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Meeting with Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Leo Varadkar
On Friday the 20th June, Cork Chamber hosted a meeting with the Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Leo Varadkar. This meeting centred around tourism and infrastructure priorities for the Cork Region. During the meeting, Cork Chamber highlighted the need to advance tourism support through the development of appropriate tourism strategies for Cork and took the opportunity to reiterate the suitability of Cork as a location for the new National Diaspora Centre.
The meeting also progressed talks on the wider regional economic benefits of upgrading the N28 to Ringaskiddy which were highlighted in Cork Chamber's recently published report entitled ‘Cork to the World’ An updated Economic Assessment of the N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Scheme which is available to read HERE.
The Irish Immigrant Support Centre
Cork Chamber is part of a working group organised by NASC – The Irish Immigrant Support Centre in developing a new Cork City Integration Strategy. The Chamber’s input to the strategy hopes to enhance the multi-cultural nature of Cork life that helps promote the City as a great place to live and work as well as helping new communities to integrate into the workplace.
The working group hopes to have the final strategy published later in the year and it is expected that a number of positive actions in training and employment will be in place by 2015.
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Exceed your sales targets this year and beyond!
Everyone is involved in selling in some way. We are selling ourselves, our company and our products all the time. A solid sales technique is a key skill that once learnt, is never forgotten. Invest in your sales technique with our Sales courses:
- Increasing Sales by Telephone: develop the prospecting protocols and influencing skills required to significantly increase your sales success over the phone - Business to Business Selling – The Secrets:
designed for people who are required to initiate relationships with, and sell to, businesses, this course will teach you the necessary consultative selling skills required to exceed your sales target this year and beyond.
Increasing Sales by Telephone Course Dates: 23rd September & 7th October Member Rate: €380.00 This course is aimed at sellers who use the telephone to sell products and services directly to consumers. Whether you sell on inbound or outbound calls, this workshop will help you develop the prospecting protocols and influencing skills required to significantly increase your sales success over the phone. This course is ideal for business owners, telephone sales professionals and field sales professionals and will enable you to: - Evaluate your current telephone skills level
- Develop an appropriate telephone structure based on best practice
- Learn how influence works over the phone
- Increase your telephone sales results
Following this course, participants will be able to: - Understand the way buyers think and buy
- WIIFM - ‘What’s in it for me’ – the only item on the customer’s mind
- Incremental steps – how customers make the decision to proceed with your offering
- How to structure the call for maximum commercial impact
- Developing results based call openings that gets the customer interested
- How to give the customer perceived control at all stages of the call
- Asking better questions to create better understanding and better sales opportunities
- Use of summary and conditioning questions to move the call forward
- How to present your offering focusing on the customer’s priorities and motivations
- Asking for the business
- How to explore and overcome an objection
- Managing gatekeepers and voice mail
- Get an outcome for every call: How to bring every call to a conclusion
- Managing the follow up call - How to get commitment in advance
- Best practice telephone sales metrics
For more information and to book a place on this course, simply click HERE! Business to Business Selling - The Secrets Course Dates: 29th October & 14th November Member Rate: €400.00 Identifying new customers, driving demand, and building a solid sales pipeline is at the core of successful sales prospecting for anybody who sells business to business. The marketplace is growing more competitive by the day which means that the business customer has more choice than ever before. Sellers now have to work as hard for repeat purchases as they do for new business. This business to business sales course will teach you the necessary consultative selling skills required to exceed your sales target this year and beyond. This course is ideal for people who are required to initiate relationships with, and sell to, businesses and following this course, participants will be able to: - Make appointments by phone, email, and 'LinkedIn'
- Structure a prospecting meeting for maximum effect
- Better understand and profile their sales prospects
- Structure the sales process for maximum revenue and shortest lead time
- Ask the best sales questions to qualify and position your solution
- Ask for a commitment smoothly and effectively
- Sell more profitably and efficiently
This course will cover techniques to target better prospects and then using the techniques of influence to increase conversion of sales. So if you want to exceed your sales targets this year and beyond, BOOK NOW!
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Cork Chamber Speed Networking in association with Aviva
Date: 24th July
Time: 5.30pm – 7.00pm
Venue: River Lee Hotel
Cost: FREE for Cork Chamber members
To book: HERE
Cork Chamber and Aviva are working in partnership to bring you a highly energized event, where you will make over 10 business contacts in a fast-paced environment. ‘Speed networking’ is a more structured form of networking where you have 1 ½ minutes each side to pitch your business and make connections for both buying and selling.
This is a practical event for SME’s, giving you a chance to speed network and meet new business contacts as well as receive referrals and renew existing connections.
Places are limited, please BOOK EARLY to avoid disappointment
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India Tourism Seminar, Friendship Room, Cork Airport, 26th June 2014, 6 pm
The Cork Chapter of the Ireland India Business Association (IIBA) will host an Indian Tourism Seminar on Thursday 26th June in Cork Airport. The event is kindly sponsored by Cork Airport. See 'read more' below for further details.
India Tourism Seminar, Friendship Room, Cork Airport, 26th June 2014, 6 pm The Cork Chapter of the Ireland India Business Association is pleased to invite you to a seminar / workshop to understand the India outbound travel market. This workshop aims to help the Tourism and Hospitality sectors learn more about this market and to help companies to develop products and programmes for the Indian travel market. Tourism Ireland’s Jim Paul will lead the discussion by providing insights and trends from Indian tourists, while providing information and contacts to motivate Tourism and Hospitality businesses to further develop their trade links with India. To register for this event contact Mike McGrath of Supply.ie (e: mike@supply.ie).
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Are You Cork's Friendliest Business?
Closing Date for receipt of entries is Sunday, July 6th 2014
JCI Cork, the Evening Echo, Silver Springs Moran Hotel and Cork Chamber have teamed up to find Cork's Friendliest Small Business (max. 20 employees) for 2014.
The award scheme is intended to acknowledge and reward businesses who give their customers a warm and friendly welcome and who excel in customer care.
If you know of a business who you feel should be awarded the title of Corks Friendliest Small business for 2014, or if you'd like to nominate your own business, simply complete the entry form here or in the Evening Echo and send your entries to the JCI / Evening Echo Friendly Business Awards, c/o Evening Echo Marketing, Linn Dubh, Assumption Road, Blackpool, Cork.
If you would like to volunteer as a Mystery Shopper with the Friendly Business Awards team, please email Michael Sikora here and include ‘Mystery Shopper’ in the subject line.
Closing Date for receipt of entries is Sunday, July 6th 2014.
JCI Cork, the Evening Echo, Silver Springs Moran Hotel and Cork Chamber have teamed up to find Cork's Friendliest Small Business (max. 20 employees) for 2014
The award scheme is intended to acknowledge and reward businesses who give their customers a warm and friendly welcome and who excel in customer care.
Nominations are invited now:
If you know of a business who you feel should be awarded the title of Corks Friendliest Small business for 2014, or if you'd like to nominate your own business, simply complete the entry form here and send your entries to the JCI / Evening Echo Friendly Business Awards, c/o Evening Echo Marketing, Linn Dubh, Assumption Road, Blackpool, Cork.
Finalists will be invited to a luncheon at Silver Springs Moran Hotel on Friday, August 15th when the overall winner of Cork's Friendliest Small Business / Award will be announced.
The overall winner will receive a specially commissioned wall plaque, coverage in the Evening Echo plus a fabulous 2 night break for two adults in a Moran Bewleys Hotel in either Leeds or Manchester (including Flights)
The winner will also be entered into the Junior Chamber Ireland National Awards 2014 .
Nomination forms are available in the Evening Echo or compete the entry form here.
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Have you used the online Member Directory?
The online Member Directory allows you to search fellow Cork Chamber members by Company Name, by Classification and/or by Keyword, giving you every opportunity to find members to do business with.
Log into the members area today and maximise your business profile by uploading your logo, website, Twitter and LinkedIn address.
Please ensure all your contact details are up to date to ensure fellow members can engage with you.
Date For Your Diary: 2014 Global Cork Economic Forum
Leading on from the success of the 2013 Global Cork Economic Forum, this year’s forum will take place on Wednesday 1st October 2014 in Cork City Hall. A Networking Event will take place that evening in the Atrium of Cork County Hall. The theme for this year’s Forum is “Cork - Packaging Tourism and Economic Growth in the One Great Place” As part of the Cork business community we would like to invite you to attend this year’s Global Cork Economic Forum & Networking Event. Please register your interest here At this year’s Forum we will have Speakers from across the International Tourism Industry, together with business leaders from Cork Business Diaspora. The new entity Cork INC will be officially launched on this day under the joint auspices of Cork City and County Councils. A Formal Invitation, Speakers Profiles and Forum Agenda will be issued in the coming weeks. This will be an invitation only event.
News Headlines
West Cork Awaits Foodies, Families & Fun Lovers! Save The Date! - Read More HERE More Must Be Done If Town Centres Are To Survive - Read More HERE Online Vouchers Worth €2,500 For Cork Businesses - Read More HERE
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Tinariwen at Cork Opera House
Period of the offer available: Saturday, June 28th, 8pm
Here’s a special treat for contemporary and world music fans! The Grammy Award Nomads from Mali, Tinariwen, are kicking off the Irish leg of their world tour right here in our city, straight from Glastonbury! Combining Tishoumaren with rock and blues, the critically acclaimed band has just launched their 6th album EMMAAR.
SPECIAL OFFER: Cork Opera House is offering Chamber Members a 20% discount on the top priced tickets! Tickets €35, now €28* exclude booking fee
To book, please call 021 427 0022, quoting ‘Cork Chamber ‘to avail of this offer.
Ultimate Cell Fuel Optimisation Device
Period of the offer available: 31st August 14
Now available from Ocon Chemicals Ltd - Ultimate Cell – a ‘game changing’ fuel optimisation & emissions lowering kit. It’s a compact and quickly fitted device with CE approval. It can be installed to all diesel and petrol Internal Combustion Engines - all within 30 minutes. There are three main ‘benefits’ in fitting an Ultimate Cell device to your vehicle’s engine, or fleet of vehicles: Environmental/ Mechanical/ Financial Benefits - Less Maintenance & Fewer Breakdowns. Visit our partner website for further information here. Price per unit including fitting and VAT @ €500.00
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Telepresence through the Telescope
Date: 26th June
Time: 10am registration
Venue: Blackrock Castle Observatory
Cost: Free
To book: email HERE or telephone Eamonn Nolan 087 9138677
PlanNet21 in conjunction with Cisco Systems will present the next generation of the video collaboration portfolio, with live demonstrations of the actual endpoints to allow you to get up close and personal with the technology and speak to dedicated experts on the individual units to guide you through and answer any questions you may have on the technology. There will be a live session into the Cisco TSEC demo in the UK with a dedicated team ready to showcase all the benefits of Cisco Video Collaboration live.
We will also be hosting food and refreshments in the beautiful surroundings of Blackrock Castle Observatory.
To attend this event, please RSVP to events@plannet21.ie before the 26th of June 2014 to secure a place in this unique session.The agenda will be sent to you upon submission of interest.
Final Expert ‘Sharing Architecture’ Lecture
Date: June 26th
Time: 6 pm
Venue: The Atrium, Cork City Hall
Cost: Free
Cork City Council Arts Office has launched its ‘Sharing Architecture’ exhibition and free lecture series and June 26 is the third and final lecture. It will be presented by Anne Kiernan, Chief Architect, Railway Procurement Agency. The free Sharing Architecture exhibition will be available for viewing in Cork City Hall until July 19th.
Seminar by Leading Venture Capitalist
Date: 2nd July
Time: 2pm
Venue: University College Cork, Western Gateway Building Room 4.02
Cost: Free
To book: Email here
Dennis R. Costello, venture capitalist and leading expert in financing energy start-ups, will give a seminar on financing start-ups. After the seminar, which is sponsored by MaREI and Imerc, an informal workshop will take place where Mr. Costello will answer questions. This will be followed by a networking coffee session.
Seminar and Workshop Announcement “Desperately Seeking Capital, the pros and cons of various types of capital for early stage technology companies” Dennis R. Costello, Braemar Energy Ventures, Massachussetts, USA Wednesday, July 2nd, 2.00pm – 4.00pm Venue: Room 4.02 Western Gateway Building, UCC Dennis R. Costello, venture capitalist and one of the world’s leading experts in financing energy start-ups, will give a public seminar and workshop on financing start-ups at University College Cork on Wednesday July 2nd from 2.00 pm to 4.00pm. The seminar, a joint initiative between MaREI and Imerc, is open to all and will be of interest to anybody who has or is thinking of setting up their own start-up as well as policy makers and incubation centre managers. After the seminar there will be an informal workshop where Mr. Costello will answer questions from the audience, followed by a networking coffee session, sponsored by the Cork Convention Bureau. Overview: The seminar will be an informal review of the pros and cons of early stage capital provided by angel investors, venture capitalists, strategic corporate investors and government sources. Personal insights into the experiences working with each of these types of investors will be shared based on almost 30 years of experience as a venture capitalist. An overview of common fund raising mistakes will be included along with some examples of approaches that have stood out from most other business plans. The seminar will be followed by an interactive workshop so that your specific fund raising questions can be addressed (including questions on common deal terms, valuation issues, presentation materials, etc.) Dennis R. Costello is a Managing Partner of Braemar Energy Ventures II. Mr. Costello has been an active venture capital investment professional for over twenty-five years. Mr. Costello was previously a partner with Advent International, an international private equity firm where he rose to chief investment officer for North America. Mr. Costello began his career in alternative energy with positions as a project manager at Midwest Research Institute and as a member of the original staff of the National Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), which is now the National Renewable energy Laboratory (NREL). Mr. Costello holds an M.S. degree in business from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow. He also holds an M.A. in economics from Ohio State University and a B.A. in economics from the State University of New York (SUNY), College at Fredonia.
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John Saul Picnic
Date: 4th August
Time: 12:00 – 17:00
Venue: Castlemartyr Resort
Cost: €6 per Adult and Children are free
To book: email here or telephone or 021-42190000
Castlemartyr Resort in conjunction with Le Chat Noir Events is delighted to be hosting The 2nd Annual John Saul Picnic and Vintage Fair on Bank Holiday Monday 4th August from 12 noon to 5pm. Fun filled family day with a Teddy Bear hospital, food & frolics for all the family.
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