The shortlist for the CSR Awards 2017 was recently announced. The Chambers Ireland CSR Awards are partnered with Business in the Community Ireland , sponsored by BAM Ireland and run in association with the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Press Release with the announcement is online here Details of the full shortlist is available here
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Invitation
The 2nd Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Ireland Public Sector Proposers Conference will be held on: Date: Wednesday September 13th 2017 Where: Enterprise Ireland, The Plaza, East Point Business Park, Dublin 3 Registration Time: 08.15am – 09.30 Duration: 09.30am – 13.00 approx Audience: This conference is open to all Specifiers/Procurers from across all sections of the Irish Public Sector What is SBIR? The Small Business Research Initiative (SBIR), is a mechanism enabling public sector bodies to connect with innovative ideas through technology businesses, to provide innovative solutions to specific public sector challenges and needs. What is SBIR Ireland? Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Ireland is the national innovation pre-commercial procurement initiative administered by Enterprise Ireland www.sbirireland.ie SBIR Ireland’s aim is to drive innovation across all sections of the Irish Public Sector via robust engagement with technology rich companies and organisations, through competitive challenges. EI has established a fund to co-support worthy competitive challenges in partnership with Irish Contracting Authorities. Background to Conference This event is timed in advance of the release of a 2nd Call for SBIR Ireland Expression of Interest (Eols) Challenges to Irish Public Sector Specifiers/Procurers in Autumn 2017. The Eols will demand Contracting Authorities to outline bona fide SBIR Challenges for evaluation and if successful will receive funding support. It is anticipated that up to 10 SBIR Competitions will be funded over the period 2018 - 2019. Speakers will include representatives from:
Please confirm attendance to maria.gavin@enterprise-ireland.com by COB Friday September 8th 2017
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The Biggest difficulty faced by business every day is the hidden charges that exist with their Merchant services. It is our Job at Energy Options to outline these costs for you and stop your business encountering these costs in the Future. Our advice is better than just being free because we also have exclusive deals with: Summer Holiday Reading – Financial Advisor Style by Metis Ireland Tales of asset allocation, investment opportunities, wealth management and murder in Sicily. One of the most enjoyable things about summer holidays as one gets older and wiser is the pleasure to be had from reading at a leisurely pace. Given that our family holiday was in the south east of Sicily this year, I was delighted to stumble upon the crime novels of Andrea Camilleri. The novels are set in Sicily and feature Inspector Salvo Montalbano who is almost as interesting a character as his creator. Camilleri started the fictional series at the age of 70 and one of the novels in the series won the 2012 Crime Writers’ Association International Dagger – a nice way to celebrate his 87th birthday. It’s never too late to have big goals. More on Montalbano later. I also decided to read some more serious books – again at a leisurely pace. The first was a third reading of Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Described as irreverent and written in an acerbic style by an author with an intimidating breath of knowledge, it is full of fantastic insights captured under imaginative headings such as:
A lighter – and certainly shorter – read is The Investment Answer which covers 5 decisions you should consider when managing your money and protecting your financial future. It also reminded me of one of my favourite quotes from John Kenneth Galbraith: “We have two classes of forecasters: those who don’t know and those who don’t know they don’t know”. It was very pleasing to note that the philosophy of this book is aligned with that of Metis Ireland. So, if you read this book and find it of interest, you know who to contact. Helpfully, my colleague Carl Widger, summarised the Metis Ireland rule book while I was away – click here to review. It will take less than 60 seconds and is not quite as irreverent as Taleb’s book! A key insight is that we are sometimes our own worst enemies when it comes to making investment and financial planning decisions. In Metis Ireland, we have a mantra – Stick with the Plan – for a reason. Research has shown that investor return is consistently a fraction of investment return. In other words, individual investors do not beat the market. There are many reasons for this including a psychological herd mentality. We can show this visually: This is because of the Emotional Cycle of Investment – irreverently summarised below. ![]() There are plenty of actions you can take to avoid this damaging behaviour. We will be putting up a video to demonstrate why you should Stick with the Plan using a practical and Irish example.
Back to Inspector Montalbano to finish. The crime novels have been adapted for Italian TV and are very popular – they have also been shown on BBC with subtitles. The beautiful port village of Puntasecca is the location for filming and there happened to be a shoot on the day we visited. The town was full of excited Italians waiting for a picture with the TV stars of the series. In a personal example of herd mentality, I couldn’t help but get in on the act. I have no idea who this very gracious lady is – role on the winter and some Inspector Montalbano on the TV so I can find out! Chambers Ireland today (12 July 2017)welcomed the announcement by Minister Donohoe in the Summer Economic Statement of increased capital expenditure to meet the needs of a growing economy and society. Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland commenting on the statement said, “The financial figures announced by the Minister of Finance today are as expected. With a limited amount of fiscal space available in Budget 2018 we welcome the Government’s approach to focusing on planning investment in the long-term. Expectations of a balanced budget in 2018, along with the projected healthy growth rates for the economy, means that Government will have more options for balancing prudence with investment and spending in coming years. Commitment to capital spending is key for business and we urge Government to invest in projects that align with the ambition of the evolving spatial strategy, the National Planning Framework. “As part of our Pre Budget Submission 2018 we called for a review of our taxation system, particularly the entry point to the higher rate of tax, with a multi-annual plan for reform implemented over several budgetary cycles. We welcome the Government’s commitment in the Summer Economic Statement to reforming the tax system to ensure it is growth-friendly and we call for a medium and long-term roadmap for reform to be undertaken. “This commitment to investment in infrastructure demonstrates again that Ireland is open for business and we look forward to continued economic growth into the future." For further information contact Susan McDermott, Chambers Ireland on 01 400 4319, 086 6081605 or email susan.mcdermott@chambers.ie Chamber Chief Executives from across Ireland today (12 July 2017) met in Kildare to discuss the key issues of importance to Irish business. The message delivered ahead of Budget 2018 and the publication of the Summer Economic Statement was unified and clear; available fiscal space should be focused on capital investment and addressing the urgent infrastructure needs across the country.
Conor Healy, Chief Executive of Cork Chamber and Chair of the national Chamber Executive Forum said, “Budget 2018 is opportunity for Government to deliver the resources necessary for infrastructure projects nationwide. We call on Government to use the finances available in Budget 2018 to significantly increase investment in capital projects that enhance regional connectivity and improve our ability to trade and compete internationally. It is important that capital investment aligns with and helps to deliver the ambitions outlined as part of the ongoing development of the National Planning Framework. Strategic and well-planned investment is essential to ensure that businesses and Ireland’s citizens can prosper.” The overwhelming response from the meeting was that Chamber leaders want Government to recognise the important infrastructure challenges facing the economy. Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland said, “Through investment in vital infrastructure projects across the country, Ireland can tackle the major issues facing the economy. Serious deficits in transport and water infrastructure, housing shortages in urban areas and a digital divide in terms of broadband provision all require urgent and adequate investment. This can only be achieved through Government commitment to increase capital spending to at least 4% of GDP. Significant investment in such infrastructure will enable businesses to thrive and keep pace with the demands of our growing economy. |
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