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City and County Budgets A Mixed Bag For Business
Both Cork City and County Councils approved budgets for 2015 this week. Cork Chamber expressed its disappointment that in the City the Council failed to introduce a rates reduction. The Chamber also feels it is not sufficient to maintain rates at the current level for the next 2 – 3 years. A multi-annual strategy should have been looked at which would see the revenue being raised through the LPT, leading to targeted reductions in commercial rates.
In contrast the Chamber warmly welcomed the measures announced as part of Cork County Council’s Budget 2015, which sees the County take a pragmatic pro-business orientated approach to the regions’ economic development by introducing a number of facilitative provisions, strongly advocated for by Cork Chamber, which will serve to sustain and enhance Cork’s attractiveness as a key business location.
The good news in the City's budget was the commitment to retain the Economic Development Fund (EDF) made up of 1% of commercial rates as well as the allocation of a €250,000 fund for the City centre. The EDF was also committed to in the County Budget along with a number of new funding initiatives aimed at the development of the County towns. The Council also set the harmonisation period, the period to bring former Town Council area rates in line with County Council rates, at five years beginning in 2016 with a rates freeze for 2015. This will mean that all rates in the County will be the at the same level from 2021.
Positive Economic Development for Cork
120 new jobs will be created by tech company Xanadu at their Blackpool office in Cork as a result of a major surge in demand for its online IT support services for the gaming industry. The expansion, officially announced by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny last Friday, will see Xanadu who currently employs over 100 staff more than double. While in Cork, An Taoiseach turned the sod to mark construction of a 200,000sq.ft office block at Albert Quay. The €50 million euro project will play a significant role in meeting the high demand for office space in the city centre.
Already, specialist security company Tyco has secured space in the Albert Quay development to house their new global headquarters and the city centre location is seen as a crucial competitive advantage for Tyco in filling the 500 roles announced earlier in the year.
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How to Present with Prezi!
Want to spice up your presentations? Make your topic more interactive, attractive and interesting? Our half-day Prezi course will show you the features and benefits of an effective Prezi presentation and you will learn how to convey information through effective visuals! Only €80 for Chamber members, so don’t delay, BOOK TODAY!
Course Date: 4th December Member Rate: €80.00 The course demonstrates the features and benefits of an effective Prezi presentation, including how to navigate the user interface, how to create, animate, share, and publish your presentation. Following this course, you will: - Achieve a practical understanding of the Prezi tools.
- Gain a strong understanding of how to convey information through effective visuals.
- Develop hands-on experience of various layouts and techniques within Prezi.
- Find out what turns a simple presentation into something your audience won’t forget.
The course outline includes: - Creating an Prezi account
- Navigation within the Prezi environment
- Adding text, shapes, hyperlinks, formatting options
- Understanding the Transformation Tool
- Working with images - Moving, scaling, and rotating
- Using the theme wizard
- Themes and Customisation
- Layering elements
- Inserting video and audio
- Adding animation How, when, and when not to spin and zoom
- Presenting remotely (if applicable)
- Publishing your presentation
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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.
This workshop takes place as part of a one-day event on "Accessing the UK Market", which is hosted by the Rubicon Centre in CIT. For more information on the morning seminar, which will detail supports and opportunities in the UK market, see the International Section below.
To register your place for this event, please click here or email Katherine here for more information.
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
Cork Chamber in association with Brightwater Recruitment Specialists are delighted to bring you the Annual Christmas Lunch, which will this year take place on Friday 12th December in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island and is held in partnership with the Marketing Institute of Ireland Cork Branch.
This annual event continues to be one of the most popular Chamber events, with a fantastic festive buzz, a fun and relaxed way to network, as well as our regular charity raffle with plenty of fantastic prizes up for grabs on the day. Our keynote speaker will be John Lonergan, former Governor of Mountjoy Prison.
Join the conversation on Twitter #onthe12thdayofchristmas
Cork Chamber Business After Hours at Intel Security
Date: Wednesday 3rd December
Time: 5.30pm – 7.00pm
Venue: Intel Security, City Gate, Mahon
Cost: FREE for Chamber members
To book: HERE
Cork Chamber is delighted to bring you the final Business After Hours Networking event of 2014. This event will take place on Wednesday 3rd December in the offices of Intel Security, City Gate, Mahon.
McAfee, Part of Intel Security, is the world’s largest dedicated security technology company. Delivering proactive and proven solutions and services that help secure systems and networks around the world, Intel Security protects consumers and businesses of all sizes from the latest malware and emerging online threats.
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Ireland India Business Association – Christmas Drinks Reception
Date: 4th December
Time: 6pm
Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island, Cork
To book: email here You are invited to join the Cork Chapter of the Ireland India Business Association, for their final event of 2014 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island, Cork on Thursday 4th December.
The event begins with a mulled wine reception at 6pm, and will feature a presentation from George Kiely (Enterprise Ireland) on practical trade advice for local SMEs and start-ups about how to engage with the Indian market. George will share insights from Enterprise Ireland's work in India with Irish companies, plus opportunities for Irish Entrepreneurs in 2015/6.
Accessing the UK Market
Date: Wednesday 10th December 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.
See 'read more' for further details.
Accessing the UK Market Part 1: 08.00-12.00 – Seminar: Accessing the UK Market The first part of 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. For the full programme see here. Part 2: 12.30-16.30 – Workshop: Winning Public Sector Business Following the lunchbreak, attendees will have the option of booking 1:1 meetings with the support agencies at the seminar, or of registering for a FREE half day workshop on “Winning public sector business”, hosted by the Enterprise Europe Network. 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. 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. (The public procurement workshop is almost full at this point, however we will be operating a waiting list system, should places become available in the next few weeks. Contact Katherine@corkchamber.ie for more information).
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Have your say on the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and US
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a trade agreement that is presently being negotiated between the European Union and the United States. It aims at removing trade barriers in a wide range of economic sectors to make it easier to buy and sell goods and services between the EU and the US.
The European Commission is looking for your feedback on the TTIP treaty. This survey is your chance to have your say on how TTIP could make it easier for your company to do business in the United States of America (US). It takes roughly 15-20 minutes to fill out. Your participation will provide vital information regarding the trade barriers currently faced by European industries and individual companies in the US and it could help you lower your costs and expand your business. Please complete the survey at the following link. (Deadline 15th December 2014)
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a trade agreement that is presently being negotiated between the European Union and the United States. It aims at removing trade barriers in a wide range of economic sectors to make it easier to buy and sell goods and services between the EU and the US. On top of cutting tariffs across all sectors, the EU and the US want to tackle barriers behind the customs border – such as differences in technical regulations, standards and approval procedures. These often cost unnecessary time and money for companies who want to sell their products on both markets. For example, when a car is approved as safe in the EU, it has to undergo a new approval procedure in the US even though the safety standards are similar. The TTIP negotiations will also look at opening both markets for services, investment, and public procurement. They could also shape global rules on trade. The European Commission is looking for your feedback on the TTIP treaty. This survey is your chance to have your say on how TTIP could make it easier for your company to do business in the United States of America (US). It takes roughly 15-20 minutes to fill out. Your participation will provide vital information regarding the trade barriers currently faced by European industries and individual companies in the US and it could help you lower your costs and expand your business. Please complete the survey at the following link. (Deadline 15th December 2014) Follow the latest TTIP news on Twitter @EU_TTIP_team
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Do business with fellow Chamber Members
Have you got an exclusive offer that you would like to share with other Chamber members? If yes..why not communicate this to your fellow Cork Chamber members in our weekly business update and on our website under 'member offers' ! Contact Deborah by email HERE or telephone 021 - 4530149 for more details.
News Updates
1. Small Businesses Focus On Collaboration - Read More HERE
2. Cork Chamber Disappointed With Cork City Council Budget - Read More HERE
3. Are You UP For A Cork Simon Christmas Jumper Day? - Read More HERE
4. Twenty - Five New Positions Announced By leading Technology Group, PFH - Read More HERE
5. County Council Congratulated On Pro-Business Budget - Read More HERE
6. Cork Airport Announces New Prague Route - Read More HERE
7. Taoiseach Launches €5M Technology Centre -Read More HERE
8. Two Exciting Projects Announced By Taoiseach Enda Kenny For Cork - Read More HERE
9. Kernel Capital Bank Of Ireland Seed Fund - Read More HERE
10. Two Successful Stateside Events Held On Behalf Of The Cork Foundation - Read More HERE
Cork Chamber's Dublin Dinner Photo Gallery
Did you get your picture taken at Cork Chamber's Dublin Dinner? See photo gallery here.
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Slim like Darren Clarke with Educogym Cork!!
Shred the fat for Christmas like golfer Darren Clark! Darren lost 9 inches from his waist and dropped 4 stone! Resistance training is suitable to all clients of all levels of fitness and all ages. Educogym, Cork is offering all Chamber members a 10% discount on our programmes.
To avail of this offer: contact us today to start your transformation!
Call Educogym: Penrose Wharf - 021 450 5355 | Glanmire - 021 486 6920
50% off all new January meeting room bookings
Period of the offer available: Jan 1st – Jan 31st 2015
At the Clarion Hotel Cork we are delighted to extend a once off 50% off all meeting room rates to all new booking for January 2015. To avail of offer please quote “Cork Chamber Ezine Offer”
To avail of this offer: call us on 021 4224940 or email: here
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Up to 50% off at Kilkenny Shop
Date: 27th of November 2014
Time: From 5pm onwards
Venue: Kilkenny Shop, 14 Emmet Place, Cork City Centre
Cost: Free of charge
On this festive evening, everything in store will be reduced by up to 50% and everyone who attends will also receive a €50 hotel voucher. For staff interested in attending we don’t require their names, they will simply be asked what company they are with at the door. No form of identification etc. is required.
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