The annual 'Feeding Ireland's Future: Skills for Work Week’ runs nationwide this week, giving over 1,200 young people the opportunity to gain skills they need for work by visiting 26 companies in 54 locations. The project was launched by Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton last year. ‘Skills for Work Week 2015’ includes a range of activities, such as free on-site workshops focusing on skills such as interview preparation, CV writing skills, food hygiene and safety training, and job search advice.
The Printed Image (TPI) has launched a new design and strategy consultancy, TAP, which will focus on consumer engagement at the point of purchase. Commenting on the launch, Criona Turley, Managing Director of TAP commented, "Through TAP, TPI have entered into the niche market of commercial and retail interior design.” The news comes 10 months on from TPI's acquisition of below-the-line marketing agency Runway Marketing.
Gas supplier Calor sponsored CATEX, one of Ireland’s leading foodservice events last week, marking the event's historic 50th year. Calor energy advisors showcased their range of gas appliances and solutions for catering businesses at the event, which took place at Dublin's RDS. Calor also sponsored a new book, ’50 Years’, commissioned by Irish Food Service Alliance, to mark the CATEX anniversary.
An inter-departmental committee chaired by the Department of Finance has proposed a new higher rate of PRSI for those earning more than €75,000, with the money raised intended to cover gaps in social insurance funding. According to the Irish Times, increasing the rate of PRSI to 4-5% would lead to an additional yield of €60 million. The current level of social insurance tax applies when weekly earnings exceed €38, with the report suggesting the threshold could be increased to €100 a week.
Donnybrook Fair is planning to open its first outlet outside Leinster, at the Douglas Court Shopping Centre in Cork. The site will be Donnybrook Fair's seventh in Ireland, with another location in Malahide in North Dublin also opening soon. Hugh Doyle, Head of Human Resources at Donnybrook Fair told The Sunday Times, “There are few places that are as informed about what they eat as people from Cork, and we see this as a perfect fit.” Food service company Compass Group Ireland has appointed UCC Coffee UK and Ireland its preferred coffee supplier, in a deal which will see the distribution of 23 tonnes of coffee a year to its 230 locations across the island of Ireland. UCC Coffee has already supplied Compass’ locations in the UK for a number of years, and will deliver a Compass-exclusive coffee. Marcus Swift, sales and marketing director, UCC Coffee UK & Ireland said: “The Irish coffee market is growing quickly and is becoming highly competitive as a result, so we’ll be working closely with the Compass Group Ireland team on its strategy to ensure customers receive the highest standard of products and services.”
Retail Ireland has said that modest growth in the retail market in January indicates that retailers continue to be hampered by legacy costs, such as unsustainably high rents and excessive local authority commercial rates. Director of Retail Ireland Thomas Burke said, "Retailers continue to face challenges despite improvements in the economy and consumer confidence. We must address the issues of unsustainably high rents and disproportionate local authority commercial rates if we are to achieve balanced regional growth. More also needs to be done to make town and city centres better places to visit and shop." CSO statistics for January indicated only modest retail sales growth of 0.8%.
© 2015 - Checkout Magazine by Hannah Popham.
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