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Business confidence reaches highest level since 2009
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Cork Chamber’s third quarterly economic trends survey of 2014, released this week, reveals the highest level of confidence amongst Cork’s businesses (92.2%) since the Chamber’s economic trends survey commenced in Q1 2009 when confidence levels reached only 51.5%. The survey, which incorporates responses from sole traders, micro-enterprises, SMEs and MNCs from manufacturing and wholesale/retail to ICT and financial, professional and technical services reveals increases in turnover and net profits to be amongst the likely positive indicators driving high confidence levels. In terms of Budget 2015, the business response was broadly neutral with almost two thirds (64.5%) describing it as a ‘no-change’ budget for business. Businesses were most positive about the potential impact of Budget 2015 on employment/job creation and consumer confidence with almost half (44.7%) anticipating the budget having a ‘knock-on’ positive impact on employment and 40.7% predicting a positive impact on consumer confidence.
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Cork City & County Councils recognised at Excellence in Local Government Awards
Cork Chamber congratulates both Cork City and County Councils who recently picked up awards at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards, held in association with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. The awards, which have been running on an annual basis since 2004, recognise best practice in Local Government. Cork County Council won the award for ‘Supporting the Local Economy’ for their ‘Taste Cork’ Regional Food Marketing Initiative and Cork City Council picked up the ‘Health and Wellbeing’ award for the ‘Functional Zone @Leisureworld’.
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Is your business part of the digital economy??
Digital is changing how businesses market themselves, provide services and communicate with customers. Everyone must step up to the digital challenge and businesses must adapt their daily activities and practises to leverage the power delivered by digital technologies.
Our Digital Marketing/Social Media for Business Course is starting on the 25th November next. This course is ideal for businesses that want to get more business using social media and who wish to reinforce their offline reputation, online!
Digital Marketing/Social Media for Business Training Course Course Dates: 4 Days (25th November, 2nd, 9th & 16th December) All Four Days can be booked together or individual days of interest can be booked separately. Member Rate: €440.00 for the four days or €140.00 per individual day. What’s involved? This four day course will provide an in depth insight into the latest innovations in Online Marketing and Digital Media. The course will also give an overview of social media use and look at LinkedIn for the business generation. Day One Search Optimisation, website conversion and web traffic tools Targeted Advertising with Google, Google Analytics and creating landing pages Day Two Content Creation: Using a blog or your website to create attractive content Facebook for Business: Using Facebook Pages to market to their Billion+ users Day Three Twitter for Business: Using Twitter for sales, support and marketing. Linkedin: Using this business social network for lead generation and building the reputation of your business Day Four Mobile Future: Should you create an app? What is the work involved. Getting your company ready for the mobile revolution Devising a Marketing Plan: Creating a template for your company to be efficient in digital marketing What will I be able to do? Following this course, participants will be able to: - Understand how search engines work
- Make changes to a website to increase site traffic
- Execute targeted ad campaigns online
- Know why blogs are good for business
- Build a plan for your business plan to increase traffic and leads to the website
- Build a Facebook presence for your company
- Build a Twitter business profile
- Improve your LinkedIn profile and know how to use it as a calling card for your work
- Be familiar with mobile apps
- Create a marketing plan for your social media properties and devise one based on available resources
Who should attend?
This course is 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. This course is suited for those in marketing, communications, sales and company positions that define business strategy. This course is €440.00 for Chamber members for the entire four days or days can be booked individually for €140.00 each. BOOK NOW!
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Business Breakfast with Dan Kiely, Voxpro
Date: Wednesday, 26th November
Time: 7.30am – 9.00am
Venue: Kingsley Hotel
Cost: €25 members/€35 non members
To book: HERE Cork Chamber is delighted to host the November Business Breakfast featuring Dan Kiely, Chief Executive of Voxpro. Voxpro is an award-winning, multi-lingual, business process outsourcing provider headquartered in Cork, with an office in Dublin and an international office in San Francisco. Founded in 1995 by Dan and his wife and business partner, Linda, Voxpro delivers customer contact solutions on behalf of more than 100 multinational corporations and leading international blue chip companies worldwide, including Google, Airbnb, Nest and Travelzoo. CLICK HERE for further details
Winning Public Sector Business Workshop
Date: Wednesday, 10th December
Time: 12:30 - 16:30
Venue: CIT
Cost: Free
To book: here
The Enterprise Europe Network is running a FREE workshop on 10th December in CIT. The aim of this workshop is to help Irish businesses find and then bid for public sector business opportunities. The workshop aims to teach businesses how to avoid the typical mistakes and pick up tips and best practice when completing a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ), invitation to tender (ITT) or tender documents.
The workshop will involve a mixture of presentation, case study, group work and most importantly, “working on a tender that you could bid for”. The workshop will be delivered by Toni Saraiva, who has over 10 years’ experience in dealing with companies looking for partners, funding or contracts in the EU.
To register your place for this event, please click here.
Annual Christmas Lunch
In Association With Brightwater Recruitment Specialists
Date: Friday, 12th December
Time: 12:30pm - 15:30pm
Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island
Cost: €60 members / €75
To book: HERE
Mark the 12th of December in your diary for one of our more popular events, the Annual Christmas Lunch, sponsored by Brightwater Recruitment Specialists. The event will feature a charity raffle with fantastic prizes, a top notch speaker and plenty of festive networking.
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Bia Beauty has the winning formula
There could only be one winner of the Cork innovates €30,000 bursary, and Tracey Ryan of Bia Beauty Skincare walked away from the inBusiness inCork 2014 showcase a winner.
Several hundred business people and entrepreneurs crossed the threshold of City Hall in Cork to attend inBusiness inCork 2014, the leading showcase for entrepreneurs, innovators, startups and small businesses in the Cork region.
The seven finalists TIC Ltd, Ottera Technology, Inspect4, AventaMed, Pundit Arena, Mountain Man Brewing pitched for the coveted €30,000 Cork innovates bursary purse. Bia Beauty, a company that develops and produces natural and effective skincare, was announced as the 2014 winner.
The bursary provides a cash investment sum, as well as a suite of services from advertising, financial advice, mentoring, PR, a Vodafone communications package and Cork Chamber membership supports to the value of thirty thousand euro.
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Enterprise Europe Network At Cork Chamber
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Building a Business on Your Ideas Seminar, 25th November, Nimbus Centre, CIT This seminar will focus on Intellectual Property, support structures that are available for small businesses and start-ups, and it will include expert speakers from both the private and public sectors.
Accessing the UK Market, 10th December, Rubicon Centre, CIT, 08:00 to 12:00
This morning seminar will give participants an overview of opportunities in the UK market (particularly for the ICT and food/drink sectors), UK public procurement contracts and supports for SMEs looking for assistance in researching and entering the UK.
Winning Public Sector Business Workshop, 10th December, Rubicon Centre, CIT, 12:30 to 16:30
This afternoon workshop is designed for SMEs who wish to learn how to identify public sector business opportunities.
UK Business Opportunities in the ICT and Food Sectors
See 'read more' for a snapshot of business opportunities in the ICT and Food sectors. For more details on any of the above see 'read more' below or contact Katherine at Cork Chamber here.
Building a Business on Your Ideas Seminar, 25th November, Nimbus Centre, CIT This seminar is aimed at entrepreneurs and inventors and is organised by the Patents Office, in cooperation with the Enterprise Europe Network, Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Office, and Cork Institute of Technology. The seminar will specifically focus on the following: - The value of Intellectual Property (patents, trademarks, designs, and copyright).
- The support structures that are available for small businesses and start-ups from the government and from Europe.
- Expert speakers from the private sector will include a patent attorney, a representative from a company named ‘Technology from Ideas’, a representative from the Industry, Research and Development Group, a local entrepreneur, and an expert on branding.
- Other speakers will include representatives from the Patents Office, Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Office, the Enterprise Europe Network, and Cork Institute of Technology.
To register your place at this free seminar, please click here. Accessing the UK Market, Wednesday 10th December, Rubicon Centre, CIT Part 1: 08.00-12.00 – Seminar: Accessing the UK Market Don’t down tools too early this year! On Wednesday 10th December the Enterprise Europe Network is collaborating with the Rubicon Centre on this 2-part market access event, which will give participants an overview of opportunities in the UK market (particularly for the ICT and food/drink sectors), UK public procurement contracts and supports for SMEs looking for assistance in researching and entering the UK. The event will include presentations from the Rubicon Centre (TESLA project), Enterprise Europe Network, UKTI and JMB Partnership (UK). Frank Madden of CREST solutions will provide the case study and outline his company’s UK journey. The seminar will take place in the Rubicon Centre, CIT. NB: To register for this seminar on ‘Accessing the UK Market’ please email maria.horgan@rubiconcentre.ie and specify if you would like to avail of 1:1 meetings with any of the support agencies afterwards. Winning Public Sector Business Workshop, Wednesday 10th December, Rubicon Centre, CIT Part 2: 12.30-16.30 – Workshop: Winning Public Sector Business Following the lunch-break, attendees will have the option of booking 1:1 meetings with the support agencies, or of registering for a FREE half day workshop on “Winning public sector business”, hosted by the Rubicon Centre in CIT and supported by the EEN. Participants at the public procurement workshop will learn how to identify suitable tenders, avoid the typical mistakes and pick up tips and best practice when completing a tender document. Public Procurement expert Toni Saraiva will help participants to understand how to give themselves the best chance of winning public sector contracts. The public procurement workshop is available to book online by clicking here (places are limited). UK Business Opportunities in the ICT and Food Sectors - A UK manufacturer of polypropylene (PP) plastic food packaging seeks Irish distributors which operate in the foodservice sector. The company’s catering packs are microwaveable, freezable, leak-proof, and reusable. For further information about this profile, contact Eimear@corkchamber.ie and quote Ref. BOUK20140729002.
- A UK manufacturer of marshmallows which are free-from gelatine, fat, nut, gluten, genetically modified organisms (GMO) and only contain natural colours and flavours seeks Irish distributors for its range of halal, coeliac, and vegetarian-friendly products. For further information about this profile, contact Eimear@corkchamber.ie and quote Ref. BOUK20140718002.
- A UK company specialised in cloud-based software solutions has developed an innovative, award-winning web application that enhances the user experience of staff with visual impairments, dyslexia, or literacy issues. The company is offering a distribution services agreement to potential partners, likely to be ICT resellers and distribution agents. For further information about this profile, contact Eimear@corkchamber.ie and quote Ref. BOUK20130718005.
- A UK SME has developed a unique and innovative flood-alert application licensed by the environmental agency which provides social network users with flood warnings through their accounts. The SME now seeks technical cooperation to further develop the mapping of this technology so it can be extended in Europe and also third countries. For further information about this profile, contact Eimear@corkchamber.ie and quote Ref. 12 GB 43O3 3QPH.
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Latest News
1. 59th Cork Film Festival Draws To A Close Amid News Of Approval For Academy Awards® - Read More HERE
2. Chamber Calls For A Reduction In Rates - Read More HERE
3. VMware Diversity Event - Read More HERE
4. Cork Is Ready, Set, Glow For Christmas - Read More HERE
5. Cork Chamber Calls On Cork To Support Its Local Businesses In The Run Up To Christmas - Read More HERE
6. Two Successful Stateside Events Held On Behalf Of The Cork Foundation - Read More HERE
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Pure filtered chilled and boiling water with BIBO
Free two week trial, free installation and no obligation to buy.
The BIBO is an energy efficient, CFC-free cold water system and that costs as little as 10-15c per day to run. For less than a cup of coffee a day you can have your very own BIBO installed in your canteen or kitchen.
Contact Emer today by telephone 087 9704141 or email here to have your BIBO installed. More information on BIBO is available here.
No obligation to buy or lease.
Replace your kettle and / or water machine with a BIBO to: save energy costs, have clean fresh water (without chlorine, pesticides, heavy metals and other contaminants) and conserve water. Have hot and cold water at the touch of a button from one machine.
Room Makeover Consultation 50% Disount
Period of the offer available: 31st March 2015
Home Staging & Interior Design Servcices wish to offer a’ Room Makeover’ Consultation. All aspects including, furniture upcycling and upholstery, flooring, colour, and creative soft furnishings and accessory ideas will be covered. Members may pass this offer on to family and have it done in time for Christmas.
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Cork Simon Christmas Jumper Day
Date: December
To book: Up-For-It companies can register here or call Sinead at Cork Simon Christmas Jumper Day HQ on 021 4929416 or email here
Are you UP for a Cork Simon Christmas Jumper Day?
Cork Simon Community is asking businesses in Cork to HELP SAVE A LIFE in Cork this Christmas by holding a CORK SIMON CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY this December. It’s a brilliant way to get your workplace into the Christmas spirit while raising much needed funds for people who are homeless in Cork and Cork Simon has never needed your support more with the number of people sleeping rough on the streets of Cork at crisis levels.
So - what will you wear to show you’re UP for Christmas? Cork-based companies like PepsiCo Ireland, GE Healthcare, Swissport & Cork Airport, The English Market, ESB Networks, Bord Gais, PFH Computers, KPMG, Amazon CS, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Otterbox, Zazzle and Avery Dennison are amongst those who have signed UP and are pulling on the wacky woollies to show they are Up for a Cork Simon Christmas Jumper Day – their way of getting staff involved to help save a life in Cork this Christmas.
Dress for Success 2nd Annual Fashion Show
Date: 2nd December
Time: 19:30pm
Venue: Celtic Interiors, Douglas
Cost: Tickets are €25
To book: on sale in our offices at 131 Oliver Plunket street (2nd floor).
You too can spread the ‘success’ this festive season by supporting our 2nd Annual Fashion Show this December 2nd in Celtic Interiors.
Christmas Night at Flemings
Date: 29th November
Time: 7pm
Venue: Flemings Restaurant, Tivoli
Cost: €57
To book: 021- 4821621
Christmas at Flemings is magical. We love Christmas and our Georgian Dining rooms are perfect for capturing the atmosphere of Christmas perfectly. We will be starting with a wine tasting followed by a 5 course dinner accompanied by music and storytelling by one of Ireland's best known storytellers, Pat Speight.
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