Intreo

The Minister for Social Protection recently launched new integrated employment and support services for jobseekers and employers in Cork.  Intreo streamlines a number of services previously provided by FÁS, the Department of Social Protection and Community Welfare Services.  Intreo is based in dedicated offices nationwide and roll out will be complete by 2014.  The scheme provides a wide range of supports and services to assist with employment needs, designed to make sure that companies can access potential employees.  The scheme provides a range of services to employers including:

• Employment support and advice on a national and European level, giving access to skilled, job ready candidates.  The Jobs Ireland employment services is an online support system for companies looking to recruit
• JobBridge internships and work placement services
• Financial supports to companies creating new jobs by minimising cashflow demands.  The Employer (PRSI) Incentive Scheme currently exempts employers from liability to pay their share of PRSI for certain employees and is open to employers who create new and additional jobs.
• Workplace supports to assist employees with disabilities
• Advice and access to any employment initiatives relevant to companies.

Further information on this scheme can be found at www.intreo.ie.

Cork Chamber calls for support for Local Business in the run up to ChristmasAs the Christmas light were switched on in the city centre last week, the Chamber calls for support for local business. Read more.     

PMI Exam Preparation – 28^th & 29^th November 2012

The PM Professional Certification Exam Preparation Course is prepared and delivered by experienced PMPs who help students understand the scope and rationale of the PMP® and CAPM® certification exams. Participants are required to have already completed the three day Professional Project Management training course. The objectives of the course are:

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

MS Powerpoint  “ Beyond the Basics” – 28^th November 2012

Learn how to produce and run professional looking slide shows. This course reviews the basics of PowerPoint to quickly run through shortcuts and speed keys, working through from text based slide content through to alternative options - inserting ClipArt, pictures, photos, diagrams, movie clips etc. Then it looks at formatting the slide show including applying PowerPoint design templates and creating your own design templates for future use. Learn then how to run the slide show in the most professional way possible through the use of some simple keys.

A number of alternative slide layouts are available to the standard bulleted list layout – we will explore some of these options including the use various different diagrams. Once the content is complete, we will then look at adding the finishing touches to your slide show by adding Custom Animation. Learn then how to run the slide show in the most professional way possible through the use of some simple keys. Most importantly, learn the Dos and Don’ts of PowerPoint.

Personal Productivity using MS Outlook  - 29^th November 2012

Our course is designed to enable participants manage their time and workload effectively using MS Outlook as the tool. It will enable you to have an empty inbox at the end of each working day and an effective way of prioritising and managing workload. You will learn to:

Be aware of Time Management theory (Best Practice)

Be familiar with MS Outlook Shortcut Keys

Be able to use timesaving everyday functionality in MS Outlook.

Have customised Outlook to make it work more effectively as a time management tool.

Know how to create tasks in order to prioritise and manage workload

Know how to create tasks directly from email as an effective method of deferring less urgent work.

Have the ability to use the calendar and tasks to manage working days realistically

Able to collaborate with other users through meeting invitations, sharing calendars etc

So book now!

Cork Chamber has partnered with EirGrid to bring you an informational Breakfast Briefing on Tuesday 4th December at 7.30am in the Gresham Metropole Hotel, Cork.

The Grid Link Project is an estimated €500 million project planned by EirGrid to upgrade the electricity grid that will deliver a wide range of benefits to the national and regional economies. The development will involve the construction of a new power line linking Leinster and Munster.

Cork Chamber and EirGrid are running this FREE information seminar to inform people about the project, answer questions, provide access to maps and technical documentation and hear the views of the business community and beyond.

BOOK NOW

The Chamber has partnered with Cork City Council, UCC, CIT and the Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) to host the first business event of The Gathering 2013. The ITLG established in 2007 brings together Irish and Irish-American investors committed to helping Irish start-up companies. The ‘Silicon Valley comes to Ireland’ summit will take place in Cork on 21 and 22 January 2013. Technology leaders from Europe, China, Russia, India and across the Americas will convene in Cork for the two day summit of keynote presentations, panel debates and company showcases. This international business event led by former Intel Chairman and CEO Craig Barrett will showcase Cork as a centre of excellence for innovation and commercialisation of new research as well as a great place to invest as a gateway to Europe.  Indigenous companies are invited to participate in ‘fast pitch’ sessions, which will allow entrepreneurs, business start-ups and innovative businesses a chance to pitch their ideas to international investors. A Global Technology Leaders Summit, University Challenge Award and a Gala Networking Dinner will also take place during this event.  Further information can be found at www.itlg.org.

The Chamber has partnered with Cork City Council, UCC, CIT and the Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) to host the first business event of The Gathering 2013. The ITLG established in 2007 brings together Irish and Irish-American investors committed to helping Irish start-up companies. The ‘Silicon Valley comes to Ireland’ summit will take place in Cork on 21 and 22 January 2013. Technology leaders from Europe, China, Russia, India and across the Americas will convene in Cork for the two day summit of keynote presentations, panel debates and company showcases. This international business event led by former Intel Chairman and CEO Craig Barrett will showcase Cork as a centre of excellence for innovation and commercialisation of new research as well as a great place to invest as a gateway to Europe.  Indigenous companies are invited to participate in ‘fast pitch’ sessions, which will allow entrepreneurs, business start-ups and innovative businesses a chance to pitch their ideas to international investors.  A Global Technology Leaders Summit, University Challenge Award and a Gala Networking Dinner will also take place during this event.  Further information can be found at www.itlg.org.

 Spanish company wishes to join cross-border energy projects

A Barcelona-based cleantech company (ENERBYTE) is looking to join consortia applying for projects on the following topics:
- ENERGY.2013.8.8.1 - Demonstration of optimised energy systems for high performance-energy districts;
- ICT-2013.6.4 - Optimising Energy Systems in Smart Cities.
ENERBYTE works in the smart grid market, focused in the utilities marketing and customer service processes. ENERBYTE's added value lies in integrating data from smartmeters with data from socioeconomic, weather, human-computer interaction, social media and other information sources, combining expertise in computer science (data base, analytics, IT multi-platform, social networks, etc.) and social psychology applied to marketing (behaviour science, human-computer interaction, etc.).  Based on this global approach, ENERBYTE is able to provide utilities with a powerful tool, outperforming traditional energy data analysis, improving customer engagement and generating new revenue sources thanks to an energy-related product and services marketplace.  ENERBYTE provides consumers with an energy management tool to help them to reduce energy bills and increase awareness about efficient energy use.


Italian company looking for partners to apply for an ICT project

An Italian research group is looking for partners to apply for FP7 -ICT 2013 call, with the aim of improving a music tool for mixing physical activity and memorising fitness programmes.  Partners should work in the sporting/fitness industry, or be research/medical centres dealing with personalised health, active ageing, and independent living.

For more information on either of the profiles above please contact Katherine@corkchamber.ie.

The Asian Studies Ireland Association (A.S.I.A) and the School of Asian Studies, University College Cork, are to jointly host the 4th Annual Conference of the Asian Studies Ireland Association on November 22nd and 23rd, 2012 at the River Lee Hotel, Cork. The theme of the conference is ‘Asian Studies in Ireland and Asian-European Social Innovation’.  During the two days conference, the Asia Language Council Ireland will be launched.  The full programme of the A.S.I.A. conference is available online at this link.  For further information or queries, please contact Daniele Massaccesi, Tel: +353 (0) 21 490 3326 or d.massaccesi@ucc.ie.

10% Discount for Training Providers

Are you developing your Training Programmes for 2013?  Learning Ways supports both Individual Trainers and larger Training Organisations who are involved in the provision of accredited training.  Maura O’Shea, founder, has 14 years experience working with both Irish and International Certification systems, has previously managed a private Training Organisation and since 2008 is providing a consultancy service to FETAC centres in the Cork area. 

Services include advice on Centre Approvals and Programme Validation, Staff Training on the FETAC QA System, Internal Verification, Self Evaluation, External Authentication and preparation for Monitoring visits. 

Learning Ways is offering a 10% reduction in fees to fellow Cork Chamber Members on all new business. 

For more information please contact Maura O’Shea at 087 6536157 or by email at mauraoshea@learningways.ie or visit www.learningways.ie

We are delighted to announce that our Christmas Gala Wine Society evening will take place on Tuesday 11^th December. Our host on the evening will be Donie O’Brien from Erne Drinks Company who has arranged a program of exceptional wines from France especially for the evening. Entertainment will be provided by The Loungeman, Conor O’Shea.

This special event begins at 7.00pm with aperitifs and an introduction of wines from Donie.

Dinner is €79.00 per person and will be served at 7.30pm. Our Executive Chef, Graeme Campbell, has carefully created a five course menu designed to perfectly complement the selection of five different wines which will be showcased on the night.

Enthusiasts looking to expand their knowledge of wine, or amateurs who simply love sampling new and exciting vintages will relish this special event, part of a series of Wine Society evenings to be held at Hayfield Manor. This is also a great option for Christmas parties, or as a gift voucher.

Limited spaces are available, therefore an early reservation is strongly recommended.

To book please call Michelle on 021 4845909 or email events@hayfieldmanor.ie.

Kenya is not alone when it comes to bad weather but the affects can sometimes last longer for some more than others. This year has been a challenge for FOL to achieve its programmes on the ground given the adverse weather conditions that we have experienced in the Londiani and Kipkelion Districts. The rains started in April this year and have not let up to today – as well as delaying FOL projects on the ground, it will more so affect the communities that we work with as there is a genuine fear that the main crop that so many people depend on – Maize will be less than normal and with that it will potentially increase the work that FOL will have to support in 2013. As this is the time of year that we are deciding on our Education Bursary allocations for 2013, the demand may be greater for Educational support from the communities in Londiani & Kipkelion.  The Christmas shop has a range of Gift Vouchers available for a minimum donation of €10 including one for Education Bursaries.  They are dressed up for Christmas and come with a Beaded star Christmas tree decoration.  An amount of €50 will assist a student to attend Secondary school in 2013 so we call on you to support the gift voucher sales.  They would be a great gift for someone who graduated this year; someone who just started school or moved from primary to secondary school; a gift for a teacher or someone who loves to collect unusual Christmas tree decorations.

TAKE A TEST DRIVE FOR BREAST CANCER’S PINK WEEK

KEARYS NISSAN LAUNCH PINK WEEK FOR BREAST CANCER IRELAND

Nissan Ireland and Kearys of Cork have teamed up with Breast Cancer Ireland to raise funds for cancer research. 

Pink Week kicks off at Kearys Nissan in Cork on 16 November, and will see Kearys donate €50 to Breast Cancer Ireland for every Micra test drive taken during the Pink Week. 

“At Kearys, we have set an ambitious target of raising €10,000 for Breast Cancer Ireland, which does such amazing work in the area of cancer research.  We’re painting our dealership on Kinsale Road Roundabout Pink for the week from 16^th to 25^th November, and really hope to have a record number of Micra test drives to raise these much-needed funds”, said Con O’Leary, Dealer Principal at Kearys Nissan.

Complimentary Pink muffins, teas and coffees and the usual great service will be on hand all week at Kearys Nissan.  So drop in and take a Micra for a test drive, a donation of €50 will go straight to Breast Cancer Ireland.

For more information, see www.kearys.ie

Next home fixtures

RaboDirect PRO12 League: Munster v Scarlets, 5.15pm, November 25th, Musgrave Park.

Heineken Cup: Munster v Saracens, 6.00pm, December 8th, Thomond Park.

Tickets available at http://www.munsterrugby.ie 

Upcoming Fixtures:

 RaboDirect PRO12:

Sun 25th Nov: Munster V Scarlets - Musgrave Park   5.15pm

Heineken Cup: Sat 8th Dec - Munster V Saracens -Thomond Park     6.00pm

 Match tickets and Season Tickets available from www.munsterrugbysales.com. Prices from €7 for a Junior and €20 for an adult. Group discounts available by contacting the ticket office on 061-421103.