Winners of the TY Business Projects Awards 2013 are announced:

The Chamber would like to congratulate Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh who have won this year’s Transition Year Business Projects Awards 2013.  The Transition Year Business Projects Awards is an initiative of the UCC Faculty of Commerce and Cork Chamber and are kindly sponsored by BNY Mellon, a global investments company and major employer in Cork.  The Awards aim to foster entrepreneurialism in students by encouraging them to develop collaborative business related projects with their peers and write about their experience of their Mini Company or School Bank.  It is hoped that by doing this students will be encouraged to pursue business courses at degree level and subsequent careers in business and entrepreneurship. 

This year’s competition focused on ‘Innovation in Action’ and students were required to demonstrate creative and original ideas in the development of their product, telling the story of how their business developed and highlighting how their business impacts on job creation.  ‘Clockwise’ a Mini Company set up by TY Students in Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh in Bishopstown Cork recycled old vinyl records and turned them into clocks by spray painting them with unique designs/patterns using the ready-made hole in the centre for the motor and clock hands. 

The Chamber would also like to congratulate ‘Butt Out Ltd’ from Nagle Rice Secondary School, Doneraile, Co. Cork who came in second place and ‘PRS Games’ from Maria Immaculata Community College, Dunmanway, Co. Cork who came third.

Special recognition was also given to three additional projects for their focus on some of the key social issues and challenges which impact on the lives of young people.  These projects were ‘Inside Suicide’ – Mount St. Michael, Roscarbery, Co. Cork, ‘Cybersafe’ – Bishopstown Community School, Cork and ‘Daisy Chains’ – St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Doon, Co. Limerick. 

For further information please CLICK HERE.

Cork County Council’s “Adopt a Road/Roundabout”

In 2012, Cork County Council implemented an “Adopt a Road” scheme which allows businesses and voluntary community groups to adopt a designated stretch of road by agreeing a litter maintenance programme on it with the Council.  This scheme encourages businesses and local community groups to work together to reduce litter while promoting local businesses or community interests and offers businesses an opportunity to highlight their commitment to a clean and attractive local environment. 

In recent weeks, Cork County Council has expanded this scheme to include roundabouts.  The “Adopt a Roundabout” scheme will allow local businesses or community groups to sponsor the landscaping and maintenance of a roundabout in their area.  All agreed works must be carried out by professional landscaping contractors and are subject to approval of the Council’s Area Engineer. 

This scheme builds on the strengths of the Tidy Towns initiative and community volunteerism alongside corporate social responsibility.  When agreement has been reached between the group and the local authority, a sign will be placed on the stretch of road/roundabout highlighting the name and/or logo of the community group or business beside the County Council’s name and logo. 

Those interested in participating in the Scheme please CLICK HERE .
  

Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt)

Course Dates: 8 Days:2^nd & 3^rd May, 21^st & 22^nd May, 11^th, 12^th, 18^th & 25^th June

Member Rate: €900.00

In these challenging times, all companies need to ensure that they are controlling current costs and taking the steps needed to enhance their future performance. Lean Six Sigma helps companies streamline operations, increase value and reduce waste. Lean Six Sigma is a prescription for regaining business health and transforming a company, a way to cut waste from its operations and of increasing productivity and improving quality.

Lean Six Sigma Green Belts are vital assets to any business. They are key employees equipped with specialist tools to make these ‘changes for the better’ happen. Utilizing a vast array of tools, Lean Six Sigma focuses on improving speed and quality of a product or service, regardless of the industrial sector or size of the business, helping a business in becoming better and faster, providing a greater value product to the customer. They are key employees equipped with specialist tools to make these ‘changes for the better’ happen. Utilizing a vast array of tools, Lean Six Sigma focuses on improving speed and quality of a product or service, regardless of the industrial sector or size of the business, helping a business in becoming better and faster, providing a greater value product to the customer.

At the end of this training programme you will be able to:

• Understand Continuous Improvement.
• Understand Lean Six Sigma methodology and DMAIC.
• Understand Change Management and tools used.
• Understand how to use the most important tools in DMAIC phases.
• Identify sources of waste and variation within the business.
• Use Lean Six Sigma as an efficient and effective cost reduction strategy.

This course is intended for those employees within a business who are engaged in daily problem solving and/or project management, for example Process Engineers, Quality Technicians and Engineers, Maintenance, Supervisors, Managers and Project Managers.

Our next Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt) course starts on 2^nd May next and is of eight days duration delivered over three months for ONLY €900 so BOOK NOW!!

“Beyond the Basics” – MS Powerpoint 2007/2010

Course Date: 26^th April 

Member Rate: €100.00

The 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. The course will then look at formatting the slide show including applying PowerPoint design templates and creating your own design templates for future use. Then learn how to run the slide show in the most professional way possible through the use of some simple keys.

Our “Beyond the Basics” Course, costing only €100.00 includes:

• The Do’s and Don’ts of PowerPoint
• Working with Slides
• Formatting the Presentation
• Logos/Clipart/Pictures
• Working with Charts
• Diagrams
• Drawing Tools
• Multimedia
• Adding the Finishing Touches
• Creating a Slide Show

This course is suitable for those who are already familiar with the basics of MS PowerPoint and would now like to build on that knowledge. 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)

Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher Initiative

The Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher Initiative is open for applications until 28^th April. These are available for small limited companies that are looking to explore a business opportunity or problem with a registered knowledge provider (e.g. higher education institutes, public research bodies). An Innovation Voucher allows you to continue to run your business and let knowledge providers come up with a solution. An individual voucher is worth €5,000 and these can be pooled with up to ten other companies to create a fund of up to €50,000 (10 X €5,000) to tackle a common problem.

This call is open until 28^th April and further calls will take place during 2013. Co-funded Fast Track applications can be submitted at any time.  For more information see:  www.innovationvouchers.ie.

Enterprise Ireland’s CIP Eco-Innovation National Information Day

Enterprise Ireland’s CIP Eco-Innovation National Information Day is taking place on the 10^th of May in Dublin.  Eco-innovation is about introducing innovative products, services and processes to market that make better use of resources and reduce environmental impacts. This information day will also include networking opportunities, practical insights and success stories related to this competitive European Union funding initiative. The session will also include advice and guidelines on developing a good project proposal before the September 2013 deadline. See HERE for more information or contact karen@corkchamber.ie for more information.

BioMed 2013

BioMed 2013 will take place in Tel Aviv between 10 and 12 June. The event will include cutting-edge keynote addresses by prominent industry leaders from Israel and further afield. The focus of this brokerage event will be on the medical device and biopharma industries. Highlights of the event will include a conference, one-to-one meetings and networking opportunities. For further information, please contact eimear@corkchamber.ie

Mission for Growth to Russia

The European Commission’s Mission for Growth to the Russian Federation will take place in Moscow from 17-18 June. The scope of this mission is to promote European Industry and to support SMEs in operating and doing business in Russia. The mission will afford companies with the opportunity to meet key Russian industry leaders and entrepreneurs. For further information, please contact eimear@corkchamber.ie

Service arrangements during this time include:

• Bus transfers between Mallow and Cork in both directions for all services.
• Cork Mallow Commuter services will operate as a bus transfer.
• Bus transfers for Kerry and Dublin services departing Cork will leave 25 minutes earlier than the scheduled train departure time to ensure a timely connection with services departing Mallow to Dublin and Kerry. Mallow to Dublin and Kerry services will operate to a normal schedule.
• For the duration of the works car parking will be free at Mallow.
• Normal Commuter services will operate between Cobh/Midleton and Cork during this time.
• Full services will resume on Monday 13th May.

Full timetable details are available at www.irishrail.ie or call our customer information line 1850 366222.

Works on the structure will include the addition of reinforced concrete slab on existing masonry slab on the bridge. It will also facilitate the removal of a speed restriction over the bridge.

Works have been scheduled at this time to ensure they are completed ahead of the busy summer tourist period

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Participants will gain knowledge of using a wide range of univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistical methods for analyzing survey data. These methods are widely used by both academic and professional researchers in a wide range of fields: economics, political science, sociology, psychology, health science, sports science and marketing, among many others. Participants will also acquire a good working knowledge of SPSS and Stata which are widely used packages for analyzing statistical data. This course will be delivered by Dr Rosemary Murphy and Dr Edel Walsh of the school of Economics, University College Cork.  

Are you planning a team celebration, an end of year ball or another celebration? Then come and visit our extensive banqueting facilities on; Monday 29th April from 6 – 9pm. Meet with the team and view Cork premier 4* venue, overlooking the River Lee and City Hall. Sample our summer punch or sparkling wine on arrival in the Atrium, walk through the fairy-lit bridge into our contemporary conference foyer. View the setup of our banqueting suite for up to 270 guests and sample some of our delicious menu options along with a selection of our homemade mini desserts. Confirm your interest in attending and kindly RSVP to Katie on sales2@clarionhotelcorkcity.com or 021 4224943. We look forward to seeing you on the 29th April at the Clarion Hotel Cork.

Cork Dragon to launch cost-saving carpooling app in Kinsale Kinsale’s very own Dragons’ Den star, Sean O'Sullivan, will host a launch night of the new Avego mobile app in Kinsale, on Tuesday 30th April.

Avego’s carpooling app is set to make car travel cheaper, reduce emissions and increase the quality of the commute experience by bringing together drivers and passengers to share journeys.

Technology pioneer O’Sullivan, is credited with two of the biggest trends in computing, the introduction of street mapping on computers and as co-creator of cloud computing. Now, Avego is set to introduce another major innovation to the world, this time in the way we travel. "Kinsale has a rich history of influence on the world, from the pivotal battle between the English and the Spanish in 1601 to the launch of the ‘Transition Town’ environmental movement in 2006. Avego’s first active ridesharing community in Ireland is also emerging from Kinsale. With Avego’s long association with Kinsale, we are particularly proud to be establishing our pilot in this corner of Ireland", said O’Sullivan. The launch event, due to take place in Kinsale's Actons Hotel, at 7pm on Tuesday 30th April welcomes the public from Kinsale and all nearby towns and areas. The Mayor of Kinsale is one of several esteemed guests, and will kick off proceedings on the evening. “I feel really proud that Avego has its roots right here in Kinsale. I know it will save money, help the environment and bring our community even closer,” said Kinsale Mayor, Cllr Billy Lynch. At 7.30pm, Dragon Sean O’Sullivan, will take the floor with a short talk followed by an entertaining, interactive demonstration of the software. Avego has been in development for four years. The app, now ready for market, significantly improves carbon footprints and turns commuting into an enjoyable and efficient journey for neighbours and colleagues to share.

The Kinsale region is going to be the first in Ireland to enjoy the benefits of Avego. It joins Avego’s other pilot schemes which are currently running in Norway and in the US, with an ultimate goal to build carpooling communities worldwide.  The Avego app enables Kinsale commuters to save thousands of euro each year in petrol and car costs, by finding and co-ordinating drivers and riders from Kinsale and surrounding regions to share their commute to work and back.  If you would like to know more, and are curious to see how the Avego app works, you can join Sean O’Sullivan and Cllr. Lynch on Tuesday 30th, in the Kinsale Suite of Actons Hotel, while enjoying coffee and upcakes at the launch of Avego’s Kinsale pilot. Founded in 2007, Avego is a global provider of software for improving the efficiency of passenger transportation. The company is a world leading company in efficient mobility, adding cars and vans to the public transport network. Avego is a multinational company with offices in the United States (Washington, Silicon Valley and San Diego) and Ireland (Cork and Dublin). Avego’s customers include cities, governments, public transport operators and thousands of individual consumers and private transport operators.