County Kildare Chamber Chronicle Oct 2020

ISSUE 1 - OCTOBER 2020

INSIDE THIS ISSUE A NEW DAWN

BENEFITS OF NETWORKING

ECONOMIC FORECAST FROM BANK OF IRELAND

IN THE HOT SEAT WITH PRESIDENT LUKE HANAHOE

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Corporate Partners 2020

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Cont e n t s 02 A New Dawn 04 Chamber Representation 05 Chamber Golf Classic 2020 06 Kildare CoCo / LEO 08 In The Hot Seat 09 Benefits of Networking 10 KWETB Training Services 12 Magnet Marketing Solutions 14 Economic Forecast - BOI

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16 Curragh Chamber Comp 17 Chamber iHub

In The Hot Seat

with President Luke Hanahoe

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Business Supports

Fully funded mentoring for family businesses

18 MERITS Profile 19 County Kildare Leader Partnership 22 Keeping Kildare Working 24 Aldi, Helping to Make Ireland Greener 26 EU Cyber Security Month

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Economic Forecast

with Roisin Crotty of Bank of Ireland.

29 NEW Chamber Website

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A New Dawn

Business during the pandemic.

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Gas Networks Ireland

Fuelling business and life in Kildare.

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ISSUE 1 - OCTOBER 2020

A NEW

DAWN County Kildare Chamber is the business organisation in Kildare, proactively working to identify and progress developments that are facilitative of economic and sustainable growth. Representing an employer base of 400 businesses and over 38,000 employees across the county, County Kildare Chamber is the largest business organisation in the mid-east region of Ireland.

Given the significant breadth and depth of our membership, and our representation on various bodies at local and national level, County Kildare Chamber constitutes the representative voice for business in Kildare, a particularly important role given the current economic circumstances we find ourselves in this year with Covid19 and the ever-looming Brexit.

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Our continued lobbying, be it with regards to the recent Covid19 restrictions in Kildare or in regards to our pre budget submission, ensures that the voice of business in Kildare is heard. Our vast range and diversity of membership enables the Chamber to be the voice of business in the region. We are extremely fortunate in Kildare to have an array of multi nationals based in the county, along with strong vibrant indigenous SME’s and a diverse collection of HPSU’s operating in all our major towns.

Our engagement with Government and department officials ensures that businesses in Kildare can interact with national policy makers readily. Covid19, the recent restrictions in Kildare and the ongoing supports required for business are our primary focus currently.

The supports that businesses require with the presumed inevitable no deal Brexit influences our weekly policy engagement with Government.

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Most importantly for us working in the Chamber is that we enjoy an excellent relationship with all our members, and we are fully aware of the challenges that face businesses every single day. Whilst most of our work is now virtual and our interactions with business has changed this year, we are always available by phone and perhaps for a coffee to ensure we are here to promote, protect, maintain and enhance business and also to maintain business in Kildare.

The Covid19 crisis threatens long-lasting changes to the way we work. It is affecting employees and employers everywhere. The impact so far has been considerable but varies sharply according to industry and size of business. There are major concerns regarding the ongoing viability of companies, large and small. Some are in short-term survival mode – others are accelerating strategies to digitalise and automate. We are very encouraged by many of our member companies who are adapting quickly to the impact of Covid19.

As we enter Q4 2020 and begin budget projections for 2021, the potential impact of Covid19 and Brexit will be the main concerns for the majority of businesses. One thing is for sure, we are very encouraged with the resilience of business in Kildare and also with the supports that are out there. Supports not only from the Chamber and the Local Enterprise Office but from neighbouring businesses. Members are assisting their fellow members which is inspiring. Advice and supports are free flowing. I am always amazed at the genuine interaction between businesses in Kildare. Over the past number of years, we have excelled at our premium events, our showcases and our Business Awards and whilst they are on a break they will be back hopefully at some stage in 2021. We do of course still host weekly virtual network mornings and we are providing a suite of tailored workshops for business owners on a regular basis.

Allan Shine CEO County Kildare Chamber

Our continued lobbying, be it with regards to the recent Covid19 restrictions in Kildare or in regards to our pre budget submission, ensures that the voice of business in Kildare is heard.

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Chamber Representation County Kildare Chamber has a seat on each of the following boards, committees and working groups so as to ensure business interests are at the heart of local and regional policy and initiatives.

Chambers Ireland Chambers Ireland’s mission is to represent the interests of member companies; to promote business competitiveness in Ireland and to enable the development of the Chamber movement throughout the island.

Chambers Ireland Policy Council The taskforce was created as a collaborative body within the Chamber Network to better leverage the skills and expertise of Chambers staff and members with knowledge of policy in the workplace and skills area. The objective of the Taskforce groups is to influence national and international policy, as well as informing members on issues of significance.

Mid-East Regional Enterprise Plan The Mid-East Regional Enterprise Plan builds on the success of the Mid-East Regional Action Plan for Jobs (2016–2017) to ensure that it remains effective and that it continues to deliver jobs across the Mid-East region and can be robust to address the challenges we face, including Brexit.

Mid-East Regional Skills Forum The Network of Regional Skills Fora was created in 2016 as part of the Government’s National Skills Strategy to provide an opportunity for employers and the education and training system to work together to meet the emerging skills needs of their regions.

Kildare Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) Kildare Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) was established in 2014. LCDCs are established in all Local Authorities and are part of Local Government Reform. They have a key function to achieve joined up approaches to local and community development.

Kildare County Council Strategic Policy Committees County Kildare Chamber have nominees on the following SPC’s: • Economic Development, Enterprise and Planning • Transportation, Safety and Emergency Services • Local Community and Cultural • Climate • Environmental Services and Water 04

Allenwood Community Development Association ACDAL is a Not for Profit Company with any surpluses generated re-invested back into the company. The company primarily consists of three segments, namely: • The Enterprise Park • The Training Centre • Bright Sparks Community Creche MERITS (Mid-East Regional Innovation Thinkspace) The first-ever tech hub for Co Kildare. Located beside the county council offices on Devoy Road in Naas, the MidEast Regional Innovation Think Space (MERITS) in Naas will provide a dynamic space for more than 100 technology workers when the development opens in March 2021.

The hub will serve the emerging tech sector and act as a centre of excellence in supporting innovation within small businesses.

County Kildare Leader Partnership CKLP are responsible for the delivery of rural, enterprise, social inclusion and community development initiatives in County Kildare.

Kildare Economic Forum The Economic Forum comprises of a mix of business leaders and local government who meet regularly to discuss the economic activity within County Kildare.

County Kildare Chamber is the representative business organisation in Kildare with more than 400 member companies spanning from small to medium to multinational organisations.

Reflecting the broad interests of Kildare businesses to policymakers, decision makers and opinion formers at every level.

We explore and highlight issues that could potentially hinder the continued economic growth, success and prosperity of our country.

We seek to positively influence and shape policy proposals, legislation and regulations relevant to Kildare businesses.

Our research can cover any issue of relevance to our member companies; including skills, housing, transport infrastructure and exports.

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Chamber Golf Classic 2020 On Friday the 18th September, the Chamber hosted its annual Chamber golf classic on the Palmer North Golf Course in the K Club with 28 teams in attendance.

Following a tasty breakfast bap, our golfers teed off in the beautiful sunshine at allocated 10min intervals – allowing for a safe, socially distanced networking environment for all to enjoy, with the infamous K Club burger awaiting them just after the 9th hole. The event was very kindly sponsored by Gannon Office Solutions.

The Chamber are setting up a golf society from March to October of 2021.

Chamber Golf Society 2021 The Chamber Golf Society will launch on the 17th December in Millicent Golf Club with a 12 Hole Champagne Scramble Golf Society Outing Dates for 2021 26th March 30th April 28th May 25th June 30th July 24th September 29th October

Millicent Golf Club The Montgomerie Links Golf Course, Carton House The Palmer North Course, The K Club The Palmer South Course, The K Club The O’Meara Parkland Golf Course, Carton House Kilkea Golf Course, Kilkea Castle Palmerstown Golf Course, Palmerstown House Estate

Beginners and intermediate lessons will be available January and February 2021 with resident professional at Millicent Golf Club, Ciaran Hegarty.

Contact Allan Shine for more details at Allan@countykildarechamber.ie.

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Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office is here to support your Business “I understand this is a worrying time for you as business owners in County Kildare. The country has faced an unprecedented period of uncertainty and disruption which is certain to continue for some time. While the health and safety of our loved ones will always be a priority, keeping businesses afloat and the economy stable is equally important. Kildare County Council’s priority remains to support the Kildare business community through a range of supports delivered through our Local Enterprise Office.

Head of Enterprise Jacqui Mc Nabb has worked closely with the Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation and various departments of Kildare County Council to develop a range of supports specifically for you, Kildare businesses.

A wide range of measures have been made available such as financial assistance available for eligible businesses.

More information can be found at: www.localenterprise.ie/Kildare/Financial-Supports/ Support for retailers such as our free Shop County Kildare ecommerce platform, Trading Online Vouchers and Kildare County Council’s Shop Front Scheme continue to be available, in addition to training and mentoring assistance.

Microfinance Ireland has relaunched its funding to €25,000 as an immediate measure to specifically deal with exceptional circumstances that micro-enterprises (sole traders and firms with up to 9 employees) are facing.

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In addition, the Local Enterprise Office is providing vouchers from €2,500 to support business Brexit continuity preparedness, innovation and productivity. The Local Enterprise Office has activated advisory clinics and mentoring support for impacted firms.

I would encourage any business to take advantage of the portfolio of supports that are available from Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office. There is sure to be doubt and uncertainty surrounding issues such as cashflow and access to finance, as much as there is uncertainty surrounding supply chain management and personnel.

The objective of these measures is to give Kildare businesses, regardless of their scale or sector, the means to mitigate job losses and financial difficulties. Please visit our website localenterprise.ie/kildare to see our full level of support available.

And perhaps even more importantly, if you run a small business and you are concerned about something but are unsure of who to talk to, please email localenterprise@ kildarecoco.ie. We may not have all the answers but we will try our best to help you and to steer you towards the best possible solution.”

Peter Carey Chief Executive Kildare County Council

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Reopen your business with the Restart Grant CLOSING DATE EXTENDED TO 31ST OCTOBER 2020 Apply at: kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/Finance/ReStartGrant “I received a grant towards doing up my shopfront. It meant a lot as parts of the shopfront were starting to show signs of rot, so we really couldn’t be put off any longer. The Kildare County Council were very helpful with queries about the grant and made the process much easier. I am delighted with the difference the new shopfront has made” Vanessa Cullen of Vanessa’s Beauty Clinic, Newbridge.

The Shopfront Grant is available up to a maximum of €5,000 to support independent business owners to improve the appearance and accessibility of shop fronts or commercial properties. Closing date: 31st October 2020. You can find an application at localenterprise.ie/Kildare “The Trading Online Voucher has been one of the most important aid’s the Johnny Magory Company Ltd. has received to date. It enabled us to create a professional website by professional designers, Graphedia Ltd. Prior to the voucher, we had built and operated our own website which was not even close to ‘Ok!’ With the help of Kildare LEO and Niall from Graphedia, we created a unique, eye catching and high performing website for Johnny Magory instantly launching us into the rapid world of e-commerce.”

Emma-Jane Leeson of Johnny Magory Business.

Funding of up to €2,500 with the Trading Online Voucher “I have found the Shop County Kildare experience to be both personally and financially beneficial to my business.

In a year where there has been so much uncertainty, it was brilliant to see Kildare County Council show such initiative by developing the site.

The team were superb at providing training to enable me to put up my products on the site myself, something I never thought I’d be capable of doing!

Historically, the bulk of my sales had always come through markets, but with the advent of Covid and the demise of these markets my sales had plummeted.

Shop County Kildare has helped greatly to fill the void left by these markets, in fact, I had my first sale within a few days of being on the site!

I can absolutely recommend the site to any retailers who are looking at joining an online portal. It will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make” Mary Maher, Love Silver Ireland.

Kildare County Council’s free ecommerce platform, Shop County Kildare www.shopcountykildare.ie

ShopCountyKildare.ie Are you a Kildare retailer/service provider?

ShopCountyKildare.ie enables you to get online with no barriers. Create your account and be trading online in minutes.

Free of Charge.

ShopCountyKildare.ie is a Kildare County Council initiative in association with Kildare Local Enterprise Office and County Kildare Chamber aimed at supporting local businesses.

Check it out... www.shopcountykildare.ie

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ISSUE 1 - OCTOBER 2020

In the HOT SEAT PRESIDENT LUKE HANAHOE Hanahoe & Hanahoe Solicitors

The social and economic impact of the Covid crisis on the country has been seismic, in many cases harrowing and, in some cases tragic. However, history is littered with examples of how adversity brings out the best in people and from what I have seen, this is true of Kildare.

Adversity and particularly the second lockdown, certainly brought the best out of the Chamber. The instantaneous response of Allan, Jennifer and Rachel to the second lockdown would have made Churchill proud. A Chamber War Cabinet was quickly formed to go to trenches for Kildare business. Over the next three weeks, Brian Purcell of Big Picture Communications ensured that Allan appeared on RTE, Newstalk, BBC, French Radio and even CCN to advance the needs of Kildare businesses. Allan and his team harried, lobbied and dare I say, even harassed, our Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister Health, Minister for Finance and even Michel Barnier, to ensure that the interests of business in Kildare were firmly at the top of everyone’s agenda.

In many ways Covid19 has highlighted the importance of the Chamber to Kildare. It is my sincere belief that our Chamber is the most dynamic and proactive Chamber in the Country.

While the Covid19 crisis cannot be ignored, I refuse to look at Kildare solely through its prism. If there is a ‘new normal’, it is that Kildare and the businesses we home, are the envy of our country. During the height of the Covid19 crisis, Dr Pepper announced plans to open up a manufacturing plant in Newbridge, creating 50 new jobs. They will be based in the old Lidl site, adjacent to another multinational, Pfizer. The only reason the old Lidl site is available is because, like Dr Pepper, Lidl too invested heavily in Kildare. When you add that to the announcements made by Monster Energy in Athy, and the €4 Billion investment Intel are making in Leixlip, you see that there have been many of good news stories coming out of Kildare in the last few months.

This positivity has been echoed in Chamber membership, which saw us welcome 21 members in August & September, traditionally a very quiet month. In many ways Covid19 has highlighted the importance of the Chamber to Kildare. It is my sincere belief, that our Chamber is the most dynamic and proactive Chamber in the Country. It is my privilege to be associated with this great organisation and to be deemed worthy to be its President, is my absolute honour.

The advances that have been made over the last 10 years have been staggering. Again, much credit must be given to Allan and his team, but most of the credit rests with our membership, who consistently drive our orgainsation to new heights. Covid19 may have delayed our summer expo, awards night and Boston trade mission, but such delays will be short lived and they have not damped our ambition. The new Chamber membership App is testament to this. When you look at the last ten years and where our Chamber has come from, neither Covid19 or that almost forgotten word, Brexit, is going to stop us moving forward.

Luke Hanahoe

County Kildare Chamber President

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Chamber Weekly Networking Webinars While our Chamber network mornings used to take place every Wednesday morning at 7:30am in our Chamber HQ in Naas, when lockdown hit these were promptly changed to online networking webinars. Join us any Wednesday morning at 8:30am to virtually meet with like minded business people, promote your offering and grow your business. Non members can attend up to two meetings before joining.

Register online at www.countykildarechamber.ie/events/

Testimonials: “Covid came and life changed forever, well until now at least. The Chamber of Commerce responded in many ways and one of those was to immediately move the weekly networking sessions online. These have been an invaluable source of information and camaraderie at a difficult time. Well done to the great team we have here in Kildare.”

Philipp Matuschka – Director at Mind My Business

“Hailing from Co. Carlow and having had no professional ties with Kildare in the past, I felt it important to integrate into the Kildare corporate network. The members are hugely respectful, attentive and welcoming. The encouragement for us to network beyond the online meeting brings an enormous opportunity to reach out to fellow Chamber members and understand them and their business a little bit more.”

Máire Griffith – Recruitment Partner at Clark “I’ve never been one for joining associations (always ploughed my own farrow) but having signed up with County Kildare Chamber at the start of the year my network of quality contacts has increased. I now have regular opportunities to promote my company and also get good referrals.

The team works tirelessly as business advocates for Kildare both locally and nationally. I would have no hesitation of recommending the Chamber – the benefits far outweigh the cost.”

Tim Pullen – CEO at Cloudtech “The morning networking meetings have been a massive benefit to me and my business. It is not just about referrals. These, collegiate and very well led meetings are packed with experienced business owners from a wide variety of companies. It has also been great craic, and a very important outlet for me personally. Running a business can be a very lonely place, and membership has afforded me the opportunity to meet other like-minded and progressive business people.”

Sharon Farrell – Owner at FACE Credit Consultancy

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Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board

Training Services

KWETB provides employee learning pathways to businesses in county Kildare. We wish to work with you to provide the upskilling, reskilling, professional and management support required by your employees.

Enterprise Pathways to Learning SKILLS TO ADVANCE

Through Skills to Advance we offer a wide range of upskilling and reskilling opportunities to businesses in every sector. Working closely with small and medium-sized enterprises, Skills to Advance helps employers identify skills needs and invest in their workforce by providing subsidised education and training to staff. Courses are structured in response to your business needs.

SKILLS FOR WORK

The KWETB Skills For Work Programme provides 100%-funded training and educational opportunities for those in employment who have few, outdated or no educational qualifications. The programmes are designed to meet the employer’s needs and to improve the workplace literacy, numeracy and/or IT skills of the workforce. They can be delivered remotely, on company sites or at local KWETB centre to improve their workplace literacy / numeracy / IT skills.

APPRENTICESHIPS

Apprenticeships are designed by industry-led groups, supporting growth, competitiveness, and the development of talent. Apprentices earn while they learn and build valuable work-ready skills in a chosen occupation.

Under the Government’s July Stimulus Package, an Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme was announced providing a €3,000 payment to support employers to take on new apprenticeships in 2020.

TRAINEESHIPS

Traineeships combine learning in an education and training centre and in the workplace. We work in partnership with your business to identify a skills gap and to develop a traineeship in a work based learning environment. A traineeship can take between 6 months – 2 years.

Contact us today for more information Trainingcourses@kwetb.ie

Kildare Local Enterprise Office BUSINESS TRAINING BUSINESS ADVICE MENTORING CLINICS FINANCIAL AID

We look forward to supporting your business development to the next level in 2020 and beyond

(certain criteria may apply)

www.localenterprise.ie/kildare

045 980838 localenterprise@kildarecoco.ie

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How Kildare couple evolved their business during the pandemic When Covid-19 started to become a worldwide health issue in early 2020, Michael Morrissey realised very quickly that not only his plans for 2020 needed a dramatic overhaul but so did his business operating model. Magnet Marketing Solutions is a family run business owned by Kildare couple Michael and Adrienne Morrissey, who have been in the Corporate Merchandise business for over twentyfive years. Up until the arrival of the pandemic, their main services were sourcing promotional merchandise for the corporate sector along with contract management warehousing, logistics and promotion management. With a strong customer base, the company had big plans for 2020, having spent the later half of 2019 undergoing a strategic review and rebuild of their website.

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As early as February, Michael knew he needed to move quickly to ensure he was in a position to supply existing and new clients with basic PPE. As the situation worsened and lockdown came in, Magnet quickly created a sub-brand to their business, Magnet Medical, reassuring customers that they were in a position to supply a full range of certified products. Problem solvers to their core, Michael and his team worked hard to create their own supply chain with a 24 hour nationwide free delivery service.

Magnet has grown its base with over 200 new customers, with a significant percentage of these exports. Trusted to supply large contracts for Government Departments, Semi State Bodies and Financial Services, Magnet are now expanding their offices to meet this growth in their business. Speaking about the past 6 months, Michael said: “It has been the craziest time I have ever witnessed in business. I have been through the downturn and other tough times and nothing compares to this. Initially, it was very worrying as the normal business slowed down but we knew that if we just played to our strengths and what we do best, that we would survive. Sourcing products

that our clients need and in a quick turnaround is what we are good at.

We are well known in the business for being able to deliver in emergency situations and the pandemic has been a huge test of that. Our stock levels are solid and we can provide same/ next day delivery. We feel very proud to be in some way contributing to help with the fight against this awful virus�.

Magnet continues to assist health care providers, schools, restaurants, hairdressers, other SMEs and large corporate companies with keeping their people safe and getting back to work. Being able to use local suppliers has greatly helped with quality control and speed of delivery in addition to supporting the local economy.

OFFER Magnet is delighted to offer Kildare Chamber Members a free sample pack and catalogue along with a 15% discount off their first order.

Email info@magnetmarking.ie For more information, please check out www.magnetmarketing.ie.

The best way to grow your business?

Let us do our thing, so you can do yours EMPLOYMENT LAW

HEALTH & SAFETY

ISSUE 1 - OCTOBER 2020

Message from

Roisin Crotty Head of County for Bank of Ireland Kildare

“I hope that you, your families and your customers are safe and well in these difficult times. At Bank of Ireland our focus is on building strong relationships with our customers and their advisors. We have a team of 90 staff on the ground in Kildare across 11 locations. We are members of our communities and have years of experience in dealing with every facet of both business and personal financial needs. In this update I will give you an overview of our recent Economic Outlook and our latest Economic Pulse survey. I also outline some of the supports available to you, particularly the recently launched COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, and I encourage you to reach out to any of our advisors across the County for support as we navigate through these challenging times together in Kildare.”

Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse up in September – has now recovered almost 60% of COVID-related losses Sentiment slumped in March as COVID-19 arrived on Irish shores and began to disrupt normal every-day and commercial life, while April saw an unparalleled fall in activity and sweeping job losses as the country went into full lockdown. But with the public health situation improving and a phased re-opening of the economy underway since mid-May, the economic data point to the beginnings of a rebound over the remainder of the year and into 2021.

Even so, the scale of the shock – GDP is forecast to contract by 7.0% in 2020 as a whole – is such that it will take time for the damage to the economy to unwind, with output unlikely to return to its pre-crisis level until 2022. The path of the virus remains uncertain and the recovery process may not be smooth as physical distancing requirements and behavioural changes will impact some business models more than others and some households will take longer to get back on their feet.

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The Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse index came in at 65.1 in September and has now recovered almost 60% of its COVID-related losses, according to Dr Loretta O’Sullivan, Group Chief Economist for Bank of Ireland. The index, which combines the results of the Consumer and Business Pulses, was up 5.8 on August but down 11.1 on a year ago.

The improvement in the Economic Pulse comes on foot of a rebound in the Business Pulse. Sentiment rose in all four sectors – industry, services, retail and construction - though Brexit was back on firms’ radar as the end of the transition period approaches and the talks on the future UK-EU trade relationship floundered. For households, the heightened uncertainty on this front added to growing concerns about the virus and kept the Consumer Pulse at a low ebb in September.

The September survey also found that escalating tensions between Downing Street and the EU are a concern for businesses, with three in four firms expecting the fallout from the UK’s decision to leave the EU to negatively impact the local economy in their region over the coming 12 months.

Bank of Ireland’s team of sector specialists are recruited from industry so they bring a perspective that only firsthand experience can provide. Our specialists - in hospitality, food and drink, agriculture, retail, manufacturing and other sectors - work closely with our advisors to add value to our customers. Take a look at the Chamber website for regular updates from the Bank of Ireland Sectors team and invitations to sector-specific webinars.

Housing Pulse increases in September The Housing Pulse index rose for a fifth month (coming in at 62.8, a gain of 4.6 points from August).The share of households expecting house prices to rise over the coming year edged higher (to 35%), while the share anticipating a fall ticked down (to 27%), meaning the balance of positive and negative responses moved back into the black for the first time since March.

The appetite for housing in Kildare remains very keen and with demand far exceeding supply in the county, getting a mortgage ready is even more important today, according to Clodagh Hughes, Bank Manager in Mid Kildare, who is a Chamber of Commerce Board member and also sits on the Local Enterprise Evaluations Committee.

“First off, make that call to one of our 14 mortgage specialists in the county,” Clodagh recommends. “It’s really important to understand your options and you’ll have plenty of questions. We are taking face-to-face meetings if required and are fully compliant with HSE guidelines. You can also find out more and apply through our website at www.bankofireland.com/ mortgages.”

Bank of Ireland stands ready to support customers through the Credit Guarantee Scheme Bank of Ireland welcomes the launch of the new Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, designed to help Irish businesses to navigate the ongoing pandemic. The Government has allocated €2 billion under the scheme, with the size of an individual loan linked to business turnover or wage costs, depending on the applicant. The scheme aims primarily to support SMEs nationwide, with the State guaranteeing 80% of the loan.

Since the onset of the global health emergency in March Bank of Ireland has put a range of supports in place for customers, with over 14,000 business loan payment breaks processed in recent months. The Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme provides further support for viable businesses, facilitating additional financial support to lessen the economic impact of the pandemic.

Bank of Ireland has created a new online portal bankofireland. com/cgs to make the application process as simple as possible, and is accepting applications from Thursday 10 September.

“As businesses continue to reopen, and as they adapt to a very changed commercial reality, we strongly welcome the introduction of the Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme,” said Paul Horan, Head of Business Banking, Kildare. “The rates available under this new scheme are attractive and we view this as another important way we can help to reboot economic activity and the national recovery. We stand ready to support our customers through this scheme.”

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#CurraghChamberComp The Chamber collaborated with The Curragh Racecourse to allow 4 lucky members win race sponsorship on selected dates in August and September. This initiative was introduced to help businesses during the ever evolving landscape we are all in the midst of with covid19. To win, members were asked to share a pre-prepared graphic across all their social media platforms, tagging the Chamber and the Curragh Racecourse using the hashtag #curraghchambercomp.

The prize included:

•

•

•

•

Naming rights to a race - used in media releases, race cards/ guides, newspapers etc.

Branding/ Signage on the day & Full-page advert in Race Programme Marketing campaign collaboration between the Curragh Racecourse & the winning sponsor Worldwide Audiences - Races broadcasted RTE (100,000 viewers) ITV4 (350,000 viewers) Racing TV (532m homes) Satellite/ Cable/ Freeview (c. 26m homes in Britain and Ireland)

Congratulations to all our winners:

Winner #1 – Sheehy Motor Group, Naas Winner #2 – Walls to Workstations Winner #3 – Clark Winner #4 – Mick O’Shea Heating & Plumbing 16

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County Kildare Chamber

iHub Office Facility The County Kildare Chamber iHub is a professionally operated, shared office space where business people from the start-up stage to freelance professionals can find an ideal environment for work while generating a community of likeminded individuals.

Enjoy the benefits of your own dedicated desk in a shared environment. If you find yourself currently working in isolation, the iHub is ideal for you. You will have the support and networking opportunities of large office environs without the overheads.

The beauty of joining the County Kildare Chamber iHub is also having the prestigious County Kildare Chamber address on your letterhead and business cards, setting a lasting impression to your potential clients.

This is not just a “Rent A Desk”, this is about creating a vibrant community of like-minded entrepreneurs and professionals from different backgrounds, working alongside each other, with different skill sets, utilising the network and support system of the County Kildare Chamber.

The Chamber have taken all necessary precautions to safeguard our iHub tenants during the current Covid19 pandemic.

Fees Include: • • • • • • • • •

Full access Dedicated desk Limited pre-booked use of training room Allocated meeting areas/ booths Kitchenette with tea & coffee facilities Commercial rates Heat & electricity High speed Wi-Fi Printing & scanning facilities

€250 + VAT pm

To view the County Kildare Chamber iHub, contact a member of the team on 045 894074 / info@ countykildarechamber.ie and take the first step to moving your business forward with our support.

County Kildare Chamber Meet The Team Allan Shine CEO

The Chief Executive is responsible for the operational activities of the Chamber, working with the President and the Executive Committee in developing the overall strategic plan of the Chamber and coordinating its implementation.

Allan oversees the day to day running of Chamber which has a membership of 400+ businesses in Kildare who in turn employ 38,000 employees in the county. Allan is passionate about Kildare and ensuring that the voice of Kildare businesses is heard locally, nationally and internationally.

Jennifer Forster Marketing & Communications Manager

Jennifer joined the Chamber team in November 2015, having previously been the Corporate Sales Executive of Carton House Hotel & Golf Resort.

Jennifer’s responsibility is to support and assist the growing membership of the Chamber through an array of events & training workshops, as well as all marketing and communication activities in the Chamber. Jennifer is the point of contact for our cert of origin service for those exporting to EU and Arab countries and is here to assist, promote and enhance businesses who are members of the Chamber.

Rachel Cooke Business Development Manager

Rachel Cooke joined the team in October 2019 as our Business Development Manager.

Having worked in the digital consultancy sector, and lead generation with international corporate businesses for over 9 years, Rachel’s responsibility is to support and grow the Chambers membership.

David Clince Accounts Administrator

David joined in team in November 2019 as our accounts administrator.

David looks after the day to day finance activities in the Chamber.

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Positive New Development for

Tech StartUps in Kildare MERITS (The Mid-Eastern Region Innovation Think Space) is a new REDF funded initiative coming soon to a new premises in Naas.

Initiated by Kildare LEO, Kildare County Council and Maynooth University and supported by County Kildare Chamber, Wicklow LEO and Meath LEO, funding was secured to build a purposely designed 1,200 square metre, two-storey building adjacent to Áras Chill Dara and to recruit a small management team.

The company will establish an active ecosystem for national and international digital and technology companies and entrepreneurs. In addition to providing a physical location for up to 120 people, the centre will provide mentorship and support, including access to the full resources of Maynooth University through MaynoothWorks, and linkages with the funding community (for early stage and growth capital) and established companies (for beta testing and validation).

Although the building will open in early 2021, MERITS is currently actively seeking to build its network of partners and companies interested in becoming members. The facility will be an ideal location for High Potential Start Up companies looking for a vibrant, interactive, workspace, already networked into an array of supports and key stakeholders.

It will also cater for larger companies seeking to place a smaller project team into a creative environment where conceptualisation can be turned into commercialisation.

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Joe O’Carroll, a native of Kildare, has recently been appointed as General Manager of MERITS and has travelled the “StartUp, ScaleUp, Exit” journey with his own companies previously. He will oversee its transition from construction project to its operational phase. He will also be an active mentor and facilitator for member companies, as well as introducing them to sources of finance appropriate to their stage of development and scale of ambition.

Working space options include Hot Desks, Dedicated Desks in a co-working space or individual company offices ranging in size from 2 to 10 people. The team is also building a nice range of Member Benefits with the support of some of the world’s leading tech companies, so choosing MERITS as your companies’ springboard will be quite a compelling case.

A large conference room will be available to host gatherings of up to 100 people, with provision for appropriate on-site catering. The building is designed to encourage interaction so that people can feed off each other’s energy and innovativeness.

Interested companies, in the digital, tech and internationally traded services sectors, are welcome to contact MERITS now to discuss the options for locating there. Email JoinUs@ MERITS.ie for further details.

County Kildare LEADER Partnership is the Local Development Company for Kildare and works with agencies and local organisations to create pathways to work for the unemployed, or those who are challenged by a disability or social exclusion. We offer practical, tailored, employment training, mentoring and guidance, supporting those who are seeking work.

Being an inclusive and disability-friendly employer has many benefits, increasing creativity through employees having different characteristics and backgrounds, bringing a variety of different skills and experiences, and an enhanced company reputation as a more human and socially responsible organization.

CKLP runs several Programmes who have job-ready participants who can respond to your employment requirements on a part-time or fulltime basis.

Our Kickstart Programme connects people to employers in 2 phases, where a 6-week part time ‘Job Skill’ training programme is followed by 4 weeks of work placement. This initiative matches the needs of the employer with the skills of the unemployed person.

In this programme you get a job ready skilled worker, on 4 weeks insured work placement, supported by a key contact person.

In the Kildare Ability Programme, we support young people, aged 16-19 years, with a disability who are not in education, training or employment. We create a plan for their future through a tailor-made education and training programme, employment supports and supporting employers in Kildare to be more inclusive. Ability have a “Connected-Respected-Included” initiative where companies can receive an award for participation in an inclusive campaign.

The Kildare Roma Employment Support Programme provides tailored support for members of the Roma community, skills development such as Manual Handling, Safe Pass, Home Care Repair and Maintenance, One to One Career Planning, Career Skills Programme, CV Preparation and Interview Skills, leading to supported employment placement.

In conjunction with the HSE, the IPS (Individual Placement Support) Programme supports people using the mental health services to get and maintain paid, mainstream employment.

The Rural Development (LEADER Programme) supports local economic development, including the diversification of the rural economy and the creation of employment opportunities for local communities, including those from disadvantaged groups.

These, and our other programmes: Tús, AMIF Integration, Heads Up Kildare, Youth Employment Programme, Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and the Dara Project, – provide support, training and mentoring to different members of society to assist them on their journey back to work.

Our dedicated staff work closely with local employers and with local employers’ representative bodies to respond to YOUR recruitment needs and diversity policies through placements, mentoring and training.

Check out all our programmes on www.countykildarelp.ie 19

ISSUE 1 - OCTOBER 2020

Natural Gas

Fuelling business and life in Kildare It takes a number of things to create the right environment for business to thrive. An educated workforce, availability of broadband services and strong business networks are core. Another key magnet that attracts businesses to an area, is the availability of natural gas.

Natural gas is the fuel of choice for many businesses. It is secure, flexible, economical and the cleanest conventional fuel source. Businesses that require heat, or large amounts of energy on demand, will choose natural gas.

Over one third of the energy used in Ireland is natural gas and more than 50% of our electricity comes from natural gas.

In Kildare, over 34,000 homes and 1,000 businesses are fuelled by natural gas. Natural gas is available in 22 towns in Kildare, including Naas, Newbridge, Athy, Kilcock, Prosperous and Leixlip, through one of the safest and most modern networks in Europe.

Homes and businesses in Kildare use almost 1,000 GWh of gas annually, making it one of the busiest counties in the country in terms of gas demand.

The county’s largest employers in the pharma and manufacturing sectors all depend on natural gas to keep their businesses running. In addition, hundreds of SMEs depend on gas to run their businesses, including many essential services.

Many larger users generate both electricity and heat on site, using a gas-powered Combined Heat and Power plant which significantly reduces their energy costs while substantially reducing their carbon emissions. Gas Networks Ireland has a range of solutions for business, regardless of size, which deliver energy and cost efficiency.

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Proximity to the natural gas network allows Kildare companies to use the cleanest conventional energy source. It also means that as new technologies such as renewable gas, hydrogen and compressed natural gas for heavy goods vehicles are rolled out, Kildare businesses will be able to transition to a carbon neutral future.

With Ireland’s first dedicated renewable gas injection grid in Cush, Co Kildare, now injecting commercial flows, Gas Networks Ireland has commenced its journey to a zero carbon gas network. That will mean that homes and businesses will be able to continue to enjoy the benefits of gas, while knowing that they are making an increasingly positive contribution to the environment.

If you are interested in connecting your business to the gas network, please contact our dedicated business team via email at businesslink@gasnetworks.ie or by phone on 1850 411 511. If your query relates to connecting your home, please call 1850 50 40 60 or visit: www.gasnetworks.ie.

ISSUE 1 - OCTOBER 2020

Keeping Kildare Working People power business. We’re a people business.

We offer a personalised, consultative and solutions driven approach underpinned by informed thinking and genuine insights.

22 years in operation, Clark is a multi-award winning Recruitment & HR Services Company based in Naas, Co. Kildare. With our innovative spirit and human touch we partner with our clients to project manage Recruitment & Selection, Executive Coaching and Managed Services. All sharing 3 core values: professionalism, integrity and a focus on people.

Clark Recruitment is made up of a team of experienced recruiters who support clients and candidates through the life-cycle of the recruitment process. We take the time to understand the culture, values and specific requirements of our clients and candidates. The ‘normal’ recruitment process has changed in recent months. We will guide you through the new recruitment experience helping you find the right people to rebuild your team.

“As a talent sourcing partner I can’t think of any team I would place higher than Clark in term of quality of service, commitment, integrity and delivery.”

Our Managed Service Solutions include: Recruitment Administration, Payroll outsourcing, Human Resources Management, Outplacement Services, Project Management and the full operation of departments.

Stephen Farrell O’Callaghan, Director at Clark believes “Outsourcing of operations is the right decision for many organisations. Maybe they don’t have the internal skills, resources or time to either manage directly or dedicate to it.

Clark create efficiencies, minimise disruption and maximise value, leaving you hassle free to focus on and grow your core business.”

“Clark provide a tailored, streamlined and transparent service with detailed weekly reports.”

EXECUTIVE COACHING - ENABLE CHANGE. ENCOURAGE GROWTH. MAXIMIZE POTENTIAL. The current climate means that the one constant is change.

To embrace and enable change requires strong leadership and management who can support and guide their teams through often unchartered waters. But who supports the leader?

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Deirdre Coghlan Murray is a qualified Executive Coach and leads the Clark Executive coaching division. She believes, “Now more than ever the value of coaching is recognised as a means for helping business leaders navigate the transition for both themselves and their teams. Giving people the space to reflect, evaluate or simply think with an accredited thinking partner helps build resilience and re-energise.”

Our Executive Coaches act as a catalyst in implementing positive change and help inspire individuals and teams towards achieving personal and business goals. Our coaching programmes offer personal development through one-to-one or team coaching sessions and support the sustainability of performance through enhanced awareness of leadership styles, communication, decision-making and how they translate in workplace relationships and outputs.

The Clark Executive coaching division specialises in providing Executive Coaching to middle and senior management on a confidential one-to-one basis or in teams in many of Ireland’s blue chip companies.

“Coaching helped me to make some key decisions about my future and also some strategic decisions for the organisation that I lead.”

AWARD WINNING We are continuously recognised for the great work we do and are proud to have been awarded SME Business of the Year by the County Kildare Chamber. Our governing body, the National Recruitment Federation has recognised Clark as Irelands Agency of the Year for 2 consecutive years because of our exceptional standards of professional service.

ISSUE 1 - OCTOBER 2020

ISO QUALITY We offer clients a flexible portfolio of services guided by ISO 9001:2015 quality business processes which form an integral part of how we work. Our business is quality and customer focused and because we believe in continuous improvement, we have a rigorous system of internal and external audits resulting in a guarantee of quality.

PSYCHOMETRIC PROFILING Self-awareness and personal discovery are the keys to achieving peak performance.

Clark is the only accredited company in Ireland to provide and distribute the world renowned IMX ADVanced Insights Profile measuring the What, How and Why of human performance.

We help you dig a bit deeper in the selection process when recruiting or assessing the talent in your existing team.

The combination of these three powerful assessment tools enables individuals and teams to discover transformational insight into their behaviour, their values and their personal motivators.

THE BENEFITS OF HIRING TEMPORARY STAFF IN A TIME OF CHANGE Clark Temporary is a dedicated staffing resource designed to give you immediate suitable staffing solutions. We work hard to get to know you and your business so we can place the best people who fit seamlessly into your operation giving you the support you need. We fill 98% of roles within 24

hours meaning you can continue your business without interruption. Our Temporary staff are fully screened and reference checked including training to comply with the Return to Work Safely Protocol set out by our Government.

KEEP KILDARE WORKING- CLARK’S COVID RESPONSE Now more than ever we value our connection with people. To help support businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, Clark set up a forum for business leaders to share ideas, thoughts and experiences in a collaborative way. We are continuing to provide an opportunity for business leaders to be part of a small group who are experiencing similar challenges and have shared questions about how to move their business and people forward. All resources are available at www.clark.ie.

We recognise that this is a very challenging time for employees with so much uncertainty and change. Deirdre Coghlan Murray Managing Director at Clark “We’re providing complimentary Career Coaching and Personal Development Tools. Knowing yourself, your unique behavioural style and your natural talents is a pretty good place to start when you want to progress your career journey.

We offer the jobseeker the opportunity to understand how they influence other people, what their strengths are and what their ideal work environment is by providing a Complimentary DISC Index profile report. Simply contact us at hello@clark.ie”

People make Business work

We provide unique solutions. Contact us 045 881888 or www.clark.ie

‘THE CLARK TEAM HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL , HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE ORGANISATION AND HAVE WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR HIRING MANAGERS’

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ISSUE 1 - OCTOBER 2020

Aldi, Helping to Make Ireland Greener Aldi is committed to offering their customers responsibly sourced, quality products at unbeatable prices. Aldi understands that their business growth must go hand-in-hand with a robust Corporate Responsibility policy. They have always aimed to prioritise their ethical and moral responsibilities to the community and environment by adhering closely to their three core values – Consistency, Simplicity and Responsibility. Based on these working principles, their dedicated Corporate Responsibility team has introduced a wide range of projects and initiatives to support local communities and deliver their services in an environmental and sustainable manner.

Since Covid-19, Aldi’s Corporate Responsibility team has been focused on supporting local communities in Ireland. Aldi donated food and nonfood products to Kildare frontline workers, including Naas General Hospital, Kildare Army Barracks and Naas Garda Station. They also donated €50,000 of non-surplus food to FoodCloud to help meet increased demand. FoodCloud has helped many local charities in Kildare, such as the IWA Athy, Addiction Recovery Ireland, Curragh Pride FRC, SVP Kildare, Teach Tearmainn Women Children’s Refuge, 24

St James Camino Network and Main Street Food Bank Naas. During these difficult times, Aldi has also increased their efforts with their charity partners, such as the Irish Cancer Society. They donated €65,000 in July as a result of the Irish Cancer Society having to cancel its 5k Colour Dash Runs.

In 2019, as part of their Community Grants Programme Aldi donated €500 to eight charities in Kildare including, Gheel Autism Services and Kildare Town Men’s Shed.

In January 2020, Aldi pledged to plant over 100,000 native hardwood trees in Ireland by 2024 in conjunction with Green Belt, a private forestry company.

Since December 2019, they have planted over 56,000 trees on sites in Munster and Connacht. Aldi staff helped Green Belt with the planting of trees on each site. A planting site will be located in Kildare for the next planting season. This will promote biodiversity in the community and will reduce carbon emissions.

The production of plastic is increasing globally which has resulted in a rise of plastic waste. As a result of this, minimising plastic and packaging has become an important priority for Aldi.

Aldi has been a member of Repak since 1999, supporting them in reducing plastic and packaging waste. Aldi listened to their customers’ concerns and released 6 plastic and packaging pledges, including having 100% of its own label packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2022.

Since 2018, Aldi has removed over 600 tonnes of plastic and moved over 870 tonnes of non-recyclable packaging to recyclable packaging.

As a result of their sustainability practices, Aldi was named Ireland’s Most Eco-Friendly Company of the year at the 2019 Checkout National FMCG Awards and Green Retailer of the Year at the 2020 Green Awards.

2021 CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP NOW OPEN

The K Club is the perfect place to network and entertain your clients and colleagues in 2021.

Each Corporate Membership package includes green fees as well as all the benefits of individual memberships for the company appointed executive.

ENQUIRIES: Please contact the Sales team on 01-601-7200 or email sales@kclub.ie and one of our team will contact you.

The K Club, Straffan, County Kildare | www.kclub.ie

ISSUE 1 - OCTOBER 2020

Protect Your Information & Protect Your Business

During, and Following, the COVID-19 Pandemic.

October marks EU Cyber Security Month coordinated by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and the European Commission. It aims to help people remain aware of online risks and to help them get the tools to become more resilient and confident users of technology.

Aware of the growing importance of cyber security given the increasing number of businesses using online to sell goods and services, we at Digital Business Ireland, commissioned NATO adviser and cyber-security expert, Dinos KeriganKyros to compile the key tips for businesses to avert the threat to data and information. Here is a checklist of the key things to look out for:

Protect your email

Your personal email is the gateway to everything you do online so it’s your number one information security asset. It’s therefore critically important to protect, so: + Ensure your email password is used only for your email and it’s not a password that’s used by you for anything else. + Use ‘two-factor authentication’ (2FA). 2FA is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself online.

Easy to set up - it’ll take a few minutes but could save you years of loss and stress.

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Have an Information Security Policy

Write down a draft policy, focusing on how you hope to go about securing your information and the information of your colleagues and customers. It should be continually adapted and improved. Focus on creating an effective Information Security Management System. Think about your regulatory requirements, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Identify Problems Early

Criminals have a near infinite number of opportunities to target your company. The only way we can stop them is for every single person in your organisation to be empowered to identify information and cyber security problems as early as possible - regardless of who the person is in your organisation, or what authority they have.

So encourage your staff to spot potential security problems, no matter how they are caused. If records have been altered, or files accessed or uploaded unexpectedly, or passwords are being shared - these are signs that there may have been a data breach.

Out-of-Date Software

It’s a huge security risk for your company so keep software upto-date. Antivirus software is included for free with Windows and Apple computers, so make sure this built-in antivirus is switched on.

ISSUE 1 - OCTOBER 2020

Be Aware of Online and Telephone Fraud

+ Invoice fraud. This costs Irish companies, organisations, and individuals vast sums each year. Criminals find out about details of supplies. They fake an email with an invoice pretending to be the supplier - or fake an email appearing to be from a trusted colleague - with their own fraudulent bank details. Always call the supplier, or the person who has asked for the payment, on a phone number you have on file (never the number in the email), and check if the details are legitimate. + Banking fraud: Your bank will never call, text or email asking for personal info, or asking you to move money.

Ever. It doesn’t matter how trustworthy the person sounds.

It doesn’t matter how much they know about you, what they say has occurred, or how they say it. Do not click a link or text message that they sent. Do not call them back from that phone if they invite you to because they will have compromised your phone. If you want to call the bank or the Gardaí use another phone and a legitimate contact number you already use or you find online - never a number you’ve been sent by email or text.

Online Video Conferencing

We’re all online video conferencing during the pandemic, and this trend will continue for a long-time. So, to keep these meetings secure make sure you:

Be Aware of Social Engineering

+ Employees are being targeted online on social media, social networking, and dating sites. This can lead to your identity and credentials being stolen. It can even lead to theft, extortion, and blackmail targeted at your company. Be especially aware of people you’ve never met - this awareness is your single greatest protection. There are many other things you can do to protect yourself on social media. Safety advice from Facebook, including info about online wellbeing and online consent is freely available from Facebook and Be Safe Online. + Phishing: You get an email that looks genuine with a file attached, or a link to click. This is the number one way for someone to get into an information network. Don’t assume an email is really from the person it appears. It never hurts to make a call to check, especially if you’re not expecting the email. And never click on a link in an email or a text that says ‘your email has been compromised - click here to reset your password.’ This is always a scam. If you think there’s been a phishing email, investigate as soon as possible, don’t leave it. + Tailgating is a form of social engineering. Many businesses are seen as ‘soft targets’ by those who want to cause harm online but also physically. Thankfully they are few in number but the threat of such people is real. An easy way for them to gain access is to follow close behind as someone holds the door open for them to a secure area. Anyone can buy a high viz or a clipboard to make it look like they belong in the building. So make it a standard procedure to always check the ID of anyone you hold a door open for, no matter how legitimate or official that person looks. And if you notice anyone who shouldn’t be there or who’s acting suspiciously, report it to security or the Gardaí but never placing yourself in danger.

•

Ensure that only authorised individuals are on the video call. Lock down the meetings to invited participants only. Question anyone who you may not know on the call, especially if their camera is switched off. Use waiting rooms for meetings.

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Generate unique meeting links and codes.

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Use only platforms with ‘end-to-end encryption.’

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Never share links or codes on social media.

With everyone working together we can create the safest possible online environment at home, at work, and across Ireland, during the crisis and in the years that follow. For more information please visit www.digitalbusinessireland.ie

CYBER-SECURITY MANUAL BMK5457 Cyber-Security manual social ad.indd 1

produced in partnership with

05/10/2020 14:00

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Membership starts at â‚Ź300 SUPPORTING YOUR BUSINESS THROUGH COVID19

Lobbying & Business Representation Financial Advice, HR Supports, Grants Promotion & Brand Awareness Webinars, Workshops & Training

For more information contact Rachel@countykildarechamber.ie 085 862 1120

Fully Funded Mentoring Independent and confidential mentoring available for Kildare based family businesses navigating the challenges of COVID-19 Facilitated by Paul Keogh who has helped & advised family businesses over the past 30years For further information and an expression of interest form contact jennifer@countykildarechamber.ie

ISSUE 1 - OCTOBER 2020

NEW Chamber Website Including a new members area & a mobile app.

After a lot of hard work and dedication, we are delighted to finally introduce our brand new Chamber website which includes the new feature of a Chamber members area and a new mobile app.

New Website

Developed by Chamber members Graphedia.com, our brand new website allows visitors to browse all our latest news and updates, research & book in for upcoming events, check out our Chamber member listing, hear what our members have to say through video testimonials and so much more.

Check it out at: www.countykildarechamber.ie

New Members Area

Members can now log into their own profile and update their company information, add news releases, post job listings, pay an outstanding bill, refer other members and so much more.

email address in a Chamber member company? Members can now add this level of detail, safe in the knowledge that only other Chamber member’s can view it.

All members have been sent login detials for this new area – if you are missing yours or need to reset your password to gain access, contact Jennifer at Jennifer@ countykildarechamber.ie or 085 862 4863.

In order to inform our members on how to fully utilise this new tool, the Chamber is holding regualar training webinars to show our members how to fully benefit from this new feature.

Interested in attending one of these training webinars?

New Mobile App.

County Kildare Chamber are excited to introduce the all new Chamber APP. This is a state-of-the-art custom-made APP that connects with our website and keeps all users up to date instantly.

Features Include: • Live Chamber News Feed • Live Members News Feed • Live Events Feed • Push Notifications for special offers and news releases • All the latest information about the chamber

Check out: www.countykildarechamber.ie/events/ for the next training session or contact Jennifer@countykildarechamber.ie for more details.

This new members area also allows our members to gain access to contact information exclusive to members of the Chamber. Looking for the Marketing / HR / Procurment Manager’s

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