Newsletter - Cork Chamber Weekly Business Update

Business Spotlight

Board Director Training

• Friday 21st October
• Wednesday 16th November

River Lee Hotel, Cork

For more details, click here

In this issue

Policy

Help identify the main challenges for business in the coming year

Fall in Unemployment Rate, New CSO Data Reveals

Subsidised Training

Practical Productivity - Microsoft Outlook

Certificate in Supervisory Management (FETAC Level 6)

Events

Cork Chamber's Dublin Dinner 2016

October Business Breakfast with Niall Gibbons

Meet the Buyer Event

October Business After Hours

International

Brexit update

Taste Cork showcasing Cork innovation and expertise

Member Updates

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‘Cork Company of the Year’ Awards 2017

Celebrating Business Success

Cork Chamber in partnership with Vodafone Ireland has launched Cork Company of the Year Awards 2017.

Now in its 20^th year, the awards are open to businesses across all sectors and sizes, representing the best of what the region has to offer in the categories of Large, SME and Emerging. This year’s special award category of ‘Cork Non-Profit of the Year’ seeks to also recognise an outstanding organisation which through exceptional programs, services, events or campaigns has demonstrated the greatest impact on Cork community and its residents.

Speaking at the launch Barrie O’Connell, President of Cork Chamber, said: “These awards seek to recognise and applaud excellence across the business community in Cork. We are proud to work again with Vodafone Ireland whose strong partnership has helped us grow these awards into the prestigious and aspirational position they now hold and to also have the Irish Examiner as our media partners. Last year we had a record-breaking number of entrants and we encourage all businesses to be part of one of the most recognised, reputable business awards in the country.

Cork Company of the Year Awards offer businesses the opportunity to raise their profile, reputation and importantly celebrate and promote business success. We know there are some amazing businesses in the region and we look forward to them coming forward.”

Read more here.

See photo gallery from the event here.

APPLY ONLINE BEFORE 2ND NOVEMBER.

Promotion

Deserted prison to host Startup Island bootcamp

Cork will stage a startup conference like no other this November. Having secured the hosting rights for the 2016 Startup Nations Summit, Cork will offer something truly unique to Irish and international startups.Running in parallel with the summit, which is an exclusive event for Startup Nations delegates, Startup Island promises an intensive startup bootcamp with a twist – on the site of disused former prison; Spike Island.

On an island off the coast of Cork, Spike Island will play host to the gritty, two-day, overnight bootcamp that will challenge the way startups think. With a host of leading entrepreneurs set to offer key business insights, as well as those sharing their own startup stories, Startup Island promises a truly memorable experience across 18th-19thNovember.

150 startups who want to learn the real hard truths about making it in business will report for duty in Cobh on Friday 18th November before making their way across to Spike Island for a rigorous debriefing.

[Read more]

The Spotlights

The Gift Voucher Shop(GVS) are launching a recognition programme for SMEs called ‘The Spotlights’ with Chambers. This purpose is to recognise employees that go the extra mile and offer SMEs the facility to reward these unsung heroes. ‘The Spotlights’ is a simple online programme for your members to nominate their employees they feel go above and beyond for their business.

Entries are open until 28^th October via online. Judging will finish on 8^th November with winners being announced later that week.

[Read more]

An Post Grow my Business Conference – Turning Ideas into Income

Following on from last year’s sold out conferences in Dublin and Cork; the next in the popular series of An Post Grow My Business interactive conferences will take place in Croke Park Stadium on Tuesday 18^th October and in the Clarion Hotel Cork on Thursday 20^th October. This time around the topic is “Turning Ideas into Income” and includes a stellar line up of influential speakers including Dragon’s Den star Alison Cowzer along with Wheels Couriers and WorldBOX owner Bernie Kinsella.

As part of the Grow My Business series, a panel of leading expert speakers will explore the challenges facing small to medium business owners to help them identify and capitalise on exciting opportunities.

[Read more]

Policy

Help identify the main challenges for business in the coming year

Chambers Ireland in conjunction with the European Economic Survey we have launched a survey asking the Chamber Network for the outlook and expectations of Irish business for 2017. This is part of the 24^th edition of this annual assessment of the European business community’s expectations for the year ahead.

The results of this survey will be used to help us identify the main challenges for business in the coming year, along with the priority areas that require Government attention. This survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete and the deadline for completion is TODAY. Complete HERE

Fall in Unemployment Rate, New CSO Data Reveals

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September 2016 was 7.9%, down from 8.2% in August and 9.1% in September 2015.

Of welcome news is particularly the youth unemployment rate which has seen a significant drop from 17.0% to 15.9% between August and September 2016, indicating that opportunities for those starting out in the workforce are growing.

For further information click here.

Events

Cork Chamber's Dublin Dinner 2016

Date: 8th November
Time: 7:30pm- 11:30pm
Venue: Doubletree by Hilton
Cost: €125 per person / €1250 for table of Ten
BOOK HERE

One of the most prestigious and popular events of the year, Cork Chamber's Dublin Dinner will take place on Tuesday 8th November in the Doubletree Hilton Hotel in association with EY.

The event has gone from strength to strength over the past five years, attracting close to 600 guests in 2015 so it is a great opportunity to entertain colleagues, clients and prospects.

At this Black Tie Event, we will once again honour a prominent business person with the Outstanding Achievement in Business Award, so watch this space for further information!

We are delighted to have the continued support of EY as our headline sponsor. With cross office service teams from Cork and Dublin working with some of the country's largest indigenous and multinational businesses, EYis leading the way in establishing the type of business connections this event is trying to promote. Also to Kernel Capital, one of the largest and most active sources of equity finance for technology companies in Ireland, who have come on board again this year as Networking Reception Sponsor

October Business Breakfast with Niall Gibbons

Date: Tuesday 11^th October
Time: 7.30am – 9.00am
Venue: Kingsley Hotel
Cost: €25 members / €35 non members
BOOK HERE

Niall Gibbons is the current Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, the organisation responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas.

Niall has led the organisation’s development in the digital arena, with the launch of the global website Ireland.com, and has overseen Tourism Ireland’s emergence as a leader in digital marketing and in the social media space. He led the development of Tourism Ireland’s ‘Global Greening’ initiative, which has brought tourism to the heart of St Patrick’s Day celebrations across the world and which generates positive media coverage worth tens of millions of euro each March for the island of Ireland.

Join with your colleagues to hear about Tourism Ireland’s future plans for marketing Ireland and Cork.

Meet the Buyer Event

Date: Wednesday, 19th October
Time: 8am - 2pm
Venue: City Hall, Cork
Cost: FREE to attend
BOOK HERE

InterTradeIreland in conjunction with its partner organizations is delivering a Munster Regional Meet the Buyer Event in Cork City Hall, Wednesday 19^thOctober 2016

This event is FREE to attend. Full registration and programme details are available on the website. Throughout the event there will be significant opportunities to meet with public sector buyers from across the island at the buyer stands.

Representatives from the key business development agencies across the island can also advise you on current funding opportunities and business supports available.

[Read more]

October Business After Hours

Date: Tuesday, 25th October
Time: 5:30pm - 7pm
Venue: St Peters Cork, North Main Street
Cost: Free for Cork Chamber members, registration essential
Book HERE

From yoga to culture, Cork Chamber is bringing you a world of variety for your networking needs. The October After Hours Networking Event will take place in St Peter’s Cork on North Main Street on Tuesday 25^th October at 5.30pm.

St Peter's is a diverse space in the heart of Cork City and is a flexible venue ideal for corporate events, product launches, private parties, live music and much more. With capacity for 300 people and a central location on North Main Street, Cork's oldest standing church is a special building to hold your next company event. St. Peter's is split across two levels, with a secret side garden ideal for BBQs. St. Peter's can help you create an event that breaks the mould.

Operated by LeisureWorld Facility Management since February 2016, St. Peter's has had a great year holding a wide variety of exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, private functions & weddings.

Join with your Chamber colleagues to view this magnificent space and meet some new business contacts!

Subsidised Training

Practical Productivity - Microsoft Outlook

Starts 25th October next - €160 for Chamber Members!

Would you like to have an EMPTY INBOX at the end of each day?!
Would you like to schedule realistic days and never have to worry about forgetting to do or follow-up on a piece of work?
Would you like to have an organised system that will help you work more effectively on a daily basis?

The Practical Productivity course will provide you a practical and workable solution to managing your workload and time more effectively in the work place!

Certificate in Supervisory Management (FETAC Level 6)

Starts 7th November - €565 for Chamber Members

List the roles and responsibilities of a supervisor/line manager;
Analyse the process of staff recruitment;
Develop operations manuals for work-related procedures, including systems for records management;
Prepare departmental budgets, taking into account a range of potential expenses such as labour and material costs, insurances and contingency;
Identify best practices in the ongoing training and development of their staff;
Manage performance and conduct effective performance appraisals.

This Supervisory Management course will provide candidates with the necessary tools and techniques to work in a supervisory management role.

International

Brexit update

Theresa May kicks off Brexit, The Economist, 2nd October
Q&A: falling pound, rising markets, The Guardian, 4th October
UK stance on Brexit ‘threatens free travel area’, The Irish Examiner, 4th October
Sterling at 31 year dollar low as Brexit angst grows, The Irish Examiner, 4th October
Brexit drags Irish services growth to three year low, The Irish Times, 5th October
Government promises budget measures to lessen Brexit impact, The Irish Times, 5th October
Alan Shatter: Difficulties of Brexit for Ireland can't be underestimated, The Irish Times, 5th October

Taste Cork showcasing Cork innovation and expertise

Food Matters Live, 22nd-24th November 2016

Now in its third year, Food Matters Live is the UK’s only cross-sector event bringing together the food and drink industry, retailers, foodservice providers, government and those working in nutrition. The event will comprise of exhibitors, conferences and seminars; all focusing on the areas of food, health and nutrition.

This year, Taste Cork will be exhibiting at Food Matters Live through a unique collaboration between Cork County Council, Cork City Council, the Local Enterprise Offices Cork, Cork Chamber, University College Cork (UCC) and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT). This collaborative approach will provide twelve Cork companies with the opportunity to exhibit under the Taste Cork umbrella, showcasing the latest food innovations within our region. Contact Rebecca O’Keeffe for further information about exhibiting your products at the Taste Cork stand.

The Enterprise Europe Network also partners with Food Matters Live to offer companies the opportunity to pre-book one-to-one meetings with other businesses attending the show at the Food Matters Live B2B event, in order to explore future potential collaboration. The Enterprise Europe Network at Cork Chamber is coordinating the organisation of B2B meetings for interested Cork companies at Food Matters Live. Contact EimearO'Mullane for further information on the B2B event.

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