In this issue
Policy
Member Invitation: Join our Policy Submission Group on Cork County Development Plan
Subsidised Training
Learn how to write it, then how to say it!
Events
Business After Hours at KBC Bank
Cork Chamber February Business Breakfast
International
Enterprise Europe Network at Cork Chamber
Member Updates
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Policy
Member Invitation: Join our Policy Submission Group on Cork County Development Plan

The public consultation on the draft County Development Plan (2015 – 2021) is currently underway and the Chamber is preparing a submission as part of this process.    The draft Plan aims to provide a blue print for the proper planning and sustainable development of Cork County over a six year period to 2021 and is a very important document in establishing a sustainable platform for the recovery and the future growth of Cork County. 

 

In order to ensure as comprehensive and thorough a response as possible on the draft Plan – from the perspective of the Chamber’s membership – we are establishing an Expert Policy Submission Group – to assist in the development and finalisation of the Chamber’s submission [closing date for submission to County Council is 26th February]. 

 

The policy department would like to invite any members interested in participating in the development of this submission to email there details to siobhan.bradley@corkchamber.ie by COB on Friday 24th January 2013.  The Group will include representation from our Economic & Enterprise and Transport & Infrastructure Committee in addition to Regional Chambers.  We anticipate participation will involve attendance at one group meeting and follow up comments by email on our final proposal



Subsidised Training
Learn how to write it, then how to say it!
 

Everything we do, from the clothes that we wear, the language we use, our style of writing and speaking, everything is a form of presentation and it is vitally important to get that presentation right. With our E-Mail & Business Writing Course, you will understand the importance of written communication in delivering the core message of your organisation and its brand.


Following this is our Effective Presentation Skills Coursewill demonstrate howto structure a presentation to gain maximum effect and impact, control your nerves and convey a professional image through the presentation.


E-Mail & Business Writing Course

Course Date: Thursday 30th January

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!

 

Effective Presentation Skills

Course Date: Wednesday 19th February

Member Rate: €130.00

This course combines the perfect balance of theory with practical presentation techniques over one day resulting in a comprehensive training course giving participants the skills required to deliver effective presentations in a clear, concise and confident manner. Participants will learn how to structure a presentation to gain maximum effect and impact, control their nerves and convey a professional image through the presentation.

Participants will practice and deliver their presentation a number of times throughout the day. One of these sessions is recorded and feedback will be offered.

Following this course, participants will:

  • Understand the importance of knowing your audience
  • Plan an effective presentation
  • Overcome Nerves
  • Beginning and ending a presentation successfully
  • Be familiar with a strong presentation structure
  • Getting the audiences's attention and keeping it
  • Establishing the audience's attention and keeping it
  • Properly using your eyes, hands, voice and stance
  • Handling Q & A

This course is aimed at those who would like to gain confidence when designing and delivering a presentation and would like to learn a process that can be applied for all future presentations.

Participants should come to the course with a Presentation topic in mind. When choosing your topic, bear in mind that initially you will build your presentation around your chosen topic and deliver it at the end of the day. Therefore, it should be a topic that you are familiar with and one that you would be comfortable speaking on. It can, but does not have to be work related. BOOK NOW!


 

Business School Calendar

January

February

March

April

 

 


Events
Business After Hours at KBC Bank
 

Date: Tuesday 18th February
Time: 5.30pm – 7.00pm
Venue: KBC Offices on Lapps Quay
Cost: FREE for Cork Chamber members
To book: HERE                          


Cork Chamber and KBC Bank are joining forces to bring you the first Business After Hours Networking Event of 2014, which will take place on Tuesday 18th February in their new Cork offices on Lapps Quay.

This is an ideal opportunity to implement the tips you learned at our Networking Masterclass and/or re-engage with fellow members for the year ahead.


KBC Bank Ireland Plc is celebrating forty one years in Ireland this year serving Irish customers since 1973, and has embarked on an ambitious expansion programme which has seen the bank invest in new high street offices, launch a range of new financial products and expand its mobile and online banking presence.

BOOK NOW



Cork Chamber February Business Breakfast
 

Date: Thursday 20th February
Time: 7.30am – 9.00am
Venue: Cork International Airport Hotel
Cost: €25 members / €35 non members
To book: HERE

 

Cork Chamber is delighted to welcome Séan Gallagher to speak at the February Business Breakfast.


A recognised champion of small business, Séan sees entrepreneurs as unsung heroes who have the capacity to literally change the world.  Séan will share his views on the future of small business in Ireland, the challenges facing start-ups, as well as established SMEs and his words of wisdom for businesses hoping to take the world by storm in 2014.


BOOK NOW

 



International
Enterprise Europe Network at Cork Chamber
 

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) helps small business to maximise their presence on the European marketplace. Working through a network of local business organisations across Europe and further afield, we can help you develop your business in new markets, source or license new technologies or access EU finance and EU funding.

 

For more information, please see: www.een-ireland.ie or contact Liz@corkchamber.ie

See the ‘read more’ section (below) for further information on the following:

  • ‘Funding and Support Seminar on doing business in the European Union’, February 4, Dublin
  • Enterprise Ireland Exporting Awareness’, February 18, Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island
  • ‘Enterprise Ireland Exploring Exporting Workshop’, February 25, Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island
  • ‘Human Resources Training Programme - Japan Industry Insight’, May 12 to June 6, Tokyo
  •  Business Partnership Opportunities

 ‘Funding and Support Seminar on doing business in the European Union’, February 4, Dublin

The Europe Direct Centre based at Blanchardstown Library is hosting a Funding and Support Seminar on doing business in the European Union on February 4 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown from 08:45 to 12:30.

The aim of the event is to:

  • Increase your knowledge and understanding on how to access EU support
  • Grow the potential of E-commerce opportunities
  • Connect with local, regional and European Networks
  • Provide a platform to collaborate and innovate

The seminar will include presentations from Sean Burke, Enterprise Ireland, with regard to opportunities for EU Funding for SMEs under Horizon 2020 and from Marion Jammet, Enterprise Europe Network, with regard to Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs. One to One Advice Clinics will follow the presentations.  Book your place and talk directly to experts for free about finance and funding, research & development, innovation investment consulting services, employment, training or exporting. While this event is free, booking is required. Booking may be done by clicking here. For further information, contact Susan.lovatt@fingalcoco.ie 

 

Enterprise Ireland Exporting Awareness’, February 18, Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island

If you are thinking about exporting for the first time or entering a new market, now or in the future, Enterprise Ireland’s Exporting Awareness events will help you understand the steps you need to take to develop your export potential and get export-ready. At these events, Enterprise Ireland will outline a range of supports to help you prepare to export and win new business overseas, successful Irish exporters will talk about their exporting journey and you will have the opportunity to discuss your export plans with Enterprise Ireland executives. To register for this event, click here.

‘Enterprise Ireland Exploring Exporting Workshop’, February 25, Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island

This workshop is aimed at early and pre-export companies that have the potential to sell their products/services in international markets. This highly practical one-day workshop will enable participants to investigate the export opportunities for their companies. By participating on the workshop participants will:

  • Identify the challenges and risks associated with exporting
  • Encourage you to take a systematic approach to preparing for export
  • Enable you to assess and prioritise export opportunities
  • Provide a framework to assess the capabilities and capacity of the business to support the demands of entering a new market
  • Enable you to create a blueprint to prepare the business for the export journey

The workshop participation fee is €100 (VAT exempt) per client company, with a maximum of 2 participating delegates. For further information, contact Rena.Cushion@enterprise-Ireland.Com. Registration may be completed by clicking here

‘Human Resources Training Programme - Japan Industry Insight’, May 12 to 06 June, Tokyo

The EU Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is organising a 4-week ‘Human Resources Training Programme (HRTP) - Japan Industry Insight’ and it will offer EU executives the opportunity to experience and understand both the cultural and economic elements which define and explain Japan's business and technological achievements. HRTP is targeted at small, medium and large enterprises, who wish to acquire a broad understanding of Japanese society, its culture, and the business environment and practices in Japan. The programme will comprise of lectures, seminars and company visits and is designed to help participants become informed about the actual conditions of Japanese business through practical analysis and research. The 4-week programme may be extended by an option fifth week of company visits.

For the first four weeks of the programme, the EU-Japan Centre will cover costs relating to tuition, travel costs for visits, interpretation, etc. SMEs can apply for a €2,500 scholarship towards living expenses. Additionally, a €500 scholarship will be paid after participation in the HRTP course if they submit a profile through the Enterprise Europe Network’s partnering service. Eligibility will be checked through the ‘scholarship request – self-assessment declaration’ form that will be sent to the selected SMEs before participating in the HRTP course. For further information about this programme, please click here. The deadline for receipt of applications is 06/03/2014.

Business Partnership Opportunities

An American law firm, specialising exclusively in U.S. Immigration and Corporate Law, and with a base in Washington DC, is offering its legal services to Irish companies and contractors entering the US market. The company offers practical, prompt and professional immigration and employment compliance legal advice to its clients. For further information, contact Eimear@corkchamber.ie and quote Ref. 20130123031.


A Japanese medical device manufacturer is seeking a distributor for its mammography diagnostic software in Europe. This software allows radiology professionals to analyse the mammography photo images with the fastest image processing speeds, fully customizable workflow and review solutions. It also provides a dedicated mammography reporting system as well as view, examination list and incoming server functions all included. For further information, contact Eimear@corkchamber.ie and quote Ref. BOJP20130628001.

A Danish wholesaler of wheel and castors, material handling equipment for internal transportation, and lifting gear for various sectors including general industry, healthcare/hospitals and airport service is interested in expanding its product range with new innovative products, especially within the healthcare sector. Trade intermediary services are offered. For further information, contact Eimear@corkchamber.ie and quote Ref. 20100215015.

A Swedish company that is working with water analysis and water treatment is seeking cooperation with Irish partners who can supply different types of filter systems or components to customise the filter system to their customers. The company seeks a long-term relationship with the potential partner. The partner should be a manufacturer of water treatment products and have their own product development. For further information, contact Eimear@corkchamber.ie and quote Ref. 20130315002.

 

 

 

 


Member News
Latest News
 
  1. Positive outlook amongst Cork businesses for 2014 but improved banking and government supports are essential - read full story HERE
  2. UCC climbs to 2nd place in green global rankings - read full story HERE
  3. Cork Rebel Week Visa Day raises €52K for CUH Children’s Unit - read full story HERE
  4. Rob Heffernan - Cork Person of the Year - read full story HERE





Members Offers
Student Discounts Available for you and your employees
 
Period of the offer available: 2014 Academic Year

Cork City College is a provider of high quality professional education and we are conveniently located in the heart of Cork City in Drinan Street, off Sullivan’s Quay.

Our relationship with established companies, such as you, is key to our business and our mission. We would therefore like to offer all fellow Chamber members and their employees a 20% student discount across all of our full and part time programmes for the 2014 academic year.


Please feel free to contact Rachel on 021 4966 505 for more information or visit our website here  to view the full range of our courses on offer.



Cruise of the week - free balcony upgrade for Cork Chamber Members
 

Period of the offer available: book by 31st of January as spaces are limited.

Italy & Spain Cruise


Ports of call:
Rome, Palermo, Tunisia, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Marseille, Genoa

Package includes: Return Flight, Checked in Luggage, Return Airport / Port Transfers, 7 night FULL BOARD Cruise, All Taxes & Charges included.  Add a Drinks Package for €23pppd


Contact  021 4976293 to avail of this offer.



Castlemartyr Resort - €170 per room per night
 
Period of the offer available:  mid-week Sunday – Thursday


Exclusive Cork Chamber Offer: 2 nights bed & breakfast and a complimentary two course evening meal in the Bell Tower restaurant on one evening of your choice. From €170 per room per night available mid-week Sunday – Thursday


Member Events
EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards - 2014 Launch
 
Date:  Wednesday 29th January
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: Blue Angel Lounge, Cork Opera House
Cost: Free to Chamber members
To book: please email rhona.abbey@ie.ey.com to reserve a place.


EY is delighted to announce the launch of the 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and will be hosting a launch event on Wednesday 29 January at 6.30pm in Cork Opera House.  Guest speakers on the night will be 2 of Cork's EOY alumni, Kevin O'Leary (Qumas) and Dave Ronayne (Mainport).


Writers' Week 2014
 

Date: February 19th -22nd
Time:
8pm
Venue:
Cork Arts Theatre
Cost:
€10/€8 - Special offer 2 nights for €15
To book:
021 4505624