Enterprise Ireland will host its annual Start-up Showcase 2017 on 9 February. The event will gather over 300 entrepreneurs and representatives from early-stage businesses in the Printworks, Dublin Castle. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD will address attendees and Ash Maurya, author of the international bestseller “Running Lean: How to Iterate from Plan A to a plan that works”, is to be the featured key-note speaker.
Protégé International has announced the appointment of Steve Wilkinson as CEO of the company’s Beer Division. As CEO, Wilkinson will lead the review and expansion of the ‘Route 66’ Premium Beer brand in the USA and internationally. A veteran of the brewing industry he has a wide breath of experience, including senior roles with Guinness, Pilsner Urquell and SABMiller.
South Dublin County Council has launched its Shopfront Grant Scheme for 2017. The scheme helps improve the appearance of independently-owned shops in the area including Tallaght, Clondalkin, Rathfarnham, Templeogue, Palmerstown, Newcastle, Rathcoole and Saggart. Grants of up to a maximum of €8,500 are available.
The first applications call for funding to Ireland’s seven Fisheries Local Action Groups (Flags) has been made. The Flags initiative focuses development funding on coastal fisheries and aquaculture areas. Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Michael Creed has made €2.4 million available to Bord Iascaigh Mhara, to be dispersed to Flags-selected projects.
Production of Cheestrings in the Kerry Group plant in Co Cork has been disrupted for the second day this year. Industrial action has followed an escalation of a dispute over work practises changes. Workers voted by a margin of 94% to 6% in favour of the action.
The Central Bank has found a number of credit unions in failure to comply with staff competency checks. A ‘fitness and probity regime’ introduced by the financial regulator four years ago was not being adequately carried out by credit unions. The Central Bank said it will “follow up directly with the credit unions concerned to address these issues”.
