The Chamber has prepared a submission in response to an issues paper released by Cork City Council as part of its preparation of a new Cork City Development Plan (2015 – 2021). The submission identified a number of key recommendations to support and enhance the city over the lifetime of the new Plan for instance:

• A new city development plan must be developed within the context of the wider Cork Area Strategic Plan which provides a comprehensive vision and strategy for the development of Cork City up to 2020.
• There are many good examples of collective partnership based approaches to city and regional development including Cork innovates, Energy Cork and TEAM. City Council must continue to place strong emphasis on partnership based approaches to planning and development to facilitate its successful implementation of the Plan
• Formal recognition of City Council’s commitment to the development and implementation of a marketing/strategic messaging plan for the region
• Detailed implementation and monitoring plans across the various sections of this six-year plan are essential
• Mechanisms must be put in place to facilitate and foster greater engagement between academia and industry to ensure that our learning institutions are providing the types of education and range of skills needed by the region. This will assist City Council in attracting inward investment and employment
• City Council must support schemes which incentivise construction of appropriately built office space so that Cork is best positioned to capitalise on inward investment from high-growth companies
• Implementing plans and strategies that revitalise the city centre and increase footfall must be incorporated into the Plan. For instance, City Council must incorporate proposals into the Plan which trial, test, evaluate and extend particular parking incentive schemes to increase the number of shoppers travelling into the city centre

The Policy Department would like to thank members who provided comments and feedback in the preparation of this submission.

Conflict Management

Course Dates: 5^th & 6^th September

Member Rate: €250.00

This course will enable participants to have a heightened awareness of their own personal conflict management style, be aware of the positive role of conflict and also be able to develop their mediation skills to manage an effective outcome via a mediation process. Participants will be encouraged to develop a personal plan of action in terms of developing their own conflict management skills in their workplace environment.

The objectives of this course include:

• To enable participants to become aware of the positive value of conflict.
• To become aware of their own temperament and personal style – self-awareness and their response to conflict.
• To develop an understanding of both conflict and negotiation dynamics - understand how conflict can escalate.
• Become aware of the skills required to manage, resolve and change conflict.
• Develop process management skills to manage a mediation process.
• Be able to carry out a mediation process (in the form of a role-play) and manage an effective outcome for the parties, where possible.
• Appreciating, understanding and accepting personal and others negotiation and conflict management styles.
• Boosting self-confidence in relation to managing conflict.
• Learn top tips to negotiate and manage conflict.
• Understand the importance of preparation in advance of negotiations.

This course is ideal for front line personnel - customer service, sales, complaint handling, procurement, operations, supervisors and human resources personnel.  This course is only €250.00 for Chamber members so BOOK TODAY!

Business Finance for Managers & Entrepreneurs

Course Dates: 12^th & 19^th September

Member Rate: €250.00

This course is suitable for anyone working in business who wishes to gain a sound overall understanding of finance, owner managers and those thinking about setting up a business and advisers and managers in specialist disciplines who want to understand how business and finance works.

Participants will have access to the website www.fabeduaction.com during and after the course for designated exercises and self-directed practice sessions to reinforce learning. This course will help participants to speak the language of finance to communicate effectively in business situations and use the financial perspective to make smart business decisions.

The programme has four modules:

1. Financial Statements – the purpose, content and structure of the scorecards of business (“Knowing where to look to get information from financial statements”)

2 The Language of Finance – developing an easy familiarity with the terms and concepts used (“Communicating effectively using the language of business”)

3 The Financial Perspective – using financial awareness to make smart business decisions (Focusing business tactics and decisions of the three key result areas – profit, stability and asset utilisation)

4 Ratio Analysis – the calculation, meaning and factors influencing the most common ratios (“Transforming numbers into useful information to pinpoint important issues and trends)

Participants will be entitled to unrestricted access to www.fabeducation.com for three months from the time they register on the site. This course is €250.00 for Chamber members so BOOK NOW!

See our full range of courses at www.corkchamber.ie/training

Bookings can be completed through the website and enquiries should be directed to Aoife@corkchamber.ie  (Training Services Administrator)

BUSINESS SCHOOL CALENDAR

UK Market Access Programme

Are you considering setting up a business in the UK?  If so, then you may wish to be involved in the UK Market Access Programme (UKMAP), which is promoted and supported by UK Trade and Invest (UKTI) in the British Embassy.

The UK Market Access Programme offers Irish-owned businesses, setting up in the UK:

• Free formation of a limited company
• Free Company Secretarial and Registered Office services for one year
• 6 months’ rent free office accommodation at the University of Warwick Science Park
•  Discounts on market research and customer searching services
• Access to a wide range of benefits including recruitment, employee benefits, logistics, car leasing and much more

As an introduction to the UK market, the Market Access Programme also gives Irish businesses the opportunity to avail of a FREE, one-to-one consultation with market experts JMB Partnership and EBS European Business Solutions.  TheJMB Partnershipspecialises in helping companies find UK customers through meetings programs and outsourced sales staff. Their services include telemarketing, email Marketing and Linked IN campaigns. EBS European Business Solutions  has been working exclusively with foreign owned businesses establishing themselves in the UK since 1991 and specialises in providing practical accounting, office and administrative support.

As part of the UKMAP, JMB Partnership and EBS European Business Solutions are offering their free consultation services to businesses in Cork on Wednesday 18 September 2013.  For expressions of interest or to find out more please contact Katherine@corkchamber.ie

Mission for Growth to Israel

The European Commission is organising a ‘Mission for Growth’ to Israel between 22^nd and 24^th October 2013. The event, which will be held in Tel Aviv, is being organised in conjunction with the Water Technology and Environmental Control Exhibition and Conference. The scope of this mission is to help European SMEs to operate in Israel and to promote EU industries in targeted sectors by participating in matchmaking events with local entrepreneurs. The main focus of this event will be on: environmental technologies; key enabling technologies; raw materials; space technologies; homeland security; processed agricultural products; fashion and high-end industry; automotive industry; and venture capital. For further information, please contact Eimear@corkchamber.ie.

Environmental and Energy Fairs

The Valencia (Spain) branch of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is currently organising a matchmaking event at the Environmental and Energy Fair which will take place in Valencia from 13^th to 15^th November, 2013. The event will allow participating companies to promote themselves in new markets, with the scope of obtaining new commercial and technological opportunities. Each participant will receive a three-day entrance ticket to the fair; pre-organised meeting schedules with the exhibitors; the option to present offer and request at the demonstration zone; the option to attend conferences at the fair, and the opportunity to meet regional innovation and research centres. For further information, please contact eimear@corkchamber.ie.

Business Partnership Opportunities:

• Air Quality Solutions

Smart Living SDN, part of the PLC Group in Malaysia, is an established one-stop centre for health, safety, wellness and innovative indoor air technology solutions. Its cost-effective solutions are aimed at maintaining and/or improving individual health and productivity. The company’s experience is primarily in the oil & gas industry but as part of the company’s business expansion plan, it is now focussing its solutions internationally across a broad spectrum of industries, including: medical; food; agriculture; education; hotel and catering; and transport industries. The PLC Group is seeking distributors of its products in Europe and will be exhibiting at the Offshore Europe Conference and Exhibition 2013 in Aberdeen (September 3^rd - 6^th). Company representatives will be in Edinburgh from August 29^th to September 1^st and in Aberdeen from September 1^st to September 7^th.  During its UK trip, the company is keen to meet with potential distributors for its product range. For further information, please contact normala@smartliving2u.com.

• Glass Reinforced Plastic flat-sheet products

A Scottish manufacturer of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) flat-sheet and anti-slip products, suitable for many applications, is seeking a distribution partner in Ireland. The products provide a quick, safe and effective solution to slippery pedestrian or vehicle traffic areas where slips or falls are a potential hazard. The company is firmly established on the domestic market, regularly dealing with both public and private sector organisations. It has the capacity to increase its production capacity, based on the partner’s needs. For more information, please contact Eimear@corkchamber.ie and quote reference number 20130409055.