There was good news this week for companies involved in research, when Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn announced the latest EU round of financial support for research and innovation. €6.4 billion is to be spent over the next 14 months.
Under the EU’s Framework Programme 7 (FP7), Irish scientists and companies involved in research can apply to the programme for funding. Under the programme support is given for collaborative research conducted with public and private sector research partners in other EU countries. The monies will be allocated to SME’s as well as larger organisations and will act as a much needed financial stimulus
The package, the biggest ever, covers a vast range of scientific disciplines, public policy areas and commercial sectors. This funding is intended to advance scientific boundaries, increase European competitiveness and help solve societal challenges such as climate change, energy and food security, health and an ageing population. Around 16 000 participants from research organisations, universities and industry, including about 3 000 SMEs, will receive funding. Grants will be awarded through calls for proposals and evaluations over the next 14 months. This package is expected to create more than 165 000 jobs and is a long-term investment in a smarter, sustainable and more inclusive Europe. It is a key element within the EU's Europe 2020 Strategy and in particular the Innovation Union flagship initiative, which will be launched in autumn 2010.
Announcing the funding Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn said that it would speed up the innovation process from research to retail and would give Europe a competitive edge. Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan TD encouraged Irish researchers, particularly from SME’s to apply for the funding which, he said, would allow them to use research to improve their competitiveness and grow their business.
Galway Chamber has consistently called on Government to support innovation and to foster a culture of research and development in particular in the SME sector. In our most recent Pre Budget Submission to the Minister for Finance we said that Government must put measures in place to allow Ireland Inc. to compete, innovate and grow while sustaining employment, supporting Irish companies and continuing to attract foreign direct investment. We have also lobbied to encourage Research & Development activity through the R&D tax credit.
Further information on the Framework Programme 7 (FP7) can be found on www.ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/
Speaking of innovation, congratulations to Macnas on their spectacular Wild Hunt parade on Sunday and while the Galway Arts Festival comes to a close this weekend we look forward to the Galway Racing Festival starting on Monday. Last year over 150,000 people attended the summer festival meeting and we look forward to a successful festival again this year.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Galway Independent Column - July 14th 2010
In a recent survey of Galway Chamber Members, results of which will be published in the coming weeks, ‘Access to Credit’ was ranked as the second most important in a list of fifteen ‘Pressing business issues’ facing members. The importance of this issue to business in this country is underlined by the fact that Minister for Enterprise Trade and Innovation Batt O'Keefe TD supported by Junior Minister Dara Calleary will be in Galway this week to embark on a fresh round of meetings with the business community around the country on the issue of bank credit availability.
The purpose of the meeting is for Ministers O’Keeffe and Calleary to hear at first hand the views and experiences of local businesses on access to bank lending. This full exchange of views aims to facilitate a greater understanding of the issue at both regional and national levels, giving an indication of how matters have changed since last year, when Minister O’Keeffe met with the group in the first instance.
Galway Chamber will be represented at the meeting by our President Paul Shelly with members of the Chamber Council in the SME sector, who will put the experiences and views of Chamber members to the Ministers and who will continue to press for easier access to credit for SMEs.
The Ministers must be made fully aware that credit difficulties have made successful businesses go to the wall since last year and while we welcome An Taoiseach’s global message this week of Ireland ‘turning the corner’ with the launch of his €500 million ‘Innovation Fund Ireland’ in New York, Galway Chamber will continue to lobby strongly for our members in their particular areas of need. This meeting with Ministers O’Keefe and Calleary is part of that process.
Galway Chamber continues to be committed to make Galway a better business environment for our members and with this in mind we are supporting a range of activities that will allow our members to access extra help for their businesses. One of the ways in which we’re doing this is by facilitating projects under the Labour Market Activation Fund operated by the Department of Education and Skills.
For many businesses the ability to hire new employees to tackle a specific project or to deal with outstanding work is not a runner while financial pressures remain. The Begin Again programme being offered by ICBE, Irish Centre for Business Excellence, initiated by the Labour Market Activation Fund, allows employers to take on an experienced and qualified individual for work experience.
This experienced and qualified individual who has been made redundant (for at least 3 months) will undertake placement experience for 12 weeks at no additional cost to the business. The individual placed in the company retains all Social Welfare benefits while gaining valuable experience and furthering his/her networking activities. To ensure both the company and the individual maximise this opportunity both mentoring support and training will be provided. This would appear to be a win all round situation so if you’re a business owner or unemployed (for at least 3 months) and want to learn more about this programme contact Paula Crowley on 091-755736/paula@leapadvisors.ie.
The purpose of the meeting is for Ministers O’Keeffe and Calleary to hear at first hand the views and experiences of local businesses on access to bank lending. This full exchange of views aims to facilitate a greater understanding of the issue at both regional and national levels, giving an indication of how matters have changed since last year, when Minister O’Keeffe met with the group in the first instance.
Galway Chamber will be represented at the meeting by our President Paul Shelly with members of the Chamber Council in the SME sector, who will put the experiences and views of Chamber members to the Ministers and who will continue to press for easier access to credit for SMEs.
The Ministers must be made fully aware that credit difficulties have made successful businesses go to the wall since last year and while we welcome An Taoiseach’s global message this week of Ireland ‘turning the corner’ with the launch of his €500 million ‘Innovation Fund Ireland’ in New York, Galway Chamber will continue to lobby strongly for our members in their particular areas of need. This meeting with Ministers O’Keefe and Calleary is part of that process.
Galway Chamber continues to be committed to make Galway a better business environment for our members and with this in mind we are supporting a range of activities that will allow our members to access extra help for their businesses. One of the ways in which we’re doing this is by facilitating projects under the Labour Market Activation Fund operated by the Department of Education and Skills.
For many businesses the ability to hire new employees to tackle a specific project or to deal with outstanding work is not a runner while financial pressures remain. The Begin Again programme being offered by ICBE, Irish Centre for Business Excellence, initiated by the Labour Market Activation Fund, allows employers to take on an experienced and qualified individual for work experience.
This experienced and qualified individual who has been made redundant (for at least 3 months) will undertake placement experience for 12 weeks at no additional cost to the business. The individual placed in the company retains all Social Welfare benefits while gaining valuable experience and furthering his/her networking activities. To ensure both the company and the individual maximise this opportunity both mentoring support and training will be provided. This would appear to be a win all round situation so if you’re a business owner or unemployed (for at least 3 months) and want to learn more about this programme contact Paula Crowley on 091-755736/paula@leapadvisors.ie.
Galway Independent Column - July 7th 2010
Having written last week about the tentative economic growth being experienced in the country it is heartening to see that this week the country appears to be over the recession (that dreadful word) but facing lengthening dole queues. Therefore it would seem to be premature to welcome the end of the recession while greater unemployment looms.
That is why we have consistently lobbied Government on job creation and the culture that attracts jobs. This includes investment in our third and fourth level educational institutions which continues to prove so successful for Galway. We welcome unreservedly the news that Merit Medical has announced an expansion which will create 100 jobs over the next year. This is a boost to the local economy and again underpins Galway’s role as a hub in the life sciences sector. Each time we have the opportunity to welcome investment in Galway, the point is made that the availability of a highly trained, skilled workforce is key to attracting investment. Announcing the Merit Medical investment, CEO of the company referred to the ‘skill set of the existing Irish management team’ as a decision maker in Merit’s location choice.
Galway Chamber continues to provide relevant skills training for members and to this end has recently partnered with the Institute for Professional Selling (IPS) to offer IPS educational programmes to Chamber members. In any business sales are key and sales training has now more than ever become critical to business.
The Institute was launched in Jan 2010 by the then Minister for Education Batt O’ Keefe TD and since then it has formed strategic alliances with many of Irelands leading business organisations to promote the profession of sales.
IPS offers a suite of accredited sales qualifications aimed at each level within the sales profession from entry level to sales director with the qualifications designed to improve both people and process.
Each qualification has ECTS (European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System) credits attached which allows for the transfer of learning experiences between different institutions, greater student mobility and more flexible routes to degree and to further higher education levels.
The timing for this initiative is excellent. In order for Irish companies to regain competitiveness our sales force must have the skills to adapt and compete in changing economic circumstances.
The IPS Pathway to Professionalism in Selling consists of accredited academic programmes that allow salespeople, managers, trainers and coaches to match their career and their academic aspirations. The collaboration between academia and business in an independent structure will ensure that all of the programmes offered remain innovative, current and relevant while maintaining the rigour and balance of an internationally recognised quality assurance process.
Galway Chamber will send details of the Institute for Professional Selling’s courses to members and for more information on this or any other business matter, please contact us on 091 563536.
That is why we have consistently lobbied Government on job creation and the culture that attracts jobs. This includes investment in our third and fourth level educational institutions which continues to prove so successful for Galway. We welcome unreservedly the news that Merit Medical has announced an expansion which will create 100 jobs over the next year. This is a boost to the local economy and again underpins Galway’s role as a hub in the life sciences sector. Each time we have the opportunity to welcome investment in Galway, the point is made that the availability of a highly trained, skilled workforce is key to attracting investment. Announcing the Merit Medical investment, CEO of the company referred to the ‘skill set of the existing Irish management team’ as a decision maker in Merit’s location choice.
Galway Chamber continues to provide relevant skills training for members and to this end has recently partnered with the Institute for Professional Selling (IPS) to offer IPS educational programmes to Chamber members. In any business sales are key and sales training has now more than ever become critical to business.
The Institute was launched in Jan 2010 by the then Minister for Education Batt O’ Keefe TD and since then it has formed strategic alliances with many of Irelands leading business organisations to promote the profession of sales.
IPS offers a suite of accredited sales qualifications aimed at each level within the sales profession from entry level to sales director with the qualifications designed to improve both people and process.
Each qualification has ECTS (European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System) credits attached which allows for the transfer of learning experiences between different institutions, greater student mobility and more flexible routes to degree and to further higher education levels.
The timing for this initiative is excellent. In order for Irish companies to regain competitiveness our sales force must have the skills to adapt and compete in changing economic circumstances.
The IPS Pathway to Professionalism in Selling consists of accredited academic programmes that allow salespeople, managers, trainers and coaches to match their career and their academic aspirations. The collaboration between academia and business in an independent structure will ensure that all of the programmes offered remain innovative, current and relevant while maintaining the rigour and balance of an internationally recognised quality assurance process.
Galway Chamber will send details of the Institute for Professional Selling’s courses to members and for more information on this or any other business matter, please contact us on 091 563536.
Galway Independent Column - June 30th 2010
Just last week the government launched a new initiative to help employers create jobs. The Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme has been set up to help employers to create jobs and get people back to work.
Aimed at taking people who have been unemployed for six months or more off the Live Register, the scheme, according to the government, will save an employer in the region of €3,000 from the annual cost of employing an additional worker by exempting the employer from paying employers PRSI for 12 months from the date of approval of the full time position.
Launching the scheme An Taoiseach said that the measure is being deliberately targeted at those who have been unemployed for six months or more as the proportion of people who return to employment after a short period out of work remains relatively high but after 6 months on the Live Register there is a danger that people will drift into long-term unemployment. Therefore the scheme will only be available for new employees who have been unemployed for 6 months or more.
The scheme will be administered by the department of Minister for Social Protection, Éamon Ó Cuív TD, and will be pertinent to any new job created in 2010 which employed a person who had been unemployed for 6 months or more. The government hopes that this initiative will create several thousand jobs.
Obviously, Galway Chamber welcomes any initiative that makes it easier for an employer to employ and any initiative that cuts employers costs but one wonders whether or not many employers are in a position to take on staff even with the exemption in PRSI.
Could the government come up with an initiative to safeguard existing jobs as well as creating new positions? Most employers are still struggling regardless of what the recent economic outlooks say. (Bloxham Stockbrokers Irish Quarterly Economic Outlook June 21 expects the economy to grow by 0.5% on a Gross Domestic Product basis) Now would be a good time, for example, to revisit local government funding and its reform. The double taxation, both unfair and inequitable, that is Commercial Rates, needs attention. It can no longer be used to balance the books for local authorities. Government needs to get its think tanks working on this before a winter of discontent sets in with businesses frankly being unable to pay their rates bill resulting in staff layoffs and ultimately closure. A closed business can’t take on staff, regardless of any PRSI exemptions.
For more information on the Employer PRSI Incentive Scheme see www.welfare.ie
Aimed at taking people who have been unemployed for six months or more off the Live Register, the scheme, according to the government, will save an employer in the region of €3,000 from the annual cost of employing an additional worker by exempting the employer from paying employers PRSI for 12 months from the date of approval of the full time position.
Launching the scheme An Taoiseach said that the measure is being deliberately targeted at those who have been unemployed for six months or more as the proportion of people who return to employment after a short period out of work remains relatively high but after 6 months on the Live Register there is a danger that people will drift into long-term unemployment. Therefore the scheme will only be available for new employees who have been unemployed for 6 months or more.
The scheme will be administered by the department of Minister for Social Protection, Éamon Ó Cuív TD, and will be pertinent to any new job created in 2010 which employed a person who had been unemployed for 6 months or more. The government hopes that this initiative will create several thousand jobs.
Obviously, Galway Chamber welcomes any initiative that makes it easier for an employer to employ and any initiative that cuts employers costs but one wonders whether or not many employers are in a position to take on staff even with the exemption in PRSI.
Could the government come up with an initiative to safeguard existing jobs as well as creating new positions? Most employers are still struggling regardless of what the recent economic outlooks say. (Bloxham Stockbrokers Irish Quarterly Economic Outlook June 21 expects the economy to grow by 0.5% on a Gross Domestic Product basis) Now would be a good time, for example, to revisit local government funding and its reform. The double taxation, both unfair and inequitable, that is Commercial Rates, needs attention. It can no longer be used to balance the books for local authorities. Government needs to get its think tanks working on this before a winter of discontent sets in with businesses frankly being unable to pay their rates bill resulting in staff layoffs and ultimately closure. A closed business can’t take on staff, regardless of any PRSI exemptions.
For more information on the Employer PRSI Incentive Scheme see www.welfare.ie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
