Date: 4th December
Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island.
Time: 8am
Cost: Free
To book: HERE

The fourth and final part of the Enterprise Europe Network’s ‘Access to Finance for SMEs’ series will take place in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island on Wednesday, December 4^th at 8am.  State Agency Funding and Revenue Incentives to support business startups and business growth will be identified by a broad cross section of agencies including Cork Enterprise Boards, LEADER Development Companies, Enterprise Ireland, IntertTradeIreland, MicroFinance Ireland, and the Revenue Commissioners.

Business supports from these agencies range from training and mentoring programmes, feasibility grants, microfinance loans, advice, support and finance to develop export markets, job expansion funds, etc.

This seminar will be of interest to those considering starting their own business, those committed to developing a new business as well as business expansions in the domestic and exports markets.  Book a place here. For further information, contact liz@corkchamber.ie.

Date: 13^th December
Time: 12.30pm – 3.30pm
Venue: Radisson Hotel, Little Island
Cost: €50 Cork Chamber & MII members / €75 non members
To Book: HERE

Cork Chamber is kicking off the Christmas period in style with two of Cork’s greatest sporting heroes to inspire and motivate you for 2014.

Steve Redmond is a world class open water swimmer and became the first person in the world to conquer the Ocean’s 7 challenge last year.  Rob Heffernan is a champion race walker and winner of the 2013 World Championships in Moscow 50km race. Both are proud Cork men and leaders in their chosen field, flying the flag for Ireland on the International stage. We look forward to an interactive session where they share their motivational secrets and determination to succeed that we can all apply to our business lives.

This event is ideal for entertaining staff or corporate clients as it uniquely combines inspiring speakers, active networking, lots of great prizes with Christmas merriment! So book now and join with your fellow Cork Chamber and Marketing Institute of Ireland members for one of the most popular events in the Chamber calendar. 

Drinks reception kindly sponsored by Brightwater Recruitment.

Date: Wed 11^th December
Time: 7.30am – 9.00am
Venue: Imperial Hotel
Cost: €20 members / €35 non-members

Cork Chamber is proud to bring you the final Business Breakfast of 2013 and this December event will feature Tony O’Reilly, founder and CEO of Providence Resources.  Providence Resources is an Irish based upstream oil and gas company active in the exploration and development of hydrocabon assets offshore Ireland and the United Kingdom, who has received a significant amount of international industry interest in it’s Barryroe Assets. Providence Resources has recently reported profits of €1.3m.

As this is the final Business Breakfast in 2013, take this opportunity to hear from an influential and successful Irish businessman, as well as joining with your fellow members for some pre-Christmas networking!

The Excellence in Local Government Awards showcase best practice in local government and highlight some of the great projects that local authorities are undertaking.  The Awards are judged by a panel of expert judges working in the field of Local Government and have been taking place since 2004.  The 'Joint Local Authority Award' is sponsored by ESB Networks.

Commenting at the Awards Dinner Siobhán Finn of Cork innovates said 'I am thrilled that the work of Cork innovates and the commitment and support of the local authorities to the initiative has been recognised by Chambers Ireland.  Cork innovates is a unique project and to have made such a positive impression on the judges certainly makes all the hard work worthwhile'.

There’s no better man to manage his workforce and his time than Santa Claus! Who else could manage to travel the world and complete his entire year’s work in 24 hours?

If you wish to be a bit more like Santa and learn key project management techniques, then our Project Management Professional Course is just for you! This course can help you manage your workload and deliver on time, just like the man in red! 

The Enterprise Europe Network helps small business to maximise their presence on the European marketplace. Working through a network of local business organisations across Europe and further afield, we can help you develop your business in new markets, source or license new technologies or access EU finance and EU funding.

 For more information, please see: www.een-ireland.ie or contact Liz@corkchamber.ie

See the ‘read more’ section (below) for further information on the following:

• Ireland India Business Association Christmas Lunch, December 6, River Lee Hotel, Cork
• Launch of Horizon 2020, the EU’s new €70 bn. programme for research and innovation, December 10, Convention Centre, Dublin
• Explore investment opportunities on the African continent in the fields of agriculture, infrastructure, energy, pharmaceuticals and ICT
• Business Partnership Opportunities

Corporate Dinner from €55 per person

Period of the offer: 30^th November – 23^rd December

Max 18 Guests, Complimentary festive mulled wine reception, followed by a private festive Christmas dinner in the beautiful Ladysbridge Room.

Christmas Lunch Package from €37.50 per person

Period of the offer: 30^th November – 23^rd December

Minimum number apply. Complimentary festive mulled wine reception, followed by a private festive Christmas lunch in the Kilta Suite, the Ladysbridge Room or the Bell Tower Restaurant.

Offer available: €50 off for Cork Chamber Members

MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE: MSC Splendida Feb 2014, 7 nights €499

Includes : Return Flights, Full Board Cruise,

Ports of Call: Barcelona, La Goulette, Palermo, Civitavecchia, Genoa, Marseille

Date: Tuesday 3rd December
Time: 7.30 p.m. - 9.30 p.m.
Venue: Celtic Interiors, Douglas Woollen Mills
Cost: Tickets €20.00 each.

A showcase of fashion from local stores and boutiques in the luxurious surroundings of Celtic Interiors. Mulled wine and finger food.

Date: Thursday 5^th December
Time: 5-9pm
Venue: The Kilkenny Shop, Emmet Place, Cork City
Cost: €0
To book: Not necessary

Everything in The Kilkenny Shop will be reduced for 1 night only with up to 50% off for corporate partners in Cork.  Free wine, festive treats & spot prizes to ensure a fun filled evening.  Contact ltoner@kilkennygroup.com for more info.

Closing date: 20^th December 2013

‘One idea, one pitch, one deal away from the dream’ . Applications for Dragons’ Den and Junior Dragons’ Den are now open to all up-and-coming businesses and entrepreneurs! If you’ve got the newest innovative product, then make sure to apply to try and part the dragons from their cash!

Go to www.bankofireland.com/dragons for applications and more information.

Date: Wednesday 4^th December             
Time: 9am, 11am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm
Venue: Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork
Cost: Free
To book: here / (01) 634 0018

‘Kanchi 500’ is a national campaign coinciding with UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities and providing 500 people across Ireland with free disability awareness training.

The Cork event is hosted by PepsiCo and takes place on Wednesday 4^th December. We welcome both business attendees and members of the public.

Date: Thursday 5^th December 2013
Time: 6.00pm to 8.00pm
Venue: The Council Chambers at the Port of Cork, Cork
Cost: €25 IFCC Members and members of Cork Chamber
To Book: Aurelie (info@irelandfrance.com)  or on-line www.irelandfrance.com

The speaker is John Mullins, CEO of Amarenco and former Chief Executive of Bord Gáis.

France and Ireland have had distinctly different economic experiences over the last five years but they both exist in a Eurozone with deep economic and governance challenges. The ECB, currency and fiscal agendas of the Eurozone continue to present an inconsistent economic patchwork quilt across Europe – the question is whether individual economic cycles can converge.

After years in exile, the Christmas Jumper is back! Cork Simon Community is asking businesses in Cork to DO SOMETHING for people who are homeless this winter and take part in the Cork Simon Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 6 December.  The Cork Simon Christmas Jumper Day is a brilliant opportunity for organisations across Cork to have some festive fun while raising money to help Cork Simon Community to give food, shelter and vital support services to people who are most in need, right here on our doorsteps and without a home in Cork this winter.

Date: Tuesday, 3 December
Time: 5:30pm Registration – 8pm
Venue: Clarion Hotel, Cork
Cost: Free
To book: Book online here or email mpower@westboro.ie 

Recently the Revenue Commissioners have been targeting small service providers/single member companies with extensive audits of accounts and expenses.

Dubbed the “National Contractors Project”, it appears that the Revenue Commissioners activity in this area has been triggered by instances of service companies paying high amounts of expenses to their employees.

Date: Thursday December 5th
Time: Doors open at 7.30pm and the concert will begin at 8pm.
Venue: Aula Maxima, UCC
Cost: €15
To book: You can purchase tickets from the fundraising office at 18 Cook St or you can book online HERE 

Music lovers are in for a treat when a wonderful cast of singers and musicians gather to present a Christmas Concert in aid of The Cork Association for Autism. The Concert will feature the wonderful voices of soprano Jill Coogan and mezzo-soprano Louise O’Sullivan, the Chorus of Opera Cork and the City of Cork Male Voice Choir.