County Wexford Chamber, Strategic Plan 2023-2025

Contents

5. Introduction

6. Vision, Purpose, Values

7. Plan of Action

8. Strategic Objectives

20. Statements

21. Membership

22. County Wexford: A Celebration

County Wexford at its best

Introduction

Welcome to the County Wexford Chamber Strategic Plan 2023–2025. Our Strategic Plan will act as our compass, guiding our activities and actions over the next number of years.

It will help to ensure that everything we do is aligned to best serve the longer-term goals of our members and stakeholders. We all share a common interest in creating sustainable prosperity and economic growth for County Wexford.

The direction of our Strategic Plan is informed by the results of an extensive consultation process with our members, currently numbering 320 businesses, and our key stakeholders both within the county and the wider South East region.

Adopting a proactive approach to sustainability presents opportunities to early adopters and as such is the only acceptable strategy.

Therefore, at the core of our strategic objectives, you will find a link to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The necessary components to ensure success in our drive for a sustainable economy are becoming stronger and that’s not a coincidence.

Many people continue to work very hard to deliver on many elements; for example the South East Technological University (SETU) and the development of Rosslare Harbour. Current and future actions, including investment decisions of Government, both nationally and at local authority level, will to some extent influence the success of our county.

We are particularly excited by the decision of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to select Wexford to host the 2024 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, and likely again in 2025. It is vitally important that we work with the business community firstly to ensure the success of the festival. It is essential that all businesses, especially those within the town centre, have a strong representative voice to ensure that all the necessary contingency arrangements are in place.

We, at County Wexford Chamber, are here to lobby on behalf of the business community to ensure that positive Government decisions are made so that conditions are right to support future prosperity for our communities.

Wexford can rightly boast of having a large number of experienced and innovative business leaders. Coupled with a young population with unfettered access to third level and further education, and our excellent connectivity, business leaders and investors can be assured that the talent and human capital required to ensure the success of any enterprise is abundantly available in Wexford.

This is a location of positive key stakeholders and decision makers who engage with a pro-business and “can-do” attitude, and that makes Wexford stand out as a premier development location.

The near-term future offers many opportunities for all of us to build upon the evident momentum. We hope our Strategic Plan will help you to share our excitement, our confidence, and perhaps challenge you to become a leader in our sustainable prosperous future.

Emma Dunphy CEO

Brendan Crowley President

Vision

Sustainable Prosperity for All

Purpose

To connect, support, and represent the business community of County Wexford

Values

Collaboration

Work with members and stakeholders to support excellence, participation, and inclusion

Leadership

Focus on meeting the needs of our members, measuring our success by their success

Innovation

Encourage and promote entrepreneurial ambition and courage

Commitment

Champion the people, society, economy, and environment of County Wexford

Strategic Objective 2

Represent and grow our membership

Ensure the voice of County Wexford businesses is heard locally, nationally, and internationally

Economic Development

Strategic Objective 4

Encourage tourism, culture and the nighttime economy

Facilitate stakeholders and businesses to develop and enhance County Wexford’s reputation as a destination with a thriving tourism, culture, and nighttime economy

Sustainability Education

Strategic Objective 1

Promote sustainability in business and the wider community

As a member of Chambers Ireland, County Wexford Chamber will promote engagement with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). County Wexford Chamber will also work with Wexford County Council to benefit our futures and enhance our towns, communities, and industries

Membership

Strategic Objective 3

Advance economic development in County Wexford

Collaborate in showcasing County Wexford as a centre of business excellence

Work to empower and facilitate innovation and entrepreneurship in County Wexford

Strategic Objective 5

Culture

Support workforce development and education initiatives in County Wexford

Engage with education institutions to grow the potential of individuals and businesses, to provide a wealth of talent who work and live in our communities

Strategic Objective 1

Promote sustainability in business and the wider community

As a member of Chambers Ireland, County Wexford Chamber will promote engagement with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). County Wexford Chamber will also work with Wexford County Council to benefit our futures and enhance our towns, communities, and industries

Actions

Champion the SDGs adopted by Chambers Ireland:

• SDG 5 Gender Equality

• SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

• SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

• SDG 13 Climate Action

• SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

2

1 Uphold and implement the SDGs throughout our own work

Promote and communicate Chambers Ireland’s SDG Toolkit for Business. This will assist businesses in their transition to sustainable practices

4

3 Support active travel and sustainable tourism initiatives in County Wexford, such as the South East Greenway

In 2019, on the 4th anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals, Irish Chambers signed a Pledge giving their commitment to the SDGs.

“Chambers Ireland and the affiliated 41 Chambers across Ireland pledge to uphold, communicate and implement the SDGs throughout the work they carry out.”

Ensure the voice of County Wexford businesses is heard locally, nationally, and internationally

Strategic Objective 2 Represent and grow our membership Actions

Be the leading voice for the business community, across all sectors and sizes, representing the interests of County Wexford business at local and national level

2 Strengthen the influence of County Wexford Chamber across the entire county

1 3

4 Connect, support and showcase our members across our strong promotional channels and at our events, ensuring a visible benefit to membership

5

Build stronger links with Chambers and other business representative organisations nationally and internationally

Strategic Objective 3 Advance economic development in County Wexford

Collaborate in showcasing County Wexford as a centre of business. Work to empower and facilitate innovation and entrepreneurship in County Wexford

Actions

1

Promote Rosslare Europort as a hub and driver for offshore wind energy development

2

Advocate for improved infrastructure, including the flood relief scheme in Enniscorthy, the extension of the M11 to Rosslare, Trinity Wharf in Wexford, advance manufacturing facilities in New Ross, and assist in promoting the M11 Business Campus in Gorey

3

Advocate that essential services keep pace with the growth in our county, which will underpin economic development

4

Work with our key stakeholders to develop a business prospectus to attract multinational and indigenous firms to locate in County Wexford

5

Research and promote funding opportunities that assist the business community

“Rosslare Europort is uniquely located to provide the necessary port infrastructure to deliver the ORE projects planned for the Irish and Celtic Seas that will be transformative for the South-East region and support Ireland’s climate action target of 7GW of offshore wind by 2030. In terms of economic potential, the South East ORE hub can be to offshore renewables what Dublin’s Silicon Docks are to the tech sector

Glenn Carr, Director Commercial Business Units, Iarnród Éireann, Port Authority for Rosslare Europort

Strategic Objective 4

Encourage tourism, culture and the nighttime economy

Facilitate stakeholders and businesses to develop and enhance County Wexford’s reputation as a destination with a thriving tourism, culture, and nighttime economy.

Actions

1 2

Engage with Visit Wexford, Fáilte Ireland and Wexford County Council to promote the development of a tourism strategy to maximise the national and international growth opportunities presented by Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

County Wexford welcomes Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

Strategic Objective 5 Support workforce development and education initiatives in County Wexford

Engage with education institutions to grow the potential of individuals and businesses, to provide a wealth of talent who work and live in our communities

Actions

1 2

Promote and embed County Wexford Chamber Skillnet as a key resource for businesses in County Wexford

“I will do everything that I can to ensure that SETU’s facilities, including here in Wexford, are fit for purpose to facilitate growth, provide an excellent university experience for our students, and support productive R&D engagement with our external partners.”

Professor Veronica Campbell President

South East Technological University (SETU)

County Wexford working together

“Wexford County Council looks forward to working closely with County Wexford Chamber in the delivery of this ambitious Strategic Plan which will help greatly to deliver on the potential for Wexford to be an even better place to live and to do business.”

Tom Enright, Chief Executive, Wexford County Council

Being informed, making connections, having our voice amplified – these are key benefits to membership of County Wexford Chamber. Access to bespoke training and support have been key to our business growth.

Cormac Pettitt Managing Director Pettitt Group

Every business must align its strategy with the needs of society. The UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals are a roadmap to enable companies to work towards achieving and delivering on long-lasting positive impacts in company culture.

Mary B Walsh Managing Director Ire Wel Pallets Ltd

Wexford is a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, ideally placed to maximise and benefit from opportunities to being at the cutting edge in areas such as renewable energy, ICT, logistics, manufacturing, and tourism

Pat Bevan Managing Director Reynaers Ltd

Our people are our best assets. Supporting, educating, and promoting the workforce in Wexford is vital as it benefits the individual, their families, the business community, and the wider society in which we live.

Lorraine Waters Manager Hook Lighthouse

Membership

County Wexford Chamber has 320 members, employing 20,000 people across the county

Financial Services

Event Services and Clubs

Health, Safety and Beauty

Food and Drink

Manufacturing and Engineering

Travel, Accommodation and Tourism

Professional Services

Art and Design

Housing and Environment

Retail Education, Employment and Disability Services

Media and IT Services

County Wexford working together

County Wexford A Celebration

County Wexford has a rich heritage, scenic countryside, unrivalled beaches, innovative business people, a vibrant arts and culture scene, and wonderful people.

Heritage

Our four main towns – Gorey, Enniscorthy, Wexford, and New Ross – share a long history. The Anglo-Normans landed in Wexford in 1169; New Ross dates from the 6th Century; in 2019, Gorey celebrated the 400th anniversary of its town charter; and Enniscorthy Castle dates from 1205. Today, they are thriving centres of independent and exciting retail opportunities; home to local and multinational businesses, and hubs of entrepreneurship.

Diversity

From opera to the world’s oldest operational lighthouse; from Ireland’s most famous Famine ship to the South East’s gateway to the UK and Europe, from the ancestral homestead of former US president John F Kennedy to the tourist mecca of the Sunny South East, County Wexford’s rich tapestry is here for all to discover. Our biodiversity and unique coastal habitats; our abundance of walking, heritage, adventure, craft, and garden trails open up our county to local and visitor alike.

People

Our people remain our best asset – whether from literary giants to sporting heroes, tech to teachers, artists to architects, pharma to friendly communities – we are County Wexford, working together.

Bunclody

Ferns Castle

Dunbrody ship, New Ross

Puffins, Saltee Islands

Wells House, Gorey

Courtown Beach

US President John F Kennedy

Johnstown Castle

International Rugby Player Tadhg Furlong

Author Eoin Colfer

Wexford Strawberries

Vinegar Hill

E: info@countywexfordchamber.ie

County Wexford Chamber Hill Street, Wexford T: 053 91 22226

countywexfordchamber.ie

PHOTOS SUPPLIED COURTESY OF: Berenice Abbott/Thames and Hudson, Brownes Photography, Eoin Colfer, Gail Connaughton, Fáilte Ireland, Ger Hore, Pól Ó Conghaile, SETU, Tourism Ireland, John Walsh Photography, Westmeath County Council, Wexford County Council/Visit Wexford.

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