We would like to keep you informed of our on-going policy work driving the Economic Development of the region, please email Sarah, should you wish to be included in the press release emails.

Funding from the above Schemes will be available as financial support to community groups and local organisations wishing to undertake development projects in their area, to support festivals, and for local communities to work with Cork County Council on projects that enhance the area in which the group is active.

As required under the Lobbying Act 2015 Cork Chamber registers all its lobbying activities on a quarterly basis. An overview of the breath of activities we have undertaken between September and December 2016 can be found online on the returns register here.

From the register we are very pleased to see that Cork Chamber makes up the eight most active lobbying organisation nationally, and the most active regional body.

With the economy expanding and growing traffic volumes adding to congestion, commuting times and pollution, rail services carry an increasingly important role in the efficient, safe and sustainable movement of people and goods.

Despite facing a challenging a funding environment Cork Chamber is of the view that Irish Rail could and should form part of our strategic transport vision.

Have you any thoughts on the proposed design or engineering aspect of the proposed flood defences for Cork City?Cork Chamber will be making a submission to the Office of Public Works and in preparing our comment we would like your input. Please share any views, ideas or comments with Sarah by Friday 03/02/2017. Further information on the proposed scheme can be found here . 

7 weeks to closing date for Bus Éireann’s new Transition Year competition

RTÉ Presenters Bláthnaid Treacy and Stephen Byrne encourage TYs to enter

• Entries must be submitted by the entrant’s school after 9am on February 28th and before 5pm on March 16th. 
• Open to all Transition Year students in Cork and beyond, the national competition focuses on developing ideas around bus transport through project work in several different categories.
• Five regional winners will receive €3,000 in cash for their school, and the overall winners will also receive a day trip with entry to Tayto Park for their class*, with a private coach

Schools Prize Fund of €15,000

Date: Friday 17^th February
Time: 7.30am – 10.00am
Venue: Clayton Hotel Cork City
Cost: €25 For Cork Chamber/Chartered Accountants Cork Society
BOOK HERE

Family Business is often an overlooked form of business ownership but they are all around us. Cork Chamber and the Chartered Accountants Cork Society are delighted to host a joint event to encapsulate the best qualities of the Family Business.

There will be a Q&A with our expert panel including Brian O’Brien (PwC) Brendan Twohig ( MK Bazaars), JJ O’Connell (Irish Family Business Cluster/Plato) and Jan Harte (Jan Harte & Associates).  This event will provide insights in to managing your business as well as guidance for the future to ensure that your business endures now and for the future.

This is a must-attend event for anyone working in a family business or anyone doing business with a family-run organisation/company.

Date: Thursday 23^rd February
Time: 5.30pm – 7.00pm
Venue: The Everyman
BOOK NOW!

Cork Chamber is delighted to continue the 2017 “Year of Networking” by joining forces with The Everyman for a Business After Hours event on Thursday 23^rd February.

The Everyman, a building that we know and love is celebrating 120 years in 2017.  Having first opened it’s doors as a music hall in 1897 and later serving as a cinema, the building is a jewel of late Victorian architecture.  The Everyman is now one of Ireland’s leading presenting and producing theatres and a vibrant cultural hub for the people of Cork.  The newly refurbished bar and foyer, and with a Spring season bursting with the very best of performing arts, the Everyman and Cork Chamber invite you to celebrate 120 years.

Come along and network with your Chamber colleagues and friends and see what The Everyman has in store for the future.

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) organises a variety of events overseas where you can meet potential business partners and learn all you need to know to expand your business in Europe and beyond. Many of Europe’s biggest trade-fairs have an EEN brokerage event attached. If you are attending such shows, why not take a look to see if there is also an EEN business matchmaking event attached?  To date, key events from the EEN's 2017 Events Calendar include:   

• Biofach, the world’s leading trade-fair in organic food, 16th-17th February, Nuremberg, Germany
• Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest gathering for the mobile industry, 27th February to 1st March, Barcelona, Spain
• Virtual Reality World Congress , 11th-13th April, Bristol, UK
• CeBIT 2017, the world’s largest computer fair, 20th-24th March, Hannover, Germany

Contact Katherine or Eimear for further information. 

• Do you want fresh new ideas for your business?
• Do you have ideas written down but unsure how to develop them?
• Do you feel that ideas are for "ideas people"?
• Are you very critical of your ideas? Are you quick to judge new ideas in general?

This one day workshop for people in business focuses on separating out a process that is often blended together, that is critical and innovative thinking/ In order to generate the ideas we need to move forward in business it is vital we suspend our critical or convergent thinking to allow divergent thinking, which is the breeding ground for new ideas. Everyone can be an ideas person; the key is to foster a divergent thinking approach which is devoid of that judgement and criticism we so often resort to as default.

Click here to reserve a place!

Date: 9th February
Venue: Clayton Hotel Silversprings
Cost: Free for Chamber Members.
BOOK HERE



The IITD (Institute of Training & Development) in partnership with BiznetCork Skillnet present an event on Corporate Based Mindfulness Training (CBMT).

"The overwhelmed employee is the most significant human capital challenge for Irish organisations. Information overload and the 24/7 work environment are contributing to reduced productivity, reduced decision making and lower levels of engagement " - Deloitte's Human Capital Trends 2014.

At this briefing discover how Corporate Based Mindfulness Training (CBMT) can bring measurable results for your organisation, with clear increases in employees Focus, Prioritisation, Collaboration and Work-life Balance, coupled with a significant decrease in Distraction, Multitasking and Work Related Stress.

Speaker: Grattan Donnelly, Country Director & Senior Trainer Potential Project Ireland.

Grattan is an Executive Coach, Facilitator and Trainer, specializing in Corporate Based Mindfulness Training (CBMT). With over 20 years working with leaders in public, private and not-for-profit organisations, he brings a wealth of experience and insights to the clients he works with.

Half Day Event on March 14th - €50 for Chamber Members!

‘Doing well’ or being a responsible business also goes by the title ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ (CSR) – a concept that is prolific in large companies and increasingly growing in importance for smaller companies. This is because companies who engage in responsible business practices are increasing their competitiveness and reaping business benefits. In addition, large companies are more and more setting expectations of responsible business practices with potential suppliers – be it large or small businesses.

You will leave the course with:

• A better understanding of what being a responsible business really means
• What the benefits are for your business
• Ideas to enhance your organisation’s responsible business practices

Click here to reserve a place!

• Disaster expert, Professor David Alexander is keynote speaker at S-HELP Final Event - read more

• Cork Focused on Supporting the Implementation of Ireland’s IFS 2020 Strategy - read more

• EIB Investment is a Welcome Support but Greater Levels of Capital Investment a Priority - read more

• FD Centre in Ireland appoints new Director - read more

• Cork Regional Chambers welcome fresh focus on rural towns and villages - read more

• Cork Chef on the Helm of Scott's in London! - read more

• Rural Communities Must be Supported to Achieve their Full Potential - read more

• Chamber Sympathises on the Passing of Owen O’Callaghan RIP - read more

• New consultant joins Cork legal firm following exciting merger - read more

• MOZART: THE COMPLETE PIANO SONATAS performed by Dr Fionnuala Moynihan at Triskel Christchurch - read more

Share your news to our website through our Member Information Centre (MIC). If you have forgotten your login details contact us and we can reset them for you! 

• Everyday Nutrition Fitness & Wellbeing: 20% Discount on  full price tickets - read more
• Everyman Palace: 10% discount to Chamber Members on 120th Anniversary Fundraising Calendar 2017 - read more
• Hayfield Manor: Book a table of 10 and get one place free per table! - read more
• Phone Pulse Ltd: Complimentary Consultation - read more
• Musgrave MarketPlace: Latest Business Essentials offering you great value - read more

Do business with fellow Cork Chamber through sharing an offer. Offers can be submitted through the Member Information Centre (MIC) and all current offers are displayed on our website.

• CUH Charity:  Information Evening: Walk the Camino for CUMH, January 25th - read more
• Cork Pops Orchestra: The Lord Mayor's Tea Dance, January 29th - read more
• The Hope Foundation: A Night of Adventure with Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel and The Hope Foundation, February 1st -  read more
• The Cork International Travel Fair, 4th & 5th  February 2017 - read more
• Get.up presents ‘The Right Stuff', February 4th - read more
• Flemings Restaurant: Celebrate your Love at Flemings February 11th  - 14th - read more
• Breakthrough Cancer Research: Valentine's Ball, February 11th - read more
  
• The Cornstore Restaurant: Cocktails, Cuisine & Style, March 16th - read more
• CorkBIC: The 2017 Entrepreneur Experience, April 7th & Saturday April 8th - read more