In this issue
Policy
Have Your Say on the proposed Flood Defence Scheme for Cork
Subsidised Training
Pitch Perfect!
Events
Cork Chamber Speed Networking in association with Aviva
BAM Group Ireland Sponsor Cork Chamber Annual Golf Classic 2014
Chamber Supported Projects
Cork Foundation to Host Unique Irish/US Female Entrepreneur Event
Member Updates
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Policy
Have Your Say on the proposed Flood Defence Scheme for Cork
 

Significant flooding has had a major and devastating impact on the businesses of Cork City since 2009. Cork Chamber has led the way in identifying the criticality of implementing an appropriate flood defence scheme and has been working on your behalf to achieve this.


Cork Chamber has consistently engaged with the OPW outlining the need for an appropriate and detailed consultation period to disseminate the preferred solution for such a scheme. This is vital to allow the thousands of businesses operating within the City an adequate opportunity to discuss the details of the proposed options with the OPW.

Cork Chamber encourages all businesses in flood affected areas to attend and fully engage with the public consultation which takes place in the Cork City Council Offices from Tuesday, July 29th to Friday, 1st August from 9am to 5pm

Current Policy Submissions

 

Cork Chamber is currently developing a number of submissions on behalf of our members.

Submissions that we are working on include:

  1. Cork Chamber Pre- Budget Submission 2015
  2. Submission in response to the Department of Transport’s draft National Aviation Policy
  3. Submission in response to the Department of Tourism, Transport & Sport’s draft National Tourism Policy for Ireland

 

To view past Chamber submissions please see http://www.corkchamber.ie/chamber_policy_submissions.cfm



Subsidised Training
Pitch Perfect!
 

A presentation is one of the most important tools you have in business for getting things done and often, the power of your presentation means the difference between success and failure.

Perfect your presentation skills with our DALE CARNEGIE Training Course – High Impact Presentations which is running on the 14th & 15th August next.

-   Close as you can get to having a Personal Coach

-   Class is Small

-   Environment is Supportive

-   Work is Intense (13 times on your feet!)

THE RESULTS ARE OUTSTANDING!

However, places on this course are limited to SIX, so BOOK TODAY to secure your spot!


High Impact Presentations – A Dale Carnegie Programme

Course Dates: 14th & 15th August

Member Rate: €950.00

Trainer: Walter Bradley, Dale Carnegie Ireland

Communicators get ideas across with enthusiasm and poise. A presentation is one of the most important tools you have in business for getting things done.

 

Whether you're persuading colleagues, selling a client, energising a team or showing an idea to senior management, the power of your presentation makes the difference between success and failure. With so much riding on your presentation ability, you won't want to miss this opportunity to sharpen it to perfection.

The experience in this programme is as close as you can get to having a personal coach.

You begin presenting from almost the moment you walk into the class. You present at least seven times over the course of 2 days. Your presentations are videotaped and evaluated. You get expert, one-on-one coaching at the end of each presentation.

The class is small

The environment is supportive

The work is intense

The results are outstanding

 

This programme will illustrate the following:

1) Creating a Positive First Impression

- Identify personal objectives for the training

- Develop rapport with the audience

- Project professionalism and competency

 

2) Increasing Credibility

- Communicate with enhanced credibility

- Project enthusiasm

- Communicate competency with confidence

- Reinforce an informative message

 

3) Presenting Complex Information

- Develop flexibility in making complex material simple and understandable

- Communicate information in an interesting manner

- Relate to the audience at their level

- Follow a logical progression of ideas

 

4) Communicating with Greater Impact

- Develop increased flexibility through the use of expressions, gestures and voice modulation

- Demonstrate ownership of unfamiliar material

- Present written material in a captivating manner

- Overcome barriers that restrict our flexibility

 

5) Motivating Others to Action

- Present in a results-oriented way

- Persuade an audience to take action

- Be motivational, clear and concise

 

6) Responding to Pressure Situations

- Maintain professional composure under pressure

- Communicate clear, concise, positive messages

- Sell strategic ideas, self and organisation

- Communicate leadership ability

7) Inspiring People to Embrace Change

- Logically and emotionally appeal to the audience

- Use structure to gain the confidence of the audience

- Be convincing

 

Presentation skills training through our High-Impact Presentations programme will benefit managers who have some prior public speaking training or experience. It is particularly useful for executives who speak in front of groups, sales people and anyone who meets the press. This is a more advanced presentation skills training seminar and is not recommended for those new to public speaking.

Because of the one-on-one coaching, class size is very limited. BOOK NOW to ensure your place in this fantastic experience.


Events
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

 



BAM Group Ireland Sponsor Cork Chamber Annual Golf Classic 2014
 
Cork Chamber is delighted to welcome BAM Group Ireland on board as Title Sponsor of this year's Annual Golf Classic 2014, which will take place in Castlemartyr Golf Resort on Thursday 4th September.

The Golf Classic is one of the Chamber's most popular events in the year. There will be some fantastic prizes on offer on the day and what better way to entertain clients and colleagues in the beautiful surrounds at Castlemartyr.

BOOK YOUR TEAM TODAY
You can book as a team or as an individual. To book/register, log onto the Chamber's website here or email Leigh for more information leigh@corkchamber.ie


Chamber Supported Projects
Cork Foundation to Host Unique Irish/US Female Entrepreneur Event
 
Date: Wed 30th July @ 6.30pm
Venue: Rochestown Park Hotel
Email: info@corkfoundation.com


Cork Foundation will host a U.S. and Irish Female Entrepreneurs Networking Evening on Wednesday, July 30th at 6:30PM at the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork. The Networking Evening, sponsored by Vodafone, EMC, PepsiCo and RDJ Solicitors, follows an earlier peer-to-peer Thought Leadership Session hosted by Cork innovates.

These events are the first of their kind in Ireland and will bring top female businesswomen from here and America together with the aim of broadening their networks and their potential marketplaces, with one Irish entrepreneur being selected to travel to the US to meet with relevant industry leaders.


Cork Foundation Strategic Advisory Board Member Anne O’Leary, CEO, Vodafone Ireland, will be keynote speaker on the night, which will welcome a host of female leaders from multinational and indigenous companies. Also in attendance for the events will be a delegation of 8 women entrepreneurs and business owners from the US. 

Speaking at the launch of the event, Anne O’Leary said, “I’m delighted that so many inspiring women from Ireland and abroad will gather in Cork for an event that will celebrate the key role entrepreneurship plays in society and share their insights.  Traditionally entrepreneurship has been male led but it’s encouraging to see an increasing number of women taking the leap and starting their own business.  It’s events like this that are invaluable for networking and learning from peers in order for entrepreneurs to develop significant growth aspirations for their business.”

 

Founder and CEO of Leading Women Entrepreneurs, Linda Wellbrock, and Tara Gilvar, Founder and CEO of B.I.G. (Believe Inspire Grow), are the driving forces behind the U.S. involvement and have engaged with the Cork Foundation to create an exclusive opportunity for Cork’s budding enterprises. During the morning session, 10 female entrepreneurs from the region are invited to present their business ideas to the American delegates. One home-based entrepreneur will be selected to travel to New York in December where they will have the opportunity to meet with key individuals that can assist in the development of their company within the US market.

Wellbrock, who will be travelling to Cork along with Gilvar and the rest of the group, enthuses, “We are delighted to be part of these events, which will be mutually beneficial for both U.S. and Irish entrepreneurs as we work to expand our business horizons. We look forward to sharing experiences with Irish women in our same position and offering our assistance in any way we can.”

 

The earlier event will be followed by the broader networking evening, where up to one hundred leading Irish businesswomen are invited to mingle with the US delegates and showcase the best of what Ireland has to offer to the business world. An artisan picnic will feature on the night, with a selection highlighting some of Cork’s finest food producers.

 

Cork Foundation created the networking event as part of their unique initiative that focuses on stimulating job creation and developing Cork as a pivotal location to start, locate and grow a business. The non-profit organisation, which was established in early 2013 by leading business figures, complements existing enterprise support services by bridging gaps in current funding models addressing many of the challenges facing Cork companies in accessing credit and finance. Cork Foundation engaged with Cork innovates to lead the peer-to-peer morning session, at the Vertigo Conference Centre Cork County Hall. Cork innovates strives to strengthen the entrepreneurial environment in the region by engaging with and enabling outstanding collaboration among the partner members of the organisation and external stakeholder groups.


Member News
New UCC School of Asian Studies Higher Diploma
 

The School of Asian Studies at University College Cork - Ireland’s leading centre for Chinese and Asian teaching and research – has launched an exciting new programme, the Higher Diploma in Business Language and Culture in East Asia.


This programme offers a wonderful opportunity to work with skilled and experienced  academics from UCC’s School of Asian Studies in partnership with the Asian Trade Forum. Participants will acquire East Asian language, cultural knowledge and hands-on business skills which will enable them to make the most of business opportunities with Asia. For further information on the programme, please contact Professor Deirdre Hunt (Programme Coordinator) at dhunt@eircom.net or Catherine Sullivan (Programme Administrator) at c.sullivan@ucc.ie


The programme places a strong emphasis on the development of Chinese, Japanese or Korean language and business documentation awareness. Thematic teaching options, case studies, workshops, on-line materials and real life testimony expose students to a wide range of East Asian-related learning experiences and help grow intercultural abilities and critical analytic skills whilst a final moderated in firm project acts to bring together programme learning in a way that is relevant to the individual and their career. 

 

The Higher Diploma in Business, Language and Culture in East Asia enables participants to interact effectively in a cross-cultural business environment and to:

• Be aware of business related  documents using a variety of traditional and virtual media.
• Identify one’s own areas of specific interest / knowledge in relation to emerging and expanding opportunities in East Asia.
• Research the background current situation and future prospects of a business project with support from an Irish based company working in East/South East Asia.
•Experience thematic teaching options, case studies, workshops, on-line materials real life testimony supported by the Asian Trade Forum.


Participants take 60 credits over two semesters and the summer period comprising 30 credits from the following:

AS5308 East and South East Asia Business Development ( 10 credits)
AS5307 East Asia: history, geo-politics and political economy (5 credits)
AS5309 East Asian Business Research Report (10 credits)
AS5011 Final Workshop (5 credits)

AND 30 credits from the following:

CH1003 Chinese Language - Level 1 (Mandarin)
CH1004 Chinese Language - 1b (Mandarin)
AS5102 Chinese Language Business Documentation (10 credits)

OR

 

AS1506 Japanese Language A110 (10 credits)
AS1508 Japanese Language A120 (10 credits)
AS5100 Japanese Language Business Documentation (10 credits)

OR


AS1606 Korean Language A110 (10 credits)
AS1608 Korean Language A120 (10 credits)
AS5101 Korean Language Business Documentation ( 10 credits)

 

The programme cost is €2,700 to be paid in two tranches and is tax deductible.  

Further information on the School of Asian Studies is available on: http://www.ucc.ie/en/asian/asianbusiness/.

The Higher Diploma in Business Language and Culture in East Asiasiteis currently under construction.

For further information on the programme, please contact Professor Deirdre Hunt (Programme Coordinator) at dhunt@eircom.net or Catherine Sullivan (Programme Administrator) at c.sullivan@ucc.ie


Heather McGuire appointed as Chief Executive Officer to Cork Foundation
 

Heather McGuire has been appointed as the new CEO of Cork Foundation. With her extensive international experience, McGuire will leverage her overseas relationships to engage the Irish Diaspora community.

She will work to achieve global support for Cork Foundation, linking Cork’s deserving enterprises with fund contributors around the world, thus driving employment and economy in the Cork region. For more information visit www.corkfoundation.com


Ms. McGuire has an impressive sales and management background spanning both Europe and the US. She spent 16 years working in media in New York City, San Francisco and Chicago, fulfilling senior Sales Management roles at Discovery Channel and Screenvision. She was the Deputy Managing Director at Titan Ireland from 2006 to 2009 before being transferred back to the USA. During her time at Titan, the largest transit advertising company in the US and one of the largest out-of-home media companies worldwide, McGuire sat on the Executive Committee.

Most recently she served as Executive Vice President for Smart Tap LLC, the philanthropic organisation dedicated to creating environmentally sound solutions to ensure municipal tap water is more accessible worldwide. With her extensive international experience, McGuire will leverage her overseas relationships to engage the Irish Diaspora community. She will work to achieve global support for Cork Foundation, linking Cork’s deserving enterprises with fund contributors around the world, thus driving employment and economy in the Cork region.   

The Cork Foundation was established in early 2013 by leading business figures to address challenges facing Cork businesses in accessing credit and bridge finance. The non-profit organisation focuses on stimulating job creation and developing Cork as a pivotal location to start, locate and grow a business.

Cork Foundation Chairperson Yvonne Barry welcomes the appointment of McGuire stating, “Heather’s drive and enthusiasm are invaluable assets to our growing organisation. We are delighted to have her on board and are confident that her years of experience will be extremely beneficial as we work to source support for the Foundation within Ireland and abroad.” 


Members Offers
15% discount on Bon Secours Hospital Health Screening for Chamber Members
 

Bon Secours Hospital, Cork is offering Chamber Members a 15% discount exclusively for Cork Chamber Members on health screenin packages at the hospital. Led by Dr. Julie Coyle-Buckley, the Health Screening Department provides a comprehensive health check in just 3 hours. We offer companies and individuals a clear picture of health in just one visit, with same day test results provided by our in-house laboratory.

A multidisciplinary team of consultants is on hand across the broad range of specialties such as Pathology, Cardiology and Radiography to analyse your test results. For further information and to book an appointment contact the Health Screening Department at the Bon Secours Hospital Cork on 021 4801787 and visit our web-site www.bonsecours.ie

 

 


Our Corporate Health Screening service is tailored to your personal and company needs with services ranging from Personal Health Screening, Employee Health Screening and other medicals. These specific programmes facilitate your own long term personal wellbeing and the health of employees in the workplace.  As an additional service, Bon Secours Cork also provides customised Male and Female Health Assessment Packages.

We guarantee you and your company an increased health awareness by the end of your visit, assisting you in identifying, reducing and removing health risks.

 

For further information and to book an appointment contact the Health Screening Department at the Bon Secours Hospital Cork on 021 4801787

and visit our web-site www.bonsecours.ie


Garth Brooks Tribute Act
 
Date: 25th July
Tickets: €25
Venue: Curraheen Park Greyhound

Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium are offering Chamber Members a special offer of €25 per person for a 'Garth Brooks Tribute Act' evening, which includes race card, a glass of bubbly on arrival, Main course and glass of wine.

Tickets must be pre-booked. Minimum numbers 4. For more information or to book, call 1890 269 969


Member Events
Focus Ireland’s Shine a Light Night: Give one night to change a lifetime
 

Focus Ireland Shine a Light Night iniative is looking for business leaders to sleep out together for one night in Cork’s Historic City Gaol or Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens to raise funds and awareness of the issue of homelessness here in Ireland. Since 2012 over 120 business leaders have slept out and raised over €675,000 to support the work of the charity.

Past participants include amongst others Voxpro, Electric, Cork Innovates, EazyCity, Aviva, Deloitte, H+A Marketing, Hopkins Communications, Brown Thomas, Paypal, Bord Gais, Glanbia, Google, The Irish Times, KBC, BOI and Toyota. To find out more, contact Thos O’Leary on 021-4251731or email olearyt@focusireland.ie  or visit focusireland.ie          


When is it?

The 2014 sleep-outs will take place simultaneously in and Cork’s Historic City Gaol and Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens on Friday 17th October and Shine a Light night is once again kindly supported by Aviva Ireland.

 

What would I have to do?   

To take part in Focus Ireland Shine a Light Night 2014 we ask that individual business leaders raise or donate €5,000. We also offer Executive team packages whereby senior team members from the one organisation can participate together and fundraise collectively on a sliding scale:

  • 3 executive team members from the one organization raise €12,000
  • 4 executive team members from one organization raise €15,000
  • 5-6 executive team members from one organization raise €20,000

 

Where do the funds raised go?

All funds go to Focus Ireland to help people who are at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness. We haveover 70 initiatives and projects across Ireland that offer advice, support, education and housing to help people to have and keep a home. Our work benefited over 10,000 people in 2013 – a 25% increase on the previous year. The funds raised over the last 2 years from Shine a Light Night have further supported our work to end homelessness across Ireland and aimed to prevent people from losing their homes. Our promise to you is that we will use your money well – 89 cent of every euro received goes directly on vital services.

 

About homelessness:

-       The number of families becoming homeless has more than doubled in recent months and 1 in 7 of those accessing homeless services is a child.

-       Rough sleeping is one type of homelessness, there are 5,000 people in Ireland who are homeless (of which about 100 are rough sleeping at any one time whilst others are couch surfing, staying in emergency accommodation or living in B&Bs).  

-       There are tens of thousands of others at risk of homelessness.

-       The impact of losing your home is stressful and traumatic and can have long term effects on education, employment, health and well-being.

 

Learn more about Shine a Light Night, past participants and how to get involved by: Contact Thos O’Leary on 021-4251731or email olearyt@focusireland.ie  or visit focusireland.ie

The 4th Interfirm Dragon Boat Challenge
 

Fancy a paddle on the river Lee?  How about a fun day out on the water with your colleagues? And compete against other big firms? Here's your chance to try your hand at a dragon boat!


Take part in an adventurous teambuilding experience this summer, as the river Lee comes to life to the sound of drums, the splashing of paddles, the laughter of crews and the battle cries of competitors. On Saturday 13th of September, as a Meitheal Mara fundraiser, you can take part in this hugely popular interfirm teambuilding event. Contact Clare to book or to register your interest:  projects@meithealmara.ie | 021 4847673. As this is a hugely popular event places are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

 


Form a seventeen-strong crew and hop aboard one of these impressive 40ft-long boats in a mission to become this September’s champion of the Interfirm Dragon Boat Challenge. In a thrilling race from the iconic R&H Hall to Cork’s Lapp’s Quay, four of these colourful dragon boats, each with a drummer aboard, will sprint against each other over a distance of 250m. In a series of exciting heats, semi-finals and then a final, 16 companies from all over Cork will compete for the coveted Dragon Boat Challenge Trophy. The Dragon’s Roar trophy will also be up for grabs on the day. Psyche out the competition with your best team chant, battle cry, haka or roar and win a trophy for your efforts. Sign up now and let the fun begin!

Originally practiced in China over the past 2,000 years, dragon boating has rapidly spread throughout the world, from Hong Kong to Vancouver to Cambridge and to Cork - with hundreds of thousands of participants in Europe and the Americas alone. To date Meitheal Mara has organised three hugely successful Dragon Boat Challenges attracting capacity numbers across the board. This September we're back due to popular demand and look forward to another great day out on the river. 

In addition to you and your teammates getting the chance to race these unique boats, this event will also be supporting local charity Meitheal Mara, a community boatyard and nationally-accredited training centre in the heart of Cork city. Meitheal Mara is dedicated to promoting and fostering maritime culture and traditional skills through currach and wooden boat building, as well as woodwork and seamanship as the means to help groups of people and individuals to learn, progress and develop. As a registered charity (CHY 12929), your contribution towards this event is tax-deductible and an ideal opportunity to demonstrate your company’s support.

We hope that you will come on board for the 4th Interfirm Dragon Boat Challenge and look forward to hearing from you. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Clare:  projects@meithealmara.ie | 021 4847673. As this is a hugely popular event places are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. We advise companies to contact us as soon as possible to register their interest.