Tags: Bank of Ireland, Dr. Dan McLaughlin, Economic Outlook, Economic Research Unit, The Bulletin

The ECB cut its repo rate by a quarter point in November and the market is generally expecting further easing. The Bank had raised rates earlier in the year, by a cumulative 0.5%, taking the repo rate to 1.5%, and most analysts had expected a straightforward reversal, implying that 1% would again be the floor for ECB rates in this cycle. That may not be the case and we expect rates to fall to at least 0.75% in the near term. This would still be above that of the UK (0.5%) and the US (0.25%) and a number of developments may persuade the Bank’s Governing Council that there is nothing sacred about 1%. The ECB already believes that the risks to growth in the euro zone are to the downside and the data of late certainly points to the possibility of at least one quarter of negative growth – the euro’s composite PMI index picked up marginally in November, but the 47.0 reading was the third consecutive month below 50 and hence implying contraction. Analysts have also cut thei  [...]
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Funding of 850,000 euro has been provided to EpiSensor, a Limerick based company that develops wireless sensor technology that reduces energy costs. The syndicated funding has been provided by the Bank of Ireland Start-up and Emerging Sectors Equity Fund, managed by Delta Partners, the AIB Seed Capital Fund, co-managed by Enterprise Equity, Enterprise Ireland and private investors.   The funds will enable EpiSensor to create new jobs and grow international sales. EpiSensor has seen rapid growth since it was founded in 2007. Its wireless technology platform (SiCA) reduces energy usage and costs by providing data from wireless energy sensors that show where energy savings can be made. It has helped organisations in the pharmaceutical, medical devices, food processing and manufacturing industries to significantly reduce energy costs and the technology has proven to pay for itself within the first year. The system is designed and manufactured in Ireland. EpiSensor will use the fund  [...]
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The theme of Bank of Ireland UK's Enterprise Breakfast as part of Enterprise Week was Grow Our Own - A Bright Future for Farming, Food and SMEs so it was fitting that both the majority of attendees and speakers were from the fast growing Agri-Food sector inNorthern Ireland. The key speakers were Dr. Mark Browne representing the Northern Ireland Executive and Aiden Kearney, Fresh Produce Trading Manager of Musgrave Retailer’s N.I. Dr. Browne opened proceedings for the invited speakers and delivered a positive and motivational talk on “Creating a vision for Agri inNorthern Ireland” outlining the Executive’s vision for a long-term strategy for the Agri-Food sector in N.I. This sector is demonstrating huge potential for the future judging by the growth it has and is experiencing  currently. Just some of the figures shared with the gathered SMEs and entrepreneurs were; •             Employment is up in the sector by 6% with over 1100 jobs created in the Agri-Foo  [...]
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Bank of Ireland's November 2011 Enterprise Week kicked off in Waterford's Granville Hotel to a packed house. The key note speaker was Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Norah Casey, CEO of Harmonia Publishing. Norah again emphasised the possibilities for young women to achieve anything in modern Ireland. When Norah spoke at the Women in Business Enterprise Week’s in May she stated that “showing them good role models is one of the best ways to do it” Anne Marie Caulfield is the current President of the Waterford Chamber of Commerce and a retailer in her own right with Super Value supermarkets in the south and south-east of the country. The Waterford Chamber of Commerce represents over 600 member companies at local level and also their interests to government and other key stakeholders. Also represented was Retail Excellence Ireland in the presence of the current chairman Kevin Jephson. Retail Excellence Ireland is Ireland’s largest retail organization. It’s members come tog  [...]
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Most businesses in the current climate are working through this recession. This was the key message being promoted and communicated to SMEs and entrepreneurs from the greater Kildare area at the Enterprise Week event in Newbridge’s Kaedeen Hotel on November 22nd. A large number came to hear the advice and words of wisdom from Dragon Bobby Kerr and M.D of Global Rail Services Ivan Holloway. Opening proceedings for the invited speakers was Ivan Holloway M.D of Global Rail Services, a provider of specialist railway services to the rail industry in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. Global Rail Services is in business ten years with over 300 employees and 200 active suppliers and contractors. Ivan shared his business experiences with the audience as he is a firm believer that “similar people in similar situations can share experiences” learning and benefiting from these experiences and challenges. He stressed the importance of networking for any business person of any level   [...]
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Tags: Bill Cullen, Dublin West, Enterprise Week

Midway through November's Enterprise Week the national road show made its way to Dublin. Attendees were treated to a presentation from local boy Bill Cullen who gave up some of his time in the hunt for his next business partner to speak to an overflowing conference room in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel. Selling, growth and development are second nature to Ireland’s best known entrepreneur. Consequently Bill had a captive audience as he regaled the attendees with the principles of his golden A.P.P.L.E.S selling technique; -              Attitude for Achievement -              Passion -              People Skills -              Learning to be Lucky, practice being lucky, learn from your mistakes -              Energy, Excellence, Exuberance, Enthusiasm -         �  [...]
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