Budget 2013
The Chamber welcomes the focus that Budget 2013 has placed on the vital role of SMEs in the economy, the reinforcement of its commitment to the 12.5% corporation tax, the absence of any increases to employer’s PRSI and that the much feared transfer of sick pay costs to employers did not materialise.  While accepting that some tough decisions had to be made regarding Government expenditure, the Chamber is disappointed that more was not done to incentivise and support further business growth, essential to stimulating job creation.  

More reaction to Budget 2013 can be found here.

Reform of National Micro & Small Business Support Infrastructure
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is drafting legislation to dissolve existing County and City Enterprise Boards and create an enhanced national micro enterprise support model, delivered through Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in each local authority. The Department has called for submissions as part of their planning for the establishment of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). The Chamber believes that it is imperative that the roles and functions of LEOs are clearly defined and that the Terms of Reference be explicitly outlined before the offices commence operation. If members have any comments on the operation of LEOs, please contact Siobhan Bradley, Policy & Research Manager by 4pm Monday 17^th December.  

Cork City Movement Strategy
The Chamber recently met with ARUP and MVA Consultancy who are undertaking a review of the existing traffic management system in the city centre on behalf of Cork City Council. The review is focused on the development of a multi-modal sustainable transport system that provides access for a greater number of people. The draft strategy proposes improvements for general vehicular access, public transport movement, pedestrian movement and cycling access in the city centre. A public consultation process seeking feedback on the proposals is now underway and will run until the end of January. 

Cork Chamber is currently putting together a submission, if you have any suggested inputs please contact, Aislinn Stanton, Policy & Research Executive by 4pm Friday 18^th January.

For further information on the project please click here.

ALL YOUR 2013 TRAINING NEEDS - Why train with us? We have small class sizes (average 10 per class), Top Trainers (all are leaders within their respective fields), locally delivered and exceptionally good value for money.

Certificate in Business & Executive Coaching (FETAC Level 6) – 16^th January, 2013 This FETAC Level 6 Business Coaching for Peak Performance course is designed to provide those with responsibilities for developing workplace competencies with the skills needed to develop individual performance in others. Throughout the 5 day course, competencies, behaviours, knowledge, skills, and abilities are identified that directly and positively impact the success of employees and organizations. It is designed to create an understanding of the organisational and workplace context within which performance and individual career development takes place and it will provide the skills, knowledge and tools required to carry out effective coaching in the workplace. Coaching is about unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their performance. This course (at a special member rate of €550.00) is ideal for anyone who would like to learn the core skills of Business Coaching whilst also gaining a qualification which is on the National Qualification Framework in Ireland (FETAC Level 6).

So, if you wish to gain a professional, accredited qualification in the area of coaching, BOOK TODAY

Supervisory Management – a FETAC Level 6 course –  23^rd January, 2013
This Supervisory Management (FETAC Level 6) course can be tailored to the specific needs of your company and is assessed through completion of a Skills Demonstration and an Assignment. Following the completion of this 4 day programme, you will have:

• acquired the theoretical knowledge enabling you to understand the role and responsibilities of a supervisor
•  acquired a range of supervisory and management skills
• developed good interpersonal communication skills
• demonstrated the confidence to deal with a variety of challenging situations
•  developed good work practices appropriate to your role as supervisor/line manager.

So, for an accredited qualification in the area of management, and at a cost of only €450.00 for members, BOOK NOW!

MS Excel (Intermediate) - 2007/2010 – 24^th January, 2013 This 1 day course is designed for those who may have been using MS Excel 2007 or 2010 for some time, but have never received formal training. You will work through basics including the use of shortcut keys & some less familiar formatting options. We will then move on to more intermediate topics such as writing & copying formulas, creating charts, using the database functionality – sorting & filtering lists, all this for a special member rate of €100.00.

Personal Productivity using MS Outlook 2007/2010 – 31^st January, 2013 At the end of the 1 day programme all users will have an empty Inbox and will be able to use a process (the 4 D’s) in order to maintain this. They will also have an effective method of managing and prioritising workload. Participants will:

- Be aware of Time Management theory (Best Practice)
- Be familiar with MS Outlook Shortcut Keys
- Be able to use timesaving everyday functionality in MS Outlook.
- Have customised Outlook to make it work more effectively as a time management tool.
- Know how to create tasks in order to prioritise and manage workload
- Know how to create tasks directly from email as an effective method of deferring less urgent work.
- Have the ability to use the calendar and tasks to manage working days realistically
- Able to collaborate with other users through meeting invitations, sharing calendars etc.

So for an empty Inbox at a cost of €130.00 BOOK NOW!

 MS Powerpoint "Beyond the Basics" - 2007/2010 –  5^th February, 2013

 Learn how to produce and run professional looking slide shows. This 1 day course reviews the basics of PowerPoint to quickly run through shortcuts and speed keys, working through from text based slide content through to alternative options - inserting ClipArt, pictures, photos, diagrams, movie clips etc.

Then it looks at formatting the slide show including applying PowerPoint design templates and creating your own design templates for future use. Learn then how to run the slide show in the most professional way possible through the use of some simple keys. Most importantly, learn the Dos and Don’ts of PowerPoint. BOOK NOW! 

Organisers of CorkMeet 2013 expect to arrange 16 one-to-one meetings for each of the 600 delegates envisaged to register using the software system provided by CorkMeet partners Futurallia.

CorkMeet 2013 is a not for profit partnership between Cork County Council and Cork City Council, Cork County and City Enterprise Boards and Cork Chamber.

Registration for CorkMeet 2013 is now open.

Businesses are advised to register their profile and identify the companies they wish to meet by visiting http://www.corkmeet.ie/ or call tel (021) 4320467 for further information.

Cork innovates recently teamed up with AIB, Cork County and City Enterprise Boards, Cork Chamber, Newstalk and the Irish Examiner to offer a €12,500 bursary to give one lucky start-up business the opportunity to grow and succeed.

Sometimes having a great business idea is only half the battle; securing the funds and expertise to make it a success can be the difficult part, so it’s not surprising that there was a phenomenal response to the competition. The calibre of entries was outstanding, with submissions from a wide range of sectors including agriculture, biotechnology, food industries, construction, chemicals, tourism, healthcare, IT, research and development, lifestyle and media.

Almost 70 entries from all over Ireland, but predominantly from Cork, vied for the coveted prize, which includes €2,000 plus support from a dedicated business advisor in AIB; €2,000 worth of services including membership, advertising and training from Cork Chamber; soft supports such as training, mentoring and workshops valued at €1,000 from Cork County and City Enterprise Boards; €2,500 and €5,000 worth of advertising from Newstalk and the Irish Examiner respectively.

The judging panel had the tough task of accessing the entries and whittling them down to just three finalists; each of whom was interviewed by the judging panel on December 3^rd in AIB, South Mall. The three finalists were Ian Brown of The Greedy Pig Food Company, James Duggan of Funmanway Adventure Land and Eoin Leornard of i3PT Certification Association Ltd.

James Duggan of Funmanway Adventure Land emerged as the overall winner. Funmanway Adventure Land is the first attraction of its kind for West Cork, offering thrill seekers a range of extreme sports activities such as Hydro Zorbing, paintballing, and kayaking.

After returning home from travelling in Australia for two years in 2009 James was unable to find work in his trade as a Stonemason, so he made the decision to start his own business. While abroad he explored many of the extreme sport activities on offer in Australia and New Zealand; and after coming home he discovered that Cork did not have any facility for extreme sports like Zorbing and so he began developing a 21 acre site which he had purchased in 2006. Funmanway Adventure Landed opened to the public in July of this year.

Delighted on hearing he was chosen as the lucky recipient of the bursary, James said “Winning this bursary will really give my business the kick-start it needs. As I have no previous experience in running my own business, I’m very much looking forward to the support from AIB’s dedicated business advisor and I see them as being key to helping bring my business to market and making it a success.”

He added “The advertising support is fantastic, as we would have had a limited enough budget before winning, and I believe advertising with two high profile media outlets will be invaluable to my business. I have a propensity to dream of a much bigger picture for my business now after winning this generous bursary, and  I would like to thank Cork innovates for this opportunity, and all the bursary partners for supporting it. I’m very much looking forward to working closely with them.”

Commenting on the bursary and it’s benefits, Paul Hands, Chairman, Cork innovates said “Our bursary is aimed at making a difference to an entrepreneur in providing financial support focused on delivering critical skills and services to give a fledgling business a boost in achieving business velocity. In the case of our winner James this is definitely the case, as it will help to upscale the marketing and branding activity which has the potential to significantly improve the annual revenues and lead to further job creation.”

For more information on this and other supports available to start-ups, SMEs and entrepreneurs visit http://www.corkinnovates.com/.  

Pictured: James Duggan of Funmanway Adventure Land winner of the €12,500 bursary and Paul Hands, Chairman, Cork innovates.

Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa offer a wide range of gift ideas for Christmas. Choose from monetary vouchers to experiential vouchers.

Some of our favourites are:

• Afternoon Tea for Two Overlooking the Lakes €39
• Dinner for Two in The Lake Room Restaurant - €45pp
• Spa Treatment Vouchers from €20 & Spa Packages from €75

Purchase Now for an extra 10% on Monetary Vouchers!

*Valid till December 17^th & excludes vouchers purchased online.  

Contact us on Tel: 064 6631766 or email: reservations@aghadoeheights.com

Announcing the Launch of our new Collection of Irish Bog Oak Jewellery.

We have just launched our new Collection of Irish Bog Oak Jewellery and are offering every Chamber member a 20% Discount on any item of jewellery purchased during December 2012. All you have to do is enter the discount code  celticbonus   on the payment page to receive the discount.

…a piece of bog oak that has been lying in the boglands of Ireland for over 5000 years has been designed and crafted in our Studio to produce this unique and contemporary piece of Bog Oak Jewellery with sterling Silver…

Why not treat your yourself, friends and family to something special this Christmas, with a piece from our Jewellery Collection . Visit our website http://www.celticbogwoods.com

The CUH Charity will hold a 7k family fun run, walk or crawl on Saturday, 15^th December at 11am, along the Lough Mahon walk, leaving from and returning to the car park down from the Blackrock Castle. This fundraising initiative is in aid of their appeal to raise €1.5m for the Cork University Hospital (CUH) Children’s Unit. Entry to the walk will be €20 per adult, while children go free. All participants can register on the day and will receive a free Santa hat to ensure a fun and festive atmosphere at this worthy event.

This event is a great opportunity to get all the family, including the four legged members, out and active while raising much needed funds for Munster’s largest and busiest hospital. All money raised will go directly to refurbishing the existing Children’s Unit, which will include the addition of isolation rooms, en-suite rooms and comfortable folding chairs for parents.

“We have just kicked off our fundraising appeal for the Children’s Unit and this walk/run is an event which we hope will be a bit of fun and something for everyone to enjoy. If you can’t make it, why not consider organising a walk with your friends or colleagues in aid of the appeal. We need people, businesses, schools and organisations to keep our appeal in mind for any events they may be organising coming up to Christmas.” said Joe Browne, Fundraising Manager of the CUH Charity.

The Children’s Unit at the CUH caters for kids from 2 days old to 16 years of age and impacts families across Cork and the surrounding counties. The Children’s Unit currently has an annual intake of 9,000 patients and has not been updated since the 1970s.

For further information or to make a donation please contact The CUH Charity on 021 423 4529 or info@cuhcharity.ie or check out their website at http://www.cuhcharity.ie/.

The CUH Charity has been established to raise funds across all departments to improve facilities and services for patients and visitors attending Cork University Hospital.

The Michael Bublé Tribute band features three of Irelands most established live musicians. Having toured Ireland and abroad for years with various bands, the three have come together to produce this acclaimed show ‘A Tribute to Michael Bublé’. Reviews are hailing the band as Ireland and the UK’s No 1 Michael Bublé tribute act. The trio cover songs such as ‘Come Fly With Me’, ‘Me And Mrs. Jones’, ‘Crazy Love’ and a host of other timeless classics.

A ticket to this event would be the perfect gift for any woman this Christmas. The ladies of Cork will be treated like royalty on the night. If people are looking to treat their mothers, sisters, daughters or friends in their life, the next best thing to the real Michael Bublé this Christmas, will be The Michael Bublé Tribute Band.

All proceeds from the night will go to fund Chernobyl Children International’s amazing programmes such as nursing care, life-saving child cardiac surgeries, community and hospice care and de-institutionalisation programmes and ensure the charity continues to serve the children of Chernobyl.  

Adi Roche, CEO of Chernobyl Children International says ‘This is my kind of event, strong women coming together to have a great night out with friends on ‘Nollaig na mBan’. We know times are tough in ireland, yet every day we see the continuous generosity of the Irish people. This event is our way to say thank you. Yes, we need support for our charity but we also want to see our supporters having fun!’

Far from Chernobyl being 26 years old this year, the accident continues to affect millions of people in the surrounding regions. In the past 26 years, CCI has effected some truly impactful changes in the lives of Chernobyl children, but the need is still great. None of the work undertaken by the organisation since its inception could have been undertaken without the help and tremendous support of the public.

The Sparkling Wine Reception begins at 7pm. To purchase tickets, please contact Michelle Duff 086 8289792 or email: mduff@chernobyl-ireland.com or visit chernobyl-international.com and the charity’s Facebook page.

The basic requirements for applicants are as follows:

• The person selected needs to be reasonably fit & healthy and a non smoker
• They must be aged between 18 and 35 and willing to do a medical
• The person will need to be available for approx 8-10 weeks training and ready to fully participate in a boxing contest thereafter
• Finally they will need to raise a minimum of €500

To Register please sign up here (http://www.irishheart.ie/iopen24/heart-fight-nights-t-999.html)

The event will be held under the auspices of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association. The contestants will work with Dan Lane & his experienced team of boxing coaches, Dan has over 35 years of coaching experience and has coached at a National and international level for over 20 years. 

Training will take place over an 8-week period, starting week commencing 6th January 2012.  Boxers will train weekly and prepare for their bout consisting of 3 x 1 minute round.

We are organising the inaugural ‘Big Heart Fight Night’ to raise much needed funds for the continuous roll-out of the Heart Attack Awareness Campaign in the South of Ireland which was launched early last year.

As a result of this campaign we have received great feedback from hospitals and the general public, we know 170,000 more people say they will call 999 if they think they are having a heart attack.  We want to sustain this campaign and continue to promote heart attack awareness.  We need your help, together we can save lives in the Cork region. 

If you need more information please contact Anne Riordan Irish Heart Foundation 42 Penrose Wharf Cork M: 086 8520199 e: ariordan@irishheart.ie

Its a great event & an opportunity to network with new friends, our theme is Trains (1st Class), boats (yacht charter in West Cork) and planes (flight in a Cessena over Cork with Atlantic flight Academy) as auction prizes, and this year we have a specially signed Manchester United player shirt for auction along also with Ollie Campbell memorabilia and Kevin Sharkey painting.

Other raffle prizes include: Keg of Benny McCabes 'Me Gazza' micro brew, Cork Airport 'Loop' Duty Free  Hamper, Irish Examiner prizes, Otterbox Mobile device prizes and B&B Accomodation at the 4 Star Cashel Palace Hotel, CO.Tipperary.

Our 2012 Speakers include:Triple crown 80s legend Ollie Campbell, Sean Kelly MEP, Corks Bill Liao, Coderdojo, and special guest - John Mullins, President Cork Chamber.

Booking Contact: Emma Ellis, emma@sghc.ie More details & booking at: www.exilesdinner.com

So we would be delighted to welcome Cork Chamber members and their friends in Dublin on the 20th December, come along and join us to celebrate a great event and also raise funds for SHARE, Cork.

Mary Daly and Associates, established in 2000, are the leading Food Safety Trainers and HACCP Consultants in Ireland.  Our clients range from primary food producers, caterers, nursing homes and hospitals.

We provide certified training in the areas of Food Safety, HACCP, Cleaning & Infection Control and Health & Safety.

Primary Course in Food Hygiene – 15th October / 6th November / 3rd December  in Vienna Woods Hotel, Cork

FETAC Level 5 Management of HACCP – November 13th Vienna Woods Hotel

A full course schedule is available online at http://www.marydaly.ie/

For further information on any of our training courses or HACCP Consultancy Services, please contact Mairead on 021 4355917/086 7392427 or e-mail Mairead@marydaly.ie