E-Mail & Business Writing Course

Course Date: 25^th March

Member Rate: €140.00

This course is designed to give the participants an understanding of the importance of written communication in delivering the core message of their organisation and its brand. Specifically, it will present the techniques to create e-mails and documents with a clear, logical structure to organise their ideas and key points. It will have a practical focus with the participants creating and completing the exercises which demonstrate the salient points of grammar etc.

Following this course, you will:

• Understand the importance of active management of the written communication process as an essential skill in getting the information from others, setting clear direction, building trust and creating and maintaining customer relationships
• Understand that writing clearly is a professional business skill
• Have a logical structure to create effective e-mails
• Realise that the content and tone of their emails can influence the reactions of the readers
• Know how to properly structure e-mails
• Avoid common grammar and punctuation errors
• Practice the techniques and tips to create professional emails and create an action plan to apply them
• Recognise that professional writing is a career skill which enhances employability

This course will include:

• Writing to represent your brand
• Back to basics
• Choosing your words carefully
• Special kinds of business writing
• Good business style
• E-Mail as a communication tool
• Internal e-mail
• Writing for a global audience

This one day course is ideal for those people who are responsible for communicating in writing with internal and/or external customers or clients so BOOK NOW!

Introduction to Technical Writing

Course Date: 26^th March 

Member Rate: €150.00

Great technical writing can make a poor product usable - poor technical writing can make a great product useless. Our Introduction to Technical Writing Course is designed to help you become that great technical writer!

This one day course aims to ensure that participants can make their technical documentation accurate, brief, clear, complete and, above all, useful. The emphasis is on writing to impart complex technical information to a specific target audience. Participants should be committed to delivering reports, manuals and routine communications that are accurate, concise, clear and focussed on the needs of the target audience.

The course will include:

• How to structure reports
• Basic sentence rules
• Technical writing for software
• Working with words
• Brushing up on grammar and punctuation

This new one-day course will be running on the 26^th March next and is only €150.00 for Chamber members - BOOK NOW!

What role is there for SMEs in R&D projects?

Aiming at new and breakthrough technologies is part of the European Commission’s programme to boost competitiveness, create jobs and support growth in Europe. The new EC funding programmes and directives are putting a strong emphasis on areas of research and innovation with a strong industrial dimension, where mastering new technological opportunities will enable and drive innovation, and SMEs are key to this vision. But how can SMEs collaborate with high-level researchers on developing new technologies and bringing them to market?

Meet the Tyndall Researchers!

The Enterprise Europe Network in Cork is helping local SMEs to engage with some of the top researchers in the region to learn more about potential opportunities for collaboration.  On Tuesday 31st March, Kieran Drain, CEO of Tyndall National Institute, will be speaking at a Cork Chamber breakfast briefing.  Following the briefing, the Enterprise Europe Network will be hosting an interactive session with some of the Tyndall research staff, to outline how SMEs can engage with the Tyndall on R&D and EU projects.  The session will include practical tips on how to engage with the Tyndall, an overview of some current projects, and examples of past projects which given rise to successful research-SME collaborations. This session is particularly aimed at SMEs with interest/expertise in the areas of Food, Agri and Environment.

Speakers and themes will include the following:

- How SMEs can engage in EU projects with Tyndall (Giorgos Fagas)

- Health, Food/Agri including med tech, animal health, point-of-care diagnostics (Alan O’Riordan)

- Food/Agri including process analytics, bio-sensing – milk (Karen Twomey)

- Environment including water treatment, eco-India project (Aidan Quinn)

- Gate One - Access for SMEs (Tom Healy)

The session will last about one hour.  To book click here or contact Katherine@corkchamber.ie for more information.

Is your business energy-aware?

Using energy efficiently helps organisations to save money as well as helping to conserve resources and tackle climate change. The European Commission is encouraging SMEs to become more energy-aware and thereby contribute to the overall reduction of energy consumption, as well as promoting the development and uptake of innovative new technologies in the energy sector.  One way of making your business more energy aware is by implementing an ISO 50001 Energy Management System.

On 22 April the Enterprise Europe Network, in association with Energia, is hosting an informative workshop on the ISO 50001 Energy Management System.  The workshop will take place in Cork Chamber from 9.30am-12pm.  For more information contact Katherine@corkchamber.ie.

ISO50001 Workshop - How to implement an energy management system

The new ISO 50001 Energy Management standard will help you to improve energy performance, cut costs and meet your customer expectations. Energy Management Systems can help your company to put in place systems which ensure continuous improvement in your energy performance. This can then reduce your energy costs and carbon emissions. ISO 50001 puts in place a structured framework for the supply, use and consumption of energy in industrial, commercial and institutional companies.

This half-day workshop will cover the following:

• Introduction to ISO50001 - Background
• Comparison to other ISO standards – 14001/18001/EMAS
• ISO50001 guidelines
• How to develop an energy policy – sample given
• How to establish an implementation team and who does what!
• How to conduct an initial energy review
• What are the costs and time commitments for certification?
• How to set up and implement an energy reduction/improvement programme
• Implementation and project grant aid  - what’s available and how to apply?

About the trainer:

P.J. Henry is a qualified energy consultant engineer, who has many years’ experience working in the multinational sector such as Abbott, Wyeth, Braun etc. and currently provides training seminars and energy audits to various companies around Ireland. P.J. is also a qualified BER (Building Energy Rating) consultant and ISO 50001 energy management systems lead auditor. PJ has experience in real world implementation of management systems and will share his wealth of practical experience in showing you how to put systems in place in an efficient manner.