Date: Wednesday 30th April
Time:  5.30pm
Venue:  Cork County Hall (Light refreshments will be served).

You are cordially invited to a stakeholders meeting on THE IRISH OPEN 2014. This event is being held in association with Cork City Council and Cork County Council.

Find out about: 
- Opportunities to highlight tourism in Cork during the Irish Open
- Ways your business/ organisation can get involved in the Irish Open Marketing collateral.


We look forward to seeing you this evening.  


RSVP  to kathleen@hopkinscommunications.ie

Across the globe, governments are increasingly recognising the economic value of the seas as a source of energy, materials, food and transport. In 2012, the Irish Government published an Integrated Marine Plan which includes a goal to increase the turnover from our ocean economy to exceed €6.4bn by 2020.

Cork Chamber recognises the vast economic potential of the Maritime Sector for Cork businesses and is currently participating in a European Project funded through the ‘Regions of Knowledge’ Seventh Framework Programme called the Resource Efficiency Maritime Capacity Project (REMCAP). REMCAP is a collaborative project involving 14 partner organisations from six European maritime clusters The main objective of REMCAP is  to develop the clusters' ability to promote innovation and enable sustainable growth across the key markets of offshore wind; ocean energy; fishing; aquaculture; blue biotech; aggregates and dredging and sea bed mining.

For more information vist the REMCAP website HERE or contact claire@corkchamber.ie

In conjunction with Chambers Ireland, Cork Chamber has developed a position paper on Public Procurement and the role of the new Office of Government Procurement (OGP).  Cork Chamber recognises the importance of procurement for regional businesses and will continue to lobby on behalf of members interests to ensure the structures governing public procurement are implemented in a way that will stimulate the economy, incentivise innovation, support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and promote job creation.

For a copy of the paper please click here

Please see the events section for details of our upcoming Business Breakfast with Paul Quinn, Chief Procurement Officer, Office of Government Procurement to gain a unique insight into accessing public procurement.

Cork Chamber would like to congratulate Damien Hanley, GXP Systems on winning the dinner for two at Oysters Restaurant, Lapps Quay for completing our economic survey. 

Many thanks to all those who completed this quarter’s economic survey.  Your input is greatly appreciated and highlighted a number of positive trends around confidence levels, turnover, net profits and employment increases.  It also highlighted some key challenges, particularly the need for further interventions to address the issue of working capital for viable businesses.  The Chamber will continue to communicate the importance of this issue to relevant policy and financial bodies.

For a copy of the survey results, please click here

Cork Chamber will launch Cork’s first ever Agri-Food and Drinks Strategy on Monday 12th May in the Triskel Theatre, with special guest speaker Minister Simon Coveney T.D.  Opportunities within the agri-food and drinks sector have increasingly moved under the spotlight and this sector is increasingly seen as the growth area for the future.

Cork, with its long and rich heritage, abundant natural resources, intellectual capital and technical capabilities has a distinctive opportunity to position itself as a region of leading capability in the global market.

Business Breakfast with Paul Quinn, Chief Procurement Officer, Office of Government Procurement

Date:  21^st May
Time: 7.30am – 9.00am
Venue: Clarion Hotel
Cost: €25 members/€35 non members
To Book: HERE

Cork Chamber will welcome Chief Procurement Officer Paul Quinn to speak at the May Business Breakfast. The public sector procures about €190m in goods and services every year.

This presents huge opportunities for SMEs to get involved with public work and give themselves an opportunity to grow nationally and internationally.

BOOK HERE

Date:  22^nd May
Time: 5.30pm – 7.00pm
Venue: Kearys BMW, Little Island
Cost: FREE for Cork Chamber members
To Book:  HERE

Cork Chamber is delighted to join forces with Kearys Motor Group for the May Business After Hours at their premises on Little Island.

Keary Motor Group is one of Ireland’s largest motor groups, representing BMW, MINI, Hyundai, Nissan, Renault and Dacia. Operating in Cork for over 30 years Kearys offer quality, value and choice to the Cork market. The modern and spacious showroom at Eastgate, Little Island, stands as one of Europe’s finest dedicated BMW and MINI dealerships.

Kearys and Cork Chamber would be delighted to welcome to you their Little Island premises on Thursday 22nd May to celebrate their recent partnership with LeasePlan Ireland, the world's largest vehicle management and leasing provider.

A Certificate in Supervisory Management qualification can provide you with the practical resources for laying the foundation for a successful management career and developing and managing an effective team. Starting on the 6^th May next, BOOK NOW!

Also starting on the 6^th May is ourDigital Marketing/Social Media for Business Course - for any business that wants to reduce marketing and sales costs, that wants to get more business using social media and wants to reinforce their offline reputation, online! 

Is your business doing business with Slovakia? Is your business thinking of doing business in Central Europe? You may be interested to learn about the business opportunities in Slovakia, world-class engineering centre in the Automotive and Electronic sectors. Slovakia is strategically situated in Central Europe, offering a gateway and trading links to Eastern Europe.

State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy in the Slovakian Government, Mr Pavol Pavlis, will visit Cork on May 6th to mark the 10^th anniversary of Slovakia’s entry into the EU. Cork Chamber invites Cork businesses doing business or thinking of doing business in Slovakia to a trade briefing and to meet with the Secretary of State during the visit. For further information, please contact Liz@corkchamber.ie

• The EU Japan Centre in Tokyo is offering a free ‘About Japan’ webinar series in May
• International Matchmaking Event at Greater Region (GR) Business Days, 18th-19th June 2014, Luxemburg
• Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Information Day, in association with InterTradeIreland and the Irish Universities Association,4th June 2014, The Gibson Hotel, Dublin
• Business Growth in UK Markets, June-July 2014, Liverpool, UK

Date:  7th May 
Time: Registration 7.45am, duration 1 hour.
Venue: The Clarion Hotel, Lapps Quay, Cork.
Cost: n/a
To book: Ann McDonogh at (021) 4949450 or HERE ( by 4pm, 6 May 2014)

Our speakers Leslie Barrett, Tax Partner & Eamonn Murphy, Tax Director recently delivered this presentation to over 80 attendees in Shannon with very positive feedback. Of interest to solicitors, accountants, auctioneers etc.

Date: 7th May 
Time: 8:30am-3:30pm
Venue: Radisson Blu Little Island
Cost: €195
To book: HERE 

On Wednesday 7th May, there will be  a 1 day Business Growth Day in The Radisson Hotel Cork, to show you exactly how to put together a 90 day plan for your business. We will be looking at some fast ways to get your marketing performing and your sales up so you can start building the business and lifestyle you actually deserve.

Date: 9th May 
Time: Come at your own leisure between the hours of 3pm & 5pm
Venue: Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa
Cost: Free
To book: HERE  or 086 777 3116

You and your colleagues are cordially invited to attend a showcase of Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa's facilities followed by an Afternoon Tea Buffet.

During this casual networking afternoon with Cork businesses and friends you will be shown Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa’s Meeting Rooms, Conferencing Space, Bedrooms, Suites, Adventure Activities, Team Building etc. Whether it’s a Meeting, Event, Client Entertainment, Christmas / Summer Party or a Sports & Social outing.

Date: 10th May 
Time: 10am – 5pm
Venue: A Touch of Magic Cake Academy, Carrigaline, Co.Cork
Cost: €40 
To book: HERE 

Come along and join in the cake decorating fun!

David Cakes and Guest Artists NON-STOP CAKE DECORATING DEMO DAY with audience participation. Special Promotional Price – 40 Euros.

Featuring free - hand royal king piping & String work demonstrations, plus lots more creative demonstrations. 


Everyone Welcome!