Date: Wednesday 3^rd December
Time: 5.30pm – 7.00pm
Venue: Intel Security, City Gate, Mahon
Cost: FREE for Chamber members
To book: HERE  

Cork Chamber is delighted to bring you the final Business After Hours Networking event of 2014. This event will take place on Wednesday 3rd December in the offices of Intel Security, City Gate, Mahon.

McAfee, Part of Intel Security, is the world’s largest dedicated security technology company. Delivering proactive and proven solutions and services that help secure systems and networks around the world, Intel Security protects consumers and businesses of all sizes from the latest malware and emerging online threats.

Date: Wednesday, 10th December
Time: 12:30 - 16:30
Venue: CIT
Cost: Free
To book: here

The Enterprise Europe Network is running a FREE workshop on 10th December in CIT. The aim of this workshop is to help Irish businesses find and then bid for public sector business opportunities. The workshop aims to teach businesses how to avoid the typical mistakes and pick up tips and best practice when completing a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ), invitation to tender (ITT) or tender documents. 

This workshop takes place as part of a one-day event on "Accessing the UK Market", which is hosted by the Rubicon Centre in CIT.  For more information on the morning seminar, which will detail supports and opportunities in the UK market, see the International Section below.

To register your place for this event, please click here or email Katherine here for more information. 

Date: Friday, 12th December
Time: 12:30pm - 15:30pm
Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island
Cost: €60 members / €75
To book: HERE


Cork Chamber in association with Brightwater Recruitment Specialists are delighted to bring you the Annual Christmas Lunch, which will this year take place on Friday 12^th December in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island and is held in partnership with the Marketing Institute of Ireland Cork Branch.

This annual event continues to be one of the most popular Chamber events, with a fantastic festive buzz, a fun and relaxed way to network, as well as our regular charity raffle with plenty of fantastic prizes up for grabs on the day. Our keynote speaker will be John Lonergan, former Governor of Mountjoy Prison.

Join the conversation on Twitter #onthe12thdayofchristmas

I know it’s only the 3^rd of December but we’re already looking to January 2015 and we hope you will too!! Here’s a sample of the courses we have coming up in early 2015:

• MS Excel Intermediate – 13^th January
• Personal Productivity using MS Outlook – 14^th January
• Effective Presentation Skills – 27^th January
• E-Mail & Business Writing – 29^th January

Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss any training courses you would like to see on our Training Calendar for 2015! Norma@corkchamber.ie / aoife@corkchamber.ie

Cork Chamber will close at 5.00pm Tuesday 23^rd December 2014 until 9.00am Friday January 2^nd 2015. If your company will require export certification over the holiday period please contact Imelda at 021-4530130 or email here to make alternative arrangements.  

Join the Cork Chapter of the Ireland India Business Association for a festive drink at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island, on Thursday 4^th December. The reception begins at 6pm, and the evening will include a presentation by George Kiely (Enterprise Ireland) on EI activties and supports for SMEs that are targeting the Indian market.  Book your place here!

Top tips for accessing the UK market! 

On Wednesday 10th December the EEN is collaborating with the Rubicon Centre on a 2-part event, which will give participants top tips on accessing the UK market (particularly for the ICT and food/drink sectors), UK public procurement contracts and SME supports.  The morning seminar takes place from 8am-12pm and is followed by optional 1:1 meetings with support agencies, or a public procurement workshop in the afternoon.  See read more below for full details.   

Suggestions and Feedback for the 2015 Events Calendar
The International Team at Cork Chamber is looking for your suggestions and feedback on events and supports that you would like us to run in 2015.  Whether your request is for a particular country-specific event, a sector focused workshop or a guidebook on a particular element of EU legislation, please send us your ideas and we will do our best to ensure that our 2015 work programme fits your needs. Email Katherine@corkchamber.ie with your suggestions and comments.

Clean Technologies Business Mission to Singapore and Vietnam, June 2015

SMEs operating in the Clean Technologies Sector are invited to apply for a place on a week-long business mission to Southeast Asia in June 2015.  See 'read more' below for further details. 

On Friday, November 28^th, Cork Chamber and the European Commission held a major conference which focused on Ireland’s Economic Recovery. The event, held in Cork County Hall  was addressed by leading policy makers including the Tánaiste Joan Burton, Ministers Simon Coveney and Dara Murphy as well as a host of influencers from the private and public sectors, academia, and the European Commission.

The Conference focused on the European Union’s arrangements for improved economic governance; the European Semester, aimed at creating and consolidating the conditions for growth across the EU. Opening the conference Minister for Agriculture, Food, the Marine and Defence, Simon Coveney TD said, “The recovery in the Irish economy is an ongoing process and the role of the European Semester and the Country Specific Recommendations are key to sustaining this recovery. Events such as this play a crucial role in the debate on the next steps that will drive innovation and continued growth in the economy.”

The Department of Finance issued a newsletter on Monday the 24^th of November which explains the role and services of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SCBI). The special edition newsletter was published under the Government’s Action for Jobs Plan following the establishment of the SBCI and Budget 2015. The Department of Finance issued the newsletter with an aim to announce the progress in lending and funding for SMEs. To read the full newsletter please see here.

• Courses delivered by Wine Expert Gary O’Donovan with over 20 years lecturing experience.
• Internationally recognised certification from Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
• Level 1: 1 Day Course 9am-5pm Saturday 24th January
• Level 2: 9 week course 7-9pm Tuesdays  March 26th – June 4th
• Level 3: 15 week course 7-9pm Thursdays  February 17th – June 2nd
• Gift Vouchers Available – The Perfect Christmas Gift for the Wine Lovers!

O’Donovan’s Off Licence would like to wish all Cork Chamber members a Happy Christmas and a prosperous trading season. See our Christmas Brochure here. 

Date: Friday, December 12th
Time: 8pm
Venue: St. Patrick's Church, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork City
Cost: €15
To book: here 

Funds raised will benefit the Cork Association for Autism (CAA) who provide support services to adults on the autistic spectrum. Choirs performing on the night include Note Perfect, Cork Garda Male Voice Choir, Rainbow Lyrics, The Cork Prison Officers Male Voice Choir and The Choir of St. Patrick’s. Young tenor Kevin Walsh who avails of the Cork Association for Autism services will also perform as a special guest on the night. The programme for the evening will include well known favourites such as; See Amid the Winter’s Snow, The Holly and the Ivy and Oh Holy Night.

Date: Sunday, January 4^th
Time: 2 - 6pm.
Venue: The Kingsley, Cork
Cost:  €35
To book: Email Helena here  call 1890 998 998 or purchase them online here 

The Perfect Christmas Gift. The Kingsley, Cork, Sunday 4th January 2015, 2 - 6pm. Your ticket to this exclusive event includes a drinks reception on arrival, a sumptuous Afternoon Tea, a Fashion Showcase of Munster’s top boutiques by confidence and lifestyle coach Councillor, Claire Cullinane.

Other treats on the day include hair styling with The Style House, Tower, pampering treatments from The Spa at the Kingsley and Glamity Jane of Shiseido. Guest MC on the day is Sandra Murphy of the Rising Tide Restaurant & Bar and there will be spot prizes, goody bags and much more.  Also ladies, make sure you come dressed to impress for the Best Dressed Ladies Competition!