Annual Report
2022
Table Of Contents 3 President's Message 4 CEO's Message 5 Board of Directors, Corporate Partners 6 Networking and Training Events 7 Effective Business Promotion 8 Lobbying Nationally & Internationally 9 Shop Local Vouchers 10 Skillnet Update 12 2022 In Numbers 13 Financial Statement 14 2022 In Images
2_County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022
President's Message BRENDAN CROWLEY PRESIDENT Welcome to the County Wexford Chamber Annual report for 2022. It could be considered as a year of mixed fortunes as the economy recovered from the pandemic and events in Ukraine unfolded. Despite the ongoing challenges, 2022 was the first full year of largely uninterrupted activity for County Wexford Chamber. We got off to an exciting start with the launch of our Jobs Fest which was a great opportunity to connect with prospective employees and also served as a great business networking event. It was followed by our inaugural Annual Business Awards which was a sell-out event. Our business networking calendar was full. Our Shop Local Vouchers reached a staggering €1.5 million, money which went back into local businesses. Our Skillnet service provided 5,264 training days to 225 businesses. In addition, working with the support of consultants and key stakeholders, the Board laid the groundwork for our Strategic Plan 2023 to 2025. The CEO and her team worked diligently on all of the above projects, along with the many other supports to businesses, including the Certificates of Origin service, which is a vital to many of our county’s exporting businesses. Since the disruption and then a return to normal activities, we have seen a significant swing in our financial out-turn from a position of surplus to a short-fall. This reflects a transition from a period of lower activity with significant supports such as EWSS during 2021 to a busier period while supports wound down during 2022. Inflation also played a significant part in driving operating costs higher during the same period. We are confident that, through 2023 and beyond, we can and will take the necessary steps to ensure that County Wexford Chamber is on a sustainable pathway into the future. County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022_3
CEO's Message EMMA DUNPHY CEO
The past year – 2022 – marked the beginning of the postpandemic era, when we moved from online calls and meetings to in-person engagements. The business community in County Wexford showed remarkable resilience throughout the pandemic and this has been evident in the eagerness of the business sector to engage in our events. Networking and connecting people are at the core of what we do, from Business After Hours to our Annual Golf Classic, President’s Lunch, informative Lunch Briefings, Christmas Lunch and much more. In addition, County Wexford Chamber is determined to add value for members, be it through promotion across our digital channels, networking mornings, issuing Certificates of Origin, lobbying. In terms of training and development, County Wexford Chamber Skillnet continues to grow its offering and support for industry through various programmes and customised, subsidised training across a broad range of disciplines. Our Shop Local Vouchers continue to contribute to the local economy, ensuring that this money stays in the local economy. This protects businesses and local jobs, helping to offset the challenges of trading in uncertain times. Thank you to the Chamber President, Board, and staff for their ongoing commitment to the Chamber and the wider business community. I can assure you that County Wexford Chamber will steadfastly continue to lobby on behalf of the businesses across County Wexford and ensure that County Wexford remains at the top of the agenda.
4_County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022
Board of Directors 2022 BRENDAN CROWLEY
LORCAN KINSELLA
MARY BROWNE
BERNARD DOYLE
WILLIE FITZHARRIS
KARL FITZPATRICK
ROBERT MILLAR
JOHN NOLAN
ANITA POWER
TRUDY RYAN
Corporate Partners 2022 CELTIC LINEN
SULZER
DANONE
THINKPRINT
KENT STAINLESS
WATERS TECHNOLOGIES
PWC
WEXFORD GAA
ROSSLARE EUROPORT
WEXFORD PEOPLE
SENSIBLE SAFETY
ZURICH
SOUTH EAST RADIO
County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022_5
Networking & Training Events Each year, County Wexford Chamber hosts over 20 events that provide a platform for members to extend their business networks, meet fellow members, and place their business in the spotlight with event collaboration or sponsorship.
Featured events Annual Business Awards JobsFest Annual Golf Classic B2B Networking Meetings Business AfterHours Budget Breakfasts Employment Law Briefing Cyber Security Webinar Fringe Guide Launch President's Lunch
6_ County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022
Effective Business Promotion Sponsorship We provide members with a unique platform to promote their businesses through sponsorship or hosting events such as our Business Awards, After Hours, Annual Golf Classic, and much more. We build our events’ programme around the businesses that come on board, which places them in the driving seat, helping to set the agenda of our event schedule. Sponsors benefit from an increased profile, speaking opportunities, local and national media coverage, and the credibility of partnering with County Wexford Chamber.
Members' Directory Members of County Wexford Chamber are profiled in the Members Directory on our website with a link to their website and social media platforms. Our Members' News section highlights news and achievements to the business community and stakeholders.
Digital Newsletter The Chamber's digital newsletter is distributed every Friday to our member network as well as the local business community. Subscribers are kept up to date with the latest business and economic news and events, both locally and nationally.
Magazine Inside Wexford Business is distributed to members, business leaders, decision makers, local and national politicians and relevant stakeholders. It showcases member achievements, local and national news, Chamber events and much more. County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022_7
Lobbying, Nationally & Internationally
County Wexford Chamber is a lobbying organisation, advocating locally, nationally, and internationally to address any issues that businesses across County Wexford are facing.
Examples Work permits Lack of housing, repair and leasing scheme Budget 2023 White Paper on Enterprise policy
International Trade Services County Wexford Chamber is officially authorised by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Chambers Ireland to issue and certify Certificates of Origin to a wide range of businesses across County Wexford. A Certificate of Origin is a document attesting that goods in a particular export shipment are wholly obtained or produced or manufactured or processed in a particular country. 8_ County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022
Shop Local Vouchers hit €1.5m in sales In N ovember 2 0 2 2 , C o u n t y W e x f o r d C h a m b e r ’ s S h o p L ocal Vouchers s a l e s topped t h e € 1 m i l l i on m a r k f o r t h e f i r s t t i me since their in t r oduction i n 2 0 2 0 . A n a d d i t i o n a l € 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 w a s sold over the C h r i stmas seas o n . T h i s was hugel y s i g n i f i c a n t f o r t h e C h a m b e r , w i t h s a l e s in 2022 up by 2 5 p er cent on t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r . T h e vouchers c a n b e s p e n t i n o v e r 2 6 0 p a r t i c i p a t i n g o u t lets in Gorey, N e w Ross and W e x f o r d . T h e increase i n s a l e s i s e v id e n c e o f t h e s u p p o r t o f l o c al businesses a n d people in b u y i n g t h e v o u c h e r s . T h e re is a wide c h o i c e o f pu r c h a s e s a n d s e r v i c e s a v a i lable with the v o u chers, rang i n g f r o m c l o t h i n g , j e w e l l e r y , a r t , b e a u t y, hospitality, h e a lthcare, ho u s e h o l d f u e l a n d m u c h m o r e .
County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022_9
Skillnet Update THERESE O'CONNOR
SKILLNET NETWORK MANAGER County Wexford Chamber Skillnet is one of over 70 Skillnet Networks that are dedicated to the promotion and facilitation of workforce learning in Ireland. County Wexford Chamber Skillnet’s key objective is to increase company participation in enterprise-led training across the Southeast. We believe that training and upskilling are key elements to employee retention, engagement and in keeping companies’ competitiveness in both a domestic and international context. Why should companies train with us? Because we ... Offer funding of 25%-40% for training programmes Work closely with our members to deliver programmes that meet industry needs, innovation, and current organisation/industry gaps Offer tailored in-company programmes as well as open courses for different sectors. Have access to a large pool of high-quality experienced trainers. Deliver training at a time and a location that suits members Help you save time and resources, by organising quality training courses on behalf of business’ needs. Have extensive experience in business and training management and are advised by a Steering Group which is made up of Industry leaders in County Wexford 2022 was the final year of a three-year funding cycle and the evident growth and increased engagement in the Network especially over the last 12 months, have been key drivers in the network securing increased funds for the next cycle 2023-2025.
225 MEMBER COMPANIES TRAINED 84 PEOPLE ON THE SKILLS CONNECT PROGRAMME AND CONNECTED THEM WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS SUCH AS ZURICH, THE TALBOT HOTEL GROUP, PETTITTS, THE MALDRON HOTEL, ASHDOWN PARK HOTEL, AND THE NEVILLE HOTEL GROUP 10_County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022
878 PEOPLE TRAINED
40 COMPANIES VISITED TO DETERMINE CURRENT AND FUTURE SKILLS NEEDS.
Skillnet Funding Streams In 2022, County Wexford Chamber Skillnet secured funding of just over €300,000, under three Skillnet Ireland funding streams. Training Networks Programme (TNP) TNP allows us to work with private sector companies from sole traders to large multinationals in all sectors. We offered over 30 industry and higher-level certified courses such as: Higher Diploma in Business Management, BA Honours in Business, Payroll Techniques, ATI Diploma, Certificate in Professional Floristry, Barcoding Level 1 & Level 2, Report Writing for Electronic Maintenance, QQI Level 6 Frontline Managers Programme, and REAL Alternatives Flammable Refrigerants Training. We also worked with over 40 companies to design, develop and deliver incompany programmes tailored to their needs. Leadership Development, Customer Service Skills, Communication Skills, IT Skills and digital innovation proved to be the main areas for in-company training. Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) Since 2016, County Wexford Chamber Skillnet has successfully collaborated with both Wexford County Childcare Committee and Carlow IT (now SETU) in upskilling childcare personnel from Level 6 to Level 7 in childhood education and care. To date, we have funded training for over 90 childcare employees who have upskilled from Level 6 to Level 7. In 2022, we funded Level 8 BA in Early Childhood Education and Care and Level 9 MA in Leadership in Early Years Education & Care. Skills Connect Skills Connect is designed exclusively for people seeking employment. All programmes under Skills Connect are 100% funded and include a minimum twoweek work placement. Working closely with the Department of Social Protection in Wexford and the Wexford Volunteer Centre, the Network team identified parents returning to the workforce and Ukrainians living in Wexford as the main cohorts that would benefit most from skills training. We delivered three programmes which addressed the needs of the identified cohorts: QQI Level 5 Frontline Office and Reception Skills QQI Level 5 Major Award in Business Administration Certificate in Practical Hospitality Skills €65,000 RECEIVED FROM BREXIT ADJUSTMENT RESERVE
5,264 TRAINING DAYS DELIVERED
County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022_11
2022 In Numbers 320 MEMBERS EMPLOYING 20,000 PEOPLE 25 NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS 500 ATTENDEES AT BUSINESS AWARDS GALA CEREMONY
30+ EMPLOYERS AT JOBS FEST €1.5M SHOP LOCAL VOUCHERS SOLD SINCE 2020 827 EXPORT DOCUMENTS ISSUED
33 NEW MEMBER BUSINESSES
12_County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022
46,000 WEBSITE VISITORS
18,500 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS
32,000 PODCAST DOWNLOADS
4,000 MAGAZINE READERS 1,400 DIGITAL NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS
Financial Statements County Wexford Chamber of Industry & Commerce (A Company Limited by Guarantee and not having Share Capital) Income statement Financial year ended 31 December 2022
2022
2021
Income
€407,485
€275,379
Expenditure
(€463,197)
(€159,253)
Operating (loss)/profit
(€55,712)
€116,126
(Loss)/profit before taxation
(€55,712)
€116,126
Tax on (loss)/profit
-
-
(Loss)/profit for the financial year
(€55,712)
€116,126
County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022_13
2022 In Images April: Visit of the Indian Ambassador to Ireland H.E. Akhilesh Mishra
May: Visit of the Austrian Ambassador to Ireland, HE Dr Thomas Nader.
April: Launch of Ireland’s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub at Rosslare Europort.
May: Business Awards. September: Kennedy Summer School, New Ross.
October: Chambers Ireland delegation visit to Brussels. 14_County Wexford Chamber Annual Report 2022
October: Budget Briefing, New Ross.
Contact Us 053 912 2226 info@countywexfordchamber.ie www. countywexfordchamber.ie