Chamber News
In business for business
2000 more Irish Businesses will be trading online by 2016
Your business can be one of them.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO GET YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE
- Only 23% of small Irish businesses are engaged in a meaningful way in eCommerce Sales.
- 70% of Irish online sales are done in overseas markets.
- Over €4 billion of retail spending is done ONLINE.
It is a matter of urgency that Carlow businesses recognise this is happening and are able to respond to this new digital reality.
To help you address this challenge the National Digital Strategy aims to get a further 2000 businesses trading online by the end of 2015.
An Online Trading Voucher Programme has been launched and can be accessed through the Local Enterprise Office in Enterprise House, O Brien Road, Carlow.
Vouchers will be avaialble to a maximum of €2,500 0r 50% of eligible expenditure (inclusive of VAT), whichever is lesser.
Co Carlow LEO have put in place an early application date for Tourism & Retail providers as a highlighted sector that could benefit from the scheme.
The initial closing date for Tourism & Retail related enterprises and the closing date is 18th August 2014 which a decision by 1st September 2014.
Their second call for proposals is for all sectors (including Tourism & Retail) and the closing date is 16th September 2014 with a decision by 1st October 2014
A web briefing will be held in early September for same which forms part of the scheme and details will be available shortly.
Terms and conditions apply and further information is available from our offices
or by contacting kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie or 059/9130880 (Option 1) .
The application process will be ongoing (subject to budget).
Further dates will be available for applications.
The scheme is competitive and applications will be evaluated by the LEO Approvals & Evaluation Committee. Further information on the scheme is available here.
A Year in the Life
Barrow Consultancy and Training
Barrow Consultancy and Training was founded in 2008 by Marian Manning.
They offer professional and accredited training in Healthcare, Childcare, Hospitality and Catering, Community Development, Health and Safety, First Aid, Supervisory Management and Training and Education.
Based in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow – Liz Doran (Goresbridge) is the Manager since 2010 and is assisted by full time staff of Siobhan Havlin (Ballinanranagh) and Susie Owens (Athy). Joe Manning also works full time with the company.
This team is supported by a panel of up to 40 trainers delivering Training and Consultancy throughout the South East, Dublin and North West.
The company is continuing to grow and will be recruiting for further staff/trainers in coming months.
FETAC/QQI and SOLAS registered – they are the smallest company in Ireland to receive the NSAI Excellence Through People Award and recently received accreditation from VTCT to deliver Hospitality and Catering Training in Ireland (One of only 2 companies).
They have recently launched their SUMMER OFFERS – where learners can avail of discounted prices by booking online on their website www.barrowtraining.ie
For Your Information: New requirements for Landlords
Duty to inform rating authority of transfer of relevant property or new penalties in default.
Section 32 Local Government Reform Act 2014 came into force on Tuesday 1st July 2014.
This requires the owner of a rateable property (or such other person as the owner has authorised in writing to act on his or her behalf) to notify the Local Authority in writing of a change of occupier within two weeks of the date of transfer of the property or an interest in it.
This includes instances where a rateable property becomes vacant - (as the owner is entitled to occupy).
In default of the required notification and where arrears are not discharged within the two week period an additional penalty (charge) will be incurred by the owner to a maximum of two years rates.
Any penalty (charge) due by the owner of a rateable property and not discharged will remain a charge on the property.
A standardised 'Transfer of relevant property' form and answers to faqs are available from Carlow County Council website
Further information or queries can be directed to Accounts Receivable Section Carlow County Council, Athy Road, Carlow telephone 0599172487/488/489.
BUSINESS PICNIC 2014
Duckett's Grove Castle will be the venue for the 2nd Business Picnic being held on Wednesday 23rd July 2014 hosted by Carlow & Wexford Local Enterprise Offices and partners. The Business Picnic provides an important opportunity for the local, regional and national business community to come together and celebrate their successes, hear stories from their peers and to promote themselves by networking in an informal setting, building new relationships with over 250 enterprises who will be in attendance.
Rick O'Shea from 2FM helped launch the event and is host for this year's picnic which features award winning comedian Eric Lalor and a panel of 8 business people who will share their business stories. Speaking about the event , Head of Local Enterprise for the Local Enterprise Office in Carlow Kieran Comerford said "Local Enterprise Office Networking Events are popular and lively events which generate much interest from businesses and make a real difference in terms of making connections that make business happen".
This year the event is in association with Carlow Network of Enterprising Women, Write on Track, KLCK Blogger Network, VISUAL, Bank of Ireland, Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Sign Management Services, IT Carlow, Red Oak Tax Refunds, Department of Social Protection (Intreo and EURES), Carlow Chamber, Carlow Tourism and Carlow County Childcare Committee.
Irish Point of Single Contact
The Irish Point of Single Contact (www.pointofsinglecontact.ie ) is based in the Internal Market Unit of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The main role of the Irish Point of Single Contact is to provide general information on the procedures required for Irish/EU Businesses who intend operating in Ireland. (e.g. procedures required for working as an Architect in Ireland). The Irish Point of Single Contact is also part of the European Commission EUGO Network of Points of Single Contact established in each EU country (www.ec.europa.eu/internal_market/eu-go/).
Irish businesses can use the EUGO Network as a key information resource when operating in the Single Market. ( e.g. intending doing business in France - contact the French Point of Single Contact for information on the relevant procedures required). For further enquiries in relation to the Irish Point of Single Contact, please find relevant contact details below:
Irish Point of Single Contact,
Internal Market Unit,
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation,
23 Kildare Street,
Dublin 2.
Email: info@pointofsinglecontact.ie
Ph : Marc Ledwith / 01-6312382
Co Carlow Chamber
Email: ceo@carlowchamber.com
Website: www.carlowchamber.com
Location: Carlow Gateway Business Centre, Athy Road, Carlow
Phone: 0599132337
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlow.chamber
Twitter: @carlowchamber