Digital Realty acquires 10-acre development in West Dublin

Business and Leadership Ltd.

Global data centre solutions provider Digital Realty Trust has acquired a 10-acre development site in Profile Park in Dublin 22. The site is capable of supporting the phased development of approximately 11.5 megawatts of data centre space across four buildings, totalling around 193,000 square feet of space. “Dublin remains an important data centre market for both local and multinational corporations, including large technology and Internet companies as well as IT service providers,” said Michael F Foust, CEO of Digital Realty. “Using our phased development approach, this site will enable us to support our customers’ expanding data centre needs by bringing data centre space online efficiently in terms of both time…

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Smurfit Kappa revenues up 10pc in 2011; pre-tax profits rise 190pc

Business and Leadership Ltd.

Smurfit Kappa Group (SKG) this morning reported a 10pc increase in its full year revenue in 2011 to €7.357bn and pre-tax profits of €299m, up over 190pc from €103m in 2010. “We are pleased to report EBITDA growth of 12pc to €1,015m and pre-exceptional EPS growth of 69pc to €1 for the full year of 2011,” said Gary McGann, Smurfit Kappa Group CEO. “Our strong free cash flow generation delivered a net debt reduction of €358m to €2.75bn in 2011, which exceeded our net debt reduction target. Lower net debt combined with a strong EBITDA outcome delivered a reduction of our net debt to EBITDA ratio to 2.7x at year-end.”…

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Globally focused start-ups to create 300 jobs at NovaUCD

Business and Leadership Ltd.

Some 37 globally-focused start-ups based at NovaUCD expect to create 300 highly-skilled jobs over the next two years, which will more than double the number of people currently employed there. NovaUCD’s high-tech companies are all focused on international markets. For example, HeyStaks and Tethras also have offices in Silicon Valley in addition to their HQs in NovaUCD and Equinome is providing its equine genetic tests to thoroughbred horse breeders and owners not only in Ireland but also in the UK, France, Russia, Australia, the US, New Zealand and Singapore. The employment projection figures are based on the results of an annual employment survey of companies based at the centre. There…

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Aer Arann adds two new routes, increases flight frequencies

Aer Arann adds two new routes, increases flight frequencies

Aer Arann adds two new routes, increases flight frequencies Aer Arann is to add two new Aer Lingus Regional routes to its summer schedule, as well as increasing frequencies on nine of its existing routes. The two routes to be operated by Aer Arann under its franchise agreement with Aer Lingus are Dublin-Bournemouth from 1 May, which will oeprate six times a week, and Shannon-Rennes, which will operate once a week as a summer seasonal route from 9 June to 1 September. Aer Arann will increase frequencies on nine of its Aer Lingus Regional services to: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Blackpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Rennes. “Aer Arann is committed to providing its customers with easy, convenient…

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Google & Twitter Gives Egypt Alternative to Connect to the Web

Twitter

Google and Twitter have launched a service in Egypt which allows citizens to communicate with each other and the outside world despite restricted Internet access. The Egyptian administration cut off the country’s Internet connection in an attempt to curb contact between activists and citizens. However, Internet giants Google and Twitter have stepped in and launched a service which allows people to send Twitter messages by leaving a voicemail for a specific number. The two organizations have teamed up to get the project off the ground. The new service uses Google’s speech-to-text recognition capability to automatically translate a message left on the number. It will then be sent out on Twitter…

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Ben & Jerry’s offers €10,000 prize to entrepreneurs

Ben & Jerry's offers €10,000 prize to entrepreneurs

Ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s is running an initiative called ‘Join our Core’, offering Irish entrepreneurs the chance to win a prize including €10,000 in cash. Ben & Jerry’s is looking for talented individuals from across Ireland who can create a business that embraces its philosophy of giving back to the community and environment. Successful entrants will get the chance to pitch their business idea to a panel of industry leaders – including Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield, and representatives from Ashoka, VSO (international development organisation) and The Fairtrade Foundation (independent certification body). Aside from the cash, the five ultimate winners will also win mentoring from Ashoka and…

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IDA chief advises students to look at FDI skills needs when picking courses

Barry O'Leary

IDA Ireland CEO Barry O’Leary has advised students completing their CAO application forms over the next few days to look at the areas where the greatest job opportunities will lie in FDI companies in the future. “There is a strong trend for FDI companies in Ireland winning new mandates which will require an increase in their employment levels in the future,” he said. “Students planning now for their future careers need to take this growth into account and consider in which sectors the greatest FDI job opportunities will be in the coming years.’’ According to the IDA, a large number of FDI companies seek graduates with backgrounds in science, technology,…

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ITLG and Ryan Academy to partner for entrepreneurship programmes

Business and Leadership Ltd.

The Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) and DCU’s Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurship are aiming to stimulate economic growth through a partnership announced today to deliver Kauffman entrepreneurship and innovation programmes in Ireland and Silicon Valley. The Missouri-based Kauffman Foundation, which was set up in the 1960s and has an asset base of around US$2bn, is a world authority on entrepreneurial innovation and economic growth. According to the foundation, over 40pc of new job growth will come from new start-up companies. The foundation works through a network of global partners to “advance an entrepreneurial society in which job creation, innovation, and the economy flourish”. The ITLG is the Irish Kauffman global…

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Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2012

Business and Leadership Ltd.

Now in its 15th year, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Programme for 2012 has been launched with the 24 finalists from across the island of Ireland to be announced in May. Frank O’Keeffe, partner-in-charge of the programme at Ernst & Young, commented that Ireland was now trying hard to show the first real shoots of recovery and our entrepreneurs were the true “trailblazers and champions” who would reignite our economy. The programme has created a network of finalists, now made up of more than 300 entrepreneurs, which fosters collaboration, business opportunities and generates a sense of collective pride in each other’s achievements. The shortlisted entrepreneurs will go…

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M&S; and Debenhams report rise in Christmas sales

Business and Leadership Ltd.

British retailer Marks & Spencer has announced that its group sales, excluding VAT, in the 13 weeks to December 31 were up 2.4pc. Discounts helped to attract shoppers over the Christmas season but M&S said it expects trading conditions to remain challenging and it will making additional cost savings to offset a fall in profit margins due to the discounting. Meanwhile department store Debenhams said that its group like-for-like sales in the 18 weeks to January 7 rose by 1.4pc as the warmer weather in October and November impacted the sale of seasonal product lines. Sales in December were stronger with sales growth of 6.5pc reported. The company said it…

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