Chamberlink Issue 4 2023 - The future shines bright by Cork Chamber

ChamberLink ISSUE 04 2023

The future shines bright An Taoiseach gives keynote address at the Cork Chamber Dublin Dinner

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ChamberLink 16 Cork, leading next wave of IFS development in Ireland

Welcome It has been a privilege for the Chamber President, the Chamber team and I to represent you and all our members through 2023. This diverse, active business community is wonderfully resilient - determined to grow, to see your region thrive. Our events, advocacy and our international representation is shaped by you, and driven by this relentless strength that exists right across our business community. We like to think it’s a Cork thing! In late November it was a pleasure to welcome An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar as the keynote at our Dublin Dinner, an evening which allows businesses, political leaders and diplomatic corp to network and connect. We are immensely proud of the unrivalled access and reach we offer our members through the year’s calendar of events, and we look forward to your engagement and attendance through 2024. Our lobbying and advocacy activity on behalf of our region is unsurpassed. As a member, you benefit from having the most active regional lobby group representing your interests. We continually welcome your input, feedback and views on what your city region needs in order to thrive and grow. Throughout the year, our commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices has been at the forefront of everything we do. The implementation of our Strategic Plan is shaped, directed and

guided by our formal commitment to uphold the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We believe in the power of sustainability for the greater good. We work to do the right things for the right reasons, for our people, for our members, in our daily activities and for the communities in which we work in. While it may be daunting, we simply must work collectively to ensure that any progress is delivered in a sustainable, equitable and considered way.

24 Pat honoured for Outstanding Contribution to Business

In this issue 4

In tribute

Key discussion on housing

Advocacy Milestones in 2023

The strength in our community lies in our collective efforts. Join our conversations, share your voice and help shape the future of Cork. Reach out to myself or one of the team to find out how we can support your business, represent your industry and enrich your communities.

Engaging with EU

Driving clean auto design

Next Generation Leaders: Roadmap to leadership

Reconnecting with Shanghai

Setting Salish

Growing your business in the US

We wish you, your colleagues and families a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

Cork, leading next wave of IFS development in Ireland

Upcoming Events

The future is bright

Pat honoured for Outstanding Contribution to Business

Conor Healy CEO, Cork Chamber

Cork Digital Marketing Awards 2023 - Winners

Recent Events

T: +353 (0)87 9471858 E: conor@corkchamber.ie

Get ahead in 2024

Fitzgerald House, Summerhill North, Cork, T23 TD90

Out & About

The Network at 15

New Members Corner

Members News

Joining the Chamber team

Conor

CorkChamber.ie

Chamberlink is published by Cork Chamber and is a quarterly publication exclusive to members. The opinions expressed in Chamberlink are not necessarily those of Cork Chamber / Chamberlink main sponsor, neither do they accept any responsibility or liability for any legal implications arising there from. Registered in Ireland no. 13918

Chamberlink Main Sponsor

Mr Frank Boland, (centre) pictured with family members on the night he received the Outstanding Contribution to Business Award from Cork Chamber in 2018.

In tribute

Conor Healy, CEO Cork Chamber in tribute to Frank Boland, RIP

“H

e was always first in the door, ready to lend his support. And for that we will be forever grateful,” said Conor Healy, Cork Chamber CEO on the passing of Frank Boland, Chamber President 1992-1993. ”Frank remained a passionate representative for our city region and business community right through his career and life. He represented Cork at the highest level nationally and internationally. Frank’s extensive and meaningful contributions, span from the success of his own business ventures to his active involvement on the boards of key semi-state companies. A portion of this contribution was his Cork Chamber Presidency from 1992 – 1993, and Frank remained a long-standing member and friend of the Chamber well beyond those years. He had a collaborative approach and deep commitment to the bigger picture. Frank Boland left an indelible mark on Cork and the many people who had the privilege of knowing him. Ar dheis Dé.”

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Conor Healy, CEO Cork Chamber; Fiona O’Donovan, Public Affairs and Communications Executive;Ronan Murray, Cork Chamber President and Minister Darragh O’Brien, TD.

Key discussion on housing Minister Darragh O’Brien, TD was welcomed by Cork Chamber to a meeting with our Partners and Board for discussions on housing and planning, both of which are key to enabling economic growth and ensuring Cork remains and attractive location for investors. An attractive place to live, work and do business. Speaking at the event Minister O’Brien said, “I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak with business leaders in Cork today. All the key housing indicators are thankfully trending upwards – planning permissions, commencements, completions and mortgage drawdowns. This of course is very welcome, but we are not complacent. Government understands that businesses have genuine and valid concerns in respect to housing and I very much welcome the opportunity to address these with the members present.”

‘The Minister’s engagement was extremely positive as housing is a top priority for Cork’s business community. Availability of property to rent or buy is proving to be a challenge for the region’s employers, and the Minister’s contribution was invaluable. The recent adjustments made to the Housing For All strategy as well as the housing package announced in Budget 2024 are very welcome as our business community is keen to see the pressure in the market alleviated.’ Conor Healy CEO of Cork Chamber.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Advocacy Milestones 2023 This year the Cork Chamber Public Affairs team navigated a dynamic landscape, actively engaging with key stakeholders and policymakers on issues such as housing, transport, renewable energy, climate action, sustainability and education. Here is a snapshot of some relevant advocacy milestones throughout 2023.

Q1 JANUARY-MARCH – Draft Planning and Development Bill published – Public Consultation on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive – Public Consultation on CRU’s First Mover Disadvantage – Public Consultation on Electricity Storage Policy

Q2 APRIL – JUNE – Cost Rental Housing Scheme changes announced – Development of National Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind announced – Ireland’s first offshore wind auction results – Cork City Local Economic and Community Plan

– Policy statement for Phase Two offshore wind

– Cork County Local Economic and Community Plan

– Meeting with Minister for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’Donovan

– CDF meeting with An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin

– Meeting with Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Simon Coveney

– Meeting with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

– CDF* meeting with Department of Environment, Climate and Communications

– CDF meeting with Minister for Finance Michael McGrath and Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Simon Coveney

– Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan II Consultation

– Meeting with Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan

Q3 JULY – SEPTEMBER – Launch of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority – Publication of National Hydrogen Strategy – Public Consultation Climate Action Plan 2024 – Public Consultation on Review of the Private Residential Rental Sector – Meeting with Louise O’Reilly TD, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD and Thomas Gould TD – Cork Chamber Pre-Budget 2024 Submission – Meeting with Minister for Finance Michael McGrath – Cork City Council Baseline Emissions Survey

Q4 OCTOBER – DECEMBER – Budget 2024 announced – Joining the Dots Retrofitting Event – Publication of National Energy Security Strategy – Chambers Ireland delegation to Brussels – Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien addressed Chamber Partners – Draft Cork City Climate Action Plan – Draft Cork County Climate Action Plan – National Strategy for Migrant Integration Public Consultation

– All-Island Strategic Rail Review – CDF meeting with Minister for Justice Helen McEntee

*Cork Development Forum

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Engaging with EU Cork Chamber part of Chambers Ireland delegation to Brussels Cork Chamber had the privilege of engaging with key stakeholders, policymakers and industry leaders in Brussels to discuss pivotal issues shaping the future of Ireland and Cork as part of the Chambers Ireland delegation. The European Capital holds a special place as a hub of collaboration and policy shaping, making this trip a cornerstone in our commitment to advancing the interests of our members. We had the honour of directly engaging in the democratic process by participating in the European Parliament of Enterprises within the iconic walls of the European Parliament Hemicycle. Joined by 700+ business representatives and entrepreneurs from 43 EU countries we debated and voted on business issues across skills, energy, and trade with the overarching theme of strengthening the single market. Along with connecting with fellow Chambers across the Island of Ireland and the EU, the delegation engaged in insightful discussions with Members of the European Parliament for Ireland allowing us to convey the priorities and business opportunities for Cork.

Ian Talbot, CEO Chambers Ireland; Liane Casey, Gas Networks Ireland; Ashley Amato, Cork Chamber; Aishwarya Patil, Chambers Ireland.

It was very useful to meet with the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU where we received briefings on competitiveness, trade, energy and climate, deepening our understanding of the EU landscape and aligning our goals for a sustainable and competitive future. The exchange of ideas over the two days was more than just a diplomatic interaction; they were impactful moments where our collective vision for the future found real resonance within the halls of European governance.

INNOVATION SERIES

Driving clean auto design You might think that high-performance super-cars and heavy-duty industrial vehicles have very little in common when it comes to how they are engineered. Mike Keane, founder of Hibra Design, tells us that actually, there are quite a number of similarities. hydrogen fuel cell power system, and then return the vehicle to service for field trials. From there, we can start the process of cleaning up the full fleet.”

“If we consider the specific operational cycles, heavyduty vehicle and supercars typically oscillate between needing high power and torque; and then heavy braking, with very little in between. The supercar requires power and torque for acceleration whereas the industrial vehicle needs it to carry heavy loads” Mike should know. He has had unique career in automotive engineering and has led the development of a number of highperformance vehicles for companies such as Jaguar, Aston Martin and the Williams F1 team, and wide variety of other vehicles such as road cars, competition vehicles, heavy-goods and light-goods vehicle. He now brings that experience to Hibra Design, an automotive development consultancy who specialise in engineering batteryelectric and hydrogen fuel cell solutions for industrial vehicles. Hibra Design works with fleet operators of commercial and industrial vehicle, who require solutions to reduce their operational costs and improve the environmental impact of their vehicles. The Cork-based company firstly assesses the vehicles in operation, recording a

Operation-Specific, VehicleAgnostic is the tag-line the company uses. So what does vehicleagnostic mean?

range of data such as fuel usage, distance covered and running time. This allows them to identify zero-emission solutions and offer their clients a means to decarbonise the fleet. But this is not just a dataanalytics service. Hibra Design provides the turn-key engineering solution as they reengineer the existing vehicles from diesel-power to clean-power. “The key is to develop solutions to suit not just the vehicle but in the context of how the vehicle operates”, he explained. “We work directly with fleet operators of industrial vehicles. Many of these operators are being squeezed between

exponentially-rising fuel costs and ever-increasing amounts of environmental legislation. However, there are very few cleantechnology solutions available on the market. At the same time, they have an existing fleet which is becoming more expensive to run.” “We can offer them both, a plan to decarbonise the fleet which fulfils their CSR (Corporate Sustainability Reporting) requirements and a direct means of reengineering the fleet. Most companies start with a pilot programme of a first vehicle. We take the vehicle, reengineer it with a zeroemission battery electric or

“We work with a range of commercial and industrial vehicles. The power systems we have designed are modular and scalable and can be implemented into a wide variety of vehicles. To give you an example of some of our progammes; we are working on a terminal yard tractor for moving container boxes, an agricultural vehicle for use in very wet conditions and an electric service vehicle which can be used as a mobile retail unit.” This work requires more than just the development of the clean-emission power systems. Hibra Design is firstly an automotive consultancy and can take on all elements of a vehicle programme offering bespoke solutions. To learn more about bespoke solutions for your vehicles visit www.hibra.ie where you can also book a free consultation.

NEXT GENERATION LEADERS

Roadmap to Leadership In the latest in this Next Gen Leaders series, Deloitte Partner, Kevin Butler, speaks with Ian McDermott, CFO of Genesis Automation. From defining leadership to reflecting on career pivots, Ian charts a roadmap for aspiring leaders to navigate challenges and embrace growth. Building a Start-up Culture “It’s like a drug, it’s just infectious,” Ian tells Kevin Butler as he reflects on his current role as CFO of Genesis Automation, a Cork-based healthcare software company. Prior to Genesis, Ian worked on the corporate development team of a FTSE 100 company as well as with Deloitte across both assurance and corporate finance practices. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai, that which you enjoy, you are good at and is valuable, Ian explains to Kevin that exposure to various environments and challenges moulded his thinking and shaped the foundation for a fulfilling career.

“The biggest thing for me was getting my professional exams. Through that process it allowed me to understand what I am good at and what I am interested in and if you can align those two things it will get you on a pathway towards what your goals are. I found my way through Deloitte in audit, moved into corporate finance and really liked that forward looking kind of style, and then I moved into big corporate and got experience there. I have gone into the startup environment now and there are challenges involved, but for me the biggest thing is you really get to test your skillset because you are stretched in so many ways,” he explained.

“The switch into the private equity backed startup, the culture you are creating as you go is what is infectious because every little thing makes a huge difference.”

The Leadership Journey Although each step in Ian’s career was a conscious choice driven by a desire for personal and professional alignment it wasn’t all plain sailing, and to become the leader he is now he had to take learnings along the way. “For me leadership is about ownership, accountability, and execution. It’s about leading from the front and that’s not just grabbing the

ball and charging ahead, that’s part of it, but it’s also about enabling the people around you. That is a skill in itself,” he tells Kevin. “I’m a very direct person, I’m straight to the point but I have to be conscious of that myself and tailor my leadership style to make sure it works for others,” he says. The Douglas native says although accountancy was in his family and he always loved numbers, this career allowed him to apply some of the skills he acquired through his time playing rugby in Christian Brothers College. “In school I played rugby and captained some of our teams, so it was natural for me to slot into that leadership role, I had been doing it in a team environment. I think with sport you are emotionally invested in the team and driving the team forward towards the goal and it frames how you go about this,” he tells Kevin. “If you think about setbacks, defeat, how you pick yourself up, and how you pick others up around you.” These skills were the foundation for Ian on his leadership journey.

The road to success Ian explains to Kevin Butler that the most important piece of advice he received stuck with him throughout his career and has enabled his pursuit of excellence. “One of the best pieces of advice I got is that you represent the company, but fundamentally you are representing yourself, so you set your own standards and drive from that point. Don’t flex on that for anybody,” he says. “I got that piece of advice and I never thought about how standards are so important in everything that you do from the most mundane task to the complex, because you can build that into how you do things, and it becomes habit. I got this bit of advice because

I dropped below my standards at one point”. It was a learning that Ian has remembered, and a lesson he has benefitted from. “I look back on that moment fondly, because I got great advice. But at the time I wanted the ground to swallow me up. I just was rushing, rushing, rushing instead of taking my time doing what I should have done, which was deliver. I was embarrassed but you have to take the learnings out of it and that’s what I did,” Ian explains. “Just when you think it’s good enough, step away for five minutes and come back to it again and you’ll pick up all the items that you have missed, so that helps you in getting your standards to a level where you have excellence. When you step away it gives you objectivity.” Today Ian is responsible for all aspects of financial and commercial governance across the Genesis Automation Group. “When I started in Genesis, I think we had three customers, three hospitals using our technology, we now have 55 customers in 110 hospitals using our tech. That is in the space of about seven years”. Ian also prides himself and the company on the people they surround themselves with, “We have an average tenure of four and a half years, so it just shows the people that we have hired when we are scaling have stayed with us along the way and believe the journey that we are on”. He says the company’s strategy has enabled their success, “It’s about time management and prioritisation”. “That prioritisation feeds into every aspect, whether it is ongoing customer success, ongoing project delivery or new sales pursuits that we are going after, everything is triaged and given a prioritisation and resources allocated so that we can make sure it has the right clout behind it to actually achieve what we want to achieve. A professional

sports player has to be at their best on a Saturday but on a Monday if they were to take to the field, they probably wouldn’t play anywhere near it so it is all about prioritisation. As you keep going along keep prioritising and get the resources behind it so that on a Saturday, you are ready.”

Be Brave When asked by Kevin what advice he would give to an aspiring CFO, Ian simply says, “Just don’t be afraid of it”. “Don’t be afraid of the challenge, embrace your weaknesses, people spend too long focused on their weaknesses and seeing them as a limiting factor. The reality is, they are areas of huge growth. Understand your weaknesses, embrace them and then look to correct them. Be critical about your own background, have you got the toolkit to do it, where are you deficient and where do you need to improve, but that is not a limiting factor. You should absolutely not be afraid to charge on and go for it and when you are in the job set yourself a plan and build that toolkit as you go. Be brave.” Ian says there is a perception that employers are looking for the perfect fit but this is often a deterrent for the ideal candidate and doesn’t acknowledge the most important aspect of Ian’s own leadership journey, growth. “The reality is if you are hiring the perfect match, it is the wrong hire because you need somebody that can grow”.

in association with

How digital solutions can enable human connections. Eurofins PSS Insourcing Solutions® provides pharmaceutical organisations with a flexible way to staff their laboratories with the expert people needed to run operations. To grow its business, Eurofins PSS needed to connect in a meaningful way with potential new hires & clients across Europe. The challenge was their online presence was buried within the main Eurofins global website – they had no visibility. So where to begin? Eurofins Scientific is a global leader in pharmaceutical, food, environment and cosmetic product testing, discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences, and in agroscience, contract research services. It is also one of the key emerging players in molecular clinical diagnostic testing and analysis in the world. It has over 61,000 staff across a network of independent companies in 61 countries, operating in around 900 laboratories. Within this massive operation sits Eurofins Professional Scientific Services® (PSS), who provide in-sourcing solutions to life sciences organisations across 20 countries.

WORKLOAD BUT NOT THE WORKFORCE. For over 20 years PSS® has helped their customers with their specific needs, immediate goals, and longer-term ambitions.

PSS can deploy its own diverse, dynamic team of highly skilled and expert scientific professionals into a clients laboratory, to run and manage a specific project or multiple tasks. This approach benefits PSS customers when temporary staffing doesn’t serve the medium to long-term ambitions of the business. Or when customers don’t want the burden and cost of hiring, training and managing temporary staff. The in-sourcing model is a perfect fit for customers who want to keep work within their own facility. “Our marketplace research highlighted that more and more clients across Europe are looking for innovative solutions serve their needs, and help them get their laboratory work done. PSS is perfectly positioned to meet that need, but we had no real online visibility, no brand awareness, no ability to connect and engage with the audiences we really wanted to appeal to” says Trish Grace, President, Eurofins PSS Europe.

PARTNERING UP. With their business model built on sourcing experts who can quickly get to grips with the task at hand and deliver the creative, critical thinking to complete it, PSS identified branding business, TOTEM, to develop a solution which would meaningfully connect them with their audiences. “TOTEM had already worked on a number of projects with different Eurofins Business Units. The fascinating challenge with PSS was to help them stand out authentically, reflecting their core values and people first philosophy, while at the same time maintaining the overall essence and brand guidelines of Eurofins Scientific” says Colin Byrne, Founder and Creative Director of TOTEM.

SIMPLE, SOLID STRUCTURE. The team at TOTEM quickly came to the conclusion that PSS needed an independent website if they were to effectively raise their profile and attract the talent and customers required to grow the business across Europe. However, to meet PSS needs, global and local, TOTEM designed a simple and solid but flexible structure for the site. A central core site highlights the PSS global mission to provide pharma laboratories with innovative, high-quality analytical, research and advisory services. From this solid core site sits a flexible structure, allowing

for a series of microsites – one for each country where PSS operates. The content for each microsite is then tailored for that country, including language, messaging, specific in-country senior teams and relevant case studies. This tailored approach will allow PSS move up the search rankings for prospective hires and clients alike, in each respective country, across Europe. France is the first country with a dedicated microsite. More will follow in 2024.

SHOWCASING A DIVERSE AND EXPERT TEAM.

TOTEM shaped a visual approach that applied a clean design aesthetic reflecting the nature of the laboratory, as well as a messaging strategy that encapsulated the PSS philosophy of – Find great people, take great care of them, and they in turn will take great care of our clients. What connects people above all else, is other people, especially when those people are authentic. Eschewing library photographs of actors, TOTEM instead shot on location, in Cork and Dungarvan, with real PSS teams in actual laboratory settings and working environments. Highlighting diversity and expertise, a series of videos gave the PSS team both a face and a voice, profiling their backgrounds, qualifications, and breadth of experience.

SPEAKING THEIR LANGUAGE. While English is the international language of business, nothing is more engaging for someone than being spoken to in their native tongue. Each microsite was designed with the functionality for local audiences to choose between English and their own language, also allowing for the tone of voice to be adapted for local sensibilities. FUTURE-PROOF APPROACH. “TOTEM’s approach has given PSS a flexible, future-proofed, digital solution, which I believe will be a powerful tool to widen our European client base and attract the expert talent we need to grow our business.” Stephanie Burger-Prin, Marketing Director Europe, Eurofins.

The meaningful branding business. TOTEM.ie

INTERNATIONAL

Pictured; Mr. Xue Feng, President, Invest Shanghai and Conor Healy CEO of Cork Chamber.

Reconnecting with Shanghai Cork and Shanghai have been sister cities since 2005 and over 18 years strong partnerships, projects and relationships have built up across education, government, business and culture. CEO Conor Healy was in Shanghai recently for the first time since November 2019 representing Cork Chamber as part of a delegation led by Cork City Council, Lord Mayor Cllr. Kieran McCarthy. Along with engagements with Shanghai University, Shanghai International Education Association, Shanghai Planning Department, the Municipal Women’s Federation and Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office the delegation was pleased to have a private meeting with the Mayor of Shanghai. To further enhance business opportunities Cork Chamber signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Invest Shanghai an organisation established to promote trade with Shanghai. This MoU commits both organisations to

working together to identify and generate trade and investment opportunities for businesses in Cork and Shanghai over the coming years. The business pillar of the partnership was further enhanced with meetings held with sister Chambers; China Chamber of International Commerce China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CPPIT), Wenzhou Chamber of Commerce and Irish Chamber of Commerce China. The delegation visited the China International Import Expo where Ireland had a strong presence and it was great to drop by the Dairygold Co-Operative Society stand.

Smith along with IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland. It was very useful to receive a briefing on the local business environment and market conditions. The combination of friendly, welcoming people, the city’s scale, landmark buildings, and hardworking delegation colleagues ensured both a productive and very enjoyable return to our sister city and we look forward to continuing to build on the relationship.

The new ‘Ireland House’ in the heart of Shanghai brings together Team Ireland of the Irish Consulate led by Consul General Wendy Dorman-

INTERNATIONAL

Setting Salish

Salish Sea presents new opportunities for Cork in Vancouver and Seattle The Salish region between Vancouver, Canada and Seattle in the Pacific North West of the US is not a region that, as a Chamber, we have had any great connection with on a business level. Located on the far side of North America and a few hours flight from San Francisco the region has been somewhat passed over as a destination for official connections with Ireland.

Conversely, Vancouver is a city with a strong Irish presence, core values and a business outlook that aligns with that of Cork Chamber, our members and wider Cork region. The very welcoming Consulate General of Ireland, Vancouver opened their state-of-the-art offices in 2018. Since then, they have made great advances in giving a central base to a very large expat community and what was an array of different diaspora groups which spread generations, sectors and interests.

The Ireland – Canada Chamber of Commerce is one such group and the most recent chapter to the network. Eoin Logan, the Membership Director, (pictured above) gave a detailed insight into the large and growing Irish diaspora who are building careers in the city while working to maintain a close connection

with Ireland. We hope to work with the ICCC-Van in the near future.

The World Trade Centre Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is the international wing of what is the Vancouver Chamber. WTC-Van help businesses grow their business internationally through market activation programmes and the opportunity was taken to pitch Cork as a potential destination for export and investment. It’s always great to learn best practice from other organisations in your field. A productive conversation with Invest Vancouver has already yielded further connections that were not in place. It was really interesting to hear how Vancouver promotes itself for investment and collaboration. There are numerous similarities between Vancouver and Cork, including emerging industries such as renewable energy and cleantech, targets to make both cities carbon neutral, while our regions offer a quality of life that is hard to beat. Cork Chamber looks forward to building on these new connections and, with so many Irish and Cork diaspora in the region, there is a natural connection already in place.

Seattle is a city with a thriving ICT, Cyber and renewables sectors and there is already a strong Irish state agency presence there with both the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. It was great to get inside knowledge from the people on the ground; including how both inward and outward investment patterns have shifted since the pandemic which has created new challenges and opportunities for Ireland and Irish companies. Opportunities which are sure to be capitalised on. Choose Washington opened their doors to Cork Chamber and it was very interesting to hear of the State’s developed green hydrogen system and their focus on the circular economy, including using the waste heat generated by data centres to provide heat to nearby buildings in the city. We are always open to new connections especially when it makes sense from a cultural, economic and values perspective. If you are interested in finding out more about opportunities in these cities, please contact connect@ corkchamber.ie.

Irish Networks USA

Annual Conference Seattle 2023 One of the goals of Connecting Cork is to engage with the Irish global business community and professionals around the world. The most effective way of doing so is through networks like Irish Network USA, and Cork Chamber has a long and proud association with them over the past several years. Irish Networks USA is designed to keep the connection alive and vibrant between Ireland and the Irish American business community right across the states.

Cathal McSweeney, International Relations Manager, was honoured to represent the Chamber again this year at the annual conference and talk to the 60 or so delegates about ‘Why Cork’ and how it is a world class destination for business, investment, collaboration and talent. Special thanks to Steve Lenox, INUSA President (pictured above) for delivering a great conference and multiple networking opportunities over a full weekend in Seattle. We look forward to joining Irish Networks USA again in the near future.

Grow your business in the US The American dream was alive in the Republic of Work this November as ambitious businesses from Cork gathered to learn more about the steps needed for a successful launch into the US market.

Guest speakers included Conor Kenny (pictured) of the US Embassy’s SelectUSA team who spoke about how the US Government can support Irish companies as they look to invest in the United States; Kilian Cawley of OCO Global who used his 25 years of FDI experience to guide the attendees stepby-step through what details need to be considered when taking steps to invest in the US; and, Steve Lenox of Choose New Jersey outlined why New Jersey could be the perfect fit for any Cork business. The star attraction of the morning was Andy Mackin. In 2004, Andy started Mackin EHS after 21 years in the Naval

Service. Now, nearly 20 years later he is CEO of the Mackin Group, a global organisation head quartered in Cork, who are committed to providing topquality professional business-to-business services through its companies. The Mackin Group have locations all around

the world and a footprint in sites all across the US. It is great to have such success stories right on our door. For more information on exporting to or setting up in the United States please contact connect@corkchamber.ie.

INTERNATIONAL

Karen Conboy, Chaire of the Cork Financial Services Form addresses attendees.

Cork, leading next wave of IFS development in Ireland Karen Conboy, Chair of the Cork Financial Services Forum comments on Cork’s growing IFS sector Ireland is a significant global financial services centre, and the international financial services (IFS) sector has never been more important to the Irish economy.

AI, data and analytics and digitalisation means that the next generation of financial services jobs will be more technology led and require a different skill set to traditional roles.

Cork has established itself as the second city for IFS in Ireland. Much of the activity in the sector here happens away from the high street, in areas such as fund administration, payments, insurance and increasingly, fintech and digital solutions. The city is home to numerous prominent global IFS firms such as BNY Mellon, Clearstream/Deutsche Borse indigenous innovators like Valid8me as well as professional services firms boasting specialised teams dedicated to financial services.

The thriving fintech and cybersecurity clusters in the region give Cork an opportunity to become a hub for tech-based innovation that meet the changing needs of sophisticated IFS companies. Collaborations between start ups and established IFS companies, fintechs and regulated businesses are all part of solving the complex needs of the global financial services market.

As chair of the Cork Financial Services Forum, I was delighted to welcome a full house to the Clayton in Cork for our recent showcase event which focused on ‘Leading through Disruption’, considering the future of the alternative funds sector and the evolving role of technologies including AI in IFS.

The ambition for Cork-based companies to be the provider of some of these solutions can be facilitated by the continued pipeline of talent from fintech relevant disciplines and IFS specialist courses provided by UCC and MTU. The Forum is actively supporting the next generation of talent that is already working here in FS roles, through the establishment of an Emerging Leaders Taskforce in the past six months.

As well as Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath TD, we were joined by global speakers who all reflected on the significant technological and regulatory changes that are setting the agenda for IFS at present. This level of disruption brings challenges but also opportunities. New ways of working with

Cork should be in the vanguard of the next wave of IFS development in Ireland. There is a compelling mix of existing IFS expertise, fintech and innovation capabilities and IFS specific educational offerings in the ecosystem here to support this ambition. Standing still is not an option.

Kieran McCorry, Microsoft; Ruth McCarthy, Fexco; Gilliann O’Caroll, MTU; Patrick Horgan, Valid8Me; Karen Conboy, KPMG Chair of the forum; Barry Scannell, William Fry Solicitors. Pictures: Darragh Kane

Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath TD;

Deirdre O’Connor, Cerberus; Jim Barry, Investor and Business Leader; Annie FitzGibbon, Cork Chamber and Lorna Ryan, Deloitte.

Cliona Moore, Morgan McKinley and Jill Collins, Morgan McKinley.

Wesley Duarte, Clearstream, Catherine Wilson, CyberSkills and Kieran O’Sullivan, Matheson LLP.

Emerging FS Leaders launched with first networking event The future leaders of the Financial Services industry in Cork were enthusiastically out in force for the first ever event hosted by the Emerging Leaders Taskforce (ELT). The ELT is a Cork Financial Services Forum initiative designed to help for those currently growing their IFS career in Cork to a build up a network, organise events that are relevant to their cohort and feedback to the forum on issues that affect their careers in

Cork. The retention of talent is very important to the sustainability and growth of the sector in Cork and the ELT will act as a ready-made network for talent moving to Cork from elsewhere who want to build a group of contacts across the sector in the region.

ELT Chair Kieran O’Sullivan and Cork Chamber International Relations Manager Cathal McSweeney. We look forward to watch this needed initiative grow in 2024.

The event which took place in the UCC Centre for Executive Education on Lapps Quay was attended by over 30 aspiring FS leaders and was opened by the Forum Chair Karen Conboy,

Upcoming Events For more information & bookings visit CorkChamber.ie

WEDNESDAY 17TH JANUARY | 10AM-11AM

WEDNESDAY 31ST JANUARY | 10.30AM-12PM

ONLINE

THE KINGSLEY HOTEL

Join this virtual workshop to learn how to maximise your membership through our many promotional channels, in particular, our digital Member’s Area.

Kick off 2024 with Master Your Mindset with Aidan O’Brien. Aidan is an accomplished mindset and highperformance coach for entrepreneurs and executives, a corporate mentor and trainer and an international keynote speaker.

You will gain practical tips on how to access the wider Chamber membership base, maximise your visibility, share your member news, advice and supports, utilise the Member’s Area to its optimum capacity and build your company profile through the Member Directory. This session is open to anyone within your organisation, to both our newer and long term members who would like a refresher on how to best utilise the Chamber platforms to continue to promote your brand, stay connected and be informed.

At this timely event you will gain insights and learn strategies to master your mindset and the importance of having a personal vision for the year ahead, both personally and professionally. You will understand what makes you you and why you often think, feel and act in the same way, and learn how to change this so that you can have different outcomes in 2024. You will discover how to let go of everything that’s not serving you, be more confident and have true clarity and confidence in your life.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

For more information & bookings visit CorkChamber.ie

FRIDAY 9TH FEBRUARY | 6PM-11PM

THURSDAY 22ND FEBRUARY | 7.30AM-9AM

CORK CITY HALL

THE KINGSLEY HOTEL

Cork Chamber Annual Dinner, renowned as the region’s largest flagship event, is set to bring together a dynamic gathering of 1,000 business leaders, political decision makers and influencers.

Join us for our first Business Breakfast of 2024 featuring Professor John O’Halloran, the 16th President of University College Cork.

Against the backdrop of the elegant City Hall, attendees will be treated to a night of networking, celebration, and recognition. The winners of the 4 categories of the Cork Company of the Year Awards 2024 will also be announced on the night.

Professor O’Halloran is an academic leader with an ambitious vision for the future of higher education, an advocate for inclusivity in education, focused on the transformative power of collaboration and forging a sustainable future. Under his leadership UCC became the first third level institution worldwide to receive the Green Campus award in 2010. Now ranked as a national leader and one of the most sustainable universities globally, UCC has achieved significant impacts and won many international accolades. Hear about UCC’s strategic ambition, its civic society engagement, and the impact on Cork and the Munster region, emphasising the significance of regional investment.

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

MEDIA PARTNER

For more information & bookings visit CorkChamber.ie

COVER STORY

The future shines bright The Cork Chamber Dublin Dinner returned on Tuesday 21st November to celebrate the collaborative spirit between Cork and Dublin and the importance of this synergy to the success of Ireland Inc. Held in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road in association with EY, the keynote was delivered by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD to more than 600 people from across Ireland’s business, political and diplomatic landscape. In his keynote address, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD said “The Government and I strongly believe that more balanced regional development is good for the country as whole. Cork, as a city-region, has a population approaching six hundred thousand people which is similar to that of Galway, Limerick and Waterford combined. Cork City and County can lead the way with Government in generating economic and population growth. We will be there to ensure it succeeds through increased investment in infrastructure like rail, roads, housing, school, hospitals, universities, energy and water.” “Cork and Dublin showcase a remarkable synergy. One that resonates on the global stage. We have consistently demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to attract substantial foreign direct investment to our island and equally to maintain an economic environment that can serve as a launchpad for Irish private enterprises eager to scale and make their mark on the international stage,” said Ronan Murray, Cork Chamber President.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD Picture: Finbar O’Rourke

Speaking at the event Frank O’Keeffe Managing Partner at EY Ireland said “For Ireland to thrive both Cork and Dublin need to thrive individually and collectively. For us in EY, there are so many great business reasons why we continue to invest and grow our own presence in Cork. The future has never ever looked brighter.” Mr Murray spoke positively about the future for Cork and Ireland to harness the opportunity to develop economically and socially, by ensuring private ambition is supported to enhance our resilience and sustainable growth. “Sitting in this enviable position on the edge of the Atlantic, we have the potential to emerge as a renewable energy powerhouse. Our commitment to delivering on this is critical to achieving energy security and future resilience. Paving the way for energy independence will not only enhance our appeal to investors but it will also elevate the quality of life in Ireland which ultimately will create a more secure legacy for the generations to come,” said Mr Murray in conclusion stating “That is the prize for our City regions, for Dublin and Cork to be the changemakers and deliver that legacy for the next generation. Ní neart go cur le chéile.”

Conor Healy, CEO Cork Chamber; John Higgins, Managing Partner EY Cork: Ronan Murray, President Cork Chamber; host Jacqui Hurley and Frank O’Keeffe, Managing Partner, EY Ireland.

AWARD FEATURE

Pat honoured for Outstanding Contribution Cork Chamber has recognised Pat McGrath for his outstanding contribution to business

John Higgins, Managing Partner EY Cork; Conor Healy, Jacqui Hurley; Ronan Murray, President Cork Chamber Outstanding Contribution to Business Pat McGrath. Pic

Cork Chamber has recognised Pat McGrath for his outstanding contribution to business. The award was presented at the Cork Chamber Dublin Dinner where the keynote speaker was An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. The event, held at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road and sponsored by EY, brought together 600 prominent figures from the political and business sectors. Mr McGrath’s exceptional role at PM Group played a significant part in his career. In the early 00’s, Mr McGrath was appointed CEO and was instrumental in chartering the organisation’s internationalisation. He led PM Group’s strategy to transform the company from a primarily Ireland-only focus into an international engineering services firm focused on servicing multi-national companies in the life sciences, food, energy, data centre and advanced manufacturing sectors across the world. PM Group has grown to 3,500 people across 20 offices globally.

“Through his career Pat has shown exemplary strategic and visionary thinking. He has chartered a wonderful career and mapped out new territories through his contributions to PM Group - helping the company to break into new markets – ultimately making this Irish born organisation a global success in its field. I wish Pat continued success and the warmest of congratulations on receiving this award,” said Ronan Murray, President of Cork Chamber of the announcement.

y, CEO Cork Chamber; host and receiptient of the cture: Finbarr O’Rourke

“Pat’s story through school in Clonmel, earning a scholarship to university and on through his professional career is hugely inspiring. Pat unquestionably fostered PM Group’s dedication to Cork and Ireland, playing a crucial role in the ongoing growth and expansion of the organisation. His leadership also played a role in the economic growth of the region through the development of key manufacturing and production facilities for some of our leading employers, particularly in life sciences. Congratulations to Pat, it is a great honour to recognise his outstanding contribution to business with this award,” commented Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber.

behind him. He may be a proud Tipperary man, but he has had a real and lasting impact on his adopted home town of Cork.”

Cork Chamber partnered with EY for this popular annual event and commenting on the award, John Higgins, Managing Partner, EY Cork said “On behalf of EY, I want to warmly congratulate Pat on his award this evening in recognition of his long and distinguished career, particularly his leadership of a fast-growing PM Group. Pat’s incredible career to date is an inspiration to us all. His global outlook, innovative mindset and tireless drive for growth have always set him apart. This award is testament to his unwavering commitment, dedication, and passion for business and his ability to inspire the next generation of leaders coming up

Mr McGrath joins a distinguished group of previous award recipients including Cathy Kearney, Jim Woulfe, Bob Savage, Anne O’Leary, Sean O’Driscoll and Frank Boland for their contributions to business.

Pat McGrath said upon receiving the award: ‘’I am absolutely delighted to accept this award. I never thought when I came to Cork 45 years ago as a young Engineer for a six-week assignment, that I would be the recipient of this prestigious award in my adopted city. Cork has been the ‘launch pad’ for the growth of PM Group from a small indigenous player into an international engineering company with a global reach.’’

2023 WINNERS BEST USE OF DIGITAL BY A START-UP BUSINESS The Club Women's Network

BEST WEBSITE – less than 20 employees Red Rock Writing – 20 or more employees Insight Insurance

BEST IN CONTENT CREATION – less than 20 employees Sexual Health Centre – 20 or more employees Wisetek

BEST USE OF INSTAGRAM – less than 20 employees Rugs.ie – 20 or more employees Hayfield Manor

BEST USE OF FACEBOOK – less than 20 employees Oaktree Financial Services – 20 or more employees Fota Wildlife Park

BEST USE OF DIGITAL MARKETING FOR THE GREATER GOOD The Crann Centre

BEST SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN Circus Factory

BEST DIGITAL MARKETING TEAM Trigon Hotels

BEST DIGITAL MARKETING STUDENT Ali Nha Byrne, Wedding Dates Ireland

BEST USE OF X (TWITTER) FOR BUSINESS

BEST TRANSFORMATION – TRADITIONAL TO DIGITAL MARKETING

RDJ LLP

Calnan Group

BEST USE OF LINKEDIN FOR BUSINESS

OVERALL DIGITAL MARKETING LEGEND

RDJ LLP

Media Partner

RECENT EVENTS

Leaders Lunch In association with Grant Thornton

John O’Connell, Co-Founder, West Cork Distillers This Leaders Lunch took place on the 26th September at the Maryborough Hotel. Attendees got the opportunity to hear the captivating story of West Cork Distillers from Co-founder, John O’ Connell. From humble beginnings West Cork Distillers has become the largest wholly Irish owned distillery in the country. John’s journey exemplifies the essence of authentic leadership and the spirit of a true Cork brand. Naoimh Frawley, Cork Chamber, Ronan Murray, President Cork Chamber, Michael Nolan, Grant Thornton, John O’ Connell, West Cork Distillers, Conor Healy, Cork Chamber.

John Mullins, Executive Chairman, Amarenco Taking place on the 1st December at The River Lee Hotel, John Mullins Executive Chair of Amarenco shared his extraordinary leadership journey. He touched on three important elements a strong leader should have in today’s workplace: emotional, social and intellectual skills.

Gerard Walsh, Grant Thornton, Annie FitzGibbon, Cork Chamber, John Mullins, Amarenco, Michael Nolan, Grant Thornton, Conor Healy, Cork Chamber. Shane O’Connor, RDJ LLP, Noreen Walsh, AIB, Lisa Broderick, CPL Resources.

HR Barometer Report in association with Adare Human Resource Management

On the 28th November, this timely webinar provided the findings of the latest HR Barometer Survey and what these mean for HR Practitioners in helping them to make informed decisions and support their planning & people strategies for 2024.

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Sarah Fagan, Managing Director, Amanda Finnegan, Head of Retained Services and Michelle McDonagh, Head of HR Consulting, Adare Human Resource Management outlined insights on HR Priorities, Levels of Employee Turnover, Workforce Planning, Health and Wellbeing, Pay Increases and Conflict & Dispute.

Aoife Singleton, Mercer Limited, John Murphy, Grant Thornton, Adrian Kelly, Everseen Limited.

Business Breakfast

In association with RDJ LLP & Media Partner Irish Examiner

Ann Doherty, Chief Executive, Cork City Council This Business Breakfast took place on the 12th October at the Cork International Hotel. Following Cork’s successful bid to become one of the 100 climate-neutral cities by 2030, Ann laid out a comprehensive roadmap. Her presentation highlighted the collaborative, innovative, and adaptable strategies crucial for achieving these targets and ensuring the city’s future resilience. Conor Healy, Cork Chamber, Karen O’Donoghue, Irish Examiner, Ann Doherty, Cork City Council, Ronan Murray, President Cork Chamber, Gillian Keating, RDJ LLP, John Cuddigan, RDJ LLP.

Dermot Crowley, CEO, Dalata Hotel Group plc The final Business Breakfast of the year took place on the 29th November at The Clayton Hotel Cork City. Dermot shared insights into the group’s recent growth, its approach to innovation and plans for the future while also outlining challenges and opportunities facing leisure tourism in Cork and Ireland. He also remarked on the importance of placing people at the heart of decision making. Conor Healy, Cork Chamber, Gillian Keating, RDJ LLP, Dermot Crowley, Dalata Hotel Group plc, Karen O’Donoghue, Irish Examiner, John Dwyer, RDJ LLP, Rob Horgan, Vice President, Cork Chamber.

Sustainable Cork Programme

Ireland’s Energy Future And The Opportunity For Cork In association with Cork Chamber Skillnet & ESB Generation & Training

The first in-person event of the series took place on the 11th October at Republic of Work. Dr. Paul Deane from MaREI, UCC expertly facilitated a panel discussion with Dr. Meadhbh Connolly, Future Opportunities Manager, ESB Generation & Trading, Gary Lagan, Senior Manager Environmental Health and Safety, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Tom Spillane, Director of Operations and Founder, Spillane Brothers International Transport & Warehousing. They shared the initatives they are using to lead with conviction and drive their organisations towards a net zero future.

Conor Healy, Cork Chamber, Dr. Paul Deane, MaREI, UCC, Dr. Meadhbh Connolly, ESB Generation & Trading, Tom Spillane, Spillane Brothers Iternational Transport Warehousing, Gary Lagan, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Ashley Amato, Cork Chamber, Garrett O’Rourke, Cork Chamber Skillnet.

Elayne Hickey, Spillane Brothers Transport & Warehousing, Anna Horan, Munster Technological University.

Sean Lotty, Cork Smart Gateway, Laura O’Connell, IDA Ireland, Susan O’Leary, IDA Ireland.

RECENT EVENTS

Networking at Noon at Logitech

Our Networking at Noon took place at Logitech on the 19th October, as the team at Logitech celebrated the one-year anniversary of the opening of their new sustainable office facility at City Gate Plaza in Mahon.

Conor Healy, Cork Chamber and Elaine Laird, Logitech.

Speed Networking.

Gloria Galán Pérez, Clayton Hotel Silver Patrick Crowley, Logitech; Paul Fitzpatrick, Travel Springs and Rebecca Jennings, Maldron Hotel Counsellors Ireland and Ian Carroll, Digital Funnel. South Mall.

Lesley Fitzgerald, McKechnie Cleaning Services Ltd with Beata Dagiel, Software Interactive Ltd.

New Members Breakfast

in association with 3B1 Our recent New Members Breakfast took place on the 25th October and 23rd November, providing an overview of Cork Chamber services and recent activity. Attendees got the opportunity to promote their business while meeting fellow members and the Chamber team.

Harry Casey, Velopi and Carol Feller, Stolen Stitches Ltd.

Mark Flavin, 3B1 with Naoimh Frawley, Cork Chamber and Conor Healy, Cork Chamber.

Donal Molloy, Microchip Kevin Clancy, Wellbeing Outfit Ireland; Colin O’Sullivan, KeynetAI and Technology Ireland, Adrian Casey, Swyft Energy. Margaret Barrett, Mortgage Navigators.

Cork Chamber

Get ahead in 2024 Training & Development supports available to you and your team: •

Assisting businesses to identify and address current and future skills needs

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Information on approaches to learning and talent development

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Guidance on achieving value for money when investing in learning and development

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Strategic programmes that enhance business innovation and regional competitiveness

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Flexible training and education programmes customised to each company’s needs

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Innovative new programme design and development

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Leadership programmes for business owners and executives

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Certified and non-certified technical training & webinars

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Training relating to communication, problem-solving and other core skills

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Advice on gauging the effectiveness of training

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Access to a network of businesses within the Cork region

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Conferences, seminars, and other informal learning and networking events

To learn more, please contact Garrett on 086 7777737 or email garrett@corkchamber.ie or visit w: corkchamber.ie/training Cork Chamber Skillnet is co-funded by Skillnet Ireland and network companies. Skillnet Ireland is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Out & About Representing Cork

Taken at the Tech Industry Alliance (TIA) Leaders Awards 2023 are David Swinburne Deputy President Cork Chamber with Gerry Murphy Chairperson and Matt Camilleri Treasurer TIA .

Rob Horgan, Deputy President Cork Chamber attended Limerick Chamber’s Annual Dinner, pictured with Miriam O’Connor, President Limerick Chamber and An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD.

Lisa Hurley and Grace Kelleher from Cork Chamber, with LEO representatives Jamie Cuthbert and Martina Casey attended the LEO Southwest’s National Women’s Enterprise Day Regional Event held in Clonakilty.

Gerard O’Donovan, Deputy President Cork Chamber (on left) attended the Cork International Film Festival programme launch at St Peter’s: Also pictured Barney Whelan, Chair of CIFF and Fiona Clark, Festival Director .

Pictured a the launch of Corkmas are Ann Doherty, CEO Cork City Council with Ronan Murray, President Cork Chamber.

Lisa Hurley and Grace Kelleher, Enterprise Europe Network at Cork Chamber attended the National Ploughing Championships.

Annie FitzGibbon and Naoimh Frawley Cork Chamber attended National Menopause Summit in Cork’s City Hall.

Taken at the Skillnet Ireland conference Spearheading Talent are Annie FitzGibbon, Garrett O’Rourke and Marie Russell representing Cork Chamber Skillnet Steering Group,

Mater Private Network, Cork celebrated its ten year anniversary at the Citygate, Mahon location with a lavish gala banquet at the Maryborough Hotel.Colm Burke TD; Dr Mary McCaffrey; Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Sandra Daly Chief Executive Officer of Mater Private Network in Cork; Senator Jerry Buttimer and Conor Healy, Cork Chamber.

At the Qualcomm announcement of a $127 million expansion of its R&D facility in Cork City are Ajay Bawale, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm, Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber, Paul Kelleher, Vice President of Engineering, Qualcomm.

Conor Healy, CEO Cork Chamber and Ronan Murray, President Cork Chamber attended the opening of of Cork contractorfocused brokers, Mortgage Navigators. Pictured at the opening were Jimmy Sheehan, Contracting Plus; Karen Coleman, Mortgage Consultant Mortgage Navigators; Michael Dineen, Chairman, Mortgage Navigators; Minister Michael McGrath; Margaret Barrett, Managing Director, Mortgage Navigators; Carol Brick, Director and Fergal Lennon, Director, Mortgage Navigators.

Grace Kelleher Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Executive Cork Chamber participated in Building Better Business in the South-West.

More ways to connect. More ways to bank.

Visit ptsb.ie/business-banking for more on how we can support your business. Permanent TSB plc trading as PTSB and PTSB Asset Finance is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

The Network at 15 : Showing the way forward for SMEs The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) team at Cork Chamber attended the EEN Annual Conference in the beautiful city of Bilbao, Spain. This event marked a significant milestone, as it celebrated the 15-year anniversary of the network. With the theme of “The Network at 15: Showing the way forward for SMEs”, the conference highlighted the achievements of the past and discussed the future path for SMEs. The conference brought together EEN Advisors from all over the world. It was an opportunity for EEN Cork Chamber to discuss collaboration opportunities for clients, as well as key challenges and opportunities faced by SMEs. A major focus of the discussions was the twin transition, referring to the green and digital transformations that SMEs need to embrace to thrive in the changing business landscape. The conference explored strategies and best practices to help SMEs navigate these changes successfully. Another important topic discussed during the event was the support for Ukrainian SMEs. With ongoing geopolitical challenges, Ukrainian SMEs face unique obstacles. The conference provided a platform for sharing experiences, insights, and potential solutions to strengthen the support network for Ukrainian SMEs. The conference also highlighted the significance of SME feedback in shaping policies and initiatives. SMEs are often at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship, and their insights can immensely benefit policymakers. The event emphasised the need for effective mechanisms to receive and utilise SME feedback, to inform European-level decision-making processes. In addition, discussions centred around combating skills shortages, which continue to be a major concern for SMEs across Europe. Strategies to address this issue, such as promoting apprenticeships, encouraging engagement with international internship programmes, and collaborating with educational institutions were explored. The conference underscored the importance of upskilling our clients to enable SMEs to thrive in the digital age. As SMEs play a crucial role in Europe’s economy, it is vital to continue empowering them to contribute to sustainable international growth and innovation. EEN looks forward to the next 15 years of supporting SMEs. #EENCanHelp

MEMBERS

New Members Corner We welcome the following new members Advertising/Marketing/Market Research CleverCards Digital prepaid Mastercards you can send instantly. CleverCards are easy to order online and are accepted everywhere. Plus, CleverCards are tax-free up to €1,000 per employee. W: www.clevercards.com

ServStream Engineering Ltd. Engineering consultancy providing civil, structural and environmental designs for industrial, commercial and residential clients. W: www.servstream.ie

Entertainment/Leisure/Tourism

Studio Boon Studio Boon is a multi-disciplinary design studio based in Cork City, Ireland. We craft brands for businesses who shape the future in an ever-changing world. W: www.studioboon.ie

Cork Harbour Cruises Cork Harbour Cruises, is the only harbour cruise in Cork City, showcasing our amazing harbour and city, through guided tours and corporate private events. W: www.corkharbourcruises.com

Auctioneers/Property Consultants

Financial Services/Pensions/Investment

Johanna Murphy & Sons Ltd. Johanna is selling and managing a broad range of properties in Cobh, Kinsale and surrounding areas. W: www.johannamurphy.com

Electronics Sigteq Manufacturer of AlertNet a niche solution for industries with emergency response teams. We specialise in the automation of mobilising specialist teams and individuals to a wide range of incidents. W: www.sigteq.com

Engineering

PFGi Process engineering led design house specialising in life sciences, fine chemicals, food and sustainable engineering. Full design services, master-planning to CQV and process safety. W: www.processfgi.com ReUseIT - Asset Recovery Ltd Buying and selling industrial, automation and laboratory stock, machines and equipment during auctions, sales and liquidations. W: www.reuseit.ie

Engineering

Mortgage Navigators At Mortgage Navigators, we believe in treating each client as an individual with unique circumstances. Open to all customers but with expertise on contractors, freelancers and self-employed applicants. W: www.mortgagenavigators.ie Sure Valley Ventures

Financial Services/Pensions/Investment

Sure Valley Ventures is a UK & Ireland focussed venture capital firm which helps early-stage software entrepreneurs grow and scale businesses that will have a global impact. W: www.surevalleyventures.com Yijie Management Limited

Financial Services/Pensions/Investment

Efunding help firms access business finance, working directly with businesses and their trusted advisors. www.efunding.ie

Food/Drink FoodCloud FoodCloud is a tech based, non-profit, social enterprise (Irish Charity of the Year 2022). Our vision is for a world where no good food goes to waste. We are tackling the twin issues of food waste and food security. W: www.food.cloud/

Food/Drink

Hyde Irish Whiskey Hyde Irish Whiskey is a multi-award-winning craft Irish whiskey which is matured and bottled in Little Island, County Cork. W: www.hydewhiskey.ie Orla McAndrew Food Exclusive wedding and event caterer with a focus on seasonality and sustainability. Offers zero waste catering as an option. W: www.omcatering.ie West Cork Distillers Ltd West Cork Distillers was founded in 2003 by John O’Connell, Denis McCarthy and Ger McCarthy and has since grown to a team of over 150 people based in our distillery in Skibbereen, Co. Cork. W: www.westcorkdistillers.com

Fuel/Energy

Instavolt Europe Ltd We develop, own, operate and maintain a network of rapid and high-power direct current electric vehicle charging stations, to support the need for the electrification of transport. W: www.instavolt.ie SSE Airtricity SSE Airtricity has been harnessing our greatest natural resource for the past 25 years, providing cleaner, renewable energy for homes and businesses across the country. W: www.sseairtricity.com Swyft Energy Swyft Energy specialises in the installation of domestic, agri and commercial solar PV. W: www.swyftenergy.ie TLI Group TLI Group is a utility infrastructure consultancy and construction company, operating extensively within the utilities sector in Ireland. W: www.tli.ie

Health & Safety

EHS International Founded by Chris Mee, EHS International is Ireland’s only single source EHS supplier. W: www.ehsinternational.com

Healthcare Provider

SIMS IVF Fertility Sims IVF is one of the leading fertility clinics in Ireland. We have cared for thousands of patients needing treatment to realise their dream of having a baby and have helped pioneer IVF technology in Ireland. W: www.sims.ie

Hotel/Guesthouse/Conferences

Nordan Properties Nordan Properties offers short term serviced corporate accommodation in modern newly refurbished apartments and shared living accommodation close to Cork City Centre. W: www.nordanproperties.ie

IT Services

Apogee Corporation Ltd Apogee is Europe’s leading multi-brand provider of managed workplace services. As an independent subsidiary of HP Inc., Apogee has the advantage of being part of one of the world’s most recognisable and industry-leading technology companies. W: www.apogeecorp.ie fourTheorem Limited AWS Cloud experts - your ‘go to’ partner to build/rebuild your platforms to harness AI technologies. W: www.fourtheorem.com KeynetAI KeynetAI offers AI consulting and bespoke machine learning model development. We specialise in data engineering, AI model deployment, maintenance, and custom app development for all business sizes. W: www.keynetai.com Tricentis Ireland Limited Tricentis makes the software industry’s #1 continuous testing platform and is recognised for reinventing software testing for DevOps. W: www.tricentis.com

Management Consultants

Citris Rewards Consulting Citris helps organisations with all aspects of their compensation and benefits programmes. Our consulting services span from developing rewards strategies to evaluating and supporting programmes. W: www.citris.ie Endeavour Endeavour are a M&A and growth advisory firm dedicated to serving marketing, communication and technology companies. W: www.endvr.biz

Management Consultants

The Franchise Consulting Company The Franchise Consulting Company UK & Ireland is your premier source for all things franchising! W: www.thefranchiseconsultingcompany. co.uk Wellbeing Outfit Ireland We apply psychology to help people, teams and organisations to be better in business, sport and high risk settings. W: www.wellbeingoutfit.com

Manufacturers

Recruitment/Executive Search

Fortis Resources Limited Fortis recruitment agency specialises in financial services, executive search and technology. W: www.fortis.ie

Representative Body

Irish District Energy Association The Irish District Energy Association (IrDEA) is Ireland’s only membership organisation dedicated to promoting and supporting the rollout of District Heating and Cooling. W: www.districtenergy.ie

Calnan Group The Calnan Group are at the forefront of the Irish and European markets as leaders in sales and rental of new/used containers and production of anti-vandal units (static or mobile). W: www.calnan.ie

Services

doTERRA Global doTERRA, source, test, refine, blend, manufacture, and distributes CPTG Certified Pure Tested Grade® essential oils. W: www.doterra.com

Services Contractors

Motor Traders

Munster Vehicle Sales Munster Vehicle Sales Ltd are the main Renault and Dennis Eagle Commercial dealer for Cork and Kerry and provide a full range of light and heavy vehicles. W: www.mvscork.ie Tesla Motors Ireland Manufacturer of electric automobiles, solar panels and batteries for cars and home power storage. W: www.tesla.com/en_ie

Port

Tidal Marine / Hibernia Maritime Ltd. Tidal Marine is a Cork based marine and offshore consulting business with operations ongoing in Asia, UK and Ireland. W: www.tidalmarine.ie

Property Management/Lettings Cork Airport Business Park Cork Airport Business Park one of the best located & advanced technology parks in Ireland, presents an outstanding platform for any indigenous or international business looking to locate in the southwest of Ireland. W: www.corkairpark.ie HomeHak We enable employers to help staff rent a home near their workplace and letting agents and landlords select ideal tenants with less admin, time, cost and hassle. W: www.HomeHak.com

Better Workday Ltd. Better Workday offers workshops, seminars, webinars and online courses to help you be more productive at work while supporting your well-being. W: www.abetterworkday.com Metro Solutions Audio visual, Microsoft Teams Rooms, Zoom Rooms, video conferencing, Digital Signage, large LED display, presentation, corporate AV, Pro AV & sound system specialists. W: www.metrosolutions.ie

Software/Software Services

Everseen Limited Everseen is a world leader in visual AI. Its Visual AI platform empowers end to end visibility and allows business process reinvention. W: www.everseen.com

Sustainability

Origin Xero A single platform & partnership with all the tools you need to achieve your business sustainability goals, with zero greenwashing. W: www.originxero.com

Telecommunications Quantum Energy Ltd Quantum Energy is a trusted broker offering competitive prices on electricity and gas supply. W: www.quantumenergy.ie

Web Design

Studio Nowinter Studio Nowinter is a full-service creative web design & web development agency with the experience & expertise to elevate your business or project to its full potential. W: www.studionowinter.com

Chamberlink Issue 4 2023 - The future shines bright

Articles inside

The Network at 15 : Showing the way forward for SMEs

Pat honoured for Outstanding Contribution

The future shines bright

Emerging FS Leaders launched with first networking event

Cork, leading next wave of IFS development in Ireland

Grow your business in the US

Irish Networks USA Annual Conference Seattle 2023

Setting Salish

Reconnecting with Shanghai

How digital solutions can enable human connections.

Roadmap to Leadership

Driving clean auto design

Engaging with EU

Key discussion on housing

ChamberLink