camp for start-ups in the Life Sciences sector; Enterprise Europe Network will deliver a brokerage event at MIT4LS; and Day 3 of the event will comprise of conferences and workshops; focusing on ‘Life Sciences and Wellbeing’ and related thematic workshops.

See ‘read more’ for further information or contact Eimear. 

• Keanes Jewellers make their building sparkle - read more
• ProdiJIG: The Revolution - extended due to phenomenal demand - read more

• Griffith College Cork: 10% reduction in tuition fees for Cork Chamber members sponsoring an employee to study - read more
• Hayfield Manor Wine Society:  Event in September- Book a table of 10 and get one place free per table! - read  more
• The Health Zone: 6 Week Corporate Transformation Programme - read more

• Griffith College Cork: Open Evening, August 24th - read more
• Mountain Challenge, August 20th - read more
• International Business Women's Conference, August 22nd - read more
• Morgan McKinley: Performance Through Wellbeing, August 23rd - read more
• Irish Cancer Society: The HPV Vaccine: Warts and All, August 24th - read more
• FirstLightCork100: PJ Coogan LipSync Battle, 10th August  - September 30th - read more
• Cork University Hospital Charity Cycle, Wheel4Life 2016 and Family Fun Day with Bishopstown GAA, August 28th - read more
• A Focus on The Construction Sector: A Business Owners Forum, August 31st - read more
• Enable Ireland Golf Classic,September 1st - read more
• Nimbus Centre Industry Breakfast Morning, September 1st - read more
• Circular Economy: Developing a circular economy for fishing nets and ropes, September 1st - read more
• St Luke's Home Annual Memorial 5K Run, September 8th - read more
• The Hope Foundation Cork Lunch, September 9th - read more 
• An Post Rebel Tour of Cork, September 10th - read more
• Introduction to Data Protection for business, September 21st - read more
• Reardens: Buskers Festival - Orchard Grove, September 2nd - read more
• Innishannon House Hotel: The Spectacular Vintage Wedding Fair, September 4th - read more
• Dean Strang & Jerry Buting - A Conversation On Justice, September 22nd - read more
• Developments in the Organisation of Working Time - September 28th - read more
• IDARA Balance in the Workplace: Creating a feel good workplace through employer branding, October 19th - read more
• Charity Carrauntoohill Climb, September 24th - read more
• Shine a Light Night, October 21st - read more