‘Competition in the Irish Ports Sector’ Submission:

Following a request by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, the Competition Authority is currently undertaking a review of the effectiveness of existing competition in the ports sector to identify any issues or areas which require further exploration. The Authority’s review included a consultation process where interested parties were invited to identify ways to strengthen competition in the ports sector by the 8^th February.

The Chamber prepared a submission for the Competition Authority’s consideration which identified specific recommendations and requirements that must be addressed to support the improved competitiveness of the Irish ports and firmly position the Port of Cork as a leading competitor and key global player in supply chain logistics:

Key recommendations in our submission:

• There is significant scope to improve the competitiveness of ports in terms of efficiency of services and the provision of quality;
• Ports must be equipped to respond to expected increases in traffic volumes through appropriate infrastructure for larger and deeper vessels;
• Ability to compete is influenced by capacity to fund required investment.  The Government must facilitate ports in attracting private financial investment to part fund new infrastructure;
• Government support must be given to Port of Cork’s Strategic Development Plan so that the Port can remain globally competitive;
• Good quality access for all of the major portsis integral to competitiveness.  Failure to complete the N28 creates potential access difficulties and has distorted competition when considered in the context of the ‘free’ provision of the Port Access Tunnel to Dublin Port;
• As the planning system is key to the future development of ports, there is a requirement for ‘joined up thinking’ between Government, Local Authorities, transport providers and port operators

Further details on our submission can be found on www.corkchamber.ie

Cork County Development Plan:

The County Development Plan sets out the overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the County.  The current County Development Plan expires in 2015 and in order to ensure that new County Development Plan 2015 – 2021 is reflective of and appropriate to the social, demographic and economic requirements of the County, the County Council has commenced a formal consultation process.  Further details including the Council’s consultation document ‘Planning for Cork County’s Future’ – Section 11 are available at www.corkcoco.ie

The Chamber is currently preparing a submission and welcomes input from its members.  Should you be interested in providing comments or feedback for this submission, please contact the Policy and Research Manager (Acting) (siobhan.bradley@corkchamber.ie) by Monday 25^th February at 4pm. 

PMI Exam Preparation (2 days)

Course Dates: 18^th & 19^th February & 6^th & 7^th May

Member Rate: €255.00

These courses are targeted at those who have previously attended the 3 day PMP course and who wish to sit the exam. It is prepared and delivered by experienced PMPs who help students understand the scope and rationale of the PMP® and CAPM® certification exams.

This course will help participants to:

• Understand the PMBOK® Guide V4.0
• Understand the PMP exam process, and some practical steps to maximise your success rate
• Understand the different types of questions and how to approach them, including situational questions, double negative questions, best fit questions and earned value questions
• Complete a number of sample questions in each of the knowledge areas, analysing the answers to understand the logic behind the correct answer
• Have focused training on areas where students have the most difficulty with the current exam.
• Have insider tips to taking and passing the exam from an industry professional who has taken and passed the exam.
• Be "prepped" to take the exam - this is a prep course and a review course.

So, if you wish to get certified as a Project Manager and another string to your bow! Please click here to book your place.

We also have these courses coming up next week:

Influencing & Negotiating Skills

Course Dates: 21^st & 22^nd February

Member Rate: €225.00

Learn to be an effective negotiator with our two day course in Influencing & Negotiating Skills. The programme aims to enable participants to influence the thinking and behaviour of others through the effective use of communication skills. This programme is designed to help participants to enhance their ability to communicate in a confident and professional manner. This course is ideal for those who wish to improve their persuading, influencing and negotiating skills, especially people working in the areas of marketing, sales, advertising and buying.

Learners who successfully complete this module will:

• Obtain practical techniques, strategies and skills for influencing others
• Be more confident in building rapport effortlessly with clients
• Discover their persuasion style and how to make a positive impact in using it
• Learn the skills to negotiate to lower overhead and maintain profit margins
• Understand the know-how of a negotiation process
• Be able to conduct the negotiation using persuasion and influencing skills
• Use the different negotiation approaches depending on the situation
• Be able to develop consensus in a negotiation process
• Identify the barriers in achieving a negotiation deal and learn how to deal with objections

This fantastic course will be run on the 21^st & 22^nd February next so don’t delay, BOOK TODAY!

Conflict Management

Course Dates:26^th & 27^th February

Member Rate: €250.00

Conflict is inevitable in groups and organisations, and it represents both a challenge and a true opportunity for every leader. When leaders handle conflict effectively, problem solving increases, interpersonal relationships become stronger and stress surrounding the conflict decreases. On completion of this course the participants will 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.

This course is ideal for front line personnel- customer service, sales, complaint handling, procurement, operations, supervisors, and those involved in human resources. Click HERE to book a place.

The Business School @ Cork Chamber is also delighted to announce that we are launching 2 new courses, MS Visio Professional & MS Project. Please contact Aoife Dunne, Training Services Administrator at Aoife@corkchamber.ie for more information.

Regional Supports for Female Entrepreneurship

The Enterprise Europe Network will be participating in a cross-border working group on female entrepreneurship and as part of this initiative we are compiling a regional overview of supports for female entrepreneurs.  If you are involved in providing business supports, programmes or mentoring specifically aimed at female entrepreneurs in the region, we would be delighted to include your initiatives in our regional summary.  Please email the details to Katherine@corkchamber.ie .

Is your business China ready?

The Enterprise Europe Network is looking for expressions of interest from companies who would like to attend a practical information seminar on China, including tips on how to assess whether your business is China ready, knowing your partners in China and specific opportunities by industry sector.  To register your interest, email Katherine@corkchamber.ie

European Business Partner Opportunities

A French company specialising in the production of top-quality fruit liqueurs, cocktail liqueurs, herbal digestive liqueurs, regional aperitifs and syrups, is looking for commercial partners (Reference: 20130122023).

A UK company working in the Fire Industry is looking for manufacturing partners who are experienced in the manufacture of glass fibre (GRP) poles using mandrel wrap / roll wrap or pull winding processes (Reference: 20130116043).

A UK company supplying the highest quality thermal imaging cameras and block cameras is looking for distributors in the security, defense, CCTV camera or speed dome sectors in Europe to handle their Hitachi block camera range (Reference: 20130125015).


For further information on any of the above profiles, please contact Eimear@corkchamber.ie, quoting the relevant Reference Number above.

Offer available for: February, March & April

East Village Bar, Restaurant & Hotel is delighted to inform you of our special corporate offer available for the month of February, March & April.

• 50% off our finger food menus of parties of 25+
• 25% off our BBQ menus

East Village is the perfect choice for quality food in a great atmosphere. We provide a fantastic venue for all parties & occasions. All parties (both large or small) can be catered for in both our vibrant Bar downstairs, as well as upstairs in our popular Manhattan styled Restaurant, Bar & Terrace. Our wait staff will be personally assigned to you on your night to cater for all your needs. Both our finger food & BBQ menus can be altered to suit any of your requirments. If you would like to book or have any enquiries regarding our special offers please contact us on (021) 4367000 or e-mail: info@eastvillage.ie

ITINERARY

1pm: Registration & Light Networking Lunch

1:45pm Deirdre Waldron, President Network Cork to introduce Conference and pass over to Francis Jacobs, Head of European Parliament information Office, who in turn introduces
Deirdre O’Shaughnessy – MC for the Day

2pm: Supports for Women in Business

• Phil Prendergast MEP – EU Supports, Changes in EU Regulations, Gender Quotas
• Julia Lynes, National President Network Ireland & Owner EazyCity –  Using our own Networks – Making use of our contacts/resources/support mechanisms
• Sarah Abbott, Senior Director, Human Resources, EMC Ireland – Best Practices, Employers playing their part, How EMC has gotten it right, globally and locally. 
• Aine Collins TD – Supports for the SME Sector

3:15pm: Power Break! 

3:45pm: The Journey of Women in Business

• Jane Maas – Then & Now: What’s changed & what’s the very same!
• Heidi Higgins, Fashion Designer &  Irish Tatler Woman of the Year Fashion– Life as a Young Female Entrepreneur
• Ruth Buckley, Head of ICT and Business Services, Cork City Council  
• Gillian Keating – JW O’Donovan Solicitors & incoming President of Cork Chamber

5pm: Panel Discussion/Q&A : “What’s Next?” for Women in Business

Looking at new EU directives, use of new technologies, the digital era, and where all of this will take us. 

5:45pm: Post Event Drinks Reception & Networking