WIN - West of Ireland Networking, Caroline McDonagh, Galway Networking Group

New domain for WIN: www.westofirelandnetworking.com

2011-05-10T02:57:00.001-07:00

Please see our new website: http://www.westofirelandnetworking.com/

Developing Your Marketing Plan

2011-04-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

This week we will have Marketing Consultant, Kevin O'Malley talk through 'Developing Your Marketing Plan'. Kevin will present the important considerations when developing your marketing plan for either a new or existing business or for a product or service.

Kevin will bring us through the various elements which make up the plan and will discuss the importance of each section in context of the overall plan.

Jobs boost as Avaya announces seventy five new posts...

2011-04-09T05:26:00.001-07:00

Galway received a significant employment boost on Tuesday when Avaya announced it is creating 75 new positions at their offices in Mervue Business Park. The jobs are part of the company’s new Customer Experience Centre, which opened with a special ribbon cutting ceremony by Michael Bayer, president of Avaya’s field operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Barry O’Leary, CEO of the Industrial Development Authority Ireland.

See rest of story on: http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/38408/jobs-boost-as-avaya-announces-seventy-five-new-posts Fas Jobs

Compliance Issues for SMEs

2011-04-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

This week we will have a training session on the important topic of Compliance Issues for SMEs and this will be delivered by Gert O'Rourke and Ralph Smith.

Background:
Running a business is difficult enough, without worrying about whether or not your company is compliant with legislation affecting Small and Medium Enterprises in Ireland. Keeping up to date with the latest compliance acts is a must for every company, small or large.

Compliance is an investment. Responding to government agency queries, investigations or audits is a crippling burden for many SMEs. Management time is better spent on revenue generation tasks. Compliance, however, applies to HR, finance and legal activities undertaken every day by SMEs. Are you sure that your company is compliant?

• Income Tax, VAT, PAYE/PRSI
• Universal Social Charge
• Employment rights and legislation
• Employers obligations and HR costs

Finance Training is a company focused on compliance training for companies in Ireland. It provides training in areas such as Anti Money Laundering, Consumer Credit Directives and Tax compliance.

Training is delivered by Ralph Smith and Gert O’Rourke.

Ralph Smith is the managing partner of Do My Books Ltd incorporated public accountants. Ralph is a practicing incorporated public accountant and has over ten years front line business.

Gert is a qualified trainer in Entrepreneurship and Business Development. She has nineteen years’ experience in the development and delivery of training programmes.

Want help with starting your business?

2011-03-22T04:42:00.000-07:00

This week (Friday the 25th of March) we will have a practical look at the steps you need to consider when setting up a business from an operational and legal point of view. Our two experts: Cathy Scanlon and Claire Shaughnessy will guide you through the myriad of things you need to know when taking your first steps...

Setting Up/Operating a Small Business?

Cathy Scanlon with a background in business, human resource management and materials management is going to provide an information session on "Some Practical Guidelines for Success"that small business start-up’s/existing businesses can apply today.

Based on her experience working in a multinational, managing a family business and working with a number of small businesses, Cathy will talk you through simple steps to consider.

STARTING UP, STARTING RIGHT

A practical look at some of the legal matters for consideration when starting up your own business

Claire Shaughnessy, Solicitor will talk about:"Starting Up, Starting Right; a practical look at some of the legal matters for consideration when starting up your own business".

Starting off on the right foot in business is crucial to the success of your venture and seeking professional advice from the outset will prove invaluable down the road. With so many matters for consideration in the organisation of your business, what suits your individual circumstances should you form a Partnership or a Company? We will be taking a look at the popular types of legal entities moving on to the matter of employees and independent contractors and your obligations as an employer. We will also briefly turn to the protection of your own ideas and investment in intellectual property, the importance of consumer law and finally debt collection.
NOTE: This presentation is not a comprehensive statement of the Law or Practise and is not in any way to be construed as legal advice. If advice on the law is required on any matter all persons should seek professional legal advice. The author does not accept any liability for error or omissions.

ZeniMax: creating jobs in Galway.

2011-03-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

ZeniMax Online Studios, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced its plans to open a customer support centre in Galway.

The new facility will provide customer support for players of their future massively multiplayer online games. The development is anticipated to create hundreds of jobs over the next several years.

Under the leadership of the company's current president Matt Firor, ZeniMax Online Studios was founded to create online role playing games.

Rich Barham, director of Customer Support, will lead the global customer support initiative at the studio. Barham previously worked with Blizzard Entertainment, and was a major contributor to the management of in-game support needs, customer care, and retention for World of Warcraft. He was also a key team member in establishing customer service centers for North America and Europe.

“We are excited to be building an experienced team, led by Rich, which will focus on providing superior customer support for our games. Galway has world-class educational facilities, is a beautiful place to work and live, and offers a wide variety of benefits for our employees. Our ability to provide superior customer service for our future products is firmly on track,” Firor said.

Adding to today’s announcement Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation Richard Bruton TD, said “ZeniMax Online Studios is a premier developer and publisher in interactive entertainment and a very important addition to the thriving games industry in Ireland. This investment was won for Galway by IDA Ireland in the face of stiff competition from other European locations and as such it demonstrates yet again to the global investment community that Ireland continues to attract high-quality foreign direct investment.”

“The company will be a significant employer in the West of Ireland hiring multilingual customer support agents and technical support staff and will contribute to the further development and attractiveness of the Region. We welcome ZeniMax Online to our business community and look forward to continued partnership in the years to come” concluded Minister Bruton.

Speaking from New York, IDA CEO Barry O’Leary welcomed today’s announcement, saying “ZeniMax Online Studios’ decision to locate its European customer services operations in Galway acknowledges Ireland’s delivery of services’ excellence in the digital media sphere and its position of strength in the global gaming industry. They are a very welcome addition to a cluster of companies across Ireland in a sector which is witnessing rapid growth. IDA Ireland’s strategy, Horizon 2020 recognizes the global growth in services and today’s announcement by ZeniMax Online further embeds Ireland’s reputation as a European digital capital.”

Social Media for Job Seekers

2011-03-07T06:56:00.001-08:00

Kevin O'Malley, marketing consultant with a background in social media is going to provide an information session on 'Social Media for Job Seekers". Kevin will talk through each of the social media tools: Linked In; Facebook and Twitter and show us how you can use these tools to position yourself in the jobs market.

He will demonstrate how you can use these tools to identify opportunities and also how you can position yourself for an opportunity. He will also demonstrate how each of the tools can be used effectively to complement each other.

Dragons Den

2011-02-22T06:56:00.000-08:00

See Carolines contribution to the Bank Of Ireland newsletter which has a special feature on Dragons Den:
http://media.custminds.com/lp/viewemail.aspx?e=7721&c=fded28a4d0bc181b33c613078589cae6

Change of date.

2011-02-16T03:15:00.001-08:00

Please note the change of date for the next WIN session which will be February 25th with the Elevator Pitch workshop.

Survey on training options for the 'new' or 'unexpected' unemployed...

2011-02-14T12:14:00.000-08:00

A WIN member is completing a thesis on training options for the 'new' or 'unexpected' unemployed. Have they kept pace with the new profile, are they relevant?....etc.

If you are currently unemployed, or have been in the recent past, she would be extremely grateful if you would fill out a survey (see link below) to assist her collect data.

It will take 5-10 mins to complete and is completely anonymous.

Also, please forward the link on to anyone you think is appropriate.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J8W638F

Thanks for your help with this.

I.P. and Taxation Seminar, Thursday 3rd March 2011, TTO at NUI Galway

2011-02-14T12:12:00.000-08:00

I.P. and Taxation Seminar

Thursday 3rd March 2011
11am-1pm

The REAP project in the TTO at NUI Galway, in association with KPMG, is hosting an information session covering the following:

- Intellectual Property Overview; patents, know-how; copyright and best practice in IP management.

- Tax issues relating to Intellectual Property

- General taxation discussion, the impact of the recent Finance Act and what this means for your business.

Presenters: Ann King, IP & Contracts Manager, TTO, NUI Galway
Mary McGinley, KPMG Galway

Where: Seminar Room, Science & Engineering Technology Building in NUI Galway

When: Thursday 3rd March 2011, 11am – 1.00pm (followed by light lunch)

Overview of Presenters
Ignite Technology Transfer Office
Ann King, IP & Contracts Manager at Ignite Technology Transfer Office (TTO) at NUI Galway will give an overview on Intellectual Property covering areas such as patents, know-how, copyright, design, best practice as well as NUI Galway IP policy. Practical case studies and examples will be shared to highlight some issues that may arise and possible resolutions available.

KPMG
Mary McGinley is a member of the KPMG tax team in Galway. Mary will outline the taxation issues relating to Intellectual Property, together with general business taxation issues recently affected by the Budget 2011 such as income tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge and answering general taxation and finance queries.

This seminar is open to both Industry and Academia.

To reserve your place, email niamh.corcoran@nuigalway.ie or call (091) 495677 by Wednesday 23rd February 2011

Places are limited so please book early – looking forward to seeing you all there.

Please see message from Paul Doyle, one of our WIN colleagues...

2011-02-09T05:52:00.001-08:00

"I hope that I can find a number of professionals that are prepared to come together and work in a structured way to begin solving Ireland's many many problems.

A meeting will take place tomorrow Thursday 10th Feb at 19:30 at the Radisson, Galway city.

I would like to share a first draft of this strategy with anyone interested in adding to the plan.
Those coming along should email me at fixeire@gmail.com or go to the contact us page on the website www.FixEire.com to make sure I have enough places for everyone."

I hope you can support Paul and his project.
Best wishes,
Caroline

The Elevator Pitch - February 18th

2011-02-01T05:11:00.000-08:00

Due to popular demand I will run the Elevator Pitch session on February, Friday 18th. This will be a chance for you to learn how to develop, perfect and practice your pitch in terms of selling yourself, your business idea, product or service.

I will also talk about the role of Communication and how we need to understand this when developing our personal elevator pitch.

Let me know if you want to take part: mcdonaghcaroline@gmail.com

'Rock your World' with Toireasa Rock on January 28th.

2011-01-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

We all get stuck at times. We all have to deal with fears and doubts.

But deep down there's a massive power in all of us that can overcome these obstacles.

Give yourself this opportunity to discover that power in you. In doing so, you can develop your authentic strengths and learn to use them to Rock your own World!

This talk is a practical inspiring approach to discovering who you really are and how you bring out your best to achieve what you want.

If you want to know a little more about Toireasa's approach, check out her website, www.toireasarock.com.

Vacancy: Rural Enabler (Co. Donegal)

2011-01-11T09:37:00.000-08:00

Rural Community Network is Northern Ireland’s leading regional rural voluntary organisation assisting rural communities to address issues of poverty, social exclusion, inequality and discrimination through a community development methodology. This regional Peace III programme will see dedicated peace-building and anti-racism work carried out with local communities and institutions.

for more info log onto: http://www.ruralcommunitynetwork.org/about/recruitment.aspx

WIN on 6.01 News - December 7th

2010-12-07T16:04:00.001-08:00

See WIN and reaction to budget on tonight's 6.01 news - scroll to 1:01:50...
http://bit.ly/f4BbfK

Making a Difference: December 10th

2010-12-04T08:36:00.000-08:00

We at WIN know that we can make a change for the better by doing things ourselves – and we have been doing great things for over one year now and plan to continue this work far into the future. To date: 36% of WIN participants have found work and many more are keeping their business alive or working on a business idea.

We now want to use our skills, experiences and sense of community to start making a difference in the lives of those around us. We are going to use our final session of 2010 to look at ways in which we can make a change on the ground and in our communities. With lots of people making a difference, no matter how small, we can make small steps towards getting our country back on track. Come along on December 10th and help us in our efforts to make a difference.

Please contact me directly if you would like more information: mcdonaghcaroline@gmail.com

WIN Video Workshops

2010-12-04T06:59:00.000-08:00

We recently ran video preparation and video workshops allowing WIN participants and micro business owners to sell themselves or their businesses online. We would like to thank Liam Bluett for kindly letting us use the facilities in the Ballybane Enterprise Centre.

The Elevator Pitch and Video Session - November 26th and 27th

2010-11-22T06:05:00.000-08:00

Our next session, the elevator pitch will be combined with a session where you will have the opportunity to video your pitch and use this for your blog, LinkedIn or any other online site. The pitching workshop will take place on Friday 26th from 10am - 1pm and the videos will take place on Saturday. This is a Skillnets initiative. Places are free for those who are unemployed.

Please contact me directly for more information. mcdonaghcaroline@gmail.com

An elevator pitch is a short presentation which is intended to be short enough to deliver in the time it takes to get from the ground floor to the top floor boardroom in an elevator - assuming you are with your target audience and you have their undivided attention. In this session we will look at how you go about preparing your personal pitch.

20 new posts in healthcare manufacturing in Mayo.

2010-11-01T06:37:00.000-07:00

A northwest Mayo company is due to begin recruiting “immediately” for 20 new posts in healthcare manufacturing.

Bioshell Teo was established in Dublin by John Raftery and Reiner Escweny in 1996, and relocated to its current base in the north Mayo Gaeltacht five years later. It currently employs 25 people, making a wide range of vitamin and mineral supplements for an international market.

The company specialises in sports nutrition and traditional herbal medicine products, and was granted a manufacturer’s authorisation by the Irish Medicines Board last month.

The new certification allows the company to increase its product range and expand into the pharmaceutical market, according to Údarás na Gaeltachta which has supported the company.

The company has been based in Ceathrú Thaidhg and recently established an additional manufacturing space in the Údarás na Gaeltachta industrial park in Belmullet.
“Bioshell is expanding to meet the growth in demand in the sports nutrition and food supplement market,” Mr Eschwey said.
“The new facility provided by Údarás na Gaeltachta in Belmullet will allow us to undertake our expansion plans and increase production and capacity, ensuring that our business can grow into the future.”
The company is recruiting for eight new posts in validation, quality control, information technology and production, while the remaining positions will be recruited over the next two years.

http://www.bioshell.ie/go/about_us/career_opportunities

o Materials Operative
o Validation Engineer
o IT Administrator
o QC (Materials)
o QC (Production)
o Maintenance Operative
o Cleaner

Next Session: November 5th

2010-10-26T06:17:00.000-07:00

Marie Devane from Devane Careers (www.devanecareers.ie) is going to provide and lead a competency based mac interview workshop for our next WIN session.

The Mac Interview Session will involve:
- Giving a background on competency based interviewing techniques
- Outline to you how the technique works
- Talking you through the STAR (Situation, Task, Actions, Results) model
- Choosing a role for the purpose of the mac interviews
- Together identifying the key competencies required for that role
- Pairing off the group
- Allocating a competency to each pair
- Conducting mac interviews within a given timeframe and criteria
- Discuss feedback, challenges and thoughts
- Document the key learning points and discuss

This will be very beneficial for those of you looking for work and having interviews as it is practical and you will have the ability to transfer the knowledge and skills learned to any real life situation. In addition to this, it will be a fun exercise for you to carry out.

Next WIN Session - October 22nd.

2010-10-12T05:18:00.000-07:00

The WIN next session will feature Johnny Beirne who will cover what we need to know when using Facebook for business and also introduce us to Twitter.

The topics he will cover include:

· Comprehensive overview of Facebook.
· Setting up a Business Page
· Customising a Business Page including a landing page
· Best practice, tools and techniques
· Running and monitoring a Facebook Ad Campaign

Johnny Beirne is well recognised nationally for his work in Internet Innovation, Professional Networking and Social Media Marketing.

With over 15 years experience Johnny now delivers courses, workshops and Masterclasses across the island of Ireland in both the public and private sector.

In addition Johnny is also renowned for his online music service downloadmusic.ie which is Ireland’s largest independent online music store. This service continues to expand in the UK as textatrack.co.uk. The services have collectively sold over 100,000 tracks and have over 2,000 registered bands and singer/songwriters. The success and growth of both services is completely attributable to Social Media Marketing.

Johnny also won an Irish Internet Award in the category Mobile Innovation for downloadmusic.ie.

Next WIN Session - Project Management

2010-10-02T03:16:00.000-07:00

Out next WIN speaker will be John Murphy, whom some of you may have already met at WIN sessions. John is an experienced Project Manager having worked with many blue chip companies here in Ireland and abroad. John is going to give a guest presentation on Project Management. The session outline is as follows:

- Overview of Project Management - What is it?
- Methodologies - Overview of PRINCE2
- Project Management Tools
- Roles in the team

This will an insighful and practical session and well worth coming along.

Devane Careers - “putting your best foot forward”

2010-09-27T05:56:00.000-07:00

Marie Devane is about to officially launch her business “Devane Careers” based in the heart of the picturesque village of Monivea. Marie says there is a need particularly for the provision of career guidance counselling, and Interview Preparation Techniques in the current market, and individuals must work harder at “putting their best foot forward” in order to succeed.

Having spent over twenty years in the field of Human Resources at Medtronic Vascular Galway, Marie has gained extensive experience both in interviewing people and in people development.

So, whether you’re studying for that exam, preparing for that interview, seeking that development opportunity, working towards that promotion, changing career, Marie will help, encourage and provide you with the techniques to put your best foot forward.

Marie says: “I am about giving you the tools and the techniques to accompany your talents and thus enable you to perform to your best. I am a firm believer in the power of self confidence and therefore will work with you to develop your confidence and belief in yourself”

Marie enables individuals to look within, and through very interactive sessions discovers talents and strengths to work with. She says once they are discovered, its then a matter of weaving them into your curriculum vitae, your interview preparation or indeed your College Programme choice.

Marie holds a Masters in Human Resource Leadership and has been awarded certificates in competence in Psychological Testing with the British Psychological Society. She is also a Chartered Member of The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Marie is very involved in the local Community. She feels she continues to learn more about the developmental needs of people by working along side them in a variety of Community based projects. She plays a key role in the Abbeyknockmoy Set Dancing Club, she is the PRO person in The Monivea Market Committee, and is a Qualified Leader at the Monivea Foroige (For Young) Club.

Marie is delighted to provide this service from Marian House in the village of Monivea. She says “the environment here has a natural energy about it, while at the same time is peaceful and relaxing”.

The Official Opening of Devane Careers will take place at Marian House, Monivea Village, on Friday October 1st 2010 at 7.00pm and all are welcome.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, spokesperson for Education and Science, will perform the official opening.

For further information, contact Marie on 087 7475865
e-mail marie@devanecareers.ie
http://www.devanecareers.ie/

Healthy body - healthy Mind

2010-09-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

And now for something a bit different....

Mary FitzPatrick B.Sc. CHEK Practitioner 2 will be coming to talk to us about the effects of stress on the body, both short-term and long-term. She will talk about stress management techniques and how we can manage our stress. Some of these include:

 Food choices – energy givers Vs energy robbers

 Sleep pattern – wake up with energy

 Breathing – is your breathing pattern stressed?

 Activity level – just move…

 Hydration – uisce beatha!

She will talk about how the above will impact to alleviate or to increase the stress effect on the body.

Mary will also give is a short self-assessment of lifestyle/stress and provide some take home tips which are practical, simple and free (!)

1. Exercises
2. Maintaining healthy eating ideas
3. Increase energy and motivation with relaxation and sleep techniques

See you there.

Bizcamp Galway

2010-09-13T09:17:00.000-07:00

I attended Bizcamp Saturday last (Sept 11th) which was hosted in NUI Galway. For those of you who don’t know about Bizcamp, it is an “opportunity for entrepreneurs and innovators to come together, share experiences, and possibly create new value out of the day”. The event was organized on a voluntary basis by a number of entrepreneurs with a passion for the Irish business community to help each other in the current economic crisis.

The day kicked off at 9am for registration and free tea, coffee, scones, croissants etc (and not forgetting the free ice cream after lunch). The talks were given by a mixture of entrepreneurs, micro business, SME owners as well as established and well known business owners. There were five talks running simultaneously and you picked which one you preferred to attend. Each talk ran for 40 minutes and this led into the next round of five talks where you again picked your preferred topic. There were a total of 33 talks from 10am until 3pm ranging in themes from starting your business, IP protection, Pricing, PR and so on. Finally, there was a panel discussion at 3pm with notable speakers such as John Concannon (JFC) and Pat Phelan (Cubic Telecom).

The day ran like clockwork with the organisers working hard in the background getting speakers in and out of rooms in a timely fashion. The speakers themselves were engaging and the set up of the talks allowed for an environment where Q&A was encouraged and active participation from delegates. I think everyone learnt something from the day and most people made new (and I am sure, worthwhile) contacts.

I would like to applaud the organisers on their dedication to the idea of networking and learning. One of the great things about the day was the fact that everyone was there to share their story and use their experience to help or provide some ideas for those struggling with their own business ideas or micro business. I met a number of people who were seeking help in certain areas and came away from the day with practical ideas and advice for their next move.

From a tiny budget, a huge amount of value was created on Saturday and I am delighted (as are many others) to have been there to share, participate and learn with Bizcamp.

Well done Bizcamp Galway.

http://www.bizcamp.ie/galway/#who-is-bizcamp-for

Spirit of Entrepreneurship Event

2010-08-31T02:53:00.000-07:00

The yearly Spirit of Entrepreneurship Event organised by the Innovation in Business Centre (IiBC) will take place on Thurs 30th Sept from 6pm-8.30pm at GMIT Castlebar.
From 6pm the general public are invited to come and view a showcase of IiBC client companies. This will enable those companies to showcase their offerings and will allow you to speak directly to these new start up companies.

Two successful entrepreneurs, Johnathon Ruane and Leonard Moran will speak about their experiences of setting up a business. Both will share their experiences of establishing and running a business, including the many challenges and lessons learned along the way.

Members of the public are invited to attend the event. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be provided from 6pm. Booking is advisable as places are limited. Register your attendance either by e-mail iibccastlebar@gmit.ie or telephone: 094-9043198.

WIN Session - August 27th...

2010-08-23T11:44:00.001-07:00

Adele O Meallaigh from Galway Executive Skillnet and Dee Timoney from ITAG Skillnet will be our guest speakers for our session on Friday 27th August.

Both Adele and Dee have kindly agreed to come along on Friday and talk to us about the upcoming courses which their Skillnets will be offering over the next number of months.

These courses will be free for job seekers and will be available in September / October.

Next Session: The Elevator Pitch

2010-08-10T02:23:00.001-07:00

I have been asked by a number of people to run the Elevator Pitch session again. I will run this on Friday, August 13th. This will be a chance for you to learn how to develop, perfect and practice your pitch. I will also talk about the role of Communication and how we need to understand this when developing our personal elevator pitch.

Connaughton Career Coaching

2010-08-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

We had a great session with Deirdre last week and she gave us valuable insights into CV and interview preparation. You can see more on her blog here: http://connaughtoncareercoaching.wordpress.com/

CV Clinic

2010-07-19T03:20:00.000-07:00

Hi All,
For our next session on July 30th, Deirdre Connaughton is going to run a CV Clinic and help you with preparing for interviews. Deirdre wants those of you who are coming on the 30th to email any specific questions or comments you might have in relation to this topic in advance of the session and she can help you with any questions you may have, on the day. Also, please bring your CV along to the clinic.

Deirdre will also a small bit around career coaching - what it is, potential benefits of. etc

Her email address is: deirdre.connaughton@yahoo.ie

The Ryan Tubridy Show

2010-07-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks again to Ryan, Sinead and Aonghus for featuring WIN on the Ryan Tubridy Show today. You can listen in here: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/thetubridyshow/

How WIN has helped me....

2010-07-05T15:02:00.000-07:00

I found WIN at a critical point in my life. I have always worked and being made redundant was a huge shock for me as I had worked for over twenty years in a manufacturing and distribution environment in a number of roles including: Production Manager, Distribution Manager and Operations Manager. Working ment I had a focus in my life, something to work for and word towards and an income to look after my young family – not having a job was not an option.

I found the transition difficult because overnight, I lost my daily structure, business and social networks, instant access to peers and access to keeping my skills up to date. I also discovered that I was spending a lot of time alone which also ment I lost a lot of my confidence and self esteem.

It was approximately 9 months into my redundancy that I heard about Caroline McDonagh and her organisation, WIN. I went along to a session to see what it was all about and came away with a new lease of life. Caroline has set up a framework for professionals who have worked all of their lives and have suddenly been thrust into the unknown world of unemployment. She runs her sessions with a tight structure, giving us opportunities to develop a new network of contacts, training sessions for personal development, up skilling and developing new skills. Caroline also gives each participant a platform to break the cycle of social isolation as well as helping each person regain their confidence and self esteem. I guess the most important thing that participants find through WIN are jobs. From my experience a huge number of WIN participants have been finding work and have attributed their success to contacts and increase in self confidence – all found at WIN sessions.

I can confidently say, with the help from Caroline and the empowerment I got through WIN I found my job with Metal Improvement Company (M.I.C.) Ireland as the Production Manager. MIC is a world leader in providing metal treatment services for critical components operating in aerospace, automotive, power generation, chemical processing and specialty industrial applications and has just opened a manufacturing base in Parkmore in Galway.

I am responsible for hiring the new team and will be looking for 7/8 new employees by the end of this year. At the moment I am looking for a Quality person and Operatives with clean room experience. You can find the details for these on this blog (see below). The beauty of having been a participant in WIN means I can go back to Caroline and recruit through her group.

WIN worked for me and I am sure that Caroline will continue well into the future helping people build up their networks, beat isolation and find jobs.

Pat Regan, Production Manager, M.I.C. Ireland. www.metalimprovement.com

Job Vacancies.

2010-07-05T14:43:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

I am looking for a Quality person who is an all rounder who has a medical device background who is strong on validation as well as having technical experience.

I am now also looking for Operatives with Clean room experience.

If you are one of these people or know some one that is please contact me for more details at patregan1@hotmail.com A.S.A.P. I need to fill those positions immediately.

Pat Regan

Next WIN session - July 16th: Free e-learning tools

2010-07-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Kevin O'Malley, WIN participant and Marketing Consultant will the presenter for our next session on July 16th. Kevin will provide an overview of e-learning tools that are available online. He will give us information and pointers about these valuable resources which can be found online, and are available for free.

See you there and please get in touch with me if you have any queries about this session or what WIN has to offer.
Regards,
Caroline

Next session: July 2nd: The Elevator Pitch

2010-06-29T03:06:00.000-07:00

The Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is a short presentation which is intended to be short enough to deliver in the time it takes to get from the ground floor to the top floor boardroom in an elevator - assuming you are with your target audience and you have their undivided attention. In this session we will look at how you go about preparing your personal pitch.

WIN Works....

2010-06-11T14:15:00.000-07:00

I find WIN very useful. I've already had a couple of job leads that were generated through WIN, which is very encouraging.

Also, it's very useful when someone is not used to being unemployed and they find themselves unexpectedly unemployed to meet up with fellow unemployed people to learn and discuss similar experiences.

I've also learned to network at WIN and have made valuable contacts there. The job industry seems to be very relationship based now and who you know and having someone vouch for you is important. Also, the elevator pitches are great for boosting confidence and making you think about what skills you have to offer.

Going to WIN has not made me feel gloomy about my future, but instead it has energised me and made me look forward to what the future holds. I think it's a very important resource for unemployed people. I don't know of anything else where unemployed people can come together and talk and network and learn new things. I think it's great!

Amy Callaghan

Identifying challenges....

2010-06-03T02:30:00.000-07:00

We will be having a very worthwhile session this week as I will be facilitating the discussion to discuss and identify 10 challenges which participants of WIN are experiencing with finding work or starting a business and social welfare and anything else that is blocking you finding or creating employment.

If you have something to add to this discussion, please join us at 10am in the Boardroom in Enterprise Ireland.

I look forward to seeing you there.
Caroline.

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) to create 200 jobs in Galway

2010-05-27T06:26:00.000-07:00

International computer games firm Electronic Arts said it plans to open a European customer service and operations centre in Galway, creating about 200 jobs.

Jobs can be viewed on: http://www.bioware.com/bioware_info/jobs/galway_jobs/

The centre, which will support EA's Bioware studio, will be operational by 2011. EA already has European game teams in the UK, Sweden, Germany, Romania and Spain.

The Bioware studio is responsible for developing titles such as Mass Effect , Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Dragon Age : Origins.

“The new Irish location for Bioware will help us get closer to our fans in Europe,” said senior vice president of EA Dr Ray Muzyka.

“Galway gives us the right mix of solid technology infrastructure and international recruitment opportunities as we continue to focus on bringing the highest quality gaming experiences to market.”

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the centre was an important addition to Ireland's thriving games industry.

The investment is being supported by IDA Ireland.

“EA joins a vibrant digital media sector and is a key endorsement of the skills and expertise available in Ireland for this sector,” said IDA Ireland's chief executive Barry O’Leary.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. BioWare is a trademark of EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd.

Another positive WIN story.

2010-05-26T02:44:00.000-07:00

My name is Paul Doyle and I am from a place called Moylough which everybody knows is in Northeast Co Galway. I had been living abroad (in the UK for 2 years & France for 3 years) and not wanting to follow our products manufacturing sites to Asia, I chose to come back to Galway and attempt to restart my career from here. There was also a few family ties dragging me back. While I have a reasonably good education as a Mechanical Engineer and MBA under the belt, not to mention great experience working worldwide in my capacity as a Program Manager, moving back to Moylough proved to be one of the most difficult things I took on in a long long time. No disrespect intended to my home town, but sometimes too much isolation is not a good thing when your much loved career comes to grinding halt - especially when everybody is talking about the R word.

Fortunately for me, one morning, some months ago, I read an interview in the Connaught Tribune with Caroline McDonagh, CEO of WIN - West of Ireland Networking. I have to say I have not looked back. The enthusiasm and sharing of Ideas, I have found greatly energizing. And that's not to mention the constant stream of interesting guest speakers and trainers that Caroline manages to line up meeting after meeting.

In fact it was through one such speakers that I learned of MWEP (Midland and West Enterprise Program). You see I had been harbouring a business idea for many years and to make a long story short, and following a "Dragons Den" style presentation + interview at GMIT, I was accepted onto this years program.

So from being somewhat isolated all of a sudden everything has changed. My project is moving with new urgency with an established support system ( A desk, a real business address, mentors & project leaders, additional training) and now I feel I have every chance to make my business a real success. So once again Caroline I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me.

Next session: May 21st

2010-05-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

The next WIN session will host Dr James Cunningham from NUIG who will deliver a training session on Strategic Planning.

Due to room size, registration is required for this session.
Please contact me on mcdonaghcaroline@gmail.com to register.

Next Session: May 7th.

2010-05-05T04:51:00.000-07:00

Our next session will host a sounding board session for a number of participants with business ideas. This concept allows a participant who has an idea for a business, whether they are presently researching it, or whether they are ready to go to market, a platform to get valuable feedback, in a non-critical way, to their idea. This has worked well to date and we are looking forward to helping everyone who will be pitching their ideas.

WIN participants continuing to find work....

2010-04-27T01:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Caroline

I am writing to thank you for all your assistance to me, as it is through your network (WIN) that I have secured a job as a production operator, with a great possibility of progressing up to production supervisor and on to production manager. There were over 350 applicants for the position.

Caroline, you and your organisation (WIN) have been invaluable to me, through your training and guidance, I regained my confidence and self worth. You helped me build on my skills and gave me the confidence to go forward with belief in myself. I no longer have this lost feeling and your training gave me a focus and sense of purpose. You have shown me that through your training and networking that anything is possible. I will be forever grateful.

Yours sincerely
Niall Devlin

Enterprise Ireland - Propel Programme

2010-04-21T05:29:00.000-07:00

Enterprise Ireland has revealed a new ‘Propel’ programme aimed at supporting up to 12 new export-focused start-ups in ICT and life sciences that are capable of achieving revenues in excess of €1m.

The nationwide business development programme, which follows a successful pilot in the border and midland areas, is aimed at supporting the setting up of start-up companies in the information technology and life sciences sectors that have significant export potential.

The initiative, the latest stage of Enterprise Ireland’s ‘Propel Ideas into Business’ Programme, is geared towards providing a select number of entrepreneurs and early stage businesses with the skills and training required to take the next step in expanding their service offerings, in Ireland and overseas.

Successful participants in the programme will receive top-class training from management consultants, PA Consulting, on how to manage a business during the start-up phase, financial support of up to €15,000 from Enterprise Ireland and office space, as well as advice and networking support to get their business up and running.

To be considered for the programme, applicants must be able to demonstrate a viable business proposition, capable of achieving revenues of at least €1m and employing 10 personnel within three years
You can get an application for the Propel programme from Enterprise Ireland. Galway office: 091 735900 . Applications will close on 23 April.

Next session: 23rd April. Topic: Social Media Channels

2010-04-21T05:06:00.000-07:00

This week we are delighted to have Aoife Porter from Bua Marketing coming to talk to us about Social Media Channels.

She will give us an overview of social media channels including: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and how to measure success.

Social media marketing is the process of promoting yourself, your site or business through social media channels and it is a powerful strategy that will get you links, attention and massive amounts of traffic. There is no other low-cost promotional method out there that will easily give you large numbers of visitors, some of whom may come back to your website again and again. If you are selling products/services or just publishing content for ad revenue, social media marketing is a potent method helping you develop your business over time.

Bua Marketing works with companies to:

• Build Brands and Markets
• Reach New Customers
• Deliver Integrated and Cost-Effective Marketing and Communication Strategies
• Bua Marketing works with a portfolio of customers across a variety of industries including the telecoms, FMCG, hospitality and public sectors.

Bua Marketing’s services include:
• Market Research and Feasibility Studies
• Competitive Analysis
• Marketing & Communications Strategies
• Optimal use of Digital Marketing Channels
• Operational Marketing Services

Aoife Porter is a proven sales and marketing professional; with a background in the software and eLearning industry, she previously worked for Microsoft and Dublin-based eLearning company ThirdForce.
Aoife Porter is a member of the Marketing Institute and recently completed a Diploma in Digital Marketing with the Digital Marketing Institute.

www.buamarketing.ie

Some more feedback....

2010-04-15T01:38:00.001-07:00

I have participated in the West of Ireland Networking Group since the inaugural meeting. The forum has become invaluable with many benefits, especially, that of being able to meet and interact with individuals who are dealing with unemployment in the current difficult jobs market. The information sharing and networking with people outside of my normal circles and industry, the knowledge imparted by the variety of guest speakers are just some of the other benefits enjoyed from my participation with the West of Ireland Networking Group.

Caroline McDonagh founder and CEO of WIN, has proved herself to be a resourceful and determined person in establishing the WIN group, in providing a constant stream of relevant and interesting speakers so that the meetings and the time invested by herself and the participants is always worthwhile and fruitful. Her use of multiple channels i.e. a blog, LinkedIn, Twitter and e-mail has brought recognition of the network (WIN) from an impressive audience, of both national and international observers, some of which are high powered decision makers in the world of industry and commerce, thus ensuring that all communications are first-class and current.

In conclusion I have found the WIN Group, the exposure to the influencers of industrial focus, the interaction with the members of WIN, the bi-weekly meetings of the group, and the guidance, enthusiasm, knowledge and leadership of Caroline McDonagh to be an invaluable resource in my search for focus and understanding, both of myself and my capabilities, in gaining new employment.

Kevin O'Malley

Previous Session: April 9th

2010-04-05T13:15:00.001-07:00

Mick Brougham from Enterprise Ireland was our guest speaker on April 9th.

Mick spoke about design thinking which is an approach that uses the designer’s sensibility and methods for problem solving to meet people’s needs in a technologically feasible and commercially viable way.

Design thinking is human-centered innovation and was pioneered by IDEO (a global design and innovation firm) who use the methodology to do everything from stimulate customer savings at Bank of America to revamp nursing shifts at Kaiser Permanente.

Over the past 30 years, the firm has tackled the challenge of delivering a needle-free vaccine for Intercell, building a better Pringle for Procter & Gamble, revitalising the bicycling experience for Shimano, and rethinking airport-security checkpoints for the TSA. It has racked up more than 1,000 patents since 1978 and won 346 design awards since 1991, more than any other firm. IDEO has become the go-to firm for both American and foreign companies looking to cure their innovation anemia

Mick also talked about Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint and how this approach is necessary to make an effective pitch. This rule is applicable for any presentation to reach agreement: for example, raising capital, making a sale, forming a partnership, etc. Formerly an Apple Fellow, Guy is now a venture capitalist and founded the angel matchmaking investor service called Garage Technology Ventures.

Mick Brougham is a graduate of NUIGalway with a PhD in Biochemistry. He has worked in Enterprise Ireland and its progenitor organisations since 1991.

Over the last number of years Mick has been working on the development of Enterprise Ireland’s approach to helping startup entrepreneurs. In this he works closely with the Third level system in terms of the provision of such training programmes and Enterprise Ireland supports the entrepreneur through the provision of the CORD grant.

Next WIN Session - March 26th.

2010-03-21T12:24:00.000-07:00

The guest presenters for the next WIN session will be Pat Bennett (WIN) and Pat Regan (WIN). They will show a DVD that applies the principles of "LEAN" to the process of making Toast in the kitchen and will answer any questions afterwards. Lean Manufacturing is "A systematic approach to identifying and eliminating waste through continuous improvement by flowing the product at the demand of the customer.” It is a business practice characterised by the endless pursuit of waste elimination. A manufacturer that is lean uses the minimum amount of materials, money, machines, space etc to get the job done on time and efficiently.

Pat Bennett provides consultancy services specialising in Continuous Improvement through the application of Lean Systems and World Class Manufacturing. Specialties include: Lean Systems and Technology; Project Management; World Class Manufacturing and Quality & Environmental Management Systems. He is a lead auditor with ISO Certification Body and GMP and Clean Room Systems/Controls.

Pat Regan has twenty years experience of working in an Irish SME in both manufacturing and distribution environments. He has been involved in all processes and at all levels along the supply chain and has held the roles Team Leader, Supervisor, Production Manager, Distribution Manager, Lean-coordinator, and Operations Manager. Pat has a Masters in Strategic Management (Lean Systems) and specialises in lean manufacturing which is looking at more efficient and effective ways of doing business.

How WIN has helped me...

2010-03-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

Through the leadership and committment of Caroline McDonagh, CEO of WIN - The West of Ireland Network has been very useful to me for a number of reasons.

Firstly, through the network, I got some research work in January 2010 with Lionra. The work was interesting and staff at Lionra would consider hiring me again in the event of similar work coming up in the future.
Secondly, meeting other professionals from a variety of backgrounds gives me access to advice and information.
Thirdly, giving an elevator pitch and more recently a presentation enables me to practice my presentation skills and focus on how best to present myself in a limited amount of time.

Joe Gannon

Turloughmore Hurling Club

2010-03-13T07:57:00.000-08:00

Person wanted to work with young people in the following areas: Skills of Hurling, Fitness and Training, and Diet and Nutrition.

This person must be eligible for a Community Employment Scheme.

For further details contact 087-7831687

The importance of “Selling”.

2010-03-03T04:06:00.000-08:00

There are many things you can do without in business, but you cannot do without sales. Therefore, selling is probably the most important part of any business. People with selling skills are always in strong demand. Whether we realise it or not, we are all involved in sales, every day. Solicitors, accountants, graphic designers or I.T. experts, we are all selling either our skills or ourselves, to customers or employers.
For people who are considering their options in the current market:
- You may wish to consider a career in sales.

- Technical salespeople can be very successful, but very hard to find.

- You may be asked to manage a sales team.

- A knowledge of sales will help you increase your business revenues.
On Friday 12th March, Paul will give a short presentation covering the following points: - - Sales versus Marketing.

- Are good salespeople born or made.

- The sales process.

- Aspects of sales management.

Paul has over 20 years experience in; solution sales, retail sales, sales management, and account management, in a variety of market sectors.

To register for a place at this session please contact: Caroline McDonagh at: mcdonaghcaroline@gmail.com

2010-02-11T12:15:00.000-08:00

With the help from WIN, a number of our members have lined up work or interviews through networking efforts and also through increased confidence and self esteem. Here is some feedback from one member who recently found work....

I can easily say 2 things that greatly helped me get the position that I now occupy.

1. The WIN networking sessions that I have attended have been hugely beneficial to me, as it kept a positive spin on potential career opportunities and prospects.
2. What really impacted on me was the training which identified, focused on and developed my personal and professional skills.

So I would like to say thank you to Ms McDonagh for the continued hard work & effort that she put into the sessions.

Kind Regards,
Aidan Flood"

2010-02-04T07:00:00.001-08:00

Colman Collins is our guest speaker for our next session on February 12th. He is the owner and director of one of Galways best known and highly regarded recruitment consultancies. They have extensive experience in the professional, executive, manufacturing, high-tech, and commercial sectors.

Collins McNicholas was established in 1990 and has since become Ireland’s leading Recruitment and Training organisation. They have five offices across Ireland – Galway (Head Office), Dublin, Cork, Sligo and Athlone (Co Westmeath).

They focus on quality and not quantity, and using a consultative approach, they advise jobseekers on the best career opportunities available in the market.

They were the first Recruitment and HR Consultancy Company in Ireland to receive the ISO 9002 accreditation, demonstrating a commitment to providing the best service to candidates and clients.

On the day Colman will talk informally, and answer any questions members may have on the job market and the realities of recruitment. Some of the topics Colmans hopes to address are:

-Job finding strategies,

-An insight into employment trends and growth sectors

-Creating C.V. impact.

-Advice for generalists, non-qualified, or people from a non-growth sector.

-Giving people an insight into the mechanics and realities of the recruitment sector

-What businesses need and are actually looking for.

Finance for Starting Your Own Business

2010-01-19T12:29:00.000-08:00

For our next session on January 29th our speaker will be Ralph Smith from domybooks.ie and will talk to us about Finance for Starting A Business. He will cover the following areas.
- Legal structures
- Business Planning
- Sources of finance
- Taxation implications
- Management Accounting

The full outline for Ralphs presentation is available and please let me know if you want a copy in advance of the session.

If anyone would like to email Ralph about tax or legal questions he can research answers for technical questions and have answers on the day. His email is: ralph@domybooks.ie

The Sounding Board Sessions.

2010-01-19T12:21:00.001-08:00

The sounding board sessions are aimed at all members. If you have any idea for a business, whether it is just a simple thought of a concept that might work, whether you are presently researching it, or whether you are ready to go to the market, the sounding board will provide you with a platform to get valuable feedback, in a non-critical way, to your idea.

We will set aside one WIN session, exclusively for the sounding board session (SBS – we have even given it a codename!). Members can pitch their idea or concept to the group and the group can then discuss the idea openly and in confidence. The objective will be to provide the members will any help we can on, for example; the market he/she is considering entering, potential pitfalls, observations from our own previous experience, unseen regulatory issues, competitors, suppliers, political considerations, technological barriers, or unseen costs.

There are a number of benefits for all members:

• The SBS may help the presenting member to decide whether the idea could be successful.

• It can save the presenting member time and money if the negatives are too great.

• It can persuade the member to alter the plan, product or target market.

• May help to augment a business plan in the future.

• The SBS may stimulate ideas for partnerships or joint efforts.

• It may stimulate other members to be creative in their own plans.

“To profit from good advice requires more wisdom than to give it.”

Contact Paul Mc Loughlin (pcmcl4@gmail.com) or Caroline Mc Donagh (mcdonaghcaroline@gmail.com) or via the linkedin mail system, if you have an idea you would like to bounce off the group or if you have any questions/comments on the process.

UNICEF Ireland has launched an emergency appeal for the children of Haiti

2010-01-15T10:10:00.001-08:00

Please visit: https://www.unicef.ie/Content.aspx?pid=75&emId=22

First session for 2010 - Friday, January 15th: 10am-12pm, Enterprise Ireland Boardroom. Topic: Licensing

2010-01-05T13:14:00.000-08:00

Our first session will include presentations from P.J. O’Reilly, Regional Manager R&D and Technology Transfer, Licensing and Global Partnerships, Enterprise Ireland and Tony O'Kelly, Program Manager, for the Midlands & West Enterprise Program, Galway - Mayo Institute of Technology.

P.J. has kindly offered to join us and deliver a presentation on licensing which will cover some of the following areas of licensing:
• how to go about licensing a product or service with intellectual property or property know how

• what should be included in a licensing agreement e.g. terms / duration / conditions covered

• Issues such as:

o Licensee Vs Licensor

o Marketing

o Distribution

o Production and quality standards

o Who keeps the patent up to date

P.J. will keep the presentation pretty informal and is keen to have open discussions throughout the presentation so please think about any questions or ideas you may want to discuss with him.

Tony has also offered to talk to us about the Midlands & West Enterprise Program which takes place in the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology. GMIT is now recruiting for the next Midlands & West Enterprise Programme (MWEP) commencing in April 2010. It is a one-year programme providing entrepreneurs with business skills, networks, facilities and supports necessary to navigate the business start-up process. Tony is going to tell us more about this course and how it might be of benefit to WIN members who are thinking about working for themselves.

Congratulations are in order....

2009-12-17T14:00:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Gert (ORourke) who won the 2009 Marketing Institute of Ireland, West Region Award for Start Up Business. Well deserved and congrats from all at WIN.

Christmas Drinks and 1 hour free consultation with Talent Fusion

2009-12-14T08:04:00.000-08:00

Christmas drinks! We are planning on meeting on Monday (21st) at 7pm in The Huntsman where we can have a few drinks and also if anyone wishes, a bite to eat. Let me know by Friday if you can make it by sending me a quick email so I can reserve an area if we have a big crowd. (huntsmaninn.com/location.html).

Ger Colleran dropped in some Christmas presents for the group - 1 hour free consultation with Talent Fusion (talentfusion.ie) or iCareer (icareer.ie) or Great Speech (greatspeech.ie) in the form of vouchers. These can be used by yourself or you can give them to someone as a present. I still have a number left so I will give them out on a first come, first serve basis - please drop me an email if you want one. Thanks a million Ger.

Last session before Christmas

2009-12-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Aaron Downes and Johnny Donnelly from Arcana (arcana.ie) who both provided a compelling and inspiring session yesterday. It certainly left us on a high note for our last session - very upbeat and positive feelings leading into 2010.

Next Session: December 11th

2009-12-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

It is hard to believe how time flies but we are heading towards our fourth WIN session on Friday, December 11th. Our guest this week will be Aaron Downes from The Dublin Job Club. Aaron has considerable success with the Dublin Job Club and many people have found work through the club or have started their own business.

Aaron will facilitate the session on Friday and will draw on his own experiences based on the Job Club which has been up and running since earlier this year. You can find out more about this on: http://www.dublinjobclub.blogspot.com/

Enterprise Ireland have agreed to make the boardroom available to us from 9am onwards so you can get in there early to mingle with other early starters or pre arrange a meeting in advance of the session.

See you Friday.

WIN session - November 27th

2009-11-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

Today was our third networking session and already two people have lined up work through networking. After todays session a third person told me they that they had lined up some work also. So the networking efforts are producing results and well done to those who have picked up some work.

Ger Colleran was our guest speaker and he delivered a presentation on networking which was informative and very helpful for the group. Mark Keane also spent some time going through LinkedIN and the benefits it offers members.

We have one final session before Christmas with Aaron Downes, facilitator of the Dublin Job Club. This session will take place on December 11th from 10am - 12pm.

Due to the level of networking which is taking place within the group we are asking people to take the opportunity to come along at 9am and use the time to network before the session.

Finally - we will be planning a night out to 'network' over a few glasses of mulled wine - we will keep you posted about that.

WIN session - November 27th

2009-11-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Ger Colleran, founder at Talent Fusion will be our guest speaker next week. Ger is planning to talk to the group about networking and is also going to use the opportunity to work with some of the group members to help them develop their elevator pitches.

Please note that we will be extending the session to 12.30pm on the 27th as one of the members is planning on giving a demo of LinkedIN.

Talent Fusion
http://www.talentfusion.ie/
Talent Fusion helps individuals and companies achieve excellence through innovative customised career development and training solutions. We provide personal development to nurture people’s talents and skills, so they become the best they can be. We are committed to delivering long-term personal and high quality services that delivers results and provides value for money.

2009-11-18T10:49:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Things have been busy with WIN over the last week. We have lots of new members and we have also been inundated with offers of help.

One of the initiatives which has been put our way is from Crystel Robbins, Project Manager with execpass.com. She has extended an invitation for eligible WIN members to avail of a complimentary subscription to Execpass.com a new validated Business & Executive networking site.

Crystel adds 'Execpass.com is a validated Executive to Business & Business to Business Networking site, encouraging executives to plan their next career or investment move and encouraging companies to expand, build succession/expansion plans or seek investment or business partnerships”.

I suggest you have a look at the site, have a look for our WIN group and see if you want to join us. Don't forget that it is free to join for now....

Another successful meeting....13th November 2009

2009-11-13T11:54:00.000-08:00

I just want to thank everyone who attended and contributed our session today. We had a fantastic session and the networking between members is beginning to really take off...

Thanks to Nick Allen and Crystel Robbins who were our guest speakers.

More info to come over the next few days.

The Tubridy Show...

2009-11-12T09:16:00.001-08:00

A big thank you to Ryan and Aonghus and their team for giving us the opportunity to talk about WIN live on air on November 11th. You can hear the podcast here: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/thetubridyshow/2009-11-11.html

Focus on Your Future - join the Career Reorientation Programme

2009-11-06T05:36:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Nick Allen from Whitwell Consulting got in touch with me and his company has designed and developed a Career Reorientation Programme for FÁS. This course is being run through FÁS in Mervue. The course is free and runs 2 days a week over a 5 week period and starts on November 18th. And there will be no change to your social welfare entitlements during the course. More information about the course at the end of this blog...

Nick will be attending our WIN session today to talk about the course and answer any questions you may have.

One point to note is that you must be registered with FÁS to participate and you can register for the course with FÁS in Mervue after our WIN session tomorrow from 12.15 - 1.15pm.

In the meantime, as time is of the essence as there may already be a large waiting list for the course, please contact Nick directly for further information on the programme.

His contact details are:
Nick Allen, Director
Whitwell Consulting
Knockaville
Gaybrook
Mullingar
Co. Westmeath
Tel: 04493 33625
Mob: 085 1643697
nick.allen@whitwellconsulting.com

Focus on Your Future join the Career Reorientation Programme

…..starting mid-November 2009 at FÁS Training Centre, Mervue, Galway………

Are you someone who……..

Has recently become unemployed or may be facing unemployment in the near future?

Would like support in considering and planning options for the future?

Needs to review your career to date, analyse your skills and expertise and consider the opportunities open to you?

Would like to build a useful network of contacts for the future?

…….If you have answered yes to some of these questions, this FAS programme may be for you.

On this programme you will have an opportunity to take stock of your situation and to take positive steps towards the future. This is an excellent opportunity to analyse your strengths, look to areas you would like to improve, improve your communications skills, and get yourself positive and prepared for the next stage in your career. The topics covered are practical and useful and you will work in a stimulating environment where you will meet new people and start building your network. You will be helped to reflect on your career to date and to think about all of your strengths and skills when considering your options.

Don’t go it alone! Join the programme and avail of help with the following:

Creating a personal and career development plan

Investigating education and training opportunities

Building your network of contacts

Selling yourself – CV preparation, communication skills,

Interview techniques including making a job application (for a real or simulated position) to the course facilitators who will then conduct a formal interview and give structured feedback on technique

Managing your job search

Research Skills – efficient use of the Internet and other resources

Information for those considering self-employment

Personal wellbeing – keeping body and mind healthy

Personal finances – practical tools for money management

Volunteering – using and developing skills in the voluntary sector

Programme duration is 2 days per week for 5 weeks. You are allowed to keep your Social Welfare Entitlements !

For Further information please contact FAS, Island House, Galway on 091 534400

Seminar on 'Digitisation & Intellectual Property’

2009-11-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

If anyone is interested in IP and digitisation there is a free seminar on 'Digitisation & Intellectual Property’ in NCAD on Nov 12th. Although the tevent is free you must register. All details can be found here: http://dho.ie/node/628

First WIN networking session.

2009-10-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

Today was our first WIN networking session and I am delighted to say that it was an extremely positive meeting and thanks to everyone who came along and made it such a success.

A few people said that they had been looking for something like this type of networking session for a while now and it is a great feeling to be able to look back at todays session and say that we are finally out there doing something for ourselves.

We had a few discussions around the fact that the government and many other established agencies seem to be frozen in their thinking and actions and unable to help people - like us - on the ground.

We also had a a good discussion around social media and how each and everyone of us needs to get connected via LinkedIN, Facebook, Twitter and so on as part of our proactive networking activities to get us to our next job. The video on the right hand side shows random people on the street in Dublin talking about how many hours a day they spend on the internet. Interesting. (thanks Paul for sending it on).

I think it is fair to say that everyone came away from the meeting with something new - a new contact; a better focus on their career, or simply feeling good about the fact that they did something positive and proactive about their job search...
And last but not least - a big thank you to Tom OMahony, founder of halfaloaf.ie who came along and provided many interesting points and thoughts and ideas. Please log onto halfaloaf.ie and join up. I have got a lot of inspiration from the site and I am sure you will too.
See you next time,
Caroline

Networking sessions starting on 30th October

2009-10-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

We have set up this forum for qualified professionals who are currently out of work and looking for permanent, contract or freelance work. There has been a huge amount of evidence demonstrating the fact that one of the most effective ways to find work is through active networking and in the current economic climate we all need to get out there and meet people who may be able to lead us to our next job.

The sessions will aim to help people to think differently and how to be proactive about their work search. It is also an opportunity for people to keep active, socialize and build self esteem.

The group is also open to small business owners who want to increase their own network of contractors or generate new business.

We will have guest speakers at each of the sessions and the speaker for this session will be Tom OMahony, founder of halfaloaf.ie

The first networking session will take place on Friday October 30th from 11am to 1pm in Enterprise Ireland in Mervue, Galway city.

To register for a place please email Caroline McDonagh: mcdonaghcaroline@gmail.com