Inbusiness recognition awards 2017

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THE ALL-NEW ŠKODA KAROQ. ANOTHER WAY TO DO RUSH HOUR. From €27,715

Following the success of the 7-seater KODIAQ, ŠKODA introduces the KAROQ. The spacious 5-seater SUV combines comfort, style and cuttingedge technology. The KAROQ includes touch screen sound systems, 17” alloy wheels, cruise and climate control, plus rear parking sensors as standard.

Powered by an excellent range of familiar ŠKODA Diesel engines as well as new efficient 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI petrol options, there is no shortage of choice.

Live life another way with the ŠKODA KAROQ. Available in showrooms from December 1st from just €319 per month.

skoda.ie * Typical Example: KAROQ 1.0 TSI 115hp Ambition OTRP €28,315. Deposit €8,423. 36 monthly payments of €319 including service plan of €12.99 per month. Optional final Payment €10,532. APR 3.9%.

Total cost of credit €1,806. Minimum deposit is 10%. Subject to lending criteria. This offer is made under a hire purchase agreement. ŠKODA Finance is a trading style of VW Bank GmbH Branch Ireland, authorised by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority in Germany and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. Prices and offer valid until December 31st 2017. Model shown is the KAROQ style 1.0 TSI 115hp. Price excludes delivery and related charges. CO2 from 114-138g/km. Combined fuel consumption from 4.3-5.5 l/100km.

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TOURISM Dublin Port

CONFERENCE VENUE Dublin Convention Centre

LIFE ASSURANCE AND PENSIONS Zurich Life

BUSINESS BROADBAND Virgin Media

ACCOUNTANCY KPMG

NEWCOMER Eversheds Sutherland

PRIVATE BANKING AIB Private Banking

BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR Louise Phelan, PayPal

ENERGY PROVIDER Bord Gáis Energy

SUPPORT TO SMES Bibby Financial Services

LAW FIRM Eversheds Sutherland

BUSINESS SCHOOL Kemmy Business School

EXECUTIVE CAR Audi A6

MANUFACTURING Intel

COUNTY COUNCIL Fingal County Council

SPECIAL MERIT ESB for CSR

E-COMMERCE PayPal

BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR Dave Kirwan, Bord Gáis Energy

STATE BODY Enterprise Ireland

COMPANY OF THE YEAR Dublin Port

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DUBLIN PORT: The Ship Comes In

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ZURICH LIFE: Planning for the Future

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KPMG: At the Heart of Business in Ireland

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AIB PRIVATE BANKING: Quality Private Banking

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EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND: Experts in Law

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FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL: Working with Business

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DUBLIN CONVENTION CENTRE: An Iconic Space The InBUSINESS Recognition Awards is an Ashville Media Group event in association with Chambers Ireland

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n behalf of myself and everybody at ŠKODA, thank you for joining us at the 2017 InBUSINESS Recognition Awards in association with Chambers Ireland. When I look at the prestigious list of businesses here today I can relate to many of you and your excellent achievements. Over the last number of years the ŠKODA brand in Ireland has persevered and grown through the most difficult of business environments. Ten years ago it was unthinkable that ŠKODA would be on the cusp of breaking into the top-five bestselling car brands in Ireland. As you well know, success does not come easy. Innovation, investment, recruitment and the ability to adapt are fundamental to survival, let alone success. Looking back on the last year we have faced some serious challenges from competition and other external factors. Despite this, in ŠKODA, we will approach 2018 with optimism. Our dealer network is the most modern of any car brand in Ireland. We have had great success launching new products in 2017 like the new OCTAVIA and award-winning KODIAQ to name just two. For 2018 we look forward with great anticipation for the all new KAROQ, which is already proving a huge success and when supported by our excellent financial products, we cannot wait for 2018 to begin. Congratulations to one and all on a very successful 2017 and may I wish you prosperity and success in 2018.

John Donegan Brand Director, ŠKODA Ireland

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VIRGIN MEDIA BUSINESS: Enabling the Next Evolution of Digital

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LOUISE PHELAN, PAYPAL: A Spoonful of Confidence

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BIBBY FINANCIAL SERVICES: Big Support for Small Business

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KEMMY BUSINESS SCHOOL: Making the Grade

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INTEL: Leading the Revolution

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ESB: Building a Brighter Future

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DAVE KIRWAN, BORD GÁIS: The Art of Leadership

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DUBLIN PORT: Growing Year-On-Year

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Cruise Dublin Ireland’s Cruise Capital

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E E C L BR I T Y IP 2018 SE

Please visit our website: www.cruisedublin.com Email: cruisedublin@dublinport.ie Contact 01 887 6000

Cruise Dublin Partners:

www.cruisedublin.com

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01/12/2017 16:34

DUBLIN PORT TOURISM

THE SHIP COMES IN With an expected 2 million ferry passengers arriving at Dublin in 2017, it has been another record-breaking year for Dublin Port Company. InBUSINESS speaks to Pat Ward, Head of Corporate Services, Dublin Port Company, to find out about the past year in tourism and the company’s plans for the future.

Q. How was 2017 for Dublin Port?

A. It has been another record year for tourist numbers in Dublin Port. In the nine months to September, ferry passenger numbers grew by 2.4 per cent to 1.5 million and we expect this figure to top 2 million by the year end. In addition, we welcomed 127 cruise ships carrying over 210,000 passengers to Dublin throughout the 2017 cruise season. Next year is expected to be even better, with 148 cruise calls scheduled.

longer and deeper berths for shipping, allowing larger ships to routinely call at the port and turn within the expanded Alexandra Basin West and berth further upriver, luring even more cruise ships and an extra 600,000 tourists to Dublin. Our expected completion date is 2026. The ABR is part of the wider Masterplan which will see up to a600 million invested in port infrastructure over the next 20 years.

Q. Your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Tourism?

A. We are delighted to receive the award. Dublin Port Company has been a driving force behind the development of Dublin’s cruise tourism business, having worked hard to attract and build valuable business for the city for over 30 years. Cruise Dublin, which promotes and markets Dublin as Ireland’s cruise capital, was established in 2016 and works closely with strategic partners and members including Dublin Port to further develop relations with cruise companies and their passengers. It is wonderful for Cruise Dublin and its members to receive recognition for the hard work and effort that has gone into promoting Dublin as a premium destination.

Q. What would you say are the main challenges currently facing Dublin Port?

A. Brexit and the uncertainty on the type of border that will be introduced. A hard border would result in longer disembarkation times for tourists from the 14 daily ferry sailings between Dublin and the UK. Q. How has Dublin Port’s development impacted on tourism?

A. Dublin Port Company has invested heavily in training our marine staff to the highest standards.

They have participated in countless simulation exercises to ensure that they can guide even the largest vessels up the channel and berth them safely. As a result, larger cruise vessels are routinely calling to Dublin. Furthermore, Celebrity Cruises is set to become the first major cruise line to home port in Dublin, and next year over 14,000 people are expected to begin their holiday from Dublin Port. Reports from Celebrity Cruises indicate that these cruises are popular with their customers, and they have already put itineraries in place for 2019 and 2020. It’s worth noting that the average cruise passenger spends approximately a100 per day, bringing a significant economic boost to local retailers and attractions.

Dublin Port welcomed 127 cruise ships carrying over 210,000 passengers to Dublin throughout the 2017 cruise season

Q. Any news Dublin Port can share with us at this time?

A. The a230 million Alexandra Basin Redevelopment programme is ongoing, the largest infrastructure project in the history of the port. It will provide IN ASSOCIATION WITH

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ZURICH LIFE

InBUSINESS speaks with Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life and Pensions, Zurich to find out more about Zurich’s pension offerings.

Q. How has 2017 been for Zurich?

A. This year has been a record year for Zurich’s life assurance business in Ireland in terms of new business growth and our market share. The continuing improvement in the number of people in employment has contributed positively, as more companies and their employees look to provide for their future in the form of pension provision and protect their families and business against early death or disability.

The combination of a better economic picture across the country and Zurich’s strong reputation for outperformance in investment markets has seen a huge increase in companies and individuals choosing Zurich to manage their pension fund and other assets.

In addition, we continue to lead the way in terms of innovation with our improved company pension solution, providing streamlined administration, improved employee engagement and the recent launch of a first-to-market investment strategy, which is individually tailored for each pension scheme member, depending on the investment risk appetite.

Q. What would you say are the main challenges currently facing Zurich?

A. The challenges facing Zurich are very much aligned to the challenges faced by other stakeholders in our industry, for example pension scheme trustees and employers who are committed to facilitating employees in providing for their own retirement. In particular, we have two big challenges: firstly, the number of workers in the private sector with private pensions in addition to the State pension is only 35 per cent. The second challenge is to ensure that we are all saving enough to achieve an adequate income in retirement. The earlier we start making contributions, the better chance we have of achieving this outcome.

The combination of a better economic picture across the country and Zurich’s strong reputation for outperformance in investment markets has seen a huge increase in companies and individuals choosing Zurich

This can be achieved through increased awareness and providing pension scheme members with relevant and informative communications at the appropriate time in their working life. At Zurich, we pride ourselves on providing market leading member communication to scheme members each year as well as online access to the current valuations, future valuations and the likely income in retirement.

LIFE ASSURANCE AND PENSIONS

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life and Pensions, Zurich

Q. Your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Life Assurances and Pensions?

A. We are delighted to receive an InBUSINESS Recognition Award again in 2017. At Zurich, we provide retirement savings across the whole spectrum of workers, whether self-employed and running their own business or employed and working in small to large enterprises. We have a range of fund options with different characteristics, depending on whether people want a secure investment or an investment with more risk attached. In addition to our awardwinning investment management track record, we continue to review our product offering to meet the changing demands of our customers. We are focused on continuously improving our communication and using technology creatively to build trust and highlight the importance of thinking long-term when it comes to saving for retirement.

Zurich Life Assurance plc is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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At the heart of business in Ireland

© 2017 KPMG, an Irish partnership

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KPMG ACCOUNTANCY

AT THE HEART OF BUSINESS IN IRELAND The quality of the insights, support and advice that KPMG delivers for its clients makes it the clear choice for Irish business, writes Managing Partner of KPMG in Ireland, Shaun Murphy.

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s 2017 draws to a close, it has been a largely positive year for Irish business.

Ireland remains one of the most attractive places in which to do business and we continue to secure high value jobs and investment from many of the world’s leading companies.

Our domestic entrepreneurs and privately owned enterprises are successfully growing employment and securing export-led growth. In an uncertain world, Ireland’s continued success is inextricably linked to the need for political stability at home combined with policies that reward and encourage enterprise. For business leaders, it is an exciting yet simultaneously challenging time and we are working with many of them and their teams helping them manage their companies’ core strengths whilst assessing opportunities.

As our CEO survey highlighted earlier in the year, business leaders and owners are acutely aware of the need to avoid becoming the victim of unforeseen disruption and changing business models. Increasingly, they are having to deal with issues they may not have direct personal experience of, such as cyber security and artificial intelligence.

Heightened reputational risk and major decisions about investments in technology are also shaping the business agenda, while there is continued pressure to deliver on the bottom line.

Inevitably the issue of Brexit looms large. With about 15 per cent of our exports going to the UK, Ireland is the EU nation most exposed to Britain’s scheduled departure from the European Union. The risk of barriers to trade here in Ireland and indeed across the Irish Sea is hugely significant. The business community has been emphatic about the need for minimum disruption and we are working with a range of clients to help them understand the impact of various scenarios. Such challenges show that geopolitics is becoming a growing issue for businesses of every type and scale. For example, the former certainty of UK markets for ambitious Irish businesses is at present unclear, challenging them to assess opportunities elsewhere in Europe and further afield.

For other clients, the policies pursued by the US in areas such as trade and protectionism also have the potential to cause disruption.

Against this backdrop we are fortunate to work with a wide range of Irish-based businesses and entrepreneurs in every sector. We have great teams who seek to make a difference and who are proud of KPMG. I am very proud of the outstanding opportunities and market leading training that is part of a career with KPMG. We place a high value on our involvement with various Chambers of Commerce throughout Ireland and being recognised for Accountancy at the InBUSINESS Recognition Awards is a great honour for us. It reflects the success of our clients, the commitment of our people and the exceptional training opportunities we can provide. We believe that the quality of the insights, support and advice that we deliver for our clients makes us the clear choice for Irish business and we look forward to working with all of our existing and future clients in the year ahead.

Shaun Murphy, Managing Partner, KPMG in Ireland

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He’s not doing his banking.

We are.

You free up time for what really matters when you let someone else take care of things – especially when you know they’re experts. So why not do the same for your banking? From executing simple, day-to-day tasks to providing ongoing financial advice, we can help.

Talk to AIB Private Banking today.

Call Dave McLaughlin, Head of AIB Private Banking, on 087 799 1112 or visit privatebanking.aib.ie Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Typically our clients have invesitible assets of > €1m

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01/12/2017 16:27

AIB PRIVATE BANKING PRIVATE BANKING

QUALITY PRIVATE BANKING Dave McLaughlin, Head of Private Banking at AIB, talks to InBUSINESS about the current state of the private banking sector and the importance of listening to the client.

Q. How has 2017 been for AIB Private Banking?

A. It has been a very exciting year for the private bank, with growth delivered across all our key segments. We continue to see new clients joining on a regular basis and long may that continue. We love dealing with people and doing all we can to preserve and grow their wealth in addition to making the dayto-day management of their finances effortless.

It has also been a landmark year for AIB Group with the successful IPO during the summer and the returning of substantial additional capital to the Exchequer. We are making progress, and we are very grateful to our clients for their support, but are only too aware that we have a journey still to travel in this regard.

Q. What would you say are the main challenges currently facing the private banking sector?

A. There are many significant challenges, but within them are also significant opportunities as we look ahead to 2018. Brexit and MIFIDII have received most of the commentary to date and while they are both critical, the emergence and growth of fintech disruptors is a very interesting development. We believe the future lies within a hybrid model where clients utilise the best of digital to garner insights and add convenience while trusting their relationship manager to provide wise counsel and challenge their thinking when appropriate to do so.

Q. What makes AIB Private Banking’s services stand out from the competition?

A. A very good question and one, perhaps, best asked of our clients! We provide tailored investment

We believe the future lies within a hybrid model where clients utilise the best of digital to garner insights and add convenience while trusting their relationship manager to provide wise counsel and challenge their thinking when appropriate to do so.

Dave McLaughlin, Head of Private Banking, AIB

solutions, detailed retirement planning, dynamic lending options and effortless convenient banking and all via one point of contact – your dedicated relationship manager. We invest a lot in listening to feedback from our clients and I think having access to this variety of expertise from one source is a market differentiator. It adds convenience and saves our clients considerable time, which is something they really appreciate given their busy and demanding lives.

Q. What is your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Private Banking?

A. We are delighted to win this award and thank you for the recognition. It is a testament to the dayto-day work of all the team and their commitment to making a difference in the financial lives of our clients in addition to providing them with a world class level of service. We really appreciate the award and are especially grateful to our clients and their business for making it a possibility.

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Taking your business further The law firm with local knowledge and worldwide reach Eversheds Sutherland is the only international law firm with an all-Ireland and UK presence. With 66 offices in 32 countries, we provide unrivalled access to Europe, the US, the Middle East and Africa.

Our dedicated team, based in the commercial heart of Dublin, gives you a single point of contact for all your legal issues, regardless of size, nature, or jurisdiction.

We build lasting client relationships that grow with your business.

Whether your commercial ambitions are focused on Ireland or you’re looking to grow internationally, we have the innovative advice, knowledge and resources to help make it happen.

For a law firm without limits, contact: Alan Murphy Managing Partner +353 1 6644 289 alanmurphy@eversheds-sutherland.ie

eversheds-sutherland.ie

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EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND LAW FIRM

EXPERTS IN LAW InBUSINESS speaks with Alan Murphy, Managing Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, to get a sense of the climate within the law industry in Ireland.

Q. How have things been at Eversheds Sutherland?

A. The business has been growing by 15 per cent over the last four years and the strategy is to continue this growth until 2020. In light of our combination – Eversheds coming together with US law firm Sutherland – tax has become a major growth area. We have enhanced our tax offering with the appointments of Alan Connell as a partner and head of the firm’s tax practice and Niamh Caffrey as a consultant. We are uniquely positioned to work on matters related to GDPR, the new data protection legislation designed to harmonise data privacy laws across the EU which will come into force next year. We have an international Brexit committee with multidisciplinary expertise to ensure we are ready for Brexit as it develops. We have a huge focus on technology, which can be seen through our new virtual signing programme which allows documents to be signed on the move.

Q. What are the main challenges facing you today?

A. Managing the growth of the firm in a sustainable manner. This year has been excellent for the firm and we have seen solid client growth across all sectors. This is a testament to the innovative, full-service product we supply to clients. The culture at Eversheds Sutherland is one of innovation and excellence in client service and that is proving to be a winning combination. Our challenge is to stay ahead of client needs at all times across all sectors and to leverage the international expertise of our colleagues based in the Eversheds Sutherland offices around the world to maximum effect. Increasingly, Irish-based clients are demanding an international offering and we are perfectly and uniquely positioned to deliver on that.

Q. What makes Eversheds Sutherland stand out?

A. As a global law firm, Eversheds Sutherland has the resources to offer consulting which is similar to what accountancy firms do in terms of advisory services. We offer a unique mix of highly experienced consultants, lawyers, audit and risk specialists who can help clients deliver their strategic objectives, improve efficiency and navigate the increasingly complex regulatory and compliance challenges that they face.

Alan Murphy, Managing Partner, Eversheds Sutherland

Q. Any exciting developments that Eversheds Sutherland can share with us at this time?

A. The opening of our new office in Belfast, which offers to service business and public sector clients in Northern Ireland. This is Eversheds’ eleventh office in the UK and its second on the island of Ireland. Led

by Eversheds Sutherland Partner and Belfast native Peter Curran, the new office is based in the Scottish Provident Building, Donegall Square West, Belfast.

This will increase the Eversheds footprint on the island of Ireland and in the UK, enabling us to service our clients in Northern Ireland and open up opportunities for them internationally through our 55 offices in 28 countries. We aim to build on the strong relationships we already have with clients in the province and to establish many new connections, offering them a unique blend of international legal experience and local expertise.

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When it comes to supporting business in Fingal we even take care of the little details.

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01/12/2017 16:28

FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL COUNTY COUNCIL

WORKING WITH BUSINESS Paul Reid, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, tells InBUSINESS about the council’s work over the past year, its plans for the future and gives his response to being recognised in the County Coucil category at this year’s awards.

Q. Looking back, how do you view 2017?

A. It’s been another successful year for us because we have achieved a lot. Housing is obviously one of our biggest priorities and by the end of October we were 32 per cent ahead of target, in terms of the provision of social housing. We’ve also managed to get the private sector back building houses in Fingal and we now have over 60 active construction sites across the county.

Business is doing well and we had quite a few jobs announcements during the year. We also passed our 2017-2023 Development Plan, which not only sets out our plan for the next seven years but also looks ahead to 2030.

Q. In what ways is the Council supporting Fingal businesses?

A. Our work with the business community is aligned across three distinct business types. Firstly, we cooperate with state agencies such as the IDA, the private sector and others in promoting Fingal as a prime location for inward investment. We have a significant and expanding land bank of serviced industrial land and we have two attractive industrial zones – the Dublin Enterprise Zone in Dublin 15 and Stephenstown in Balbriggan. Secondly, the county has a number of significant clusters and we work hard to create the conditions necessary to support new and established indigenous companies in Fingal. Finally, we actively support our local small enterprises and entrepreneurs, most notably through the Local Enterprise Office, not only in the provision of grants but also mentoring, training and networking opportunities.

Business is doing well and we had quite a few jobs announcements during the year. We also passed our 20172023 Development Plan, which not only sets out our plan for the next seven years but also looks ahead to 2030.

Q. Could you tell us about some of the plans set out in your 20182020 Capital Programme?

A. We are planning to spend over a500 million on 179 projects under our 20182020 Capital Programme as we try to meet the demands of having both the fastest growing and youngest population in the country.

Paul Reid, Chief Executive, Fingal County Council Around a340m is earmarked for housing and we will spend over half of that on construction, while another a72m is going towards planning and strategic infrastructure projects such as our LIHAF schemes, eight greenway proposals, the Snugborough Interchange and delivering our 20172023 Development Plan. A further a53m will be spent on economic, enterprise and tourism projects such as the Swords Civic and Cultural Quarter.

Q. Your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for County Council?

A. I’m delighted, because awards such as this are a recognition that what we do every day as a Council is having an impact. Working with business is a key part of our work and to be honoured for the work we are doing in relation to Foreign Direct Investment is a tribute to the efforts of all our staff. They are aware that the work they do does have an impact on whether a company decides to locate or expand in Fingal so it is nice to have those efforts recognised.

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PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE INSPIRING EVENTS

We believe in creative thinking, ever challenging the status quo. We create and deliver exceptional experiences that inspire. Every meeting, conference, exhibition and event is tailored to fit needs and exceed your expectations.

Experience The CCD, an iconic destination in the heart of Dublin.

LET US INSPIRE YOU Call us today to make a booking +353 1 856 0000, email sales@theccd.ie or visit www.theccd.ie.

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01/12/2017 16:28

DUBLIN CONVENTION CENTRE CONFERENCE VENUE

AN ICONIC SPACE With a reputation for excellence, The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) is an iconic venue within the global meetings and events industry, as Chief Executive Stephen Meehan explains.

Q. How has 2017 been for the Convention Centre?

A. It has been a busy and exciting year. In 2017 so far, we’ve hosted over 137 events and welcomed over 88,000 people to The CCD. We’ve had some great national and international events come through the building from various sectors and we look forward to 2018.

Q. What would you say are the main challenges currently facing the centre?

A. Dublin is increasingly popular as a conference destination and we have won many great events of late.

One of the things we repeatedly hear from our clients is that the availability and cost of hotel rooms in Dublin can be a challenge for them. The availability of a competitive and quality network of hotels is key to attracting international conferences to Dublin versus key European competitor cities. We look forward to seeing further investment in the sector and continue to position Dublin on the international stage as a great place to do business.

Q. Your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Conference Venue?

A. We are delighted to win. The award means a lot to the whole team in The CCD, whose commitment to exceptional service continues to deliver events that surpass our clients’ expectations time and time again.

We continue to welcome many clients and delegates who choose Ireland as a destination for their conferences and events. Some of our more recently confirmed events include the UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying draw in December next year and the World Science Fiction Convention, Worldcon, in August 2019.

Q. What makes The Convention Centre Dublin stand out from other event venues?

A. We are excellently located in the heart of the city, in Dublin’s Docklands – the finance and technology hub of the city – and just 15 minutes from Dublin Airport.

Our state-of-the-art facilities are a big draw for many clients too. But at The Convention Centre Dublin our heartbeat comes from our people. We are very proud of our dedicated team of professionals, who help bring our venue to life and we believe this is what sets us, and indeed Ireland, apart as a great business destination.

Q. Any news you can share with us at this time?

A. We’ve defined our purpose as ‘setting the stage to welcome the world to Ireland’. In our last recorded year, we attracted 32,408 international conference delegates, which had an economic impact in excess of a51 million. We continue to welcome many clients who choose Ireland as a destination for their events.

Some of our more recently confirmed events include the UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying draw in December next year and the World Science Fiction Convention, Worldcon, in August 2019.

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When you demand award winning, you demand Ireland’s Best Business Broadband*.

Extraordinary Call us now 1800 940 062 or visit virginmedia.ie/business *InBusiness Awards, 2016, 2017.

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01/12/2017 16:29

VIRGIN MEDIA BUSINESS BUSINESS BROADBAND

ENABLING THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF DIGITAL InBUSINESS spoke to Aidan D’Arcy, Head of Division, Virgin Media Business Ireland, to find out how his company is outperforming its competitors when it comes to providing broadband to Irish businesses.

Q: How has 2017 been for Virgin Media Business?

A: Virgin Media Business has had an incredibly busy and successful 2017. We have further expanded our network in cities and towns across Ireland and this is creating strong interest among the business community in terms of the high speeds and competition that we offer as Ireland’s fastest business broadband provider. We meet the needs of organisations from SMEs to large enterprises to multinationals and the public sector, making a key contribution to regional, national and international connectivity, competitiveness and economic growth.

We are focused on the GIGAworld, which is the next evolution of digital networks, powered by gigabit internet speeds. This will help to enhance our quality of living, improve mobility, grow our economy and empower information sharing and decision-making.

Our ongoing network expansion will extend the reach of our cable footprint from 49 per cent today to 60 per cent of all Irish homes by 2020.

Aidan D’Arcy, Head of Division, Virgin Media Business Ireland

Q: What makes Virgin Media’s broadband offering stand out from the competition?

A: Virgin Media is Ireland’s fastest business network offering the most widely available speeds of up to 500Mbps. We are also making significant ongoing investments in our network capacity to meet the fast growing usage of broadband by customers, which is increasing at a rate of 40 per cent per annum. We own our network exclusively which makes us different to other broadband providers.

We offer a complete range of connected services including our best business broadband, Wifi, digital TV, landline, and soon business mobile. Our business portfolio offers customers a truly unique set of services for every shape and size of business.

Q: Any news Virgin Media can share with us?

A: Our latest product offering is a Home Working Solution which enables businesses to provide flexible working solutions to employees. We’re empowering employers and their staff to work smarter by giving them the digital tools to work from remote locations.

This in turn is making a difference for carbon footprint, productivity and quality of life by delivering a more efficient way of working.

In a world dominated by an on-demand, click-ofa-button culture, businesses face huge challenges.

We want to support them with innovative solutions.

We have a number of exciting new services that will be launched next year including Business Mobile and Cloud Voice. We will also be supporting innovation and entrepreneurship through our VOOM competition, the biggest entrepreneurial pitching competition across Ireland and the UK. Q: Your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Business Broadband?

A: We’re absolutely thrilled to receive the award.

Virgin Media Business is playing a central role in the digital transformation of Ireland. The delivery of superfast broadband speeds is integral to business and economic progress. Technology is a key driver but it’s the people behind the name that create the magic.

So on behalf of everyone in Virgin Media Business, thank you and we’re going to keep working hard to provide the best services to the business community.

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Grow your business online through PayPal.

paypaljobsireland.com 1800 944 570

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LOUISE PHELAN, PAYPAL

Business Woman of the Year Louise Phelan talks to InBUSINESS about her role leading PayPal in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and about the secrets to her success in business.

Q. How has 2017 been for PayPal? A. It has been a great year for PayPal and more importantly for our customers. We can only succeed when our customers are succeeding too, so I see our company’s strong performance as a good sign that other businesses are benefiting from our services and increasing their sales with PayPal. Our global network now serves 218 million customers, and has grown by more than 8 million in the last quarter alone. That’s phenomenal growth! Knowing that we’re making it easier for consumers to shop and manage their money is something I’m really proud of.

Q. Could you tell us how your role at PayPal has changed over the past 12 months?

A. It’s changed a lot! I now have a much broader role leading our business in Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Ireland, the Middle East and Africa.

I’m now responsible for growing revenue and customers for PayPal in more than 100 countries.

While I’m still based in Ireland, the majority of my team is overseas so I’ve been doing a fair bit of travelling this year getting to know them. I’m relishing this new challenge, and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to lead the business across such a vast region.

BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

A SPOONFUL OF CONFIDENCE My years in the fintech sector have taught me two things.

Firstly, that it’s important to stay true to yourself, and secondly, that you should never let setbacks set you back.

Louise Phelan, Vice President, Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Ireland, Middle East and Africa

Q. What’s your mantra in business?

A. My years in the fintech sector have taught me two things. Firstly, that it’s important to stay true to yourself, and secondly, that you should never let setbacks set you back.

Q. Any news PayPal can share with us at this time?

A. In August, we partnered with Skype to enable their users to send money with PayPal in the Skype app. PayPal was also added as a payment method on Apple Music, iTunes and the App Store, as well as the Nintendo eShop. We’re constantly expanding the ways and places where our customers can use PayPal to breeze through the checkout.

Q. What advice would you have for young, ambitious people looking to make it to boardroom level?

A. Take a spoonful of confidence every morning with your coffee. Society has a way of zapping people’s confidence levels and really it is the most valuable asset one can have. Ambition is important and we need more young people aspiring to make it into the boardroom.

I believe that having different voices from a variety of perspectives – in terms of gender, age, background and skills – is hugely important to the future of any company.

Q. Your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Businesswoman of the Year?

A. I’m absolutely honoured and I hope that my story inspires more women to push themselves forward for leadership opportunities. Success isn’t always about what you achieve personally, it’s about helping others to fulfill their potential. If I’m honest, that’s always been my favourite part of the job.

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COMMITTED TO KEEP BUSINESSES MOVING Funding solutions that can help your business grow We believe that cashflow should never hold a business back. Our tailored funding solutions can give small to medium sized businesses speedy access to cash, allowing your business to improve working capital, seize new opportunities and grow into new markets.

Call our experts today to help free up your cashflow. For more information on our lower-cost Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland funding visit www.bibbyfinancialservices.ie/sbci.

CALL US ON 01 297 4911

VISIT BIBBYFINANCIALSERVICES.IE

KEEPING IRELAND’S BUSINESSES MOVING INVOICE FINANCE • EXPORT FINANCE • BAD DEBT PROTECTION

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BIBBY FINANCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT TO SMES

BIG SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESS InBUSINESS catches up with Mark O’Rourke, Head of Business at Bibby Financial Services Ireland to find out some of the funding issues facing Irish SMEs today.

Q. How has 2017 been for Bibby Financial Services?

A. Ireland’s funding market has seen positive growth in 2017 and we are proud that Bibby Financial Services Ireland is spearheading that charge, particularly through our partnership with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI). This collaboration saw a45 million in funding being made available to Irish SMEs, with a37 million being distributed to our customers across a variety of sectors in the last 18 months.

Q. What is the outlook of SMEs in Ireland today?

A. According to our annual survey of Irish SMEs, 64 per cent of SMEs claim rising overheads/costs as the greatest challenge to business right now. However, Irish SMEs are positive about the future, with 97 per cent planning to invest in their businesses in the next 12 months. Furthermore, Irish SMEs appear more confident in the strength of the domestic economy than the global economy, with 67 per cent describing the Irish economy as performing well, compared to just 22 per cent in relation to the global picture.

Q. What advice would you have for someone setting up a small business today?

A. According to the 2017 Bibby Financial Services Global Business Monitor, cashflow issues weigh heavily on Irish SME owners, with 57 per cent saying that collecting payment from customers on time is the most problematic area of business. Small business owners need to ensure that they keep an accurate and up-to-date record of cashflow and they must also ensure a good spread of customers in order to reduce exposure to bad debt. A credit controller or credit control team can ensure effective terms and conditions with customers, in addition to ensuring that outstanding money owed is chased when required.

Q. Any news Bibby Financial Services can share with us at this time?

A. We’re very excited about continuing our partnership with the Laura Lynn Foundation – in the last four years, the team at Bibby Financial Services Ireland has raised almost a28,000 for the charity and we plan to raise even more over the coming years!

Mark O’Rourke, Head of Business, Bibby Financial Services Ireland

Q. Your response to winning the 2017 InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Best Support to SMEs? A. We’re thrilled to receive the award. We pride ourselves on the relationships we have with our clients, getting to know them and their businesses so we can tailor funding to suit their current and future needs. Bibby Financial Services Ireland understands that SMEs are the powerhouse of the Irish economy and ensuring that the funding needs of SMEs are met in 2018 is of paramount importance to us.

For more information about Bibby Financial Services Ireland visit www.bibbyfinancialservices.ie.

Find them on Linkedin or follow them on Twitter @BibbyFinanceIE.

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KEMMY BUSINESS SCHOOL CONNECTING WITH INDUSTRY AT POSTGRADUATE, UNDERGRADUATE & RESEARCH LEVEL

www.ul.ie/business •

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KEMMY BUSINESS SCHOOL BUSINESS SCHOOL

MAKING THE GRADE Dr. Philip O’Regan, Dean of the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick, fills InBUSINESS in on the comings and goings of this year’s recognised business school.

Q. How has 2017 been for Kemmy Business School?

A. 2017 marks another year of significant achievement for KBS. One of the most important developments has been our improved CAO point scores for incoming students. This simply means that the academic quality of our students continues to improve and, as a result, the experience of our students as a whole gets better. We have also scored a number of important accreditation successes, as well as significant research funding wins.

Q. What are the main challenges currently facing KBS? A. We face the same challenges as most business schools, but we are also facing the challenges that accompany success. For instance, as we move more into international markets, we are beginning to encounter both opportunities and significant competition. At the same time, we are now recruiting faculty and students more widely, so KBS is now a much more diverse place than was the case even a decade ago.

a big impact on our attractiveness to students and employers and means that we will have some of the most prominent world experts in certain areas on campus. The arrival of our new president, Prof.

Des Fitzgerald, is also bringing a renewed focus on entrepreneurship and innovation, areas where KBS has always been strong and in which we expect to be offering new programmes in the near future.

Q. Your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Business School?

A. We are really delighted to win this award and we take it as a great endorsement of the relevance and impact of what we do. We are especially pleased to be associated with Chambers Ireland as we work closely with Limerick Chamber and its CEO, Dr. James Ring. For instance, we launched a Regional Leadership programme with the Chamber that has attracted over 150 regional business leaders to a range of presentations over the course of the last year.

Q. What makes KBS stand out from other business schools?

A. The first thing is that we are the “Kemmy” Business School, named after a man famed for his engagement with local and regional issues. We are embedded in our region and determined to make sure that as many people as possible have access to the excellent education that we offer. On the other hand, we work very closely with business. We respond very quickly to business needs, working closely with business to create new programmes.

And, of course, our co-op programme means that we are in touch with business at a very immediate level. Another upside of this unique level of engagement is that we have the highest employment rate of any business school on the island, which is a big draw for students and employers.

Q. Any news you can share with us?

A. We are in the middle of a very large recruitment drive at the moment that will see us bring a number of very well-known academics to KBS. This will have

Dr. Philip O’Regan, Dean of the Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick

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INTEL MANUFACTURING

LEADING THE REVOLUTION The nature of manufacturing has evolved greatly over the years, and according to Eamonn Sinnott, Intel Ireland General Manager and Vice President, Technology Manufacturing Group, it is about to enter into its next phase.

Q. How has 2017 been for Intel?

A. This year has been a busy one for Intel in Ireland as we continue to play a central role in the delivery of products on Intel’s latest 14nm process technology.

It has also been an exciting year for design, research and development in Ireland. In November, we marked a significant milestone for the silicon design teams here in Ireland as we welcomed employees from the company Movidius (which was acquired by Intel in 2016) to the Leixlip campus where they will now be based. We have also continued to formalise our relationships with our academic partners through the delivery of the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreements, the latest of which was signed this year with Dublin City University, Dublin Institute of Technology and University of Limerick.

This year also provided us with an opportunity to illustrate the story of Intel in Ireland through a Price Waterhouse Coopers-commissioned report, which completed a detailed analysis of the economic impact of Intel in Ireland since 1989. We have continued our strong commitment to the areas of education, community engagement and environmental leadership and 2017 saw a number of highlights in this area.

Eamonn Sinnott, Intel Ireland General Manager

Q. How has the manufacturing industry evolved in recent years?

A. Manufacturing has undergone much change over the past 50 years. One way of thinking about this change is to consider past industrial revolutions. The first was fuelled by steam and coal. The second was electrification, oil and mass production. The third was with information technology and automation. Now we are heading into the next revolution, the Internet of Things (IoT), which opens doors for us to get new kinds of information both in our manufacturing environments as well as in the world as a whole.

Machines we interact with will be able to sense their environments and utilise that data so they are able to do some of the basic intelligence on how they need to operate. This revolution will increase the use of data and enhance the power of data analytics in

the manufacturing environment, which will make us more effective and more productive.

Q. What makes Intel stand out from its competitors?

A. Intel is investing in opportunities that build on our strength in PCs and servers, leverage our manufacturing leadership, and benefit from our scale.

As we look to an era where data will be the most important force in technology, it is this combination of our existing product strength, manufacturing leadership and relentless pursuit of diverse and large silicon opportunity fuelled by the explosion of data that distinguish us as a company.

Q. Your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Manufacturing?

A: Intel Ireland is delighted to receive the award.

Manufacturing is central to who we are as a company and our manufacturing capability helps us continuously advance Moore’s Law, delivering faster, more affordable and energy-efficient computing power.

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ESB SPECIAL MERIT AWARD

BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE CSR remains at the core of what ESB does, as the company seeks to build a brighter future for the customers and communities it serves. It earned the company this year’s Special Merit Award.

E

SB’s position as Ireland’s foremost energy company makes it a vital cog in building a brighter, more sustainable future. CSR is at the heart of the company’s business vision, and it invests significantly in its people and communities to help them reach their full potential.

We have all seen how, over the past number of years, public expectations of business have increased.

The public has become increasingly aware of the importance of the social and environmental impact of business. Companies are now expected to contribute to society in a much more meaningful and positive way. Business norms have changed – the importance of CSR has hugely increased and has now become a priority for business leaders globally.

For ESB, CSR is so much more than writing a cheque. It’s how it does business. CSR encompasses how it treats its employees, ensuring that their workplace is a diverse, inclusive and respectful place where people can be themselves and perform to their best abilities, as well as having opportunities to make a real difference in their communities.

Liz Waters, Director of An Cosán VCC with Minister Denis Naughten TD and Pat O’Doherty, ESB Chief Executive

INVESTING IN A BRIGHTER FUTURE With such a strong legacy of CSR, ESB has honed its way of delivering these practices. One of the crucial aspects to its CSR work is that it never works in a vacuum. National policy and structured ways of adding value to existing, high-quality services is something it considers before embarking on any new CSR programme.

“We look at national problems, and at how we can support robust solutions,” says Pat Naughton, ESB Executive Director Group People and Sustainability.

“One of the key areas of work has been around suicide prevention and support. To reflect this, ESB has given over a6.5 million towards suicide prevention services over the past 12 years. Suicide is clearly a big social issue at a national level, and we identified the need to support robust, resilient services and capacity building in this sector.”

Earlier this year, ESB pledged its support to Aware and its Life Skills for Schools programme – a practical four-week programme which teaches young people invaluable skills often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. ESB employees themselves decide on priority areas in their corporate responsibility activities, and how to support positive mental health in young people is particularly close to their hearts. ESB is committed to playing a key role in contributing to the broader improvement of society – something it believes is a responsibility of all companies throughout the country.

More recently ESB has extended its focus to include education as a core area for funding support. “It’s a very good fit for us. From our perspective, as a leading Irish employer, it makes sense for us to support our young people in developing the skills to succeed in tomorrow’s workplace,” says Naughton.

“We, in common with many other Irish companies, need access to employees with strong science, technology, maths and literacy skills and all of these are grounded in getting our young people off to the best educational start possible.

“ESB is also conscious that our employees and our company have been the beneficiaries of historically IN ASSOCIATION WITH

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ESB SPECIAL MERIT AWARD

ESB Chief Executive Pat O’Doherty and Aware CEO Dominic Layden pictured with TY students launching the Life Skills for Schools partnership

Prof Brian Norton, President, DIT; Pat O’Doherty, Chief Executive, ESB; Minister Richard Bruton; and Carin Bryans, JP Morgan at the launch of DIT’s Access to Apprenticeship Programme

biomass plant in the UK and has also invested heavily in the Irish electricity network to create a smart grid, capable of supporting increasing levels of intermittent renewable generation and enabling the connected customer to take more control over their energy use.

“As ESB looks to the future, I am in no doubt CSR will continue to evolve and develop,” says Pat Naughton. “The term ‘CSR’ may not even be in use, with many other terms such as ‘sustainable business’ or ‘responsible business’ being used by companies and organisations today. The term is really unimportant, what matters is the meaning, the movement and the action behind it.”

ESB Networks staff with colleagues from Jones Engineering/O’Shea’s Electrical come together for Down Syndrome Cork’s Field of Dreams

high standards of educational delivery. We have a duty to acknowledge and repay that investment made in us and we are pleased to support initiatives such as Time to Read, Skills@Work, An Cosán Virtual Community College and DIT’s Access to Apprenticeship programme. There are many barriers for people across Ireland in reaching their potential and all of these initiatives work to break down these barriers and offer a unique opportunity for anyone wishing to develop their skills and achieve their full potential.”

LOW CARBON FUTURE As a utility company, ESB is acutely aware that it must manage its impact on the environment, communities, stakeholders, customers, suppliers and partners.

ESB believes it has a responsibility as a corporate citizen to support Ireland in addressing the challenges of climate change while ensuring an energy supply for Ireland that is clean, reliable and affordable.

To this end, ESB aims to lead the charge in addressing the challenge of a low carbon future, investing and innovating in new technologies and business models to increase efficiency and drive forward the decarbonisation of the electricity system.

It is developing wind farms, and constructing a

Liam Ring, Aghada Generating Station Manager, pictured with representatives from four Cork charities awarded e50,000 in the Energy for Generations Fund summer funding round

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DAVE KIRWAN, BORD GÁIS ENERGY BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR

THE ART OF LEADERSHIP Dave Kirwan has had a long and fruitful career with Bord Gáis Energy (BGE) and today serves as the company’s Managing Director. InBUSINESS catches up with him to hear about the work of BGE and to get his response to being named this year’s Businessman of the Year.

Q. How has 2017 been for Bord Gáis Energy?

A. 2017 has been a good year for Bord Gáis Energy in what is becoming an increasingly competitive Irish energy market. This year, building upon successive growth years, we undertook a significant change programme designed to develop our products, propositions and customer experience to be leading-edge in the Irish energy market. This will result in our business customers seeing more innovation from us in the months ahead. Whether that be via new digital platforms, or products such as Panoramic Power, we are planning some exciting new offers in 2018 on foot of a large amount of development work undertaken in 2017.

Q. Could you tell us about your role at Bord Gáis Energy?

A. My role in BGE is to ensure we strike the right balance across being competitive, investing to innovate and delivering reliable services for our customers. My responsibility is to bring together the talent we have across our organisation – whether that be in power generation, trading, customer operations, IT, or sales and marketing – and align all the great ideas our people have toward excellent execution for our customers. Apart from the dayto-day challenges of competing and winning for customers, I also need to ensure we remain focused on a strategic ambition to change from within – and ahead of – a transforming energy market, which I believe requires us to internally disrupt how we operate in order to remain successful.

Q. What would you say are the main challenges currently facing Irish business today?

A. Fragmentation. Whether you look at the world of politics or business, our world and our markets are changing at a pace never before seen.

Uncertainty is the new norm, so learning and agility are the new essential characteristics for successful organisations.

Dave Kirwan, Managing Director, Bord Gáis Energy

Q. In business, where do you draw your inspiration from?

A. Thanks to working with Professor Connell Fanning (UCC Keynes Centre), I was introduced to, and am drawn to, source thinkers from the worlds of economics or philosophy – people like Peter Drucker, Hannah Arendt, Ronald Heifitz, David Bohm and, believe it or not, I go back to Adam Smith on occasion! Trying to understand the art of leadership keeps me inspired in business.

Q. What advice would you have for young, ambitious people looking to make it in business?

A. Pursue learning, not reward.

Q. Your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Businessman of the Year?

A. I would like to thank everyone with whom I work in Bord Gáis Energy. Take a bow, this award is yours more than mine.

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DUBLIN PORT Facilitating irish economic growth

Port centre, alexandra road, Dublin 1, ireland.

Tel: 00 353 1 8876000 Email: info@dublinport.ie www.dublinport.ie

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DUBLIN PORT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

GROWING YEAR-ON-YEAR Eamonn O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company, tells us about the continuing growth of Dublin Port and shares his company’s delight for winning this year’s InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Company of the Year Q. How has 2017 been for Dublin Port?

A. It has been a very active year for Dublin Port. Our latest trade figures show growth of 4.2 per cent to the end of Q3 2017. A continuation in this current pace of growth would make 2017 a third successive record year for Dublin Port. During the year, works progressed on our Masterplan projects to provide capacity for future growth, including the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) Project and the development of Dublin Inland Port on a 44-hectare site located 14km from the port. We also ‘opened up’ to the city this year, providing new public realm at Port Centre. Our arts commissioning series ‘Port Perspectives’ gave artists, community groups, schools and the wider public opportunities throughout the year to explore the theme of port-city integration through the medium of visual arts.

Q. What are the main challenges currently facing Dublin Port?

A. Overall, volumes in Dublin Port have grown by 30.1 per cent in just five years. The trend of yearon-year increases that we saw in the decades before the crash of 2008 have returned. We have now seen five years of consistent growth and each of the last three years has been a record year. At the current pace of growth, Dublin Port’s volumes would double in just 14 years. Being able to accommodate projected growth in time therefore presents a very real challenge for Dublin Port. We are working to plan for and provide future capacity through major development projects, guided by our Masterplan 2012-2040. Our next major project will focus on providing much needed additional capacity for Ro-Ro freight and container traffic to the UK, and increasingly to Continental Europe.

Q. What do you think makes Dublin Port such a special company?

A. Our people have a wealth of knowledge and expertise built up over the years to ensure the smooth and safe operation of Ireland’s busiest port.

Our location at the heart of the city means that we

Eamonn O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company

are not only a gateway to Ireland’s trading economy, but also a stakeholder in the natural and built environments of the city and Dublin Bay Biosphere.

Our industrial heritage serves as an important reminder of Dublin Port’s roots in the city’s merchant trade past at a time of growth and change for our trading future.

Q. Any news Dublin Port can share with us at this time?

A. Following this year’s arrival of CLdN’s MV Celine at Dublin Port, the world’s largest Ro-Ro freight vessel, we expect to see increasing demand for and the introduction of additional new direct freight services to Continental Europe during 2018.

Q. Your response to winning the InBUSINESS Recognition Award for Company of the Year?

A.We are delighted to receive the award. It shines a light on a successful year for Dublin Port across all areas of the business, from trade and tourism to development, heritage and arts projects, and those in our business whose commitment and hard work make all this happen.

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Aerogen saw a big opportunity in France.

We helped them pick the right strategy.

Aerogen is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of aerosol drug delivery systems. When they set their sights on France’s lucrative but highly regulated public healthcare system, they partnered with Enterprise Ireland to help develop their market-entry strategy.

With no currency risk or trade barriers, ambitious Irish exporters are growing sales in the Eurozone.

Enterprise Ireland’s experts on the ground are enabling this success with a range of market supports.

To find out how we can help your business grow in Europe, visit ambition.enterprise-ireland.com

#GlobalAmbition

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01/12/2017 16:35 15/03/2017 10:52

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