Small Business

A survey of 330 national schools has revealed that 87pc of its teachers saw an increase in confidence in children participating in the Junior Entrepreneurship Programme (JEP), with a further 66pc stating that taking part in the programme improved communication skills and the ability to work as a team. Life skills such as decision making, presentation skills, and teamwork were identified as crucial benefits to primary school children going through the JEP. Led by serial entrepreneur Jerry Kennelly, the JEP was rolled out to more than 10,000 primary school children in Ireland and Northern Ireland last year, and this year the numbers signing up for JEP are expected to increase…

Dublin-based social enterprise bicycle shop Rothar is celebrating its fifth birthday. The business was set up with the idea of reducing the amount of bicycle going to landfill by refurbishing and renovating them. Now it is paying tribute to the thousands of customers who have helped it to reach this significant milestone. One of the recipients of the Arthur Guinness Fund in 2012, Rothar has enjoyed its busiest year to date as the number of cyclists in Dublin has more than doubled since 2002, according to figures from Dublin City Council. The company, which trains and employs people who are long-term unemployed as bike mechanics, carries out approximately 150 repairs…

The invention of a therapeutic light mask for horses by Dr Barbara Murphy at University College Dublin (UCD) has won the Enterprise Ireland ‘One to Watch’ award. The Equilume light mask provides timed, low-level light to a single eye. It limits levels of the hormone melatonin which is usually produced in darkness and inhibits a mare’s reproductive activity during winter months. It is used to advance the breeding season in thoroughbred mares so that their foals are born close to their universal birthday of 1 January. Other uses include reducing extended gestation lengths in mares due to foal early in the year,  treating ‘horse jet-lag’ and enabling competition horses to…

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Joanna Murphy, chief operating officer of ConnectIreland, explores Ireland’s potential as a hub for foreign SMEs in light of the recent interest from French companies in particular. Ireland is well recognised as one of the top locations for global multinationals to establish their business, and in recent years it has been branded by many as the Silicon Valley of Europe, with ten of the top ‘Born on the Internet’ companies including Google, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn all present in this country. SMEs on the other hand often get overlooked when facts and figures are compiled regarding Ireland’s current business landscape. However, the trend for smaller entities looking to Ireland as…

Sam McCauley Chemists is to take over Sherwood’s Electrical store this summer. The pharmacy chain said it has invested heavily in the new expansion and it will bring the total number employed by the company in Kilkenny to 25. “We are delighted to be relocating to a bigger premises on High St,” said managing director Patrick McCormack. “We will be making an investment of over €500,000 in the new premises and increasing the number employed to 25. This is a huge vote of confidence in Kilkenny City and our many loyal customers.” The group said it now has 28 stores nationwide and an online store www.sammccauley.com with further new openings and…

Pet retailer Maxi Zoo has opened its seventeenth store in Ireland, in Newbridge Retail Park, Co Kildare, which will create 15 jobs. Maxi Zoo is part of the Fressnapf Group which is Europe’s largest pet retailer with over 1,295 stores across the region. The new 8,000 sq ft store in Newbridge is owned and operated by Cork couple Tony and Alice Cross. Maxi Zoo opened its first Irish store in Ballincollig, Co Cork in 2006 and plans to open a further 15 new stores across the country over the next five years, creating up to 150 new jobs. With all staff trained to be ‘pet experts’, Maxi Zoo invites people…

A product design graduate of Institute of Technology (IT) Carlow, Jack Gregan, has won the top three awards at the Universal Design Grand Challenge (UDGC) student awards for his design for a therapeutic aid that can be used in equine therapy for children with autism. Currently an intern with Carlow IT’s DesignCore design research centre, Gregan won the UDGC People’s Choice Award, the UDGC Judges’ Choice Award and the Enterprise Ireland Universal Design Commercialisation Award for his ‘Go Therapeutic’ horse riding aid. His project is an alternative to a saddle, ensuring the stability of the rider while enhancing all the benefits of equine therapy. The solution is proving to work…