County Kildare Chamber Chronicle Oct. 2024 by countykildarechamber

Corporate Partners 2024

Welcome to the latest edition of the Chamber Chronicle. As we enter the final months of 2024 many of our businesses will be using this time for reflection, assessing the last twelve months- what has worked well, what may need to be tweaked and analysing business outlook for 2025.

We as a Chamber are here to help and support our membership through our advocacy function, networking and training events. We have continued to represent you- our membership- through regular engagement, making submissions on your behalf and highlighting particular areas of priority with key stakeholders for Kildare and the Mid-East Region. Our Pre-Budget Submission highlighting areas of particular concern around infrastructure delivery.

Over the coming weeks the Chamber will be preparing a General Election manifesto. Your feedback in this regard is crucial as we advocate for your needs with key stakeholders to ensure we continue to drive positive momentum across Kildare and the Mid-East Region.

A warm welcome to our new members. As always, to all of our membership, remember the Chamber team is here to support you. Please reach out if you need assistance.

Sinead Ronan Chief Executive, County Kildare

In the Hot Seat with Dee Ahearn, CEO at Barretstown

Kildare Business Awards Finalists

MOS Mechanical honoured with prestigious business all star award

“We at MOS Mechanical are incredibly proud to have been named the Business All-Star Kildare Enterprise of the Year 2024 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. This recognition truly reflects our team’s dedication to excellence and our innovative approach within the mechanical services industry. Led by our founder, Michael O’Shea, we’ve built a reputation for delivering exceptional, customized solutions that meet the unique needs of our clients. This award reinforces our commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in our field. We look forward to continuing to lead the way in delivering exceptional service.”

Kildare MERITS’s – The latest digital hub to join siro-vodafone gigabit hub initiative

SIRO and Vodafone have announced that MERITs, Kildare’s Naas based innovation tech hub, is joining the Gigabit Hub Initiative.

The Initiative is a partnership between SIRO and Vodafone, which provides world class connectivity solutions to digital hubs across Ireland, including Gigabit full fibre broadband. Currently, more than 20 of Ireland’s leading hubs have participated in the Initiative including Galway’s PorterShed, Skibbereen’s Ludgate Hub or Dundalk’s Creative Spark.

MERITs (The Mid-East Region’s Innovation ThinkSpace) located in Naas’s Devoy Quarter on John Devoy Road, funded by Kildare County Council and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through Enterprise Ireland, serves as a dynamic incubation hub for startup and scaling technology and innovation focused businesses.

Welcoming the partnership, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council Sonya Kavanagh said; “County Kildare is one of the fastest growing counties in the country and is home to a growing number of indigenous SMEs and a significant number of remote workers. Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office and Economic Development Team provide a range of supports for SMEs and this range of supports is being actively expanded. As economic development and job creation are two of our key priorities, we believe that this partnership between SIRO and MERITS will positively contribute to achieving these priorities.”

All Events Audio Visual celebrate new clients

“Hard work pays off when applied in the right ways.” Chamber members, All Events Audio Visual, have gone to great lengths to care about their clients, and simply be.... themselves.

Their 2024 clients include Boots-Walgreen Alliance, Johnson&Johnson, Johnstown Estate, FBD, Macra Na Feirme, Dennison, Irish Life, Comer Group, and many more. This year they took in their brand new 30sqm high-resolution videowall - an investment of nearly €70k - and their customers love it! Why? It actually saves them money by being both screen and backdrop in the one go, giving them infinite possibilities for their presentations and backgrounds.

As a result of these investments in their clients and equipment, the business is growing and they are thoroughly enjoying the journey.

Soft Skill Success win Award

Maureen McCowen, founder of Soft Skill Success, has won the Professional Speaking Association’s “Speaker Factor” competition, earning her a spot to represent Ireland at the UK & Ireland Conference in the Cotswolds on October 18th.

As a specialist in public speaking, Maureen is passionate about empowering professionals with the skills to speak confidently and effectively.

This accomplishment marks a significant milestone in Maureen’s career as she continues to enable her clients to unlock speaking confidence.

Frame It Productions – Documentary Film

Frame It Productions are currently in post-production and are excited to have had the opportunity to document a portion of an ambitious virtual production project created and filmed by Kildare Film-maker Fergus Mulligan. The documentary which is directed by Sue Walsh alongside Director of Photography Brian Dooley, has been in production for over a year and recently wrapped filming.

The short film of interest was created over a span of 2 years and 7 months, primarily by its creator, Fergus Mulligan, on a modest budget of €10,000. To bring the project to life, Fergus built a green screen studio at the back of his home in Kilcock, Co. Kildare. He utilized cutting-edge software, primarily Unreal Engine, to produce a low-budget short film that matches the visual quality of larger studio productions using similar green screen practices such as used in the likes of ‘Avatar’ .

‘Beyond The System’ is now an award-winning short film currently in the early stages of its festival circuit, both nationally and internationally.

The documentary film project by Frame It Productions explores the lengths a creative mind will go to achieve this type of mammoth task on a micro budget and why.. It is now currently in post-production with the intention to enter the festival circuit early next year.

ITM Digital Wins National Award for One Veterans Charity Website

Kildare-based design studio, ITM Digital, has been awarded the prestigious ‘Not-For-Profit Website of the Year’ at the 2024 PTSB National Digital Awards. In close collaboration with One Veterans, a charity focused on supporting military veterans, our creative team delivered a powerful and userfriendly online platform. This award celebrates our innovative design approach and commitment to creating a website that embodies the charity’s mission while improving accessibility and user experience for veterans across the country.

Kildare Business Awards

The County Kildare Chamber Business Award for:

Emerging Business of the Year

• MSM Renewables Limited

• Catering Crew Hospitality

Large Business of the Year

• Glenveagh

• Lifeline Ambulance Service

Sponsored by:

• Castleteel Ltd

Sponsored by:

• MGS Mfg Group Ltd

Sponsored by:

Small-Medium Business of the Year

• Home Comfort Retrofits Limited

Employee of the Year

• Clark - Maire Griffith

• ITM Tech - Stephen Nolan

Excellence in Communications

• Glenveagh

• Osborne

• Clark Recruitment Ltd

• Barretstown

Sponsored by:

• Barretstown - Siobhán Kavanagh

Sponsored by:

• Punchestown Racecourse & Event Venue

Sponsored by: Excellence in Customer Service

• FACE Credit Consultacy

• Killashee Hotel

Excellence in the Community

• Barberstown Castle Hotel

• T&I Fitouts Ltd

• The Curragh Racecourse

Sponsored by:

• Maynooth University

Sponsored by:

Health & Wellbeing

• Barretstown

• Glenveagh

Innovation in Business

• MSM Renewables Limited

• Lifeline Ambulance Service

International Trade

• Irish Dog Foods

• Crystal Air

Diversity, Equality & Inclusion

• Osprey Hotel

• Glenveagh

Net Zero Achievement

• Gannon Office Solutions

• Maynooth University

Sustainable Development

• Intel Ireland

• Barretstown

The Overall Business of the Year

• Malone & Co. Accountants

Sponsored by:

• Follow Fox Events

Sponsored by:

• Ventac

Sponsored by:

• Killashee Hotel

Sponsored by:

• Irish Dog Foods

Sponsored by:

• Killashee Hotel

Sponsored by:

One of our category awards winners will be awarded Business of the Year during the Awards Night

Sponsored by:

Outstanding Contribution to Business

This year’s recipient will be announced during the Awards Night

years

+ VAT. Book online at www.kildarebusinessawards.ie

This

Kildare Business Awards, Powered by EirGrid, takes place on Friday 15th November in Killashee Hotel, Naas. Join us for a drinks reception at 7pm, followed by a 3 course meal and live music from Blue Romantics. Tickets are €175

IN THE HOT SEAT

With Dee Ahearn CEO of Barretstown

Dee, could you start by telling our readers a bit about yourself

I am the CEO of Barretstown, Ireland’s largest provider of therapeutic camps and programmes for children affected by cancer and other serious illnesses.

Founded in 1994 by Hollywood actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, its mission is to support as many children and their families as possible affected by cancer and other serious illnesses with a focus on building emotional and social wellbeing through a series of funbased activities and challenges delivered through therapeutic camps and programmes.

To date, we have served over 125,000 campers, across 13 different illness groups through residential camps at our campus in Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare and a nationwide hospitals and schools outreach programme. We project to serve over 250,000 campers by the end of this decade.

Barretstown is recognised as a centre of excellence in childhood cancer care and other serious illnesses. Children are referred to Barretstown based on their medical needs with the services provided aligning to the objectives of the National Cancer Strategy. Our medically endorsed research informed programmes play a critical role, attending to the psycho-social needs of children and teenagers who are dealing with cancer or other serious illness.

Prior to taking up my role as CEO with Barretstown, I held several senior leadership positions in the commercial sector with Treasury Holdings, CBRE and Black & Decker.

During my time with Treasury Holdings, I was introduced to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and later served as Chair of Make-A- Wish. It was my first experience of working with the not-for-profit sector and had an influence on my decision to pivot in my career and move into this area.

I am a native of Cahir, Tipperary, and I now live in Kilcullen with my husband Ciaran and daughter Millie.

You have been CEO of Barretstown for over 10 years and brought years of business experience with you when you joined the organisation. Do you think that has helped you in your role?

My background in the commercial sector with leading international brands has significantly shaped my approach. I have taken the skills, learnings, insights and experience gained from industries which have a laser like focus on return on investment, value proposition and growth. When I took over the role at Barretstown in 2010 my objective was to ensure it was run like a business and that remains the case today.

My own experiences have been instrumental in helping to navigate the organisation through two seismic events - a global recession and pandemic. During both, we have managed to consistently grow the numbers of campers served and income generated to support service delivery. This has been made possible by assessing all elements of our operations and aligning to best effect in line with the resources available at each juncture to ensure we deliver with maximum impact.

In my decade plus tenure as CEO, our camper numbers have increased by an incredible 886% going from serving almost 2,000 campers to serving almost 18,000 in 2023. This year alone, we will deliver our programmes to 22,000 campers. Income has increased by 157% from €3.7 million to over €9 million.

The establishment of our Outreach Programme in hospitals and schools has been a vital development in the context of building awareness of our services and ensuring as many children as possible experience Barretstown’s life-changing therapeutic programmes. We serve over 13,000 annually through Ireland and the UK, working with CHI Crumlin, CHI Temple Street, Cork University Hospital, Mercy Hospital Cork, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and University College London Hospitals.

We have established partnerships with the Irish Cancer Society, Irish Heart Foundation, Brain Tumour Ireland and the Jack & Jill Foundation to name but a few. Collaboration and partnership are very important components of our strategy and inform our overall approach.

All services provided to children and families at Barretstown are entirely free of charge, and with only 4% of total income through HSE funding, we are reliant on hard-working fundraising and corporate partnerships programmes. To this point, corporate partnerships with Irish and global brands including Applegreen, Lidl, Dealz, Domino’s and Bord Na Móna Recycling play a vital role.

Governance and transparency are also a core pillar of all operations at Barretstown and we place a huge emphasis on this. It is critical from a credibility and corporate reputation point of view. We have consistently attained the Charities Institute Ireland’s Triple Lock standard, a quality mark which recognises best practice in relation to ethical fundraising, financial transparency, and governance practice.

Barretstown’s commitment to good governance has been recognised with several national awards including the most recent Charities Institute Excellence Award Charity Board of the Year; Business and Finance ESG Good Governance Awards; the Carmichel Good Governance Award and the Chartered Accountants Leinster Society Published Accounts Award.

Leading on from that, how has the organisation changed over time?

In terms of service delivery, we have increased numbers significantly, now serving over 22,000 annually, and by the end of the decade we will serve over 250,000 campers. We are constantly innovating our programmes. For example, three new programmes, Camp at Home, Family Retreat Weekend and Community & Education were rolled out last year.

Strong fundraising and a corporate partnership programme are in place, playing a vital role in generating the necessary income to deliver on our commitment to ensure as many sick children as possible are supported by Barretstown. We deliver a series of largescale open events each year including our Big Picnic during the summer and Winter Wonderland at the end of the year which are attended by over 6,000 plus. There is a strong focus on raising awareness and generating much needed income through such events.

Our volunteer numbers now stand at over 3,700, going from a little over 600 over 14 years ago. Volunteers and their contribution are a huge part of Barretstown. Our Corporate Helping Hands programme has resulted in over 8,000 corporate volunteers lending support to help to prepare our site for our campers’ arrival.

Our campus has developed significantly, undergoing a €20 million infrastructure development with the provision of a new state of the art accommodation building, an awardwinning Dining Hall, recreational facilities and prioritizing the refurbishment of our existing cottages. This also runs hand in hand with our commitments under the national climate action plan, and sustainability has been prioritized across the board. As snapshot of this activity, our carbon footprint has reduced by 25%, increased recycling by 105% and reduced waste by 48%.

One of the most significant changes has been the recognition of the importance of attending to the psycho-social needs of children and young adults with cancer and other serious illnesses. This need is now acknowledged in our National Cancer Strategy, with Barretstown’s services aligning to meet this critical aspect of care.

We are projected to serve over 22,000 campers this year, which will also be a tremendous achievement and one we are immensely proud of. The fact that we are marking 30 years of service is a wonderful achievement, and one which also provides a great opportunity for us to renew our sense of purpose and our commitment to helping as many sick children as possible.

As a partner of County Kildare Chamber, how has this benefited you over the years?

Barretstown is celebrating its 30th anniversary in operation this year. What has been the highlight to date?

The launch of our Social Impact Report in March of this year was a milestone moment. The report which was commissioned by Barretstown and conducted independently measured the social value of Barretstown’s services at over €1.9 billion over three decades. This captures the impact of our services across the children and families we serve, but also the broader community of hospitals, schools, volunteers and corporate partners. The report was the first one of its kind undertaken by a charity. I believe it will provide an important template for others within the not-for-profit space to follow.

Our upcoming Gala at the RDS on September 14th marks another highlight for Barretstown where we will celebrate 30 years of joy, resilience and hope with over 1,000 guests including some very special attendees.

We are proud to be part of such a vibrant community of businesses and to have the opportunity to contribute positively to an organisation which is playing an important role in the social and economic development of the county.

It has afforded us the opportunity to network with peers, share insights and learnings and build our network within the county and further afield. We appreciate the significant role that Barretstown plays, but we also appreciate the importance of support from within the county through business groups and the public.

Engagement with County Kildare Chamber affords us the opportunity to meet directly with companies who have been strong supporters of Barretstown while also introducing Barretstown to others, who may not be as familiar with it. It has helped to spread the message of Barretstown and build alliances across the board. Building relationships and forging partnerships is an important part of our overall strategy and involvement with County Kildare Chamber aligns to this.

Elsatrans Transport and Logistics announces opening date of our new 85,000 sq. ft warehousing facility, aiming for LEED Gold Sustainability, ISO22000-ISO9001-ISO14000 and ISO45000 NQA Certification in Naas, Co. Kildare.

Elsatrans Ltd, a forefront provider of logistics and supply chain solutions, is delighted to declare the commencement of its new 85,000-square-foot warehouse facility in Momentum Logistics Park, Naas.

Scheduled for completion in February 2025, this state-of-theart facility is poised to set new benchmarks in sustainability, efficiency, and innovation within the logistics sector in Kildare.

Focusing on environmental responsibility and operational excellence, the new warehouse will offer 22,000 pallet spaces, meeting the expanding needs of our clients in the food manufacturing, packaging, and retail industries, whilst maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, and reliability.

Key attributes of the new facility include:

• Strategic Location: Positioned in a prime location close to Dublin off M7, the warehouse location ensures easy access to the major transportation routes of the M4 West and M9 South, enhancing streamlined distribution channels throughout the Island of Ireland.

• LEED Gold Sustainability: Elsatrans is dedicated to environmental stewardship and aims for LEED Gold certification for this facility. By incorporating energy-efficient designs, renewable energy sources, and sustainable materials, we strive to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute towards a greener future.

• ISO22000 Certification: In our commitment to uphold food safety and quality management, Elsatrans will maintain its ISO22000 certification for this warehouse. This globally recognised standard highlights our pledge to uphold the highest levels of hygiene and food safety across our Warehouse and Transport operations.

• Advanced Technology: Outfitted with the latest technological innovations in Warehouse Management Systems, including sophisticated inventory management and security protocols, the warehouse will guarantee efficient, secure storage and distribution of our client’s products.

“We are excited to announce the construction of our new warehouse facility,” stated Aaron McAleenan, Managing Director at Elsatrans Ltd. “This investment reflects our commitment to offering our clients increased capacity and top-tier logistic solutions while reducing our environmental footprint. We anticipate the completion of this project in February 2025, with the extra capacity opportunities it will present for our clients and increased employment in our community.”

Elsatrans Ltd is a leading provider of logistics and supply chain solutions, catering to clients across various sectors with a dedication to excellence, innovation, and sustainability. With a focus on customer satisfaction and operational efficiency, Elsatrans offers customised solutions to meet the specific requirements of each client. Contact us on 045 409215 or email aaron@elsatrans.ie for any logistical requirements for 2025.

NATASHA RAMSAY Head of Group Operations at Radius Vehicle Solutions

Radius Vehicle Solutions is delighted to announce Natasha Ramsay has joined the Irish vehicle solutions business heading up leasing operations on the island of Ireland.

Natasha joins the business having previously held multiple senior and executive positions within the industry and is adept in executing change management with a blend of practical skills and expertise.

She has proven success in driving Operations, Client Services and Customer Excellence and building and developing agile team across operational and sales functions.

The Radius group is Ireland’s premier fleet and connectivity partner, serving over 60,000 customers across seven specialised business units and through Ireland’s largest fuel card network, DCI, which it owns and operates. Its comprehensive vehicle solutions business, RVS offers a convenient one-stop shop for fleet management services throughout the entire island of Ireland, with a fleet of 4,000 vehicles currently in operation.”

Tech

ITM Tech is delighted to announce the appointment of Stevie Chappell, our Business Solutions Advisor. Stevie is a solutions architect and brings a wealth of expertise in building tailored IT solutions for both new and existing clients.

Stevie will play a pivotal role in managing top client relationships and supporting our existing team. With his deep understanding of third-party technology products and services, Stevie will craft solutions that align with clients’ needs, while ensuring a seamless customer experience. We’re excited to have Stevie on board to strengthen and secure our business and yours.

PADDY MCKENNA Sales Account Manager – VEI Global Ltd

VEI Global are happy to welcome Paddy McKenna on board our expanding team. With a degree in Retail & Services Management from D.I.T, Paddy has since gained valuable experience as Account Support Representative with Enterprise Holdings and more recently as a Sales Representative with Wurth Ireland Ltd. Joining VEI Global Ltd as Sales Account Manager, Paddy will bring this experience along with knowledge gained from working in his family’s hardware & DIY store to this position. In his new role, Paddy will be selling data networks, connectivity and cloud-based phone solutions to existing and prospective customers.

GARY DOYLE Group Commercial Director at Mount Charles

Gary, a dynamic leader, has excelled in fast-paced, people-focused organizations throughout his career. Gary has harnessed his core values of resilience and networking whilst growing construction businesses in the UK and Ireland. Now, Commercial Director of family-owned Mount Charles Group (3000+ employees), Gary is responsible for the sustainable growth of multiple businesses including, catering, cleaning, vending and events.

STEVIE CHAPPELL Business Solution Adviser at ITM

Employee Engagement the Top Priority for Irish Organisations.

The data from Adare’s recent HR Barometer Series 8.2 reveal that the top priorities for Irish Organisations heading into 2025 centre around enhancing Employee engagement and experience (51%), retaining talent (48%), and strengthening talent acquisition (25%). The numbers reflect the competitive labour market that Irish Organisations are operating in and highlight how Employers are responding by adopting a more strategic approach to Employee engagement and communication.

Organisations that prioritise strategic HR initiatives which focus on Employee well-being, clear career pathways, and the development of a supportive and transparent workplace culture will put themselves in a stronger position to enhance Employee engagement levels, productivity, and retention rates.

What is Employee Engagement?

Employee engagement is a measure of how enthusiastic and involved Employees feel in their workplaces. Organisations that incorporate Employee feedback into workplace operations for example are more likely to have a more engaged workforce. Alternatively, if Employees have no control or influence over their work or their work environment, they are less likely to feel connected to their workplace and are more likely to experience burnout. Engaged Employees are more productive, enjoy greater job satisfaction and contribute to greater overall workplace morale. Organisations that focus on fostering Employee engagement are therefore likely to experience better business outcomes.

How to Foster Employee Engagement

Promote Work-Life Balance

One of the most effective ways to boost Employee engagement is to promote work-life balance initiatives. In the modern fast-paced work environment, Employees are exposed to the risk of work-related stress and may need support maintaining an appropriate level of work-life balance. Employees experiencing stress or burnout out are more likely to leave their jobs. Promoting a workplace culture that values work-life balance can therefore significantly improve Employee satisfaction and retention rates. Organisations should examine what work-life balance initiatives would be most appropriate for their operations and monitor the impact on job satisfaction and retention rates.

2. Clear Career Pathways

Employees who feel stagnant in their roles are more likely to look for opportunities elsewhere. Career development pathways that provide clear opportunities for advancement are a powerful tool in a retention strategy. Employees who have career goals that are aligned with their Organisation’s growth plans are more likely to make long-term commitments. HR strategies in this area can include collaborating with Employees on the development of individualised career development plans or developing opportunities for learning, mentorship, and skill-building. High-potential Employees might benefit from seeing a clear pathway into a leadership role. This approach ensures that the Organisation has a strong leadership pipeline, and that talented Employees see a long-term career pathway. Organisations should also examine the feasibility of investing in continuous learning and development. Employees who receive support towards their professional growth through upskilling and reskilling are more likely to remain with their Organisation, reducing turnover related to career dissatisfaction.

3. Develop a Supportive and Transparent Workplace Culture

Employees who feel well-informed and involved in their Organisation’s direction are more likely to feel a sense of ownership and connection to their Employer. To develop a more supportive and transparent workplace culture, Organisations could consider holding regular company-wide meetings where members of the leadership team share recent business updates, performance metrics, future growth plans and importantly how Employees can contribute and benefit from achieving the stated goals. These meetings should be a two-way conversation where Employees have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. In larger Organisations, it may be necessary to rely on Employee surveys. Employee surveys help to identify current needs, concerns, and satisfaction levels. Employee survey is only effective if management take action to respond to any trends in the survey data. This is a vital step to demonstrate that leadership is actively listening and responding to Employee concerns. Organisations that provide transparent career pathways to promotions, pay rises, or alternative roles within the business are likely to have Employees who fully understand how they can develop their career by moving up or across. Committing to transparent communication helps to build trust between management and Employees. Employees who feel informed and heard are also more likely to remain engaged in the longterm which will help to reduce turnover rates.

Focus on Employee Engagement to Boost Retention

Improving Employee retention rates by focusing on engagement requires a comprehensive HR strategy that creates a workplace where Employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to contribute in the long-term.

Ultimately, an engaged workforce leads to lower turnover, higher productivity, and a more resilient and successful Organisation. Business leaders should continuously review and refine their engagement strategies to meet the evolving needs of their Employees and any changes to the workplace or operations.

Businesses aiming for long-term success must adopt a strategic mindset around their HR activity. HR professionals must be equipped to think strategically, use data effectively, and continuously innovate to meet the changing needs of the business and its workforce. This strategic approach to HR will contribute to building an engaged, resilient, and agile workforce that is capable of achieving sustained long-term success.

Other Key Insights from the HR Barometer Series 8.2:

Salary and Compensation: The report reveals that 66% of organisations plan to increase salaries in 2025, a notable decrease from the 86% that did so in 2024. The average planned salary increase is 3.6%, closely aligning with the 3.7% actual increase in 2024. Furthermore, 53% of organisations are tying salary increases to overall company profitability, with 30% requiring a profitability threshold of 90100% for these increases to take effect.

Bonuses: In 2024, 53% of organisations plan to pay bonuses, with 69% of these bonuses being tied to employee performance. On average, bonuses will account for 9.9% of employees’ salaries, underscoring the continued emphasis on performance-based rewards.

Pensions: With the impending introduction of auto-enrolment in Ireland, only 23% of organisations are prepared for the change, reflecting a modest increase from 2023.

While 43% of employees are expected to be auto enrolled, one in three organisations will not be affected due to existing occupational pension schemes already being in place.

Diversity & Inclusion: Diversity and inclusion policies have seen growth, with 68% of organisations now having a formal D&I policy, up from 63% in 2023. However, 31% of organisations still lack such a policy.

The average gender pay gap in Ireland has risen to 10.7% in 2024, a 3.3% increase from the previous year. Notably, 56% of organisations do not record their gender pay gap.

Working Practices: Hybrid working continues to be the dominant model, with it accounting for 76% of organisations’ current working model, a 4% increase from 2023. Only 3% of organisations are fully remote, down from 7% in 2023, reflecting a shift toward having employees back in the office in some form. On average, employees are spending 2.7 days in the office each week, consistent with last year’s data.

For HR Barometer Highlights, download our infographic with key statistics HERE.

Adare is a team of expert-led Employment Law, Industrial Relations and best practice Human Resource Management consultants. If your Organisation needs advice, support, or guidance about compliance requirements or any HR issues, please contact Adare by calling (01) 561 3594 or emailing info@adarehrm.ie to learn what services are available to support your business.

Getting to know our Chamber members

About Fairways and FunDays:

Established in March 2014, Fairways and FunDays has redefined the Golf Vacation experience by offering a seamless fusion of world-class golf and authentic Irish culture. Over the years, the company has become Ireland’s premier Golf Tour Operator and earned recognition on the global stage. It was named Europe’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the prestigious World Golf Awards in 2020, 2021, and 2023, a testament to its consistent excellence. What began as a family-owned venture has rapidly grown into a market leader in Ireland’s booming Golf Vacation sector.

Fairways and FunDays has pioneered a new, client-centered approach to Golf Tourism, ensuring that both avid golfers and their non-golfing companions enjoy a holistic and deeply immersive Irish experience. As the first Golf Tour Operator to design bespoke itineraries for non-golfers and families traveling alongside golf enthusiasts, Fairways and FunDays has diversified its offerings. This unique service has attracted many nongolfing groups to Ireland for unforgettable sightseeing and leisure tours, making Fairways and FunDays a top choice for a wide range of travellers.

At the core of the company’s success is its close collaboration with Ireland’s finest golf courses, luxury hotels, historical landmarks, renowned restaurants, and vibrant evening entertainment venues. No matter the budget or length of stay, Fairways and FunDays promises an unforgettable Irish vacation. As proud members of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), they work closely with Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland to uphold the highest standards in tourism.

The company’s exclusive focus on Ireland ensures that they are the true specialists in delivering the most authentic and memorable golf experiences. Every trip is carefully designed to create magical memories for their clients.

Our Base:

Fairways and FunDays operates from two strategic locations: its current office in Ladytown Business Park, Ireland, and another in Houston, Texas. However, in an exciting development, the company is set to move its headquarters to the Kildare Innovation Campus early in the New Year. This move represents a significant milestone for the company as it continues its expansion. The Kildare Innovation Campus will provide a dynamic environment for the team, positioning Fairways and FunDays for continued growth and innovation in the Golf Vacation industry.

Our People:

Fairways and FunDays was founded by the O’Carroll family in 2014, with Phil, Marie and Joe O’Carroll at the helm. Together, they bring over 40 years of experience in Golf Tourism and Golf Course management. Their deep-rooted expertise and passion for the game have been instrumental in shaping the company’s success.

Earlier this year, the leadership team expanded with the appointment of Conor Russell as CEO. A PGA Professional with more than 25 years of experience, Conor has held senior roles at prestigious venues, including The K Club and Portmarnock Links in Dublin. His arrival marks a new chapter for Fairways and FunDays, bringing valuable industry insights and leadership to the company. Conor is supported by Michael Sheehan, who heads up the operations team. Michael, another seasoned professional, has a background with The K Club and Mount Juliet, two of Ireland’s most iconic golf destinations. Former European Tour Professional and golf industry expert, Peter Lawrie, represents Fairways and FunDays on the Legends Tour along with supporting the business in his role as Director of Golf.

Together, the team at Fairways and FunDays is committed to delivering unparalleled experiences for golfers and non-golfers alike, ensuring that each client’s trip to Ireland is nothing short of extraordinary.

Manguard Plus is Ireland’s largest privately owned Irish security company. Founded in 1996, the company has grown to become the leading provider of quality security services throughout the island of Ireland.

Headquartered in Naas, Co Kildare, it has regional offices in Waterford, Cork, Belfast and Derry.

With some 1,200 colleagues, Manguard Plus prides itself on its client centric approach to managing business, while inclusively supporting all its colleagues, making it a truly Irish success story.

Its services include the provision of static guarding, mobile services, alarm response, keyholding, vacant property inspections, event management, lone worker protection, alarm and CCTV monitoring. It has recently added a new suite of high-tech services, including the installation and monitoring of alarms.

Manguard Plus leads the field of security service providers by being the only security company in Ireland to have an accredited IS / EN 50518:2019 alarm receiving and CCTV monitoring centre station supporting their clients and managing their staff. This Commandand-Control centre has served to copper fasten Manguard Plus as the leader in security innovation in the industry. It allows the company to operate a software platform that consolidates its clients’ CCTV, access control and alarm systems from a wide range of security products into one operator interface. This provides clients with alternative cost-effective solutions to secure their business and offers significant cost reductions through their applications of remote monitoring and response services.

Manguard Plus represents the interests of the security sector at European level by its membership of the Confederation of European Security Services (CoESS), while at the same time supporting the Irish market as a fully Guaranteed Irish company.

It is the only security company in Ireland to gain international recognition for its commitment to customer service, being awarded World Host recognised Business Status.

It won the inaugural Guaranteed Irish Award for Best Professional Services -Multinational with a Global Impact. Manguard Plus continues to be trusted as the security partner

for several Corporate and Government bodies, and holds major contracts for some of the biggest clients in the country including the Dublin Port Company, HRI, Aer Lingus, the Curragh, DSV and Virgin Media, South Dublin County Council and Fingal County Council

It is a leading sponsor of Sport and Community initiatives in the country, including sponsoring the ‘Manguard Park’ Kildare GAA Centre of Excellence in Hawkfield, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Moorefield GAA Club and St. Patrick’s Athletic in Inchicore. It also has a sponsorship deal with leading jockey Declan McDonogh.

Director of Manguard Plus, Darren Hall says

“We firmly believe that a business is all about people, our valued clients and our valued employees. We believe in giving the absolute best service to our clients who recognise our professionalism and exacting standards and trust us with their hugely diverse and unique security needs. We are proud and grateful to have retained so many of our clients through our 28 years in business. This is a ringing endorsement for Manguard Plus and the service we provide, and our reputation continues to grow with our company winning some of the biggest security contracts in Ireland in recent times”.

“It’s been a collaborative achievement and one that has only been realised by hard work, a commitment to a top-class service for clients and dedicated, professional and trustworthy staff”.

“We are proud of the central role we continue to play in ensuring the Security Industry engages in ongoing upskilling and training for staff and Management. This is key towards the improvement of the entire industry, ensuring excellent service for clients and better opportunities and advancement for our staff”.

“Our success means that we can support community events, sport and social projects in Kildare and nationally, and we do that with a spirt of responsibility, respect and professionalism that aligns with our company ethos. We are extremely happy to be able to help the many communities and sporting organisations who do such worthwhile and much needed work, especially with the underage sports people in our communities. Sport can be a lifeline for our youth, it encourages bonding and is critical for the wellbeing and mental health of our young people, particularly for the times we are living in”. www.manguardplus.ie Telephone 0818 313300 / 045 408300

Over the last few years, it seems in the pension landscape that only constant is change. With pension schemes, there is a move toward more oversight and higher standards which can only be a good thing when it has time to settle down.

We all know the phrase every little helps, but it can be the opposite if every little helps is referring to fees or charges that are applied to your pension scheme.

Skin in the Game.

Wouldn’t you like to know that the scheme advisor has skin in the game? Do you think this helps to make sure they are more engaged and proactive with their advice and service?

Article for County Kildare Chamber on Pension Schemes & Auto-Enrolment 14 October 2024

What does this mean for existing and legacy pension schemes?

There are two types of pension arrangements that an employer can offer their employees. Both have their pros and cons. The first is a Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) and the second is an Occupational Pension Scheme. Each employer will need to understand some of the differences between these two options before deciding which path to choose.

What does this mean for existing and legacy pension schemes?

There are some important differences between the two options which will impact both the employer and their employees. Here is an example of just three of the many differences.

Personal Retirement Savings Account Occupational Pension Scheme

Retirement access is limited to +60 years old or between 50-60 if completely economically inactive.

Access from age 50 onwards provided no longer in employment of connected schemes.

On death, full value is paid to the estate Depends on whether Active or deferred member.

If changing employment, flexibility to nominate the new employer on the existing PRSA.

If changing employment, normal leaving service options apply - Deferred benefit; - Transfer to a new employer if accepted; - Transfer to a Personal Retirement Bond (PRB); - Transfer to a Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) subject to criteria.

Impact of Fees and Charges on pension outcomes.

We have encountered many pension schemes with high charges. Some schemes we’ve reviewed had charges as high as 11% per year when all the various charges are taken into account.

Employers have an obligation to ensure the pension scheme they’re offering is of good quality and benefits their employees. Lots of schemes that have been set up are often not reviewed. It should be common practice for schemes to be reviewed on several aspects including:

• Charges, overall impact of fees & charges, not only standard annual management fee.

• Membership profile, i.e. if there are lots of deferred members or lots of members over the age of 50 without regular advice tailored to them.

• Fund performance and range of fund options available.

• Online accessibility that allows employees to view their pensions online.

There are plenty of column inches already available in relation to the impact of charges on retirement outcomes, so there is no need for me to add to it here. However to say the types of charges, in addition to the commonly cited Annual Management Charge, that need to be looked out for can include:

• Policy fees on a monthly or annual basis

• Bid / Offer spread charges

• Allocation charges - If this is less than 100%, it means a deduction straight out of your contribution

• Plan management fees.

• Trusteeship fees

• Broker renewal fees which reduce the allocation of members’ contributions.

I mentioned Broker renewal fees above that reduce the allocation of the members’ contributions. But what if the broker’s level of income depended on the performance of the pension scheme?

Again, we’ve encountered many schemes that have been set up and effectively abandoned by the original scheme advisor as they have no skin in the game. It doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, a survey from Brokers Ireland in 2023 showed that those who use and seek financial advice on a regular basis have 50% higher average pension value than those who have no advice.

My Future Fund, the State’s Auto-Enrolment.

With the planned introduction of the State’s Auto-Enrolment scheme called “My Future Fund” in September 2025, there is now an onus on employers to begin thinking about retirement provision for their employees.

Here is a short and limited comparison of the current pension landscape compared with My Future Fund. There are many more pros and cons of both options, and seeking advice will be paramount to the success of your retirement.

My Future Fund Current Pension arrangements

25% relief by way of a contribution from the State from 0.5 - 2% of salary. - Better for lower income taxpayers - Worse for higher income taxpayers

Retirement Access restricted to State Pension age currently 66 years old. Plans to increase age to 68 over time.

40% income tax relief for high income taxpayers, i.e. salaries above €44k per year (from January 2025).

Retirement access allowed from age 50 depending on certain criteria & pension type.

At retirement, 25% tax free lump sum with balance taxed at up to 48% as paid out as a lump sum. (Tax free capped at €200k) At retirement 25% tax free lump sum with balance used to provide an income through options available. Effective tax planning can significantly reduce income tax paid to minimal amounts. (Tax free capped at €200k) On death, tax paid of up to 48% paid on the full amount paid out to estate representatives. On death, passed between spouse’s tax free.

Verity Financial Consultants advise companies, employers, employees and those coming up to and in retirement to understand and implement their retirement goals. is a qualified Financial Advisor, Retirement Planning Advisor, Specialist Investment Advisor and Pension Trustee Practitioner working in the industry for over 20 years. Feel free to check

Profile (here) or reach out to Verity directly. Mike Grogan Pensions & Retirement Consultant is a Tied Agent of Verity Financial Consultants Ltd. Verity Financial Consultants Ltd t/a Verity Financial Consultants is regulated by the Central Address: M4 Interchange Business Park, Celbridge, Co Kildare.

Verity Financial Consultants advise companies, employers, employees and those coming up to and in retirement to understand and implement their retirement goals.

Mike Grogan is a qualified Financial Advisor, Retirement Planning Advisor, Specialist Investment Advisor and Pension Trustee Practitioner working in the industry for over 20 years. Feel free to check out Mike’s LinkedIn Profile or reach out to Verity directly.

Mike Grogan Pensions & Retirement Consultant is a Tied Agent of Verity Financial Consultants Ltd. Verity Financial Consultants Ltd t/a Verity Financial Consultants is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Website: www.verityfinancial.ie

Phone: 01 6012691

Email: info@verityfinancial.ie

Address: M4 Interchange Business Park, Celbridge, Co Kildare.

MEMBERSHIP SURVEY REPORT

Welcome to the third membership survey report of 2024 by County Kildare Chamber. This report is conducted once a quarter by the Chamber and open to our full membership group. The survey is designed to pinpoint specific challenges faced by our businesses in Kildare and help us to identify solutions.

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 52,000 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.

County Kildare Chamber will use the results of this survey to create policy and to lobby & engage on your behalf with Kildare County Council, Government and Public Representatives, giving a current and accurate picture of the current business climate in Kildare.

The Chamber conducted this survey over a period of two weeks from the 16th August – 30th August.

Of the total responses received, 55% where from businesses with 21 plus employees, while 45% came from businesses

with staff ranging from one to 20 employees. Over 56% of the responses came from the Engineering, Health, Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure, Retail, Education and Training and the service industry.

The survey concentrated on the key business challenges of competitiveness in Kildare, Infrastructure development within the county, General Election Priorities and staffing/ skills performance within businesses. It particularly highlighted continuing challenges Kildare businesses are having with regards to skills & training availability within the county, housing availability and the ongoing cost of doing business, all of which are acknowledged as substantial barriers to competitiveness within Kildare.

Businesses are also concerned with challenges arising from staff retention & recruitment. The level of infrastructure development within the county is something which 84% of business owners are concerned about and believe needs to be looked at urgently by stakeholders in the region.

However, in contrary to this, the results of our survey also show the majority of Kildare businesses are optimistic about their outlook in Kildare, with 65% looking towards increasing staff training, 63% forecasting an increase in revenue and 86% anticipating either profits to stay the same or to increase over the next twelve months.

Confidence in the Irish economy is also at a record high, with 90% of businesses stating they are confident or very confident in the outlook of the Irish economy over the next twelve months.

Industry Type

Business Challenges:

Life Science &

Tourism,

Culture,

Construction

Agriculture,

2024 has been a challenging year for many Kildare businesses. With the introduction of raft of employment legislation at the beginning of the year, ongoing pressure with inflation and the increased cost of doing business in Ireland particular pinch points for businesses and households alike.

when looking at what Kildare’s biggest competitiveness challenges are, which accounted for over 39% of businesses. This is followed with 23% of businesses reporting the availability of skills and talent, as a challenge facing the County. However, in comparison to survey’s conducted over the past 36 months, businesses are now looking at the wider space around them when responding to the question. Public transport services and a lack of infrastructure with regard to energy, water and broadband are now also featuring highly on the list. Housing availability has now reached levels where it is being seen as a major threat to continued economic growth in the country.

Improving the quality of infrastructure is essential to ensuring Kildare and the Country as a whole, has the capacity to achieve sustainable long-term growth and plays a key role in enhancing productivity. If Kildare is to retain its key competitiveness position, particularly at this crucial time, continued investment in our infrastructure –both physical and social is required.

Consistent with data for 2024 and County Kildare Chamber survey trends for the last 12 months, rising cost of business remains the number one challenge facing businesses at nearly 30%. Since the January 2024, we have seen a number of new initiatives introduced by the Government including new sick leave policies and an increase in the minimum wage, all implemented in an attempt to combat Ireland’s increased cost of living. While these initiatives aim to uplift workers and foster economic dignity, the burden on SMEs cannot be understated

Ireland’s public investment in infrastructure has continued to expand over the past number of years under the current National Development Plan. Continuing to deliver on planned infrastructure projects, in the face of these challenges, will be critical to ensuring the economy remains in a competitive position over the coming year.

This is followed by staff retention & recruitment at 21%, in an environment where businesses are still facing difficulties regarding recruitment in a tight labour market. Many companies grappling with wage and benefit demands in order to retain staff, with many investing in health and wellness programmes and training and development opportunities as an alternative to wages

Competitiveness:

County Kildare Chamber asked ‘What is the biggest issue for Kildare’s competitiveness in the next 12 months?’

Biggest issue for Kildare's competitiveness

Infrastructure:

Availability of housing/rental accommodation

Availability of skills & talent

Lack of Infrastructure (water, energy, broadband)

Public transport services or traffic congestion

Public services (education, health etc)

When it came to infrastructure development 88% of businesses stated they believed more needed to be done with regards to prioritising development in Kildare.

When it came to infrastructure development 88% of businesses stated they believed more to be done with regards to prioritising development in Kildare.

The Chamber welcomes a number of recent announcements in Budget 2025, including the funding allocated to infrastructure projects, including the establishment of an infrastructure fund and the funding announced for the Dart+ programme with the potential expansion of routes into County Kildare. These developments are crucial steps towards improving transport infrastructure, enhancing regional connectivity, and supporting sustainable growth. The further expansion of Dart+ into Kildare is essential to address current transport needs, reduce congestion, and ensure that the county remains an attractive location for investment and talent.

The Chamber welcomes a number of recent announcements in Budget 2025, including the allocated to infrastructure projects, including the establishment of an infrastructure fund and funding announced for the Dart+ programme with the potential expansion of routes into County Kildare. These developments are crucial steps towards improving transport infrastructure, regional connectivity, and supporting sustainable growth. The further expansion of Dart+ into is essential to address current transport needs, reduce congestion, and ensure that the county remains an attractive location for investment and talent.

However, it is prioritisation which is key to timely delivery of these projects and could damage the domestic and multinational sector if delayed into the medium term Too often, the focus cost efficiency in large-scale projects, but the greater and more immediate risk to economic social cohesion, and fiscal stability lies in our failure to complete these projects.

County Kildare Chamber asked ‘What is the biggest issue for Kildare’s competitiveness in the next 12 months?’

Housing availability is still the number one concern for businesses

Housing availability is still the number one concern for businesses when looking at what Kildare’s biggest competitiveness challenges are, which accounted for over 39% of businesses. This is followed with 23% of businesses reporting the availability of skills and talent, as a challenge facing the County. However, in comparison to survey’s conducted over the past 36 months, businesses are now looking at the wider space around them when responding to the question. Public transport services and a lack of infrastructure with regard to energy, water and broadband are now also

However, it is prioritisation which is key to timely delivery of these

projects and could damage both the domestic and multinational sector if delayed into the medium term. Too often, the focus is on cost efficiency in large-scale projects, but the greater and more immediate risk to economic growth, social cohesion, and fiscal stability lies in our failure to complete these projects.

When we delved a little deeper into this question, we found public transport and active travel the area most respondents wanted to be improved, with 67% indicating these projects should be prioritised. This is followed by the prioritising of coordination when looking at sustainable community, social & housing developments at 14%.

Does more need to be done with infrastrcture development in Kildare?

of our region coupled with the quality of life we enjoy; our connectivity ensures we are well placed to secure domestic and foreign direct investment.

The Chamber welcomes recent investment in infrastructure, as these developments are crucial steps towards improving transport infrastructure, enhancing regional connectivity, and supporting sustainable growth. The further expansion of Dart+ into Kildare is essential to address current transport needs, reduce congestion, and ensure that the county remains an attractive location for investment and talent.

Over the last number of years, the Chamber has consistently highlighted members’ concerns regarding capacity issues for core infrastructure. However, it will be the follow-through and urgency in implementing these developments that will be important.

When we delved a little deeper into this question, we found public transport and active travel the area most respondents wanted to be improved, with 67% indicating these projects should be prioritised. This is followed by the prioritising of co-ordination when looking at sustainable community, social & housing developments at 14%.

County Kildare has consistently attracted significant Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) within the mid-east region, establishing itself as a leader in attracting international businesses. To maintain and expand this advantage, it is vital that investment in infrastructure—such as water, electricity, and housing—continues unabated. These critical investments are essential to securing existing FDI and attracting new opportunities, which, in turn, support economic growth and job creation in the county and the broader region.

When we delved a little deeper into this question, we found public transport and active travel the area most respondents wanted to be improved, with 67% indicating these projects should be prioritised. This is followed by the prioritising of co-ordination when looking at sustainable community, social & housing developments at 14%.

What should be prioritised when looking at Infrastrcuture

Public transport and active travel infrastructure

Healthcare

What should be prioritised when

Public safety/policing

Public transport and active travel infrastructure

Healthcare

Ensuring that Kildare remains competitive for FDI is not just about tax incentives; it is about creating an environment where infrastructure supports business growth, employees can access quality housing, and utility capacity meets future demands.

Co-ordination in sustainable community, social & housing development Road network

Public safety/policing

Broadband/telecommunicatio ns

Co-ordination in sustainable community, social & housing development Road network

County Kildare Chamber will continue to work closely with key government agencies and local and regional stakeholders, and the feedback from this survey will allow us to advocate effectively and on the issues which matter most to you.

The next survey will be completed in early Q1 of 2025.

Business Outlook:

Broadband/telecommunicatio ns

As we come to a close on 2024, our survey has shown the majority of businesses are optimistic about their outlook.

Business Outlook:

65% of businesses are looking towards increasing staff training, 63% forecasting an increase in revenue and 83% anticipating either profits to stay the same or to increase over the next twelve months, perhaps showing an increasing resilience and positivity with the ability to cope with economic adversity.

As we come to a close on 2024, our survey has shown the majority of businesses are optimistic about their outlook.

County Kildare Chamber is the largest business organisation in the mid-east region of Ireland representing an employer base of 400 businesses and over 38,000 employees across the county. Kildare is the location of choice for existing & potential business enterprise. Our highly skilled workforce & the attractiveness

Out & About

Upcoming Events

Networking Mornings

Our weekly networking events take place every Wednesday morning in our Chamber HQ on the sallins road in Naas. Join us for tea/ coffee and networking from 7:45am. Meet other likeminded business people, promote your brand/ offering & grow your business!

Non members are welcome to attend up to 2 meetings before joining the Chamber, contact our Membership Services Executive, Ankit Anand on Ankit@countykildarechamber.ie.

Venue: Chamber HQ, Sallins Road, Naas W91 KV4H

Weekly Event – Every Wednesday

Time: 07:45am – 09:00am

HR Round Table

Member HR professionals, join us for our upcoming HR Round Table with trusted HR partners, Adare. This session will focus on the core elements of an Employee Retention Strategy and more importantly how to bring it to life in your organisation. Contact Sinead@countykildarechamber.ie.

Venue: TBC

Date: Tuesday 8th October

Time: 09:30am – 11:30am

HR, Employment Law Updates Webinar

Join us for this Employment Law updates webinar with our strategic HR partners, Adare. Open to Chamber members, this webinar covers the following recent employment law changes and expected developments for the rest of 2024 including:

• Expansion of the Employment Permit System & Employment Permits Bill 2022

• Flexible State Pension Options under the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023

• Workplace Relations Act 2015 (Fixed Payment Notice) Regulations 2023

• General Scheme of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2024

• Automatic Enrollment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024

• Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Act 2024

• Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 – Employee Threshold 150+ in 2024

• Parent’s Leave & Benefit Increase to 9 Weeks in August

• Directive (EU) 2022/2941 on Adequate Minimum Wages

Venue: Zoom, Webinar

Date: Tuesday 22nd October

Time: 09:30am – 10:30am

Open Day

The Chamber is hosting its second open day of the year on Wednesday 30th October. Join us at 9am for some refreshments & networking, followed by a presentation from the Chamber team, outlining the benefits of being a member of our Chamber & how we can help your business grow.

Venue: The Clanard Court Hotel, Athy R14 FY90

Date: Wednesday 30th October

Time: 09:00am – 10:30am

Kildare Business Awards 2024

This year’s Kildare Business Awards, Powered by Eirgrid, takes place on Friday 15th November in Killashee Hotel, Naas. Join us for a drinks reception, followed by a 3 course meal and live music from Blue Romantics.

The Kildare Business Awards celebrate the best in business and is open to members of County Kildare Chamber - start up businesses, emerging businesses, SME’s right up to our large indigenous and multi nationals in the county.

Venue: Killashee Hotel, Naas W91 DC98

Date: Friday 15th November

Time: 7pm until late.

County Kildare Chamber

Membership 2024

AAccountancy & Tax Services

Grant Thornton

KPMG

Price Waterhouse Coopers

Brennan & O Reilly Accountants

Clinton Higgins Chartered Accountants

Conway, Conway & Co

HTH Accountants

John P Greely & Company

Kealy Mehigan Accountants

Malone & Co Accountants

Mark Graham & Co Chartered

Management Accountants

My Debt Solution

O’KellySutton Chartered Accountants

O’Neill & Brennan

Quinlan and Co Accountants

S. C. Dunne & Co

Taxkey

The Leinster Partnership

Wallace O’Donoghue

Accountants

KT Accountants

Agri Tech

Terra Nutritech

Agriculture

Robinson Farms

Air Conditioning

Crystal Air

Architecture

Demesne Architects

Dooley Cummins Architects & Engineers

Arts/ Theatre/ Cinema

Odeon Cinema

Moat Theatre

Riverbank Arts Centre

CBCar/ Van Hire/ Lease/ Sales

Sheehy Motor Group

Go Rentals

Joe Mallon Motors

Toyota Naas

Catering Supplier

Catering 365

Charity

Barretstown

Breakthrough Cancer Research KARE

Teach Tearmainn

Cleaning and Hygiene Provider

Caterclean Ecokem

Premiere Catering and Hygiene Products

Cold Storage Solutions

Dawsongroup TCS Ireland Ltd

Conference and Accommodation

Maynooth Campus Conference & Accommodation

Construction

Ballymore Group

Boston Access Limited

Killross Properties

Murphy Ireland

Ampack Ltd

Crylock Developments Ltd

David Mulcahy Planning Consultants Ltd

Glenveagh Homes

Homes By Design

Martin Courtney Building Services LTD

Mick O’Shea Heating & Plumbing Ltd

Quattuor Developments Limited

Tradecraft Building Products Ltd

Consultancy

Amberley & Associates

AuxiliaGroup

Become a Writer Todayt Ltd

Bruce McCormack Consulting

CiviQ

Complinet

Enable Me Coaching

En-Route Consulting

Galileo Energy Services

IP Asset

JAH - Business Operations Specialist

Jigsaw Better Business

Paul Murtagh Business Consulting

PsycReality

Skillsvista

Sontai Data Solutions

Vulcan Consulting Ltd

Corporate Branding

CarveOn Limited

Corporate Gifts

NearlySisters Ltd

Credit Union

Life Credit Union

Croi Laighean Credit Union

CRM Systems Provider

Cloud Technology Limited

Monread CRM

DDentist

Boyne Dental

EE Commerce

Otals

Pangea Media Ltd

Education

KWETB

Maynooth University

St. Patricks College Maynooth

Leah Moran Stage School and Productions LTD

Learn International Education Consultants Ltd

Leinster Senior College

Electrical Services

Netherbrook Ltd

RGN Electrical & Communications Specialist

Trident Controls Ltd

Engineering

Endress+Hauser

Powercomm Engineering LTD

Enterprise Park

Kildare Innovation Campus

Millennium Park

Palm Logistics

Clane Project Centre

Ladytown Business Park

EEquine

Irish Equine Centre

BBA Ireland Ltd

Horse Racing Ireland

Irish National Stud & Gardens

Equipment Supplier/ Hire

Haven Hire

Loading and Lifting Solutions

Pumpwatch

Superior Pipeline Products Ltd

The Buggyman Ltd

Estate Agents

Brophy Farrell Real Estate Alliance

Coonan Property

Jordan Auctioneers

O’Neill & Co

Remax Partners ¦ Bryan Little

Sherry Fitzgerald Brady O’Flaherty

Sherry Fitzgerald O’Reilly - Naas

Events

52nd Street Band/ John Forde Piano Man

All Events Audiovisual

Follow Fox Events (VEMS)

Mondello Park

Mongey Communications

FFacilities Management

Advanced Workplace Solutions

Elite Maintenance

Mount Charles group

Finance

Bibby Financial Services

Close Brothers Commercial Finance

Grenke

Tameric Investments

Financial Advice

House of Finance

Your Finance

Mojo Finance

The Money Advisers

Financial Services

Brink’s Cash Services (Ireland) Ltd

CleverCards

FACE Credit Consultacy

Ger Brady Financial

Traction Finance

Verity Financial Consultants Ltd

Fitness

Infinity Hot Yoga Ltd

K Leisure

Food & Beverage

33 South Main

Coghlans Artisan Bakery

Grey Cuckoo Farm

Indie Spice Grill

Kavanagh’s Bar

Lock 13 Brewpub

The Nude Wine Company

Urban Kitchen

Wine Lab

Bergin Family Butchers

Food Producer

O’Brien Fine Foods

Queally Group

Taste of Goodness

Funeral Directors

Murphy Brothers Funeral Directors

Oliver Reilly Funeral Directors

GGarden/ Outdoor Area Supplier

Sanctuary Synthetics

Gas Networks

Gas Networks Ireland

Government Agency

Eirgrid Plc

IDA Ireland

LEO Kildare

Cill Dara Le Gaeilge

Local Employment Service Network

Graphic Design

anna+co.

HHealth & Safety

EFAST EMS

Essential Health and Safety Training and Consultancy Ltd

Health & Wellbeing

Deep Health

Gastrolife

Wild Poppy Wellbeing Emporium

Healthcare

Lifeline Ambulance Services

UPMC Kildare Hospital

Elm Hall Nursing Home

Homecare Solutions

Home/ Office Interiors

Gannon Office Solutions

Wall to Workstations

T&I Fitouts Ltd

Vyvyan Byrne Interior Design

Hospitality

Palmerstown House Estate & Golf Club

FOI Property - Stay’s By Michael

Hotel

Kilkea Castle

Killashee Hotel

Osprey Hotel

The K Club

The Westgrove Hotel

Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort

Clanard Court Hotel

Court Yard Hotel

Glenroyal Hotel & Leisure Club

Kildare House Hotel

Lawlor’s of Naas

Maudlins House Hotel

Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort

Springfield Hotel

The Keadeen Hotel

Human Resources

Adare Human Resource Management

Curran HR Consultancy Limited

Kala Management Solutions Limited

Peninsula

IInformation Technology

Intel

Kendlebell Naas

Harbour Technical Solutions

Hereworks Technology Limited

INIT

iPing IT Services

ITM

VEI Global

VM Group

Zinon IT Solutions

FANUC Ireland

Inspection and Verification

SGS Ireland Limited

Insurance

Arachas Corporate Insurance Brokers

J F Dunne Insurances

Dooley Insurances

Murray Spelman Insurance & Finance

LLaw Firm

Matheson

Logistics

Oman-BeverlySmyth

AMC Removals Ltd

Elsatrans Ltd

Global Forwarding

Tansey Transport

Maintenance

MOS Mechanical Action Chimney

Escalator and Lift Services

Manufacturing

American Fruits and Flavors Ireland DAC

Etex Group

KDP Ireland

MGS MFG Group

Ash Technologies

Atlantic Bitumen

GES Group

Labplan

Profile Systems

Rampower

Ventac and Company Limited

Marketing

Elevate Marketing

Medical

International Medical Information Limited

Magnet Medical Solutions

Mortgage Provider

EBS - Drumcondra

Gerry Cuffe Financial Services Ltd

Office Space Provider

Business Barn

Packaging Requirements

DSG Packaging Ltd

Pharmaceutical

Pfizer

Photography/ Videography

Frame It Productions

Annalee Delaney Photography

Celtic Photography

Green Road Media & Film

Media Milk

Tadhg Nathan Photography

Tony Gavin Photography

Print Solutions

Character Print Solutions

EMS Copiers Managed Print Solutions

Printscan Support Services Ltd

Punctual Print

Studio Print

Product Sourcing

Made Personal

Property Management

Naas Property Management

Public Relations

Big Picture Communications

Quantity Surveyor

Lambert Surveyors Limited

Racecourse

Punchestown Racecourse

The Curragh Racecourse

Naas Racecourse

Recruitment

QLM Search

Recruitment Services

Clark Recruitment

Career Vision Recuiters

Excel Recruitment

Flexsource Solutions/ CPL

IS Recruitment

Osborne Recruitment

Sparktel

Teamworx

Renewable Energy

Green Generation Ltd

Evergreen Agricultural Enterprises Limited

EVHACS

MSM Renewables Ltd

Off Your Grid

Retail

Aldi

Colourtrend

Kildare Village

Newbridge Silverware

Applegreen

Cross Retail Group

Dalys Pharmacy

Diamonds & Pearls

E&G Cutting Blades Ltd

Monread Fare (Lidon Group)

New Chapter vision Ltd

Powell

Vodafone

Security/ Security Systems

Manguard Plus

Signage Provider

Element Creative

Software Solutions

WrxFlo

Solicitors

Blasco Solicitors and Notary Public

Coonan Cawley Solicitors

Coonan Morgan Solicitors

Hammerstones Solicitors

Hanahoe & Hanahoe Solicitors

Moloney & Co. Solicitors

Solicitors

Osbornes Solicitors

Patrick J Farrell and Company Solicitors

Stephen Walsh & Co. Solicitors

Whitethorn Legal

Sport

Kildare GAA

Klub Kildare/KDUL

Millicent Members Golf Club

Naas Driving Range

StartUp Support

MERITS

Steel Stockholders

RFL Steel

Taste and Nutrition Solutions

Kerry

Telecomms

LogMeIn Ireland Ltd

National Broadband Ireland Ltd (Deployment)

Tourism

Celtic Horizon Tours

Fairways and FunDays

Keogh Tours

Race and Stay

Training/ Coaching/ Mentoring

ActionCOACH

Cenit Group

Discovery Playtime

Edel Walsh Coaching and Consulting

Ladybird Driving School

Martinstown Lodge

Soft Skill Success

The Dennison Training Academy

Turas Nua

Babogue Ltd

Travel Agency

Freedom Travel

Veterinary Practice

MyVet

Voluntary Group

Naas Tidy Town

Warehouse Solutions

Jungheinrich

Web Design

Graphedia

Chamber New Members

The

Business Leaders of Kildare

I am excited to share the exceptional offerings of the Springfield Hotel, a premier destination for business in Kildare. The newly refurbished, Springfield Hotel combines modern amenities with unparalleled service, providing a perfect environment for meetings, corporate events, and leisure stays.

With versatile conference rooms, state-of-the-art facilities, and bespoke catering options, we cater to your every need. Our commitment to excellence ensures a seamless and memorable experience for you and your team. We invite you to explore how the Springfield Hotel can become your preferred choice for business and accommodation in Kildare.

As member of the County Kildare Chamber, we would like to extend a special mid-week corporate accommodation rate at the Springfield Hotel of €139 Bed and Breakfast. To book simply follow the Link and use Promo Code CORPBB to make your booking.

Additionally, we are offering 20% off Meeting Room Hire for new bookings until the end of 2024. Please call Audrey Norris on 01 458 1100 or email sales@springfieldhotel.ie for details.

www.springfieldhotel.ie

David Mulcahy PlanningConsultants Ltd

David Mulcahy Planning Consultants Ltd have operated from Athgarvan in County Kildare since 2011, with David Mulcahy, a chartered town planner, having previously operated in a sole trader capacity since 2006.

We provide planning consultancy services for a range of business owners, developers, architects, engineers, environmental organisations, government bodies, equine operators and individuals.

Our main work is assisting clients obtain planning permission from Kildare County Council but we also operate throughout the country. We also specialise in preparing appeals to An Bord Pleanala, including appeals against development contributions (levies) imposed by local authorities when granting planning permission.

Since 2002, Excel have been a dynamic force in the recruitment industry, successfully placing over 40,000 candidates throughout Ireland. We have a robust database featuring 2,600 clients, 6,500 temporary workers, and an extensive database of 150,000+ candidates. Excel offers temporary and permanent employment and has a team of highly skilled consultants who can provide you with expert advice across 5 office locations in Dublin, Kildare, Cork, Galway, and Belfast. We strategically source candidates to match your staffing requirements within Construction, Engineering, Office Support, Accounting, Finance, Retail, Hotel & Catering, Industrial & Warehousing, Healthcare, IT, and Transport & Logistics.

https://www.excelrecruitment.com

Our clients include Applegreen, Valero, Green Generation Ltd, Cellnex, Red Rock Developments, Tansey Transport, Treacy Group, Siemens, Murphy Design Build and Demesne Architects etc.

www.planningconsultant.ie

Fitz Of Inch/Stays by Michael

Experience a 17th-century country house and events barn, perfect for corporate events, intimate weddings, team-building, day rentals, and holistic retreats.

Managed by Stays by Michael, experts in short-term rental management, Fitz Of Inch offers effortless AirBnB hosting.

Springfield Hotel

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