Business
Galway company signs contract to roll out new EU business transformation process
LEAP, the Galway based Management and Leadership Development organisation, has signed a Licence Agreement to deliver the fully accredited, transformational futureSME business process in Ireland.
What makes the futureSME process unique is that it has been developed over a four-year period through an EU Framework 7 Project involving 26 partners across Europe, seven of whom are Irish – in a project that was spearheaded by the University of Strathclyde.
After years of extensive research, refinement and practical application, and an investment of €8 million, futureSME methodology emerged as a business model for all SMEs to help grow their business.
The development of the futureSME methodology involved taking the best practices and disciplines from highly successful larger international companies and designing a unique roadmap that allows these practices to be effectively applied to all small to medium-sized businesses.
LEAP will provide businesses in the futureSME based process with dedicated mentors who are qualified and steeped in the best practices of the process and whose role is to help identify how to actively apply those tools. The programme uses visual strategy mapping as a key component in getting business owners and managers to see their business in a new light.
LEAP, a national provider, now has the licence to deliver futureSME in Ireland and a number of companies nationally have already embraced the process resulting in improved performance to the bottom line. A programme has already started in Shannon and a dedicated Galway programme will commence in April.
Speaking about the importance of futureSME methodology to SMEs, Mike Gaffney Managing Director of LEAP said: “We are delighted to be taking on the futureSME transformation process which will give businesses the tools and support they need to make success and growth happen in 2014. SMEs are critical to the economy’s future success as we continue on the road to recovery after the recession. Now is the time for SMEs to refocus and concentrate on growth”.
“LEAP is an organisation dedicated to helping SMEs achieve real, tangible success with proven results. Delivering the futureSME methodology is an extension of what they currently practise and provide to business owners and managers, and we look forward to hearing the success stories which will come out of their involvement in delivering this unique process,” added futureSME Ireland’s Denis Kearney.
Companies can avail of futureSME directly through LEAP or through government funded supports such as Enterprise Ireland, Udaras na Gaeltachta and Skillnets initiative ManagementWorks.
The new President of Local Ireland, the association representing local news publishers around the country, is Head of Irish Times Regionals Dan Linehan.
Mr Linehan takes over the presidency from Declan McGuire of the Connacht Tribune. His appointment was confirmed at the recent Annual General Meeting of Local Ireland at Bloomfield House Hotel near Mullingar, Westmeath.
Mr Linehan, who has served as Vice President of the organisation for the last two years, said: “The coming years are a very important time for local publishers with many important issues to be addressed, including the implementation of the Future of Media Commission recommendations, defamation reform, the role and support for local publishers in public service reporting and helping publishers develop commercial digital offerings.”
Speaking at the AGM, Mr McGuire acknowledged the work done by the Executive in the past two years under the direction of Executive Director, Bob Hughes, on several projects related to the publishing industry but most especially the successful conclusion of the long-running campaign for the abolition of VAT on newspapers.
He also wished Mr Linehan the very best in his new role as President of the association for the next two years.
Mr Hughes thanked Mr McGuire for his leadership and support during his term of office and said he looked forward to working with Mr Linehan on the key policy priorities for the association, including Government supports, Government advertising, fair remuneration for content from the tech platforms and the reform of the legislation for defamation.
Local Ireland members also elected Seán Mahon, Managing Director of the Southern Star, as Vice President for the next two years.
The shortage of affordable housing is the single biggest impediment in attracting and retaining workers in the West, according to business group Ibec.
At a ‘Regional Insights Series’ meeting in the Galmont Hotel in Galway last week, employers were told that capacity constraints and labour supply are the key challenges facing business growth in the region.
Ibec Head of Regional Policy Helen Leahy said: “There must be greater focus by government on enhancing quality of life issues such as housing and infrastructure which are driving labour shortages in the region.
“Ibec’s vision for the West is to realise its potential to become a globally competitive location. An inadequate supply of affordable housing is now the single largest impediment to attracting and retaining talented workers, without whom business investment and expansions are not possible.
“Labour shortages are a real concern for businesses in the region. People decide where to live and work based on quality of life and access to high quality services and amenities. Industry tends to follow talent, and in this regard, the region needs to have all the building blocks in place as the attraction and retention of world-class talent becomes increasingly competitive on a global level,” said Ms Leahy.
Amongst Ibec’s priorities for the West are:
- Addressing housing and infrastructure challenges
- Transitioning towards a new growth model with Net Zero energy powered by Atlantic offshore wind resources
- Adapting businesses to the new economic realities
- Enhancing capacity and skillsets to achieve sustainable development objectives
- Investment in people and skills
- Creating competitive advantage through digitalisation
- Innovation as a key driver of productivity growth
One in five Galway businesses want to go fully cashless, as the move towards card payments and tapping continues unabated post-Covid.
In all, 22% of Galway businesses would like to be fully cashless, according to a survey carried out by BOI Payment Acceptance (BOIPA), a provider of payment technology solutions, which asked Irish businesses about the current payment landscape as well as business confidence and concerns.
Over one-third (36%) of Galway businesses were unaware there is no contactless limit on mobile wallets – just below the national average – while 54% believe the increase in card over cash transactions has helped them run their business.
Six out of ten Galway businesses expect to grow this year despite the cost-of-living crisis and running costs dominating as key concerns; 62% believe their business will grow over the next twelve months despite global economic uncertainty.
Unsurprisingly cost-of-living increases and running costs were the main concerns the majority of businesses had.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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