Ireland’s First Ever Private Industry-led FDI Initiative to Travel to Boston

Ireland’s first ever private industry-led Foreign Direct Investment exhibition will take place in the Boston World Trade Centre on March 27 2012. Irish business leaders from the world of banking, recruitment, law, taxation and technology, amongst others, will travel to Boston to exhibit to and meet with US corporates.

 

The objective of Ireland Gateway to Europe 2012 Boston Expo is to provide detailed practical information to US corporates and their advisors who have an interest in establishing operations in Ireland or the European Union, on the practicalities, costs and benefits of doing business in and from Ireland.

 

The expo will focus on the broad range of advantages and opportunities that Ireland presents including corporate taxes, skills, operating costs, IP generation, track record in EMEA HQ and customer service, EU market access etc., as well as applying some real costings to those services.

 

It is estimated that two to four US companies visit Ireland every week with a view to setting up business, which equates to 100-200 companies a year. By bringing Ireland to the US, the Boston Expo is hoping to attract 250 companies in just one day.

 

Says Ireland Gateway to Europe 2012 co-founder Adrian McGennis, CEO Sigmar Recruitment: “Whilst the IDA’s results in attracting Foreign Direct Investment to Ireland must be noted, we should all play a more proactive role in supporting and complementing State initiatives in attracting further investment. After all, the shining light in job creation in Ireland has been continued success in attracting Foreign Direct Investment.

 

“The Boston Expo is the first private industry initiative to look for ways to practically support the effort to attract, encourage and support overseas companies to set up operations in Ireland. Responsibility lies with all of us, not just Government.”

 

The exhibitors come from banking & financial services, tax & compliance, recruitment, property, life sciences, digital media & IP, and other support services, and include: ByrneWallace, AIB, MKO Partners, Mazars, Sigmar Recruitment, the FKM Group, VHI, vayu, HT Meagher O’Reilly, International Digital Services Centre, Telecity Group, IFG, ML Capital, Apex Fund Services, CXC Consultants Exchange amongst others.

 

Says co-founder Frank Keane, International Partner MKO Partners Chartered Accountants: “This is ‘Team Ireland’ in action. It is a major collaborative business initiative where we all pull together for the common good, which is attracting that all important Foreign Direct Investment either to or via our shores and then helping them prosper through the world class advice and service we offer.

 

“Companies who have invested here have benefited hugely from FDI in the past and can still do so in the present and into the future. We have so much to offer, particularly the four Ts – talent, track record, technology and tax. Ireland is more than just open for business, it is incredibly competitive on a global scale with a hugely inviting and proven business environment. It is up to us all now to get out there and showcase ourselves.”

 

Paul McGennis, Managing Partner ByrneWallace agrees: “Ireland needs to take proactive steps, build on our strengths and develop new opportunities. Supporting Foreign Direct Investment is the responsibility of everyone – Government, State, and service providers alike.”

Ireland the best for business: the best choice for you.

Visit  www.gatewaytoeurope2012.com for more information

Government Jobs Initiative

Chair of Employers’ Job Creation Initiative and Sigmar Recruitment Director Robert Mac Giolla Phádraig gives an industry leader reaction to the Government Jobs Initiative.

After meeting with over 100 employers as part of the Employers’ Job Creation Initiative (www.jobcreation.ie), we welcome the Government’s announcement around job creation. However, there are two logical missing pieces to the announcement, which would rapidly accelerate the impact of a number of the initiatives announced:
 

 

1. Job Seeker Database
To set up a central database, allowing job seekers on the live register elect themselves available for work/ internship, categorised by skills. Give free access to employers allowing them to actively target candidates from the live register, and therefore exploit the financial incentive of doing so (Employers PRSI exemption/ reduction). As it stands, employers have to advertise internships through regular channels (press , jobs boards etc) and can’t pre-select job seekers who qualify (i.e. on the live register for over 3 months).  The Job Seeker Database could be supported by a specific internship jobs board (National Internship Jobs), allowing job seekers target internship opportunities. The simpler the initiative, the more likely all stakeholders will engage with it.
 
Details of the National Internship Scheme are yet to be announced. These placements also need to be meaningful with specific commercial outputs, allowing the intern create a need for them to be employed after the internship. Target intern functions should include Digital Marketing, Sales Support, International Market Analysis and Sales support, which should create meaningful value in the employer’s business. Artificially propped up, short term internships won’t create lasting demand. The initiative also has to be promoted among employers through a third party to attract meaningful engagement.  It is assumed that the 5,000 placements announced is a starting point and will be extended as needs be. (15,000 placements were announced by the last Government under the Skills Development Internship Programme).
 
 

2.  FÁS.
No detail was given on a revamped FÁS, on its continued role as the national employment agency in the middle of an employment and skills crisis. It is essential that the role of FÁS is defined and articulated to allow it to take tentative steps to rebuild its credibility. The agency needs to be purposely re- built and branded to become fit for purpose for the new demographics of unemployed. It also needs to adopt a new employer engagement strategy if it is to be used to administer any of the job creation initiatives.  
 
There are three stakeholders when it comes to Job Creation: 1) The Government 2) Employers and 3) Job Seekers. The Government can’t create jobs in the private sector. They are responsible for creating the economic conditions, which allow companies to prosper and therefore look to employ job seekers. They have in this instance gone some way to incentivise employment and to create some appropriate economic conditions.
There is now a focus on the second stakeholder, the employer, to engage with the initiatives and look to take on a job seeker (where possible) and to benefit from the incentives. All internships must have real commercial outputs, with a realistic opportunity to add value to the organisation and therefore creating a need for them to be employed by the business after the internship placement.

There is a sense of entitlement among many job seekers, when it comes to employment. There needs to big step change in many job seekers attitude and they need to become more accountable for their own employment. There are also many job seekers who don’t know how to go about a job search and need to be competing more effectively in the recruitment process. Taking a holistic view, employment is largely demand driven and if that demand isn’t there, self employment or re skilling have to become real options for many job seekers.

 

-Robert MacGiolla Phadraig, May 11th 2011

Export Ireland: Fine Gael & Fianna Fail representatives unite to support Irish companies boost exports

Gerry Breen & Conor Lenihan turn out along with 150 business leaders in Dublin to support EXPORT IRELAND, an initiative set up by Sigmar Recruitment & ASTEC to help support small Irish businesses exploit opportunities overseas. With over €300b IFI funded state contracts up for grabs, Irish companies underperform against other European countries. There is immense opportunities for Irish companies to win pre paid government contracts in developing countries.

Adrian McGennis, CEO Sigmar Group comments:”We were overwhelmed with the positive reaction to today’s briefing on “Developing overseas business for Irish companies”. It is an awakening to witness how little we are getting of the billions of dollars being spent on infrastructural projects in developing countries, considering all the positive talent we could be bringing to these projects . It was also great to see politicians agreeing that this is not a party political issue but a national priority. Some collective focus in this space could deliver billions of dollars in exports for indigenous businesses within months.It requires constructive planning and hard work but its is definitely worth attacking!”

Seamus McCann, Director ASTEC adds: “For Irish firms, there are very realistic opportunities to win substantial business in developing markets, with the advantages of an English-speaking population and a neutral background in relation to politics and military conflicts . Among the attractions of the emerging markets has to be the fact that there are more tenders year-on-year,  that advances can be sought and that payment is guaranteed by the major IFIs.”

 

Speakers:

• Lord Mayor of Dublin, Gerry Breen (FG) and Conor Lenihan (FF)
• Adrian McGennis, CEO Sigmar Group
• Seamus McCann, Chairman Consulting Ireland, Director ASTEC
• Michael Looby, Byrne Looby & Partners
• David Byrne, Enterprise Ireland
• Mark Rodgers, Cipherion

 

 

2011 – New Year Tips for Your Job Search

The New Year is the perfect time to begin or revitalise your job search. I’ve listed four very important points to aid you with the process.

1. Tailor Your CV
Make sure that you tailor your CV for each individual role. Pay attention to what the employer is looking for and use your CV to mirror the job spec and tick all the boxes.

2. Networking 
Networking has become increasingly important for getting a job. Use social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to connect with industry leaders and recruiters, and to show off your unique skills and experience.
3. Be clear on your selling points
Write a list of your top 5 selling points. Back each one up with examples of how you excel at them.  What makes you different to other applicants- what makes you stand out? Get these points across in your CV. Remember – your CV is your sales document.

4. Get to know your perspective employer 
Before an interview, know everything there is to know about each company you apply to. Go through their corporate website, search for articles on Google and news sites to be up to date about recent developments. Read their blogs and track their activity on social networking sites. Use your personal network – you may know people who have worked for them, who can provide valuable inside information.

Job Creation Update

Sigmar are pleased to report that we have had some traction with one of our recommendations from the Job Creation Initiative. Initiative 4, The “Enterprise Placement Programme” was of particular interest to policy decision makers in the Department of Education & Skills. Following a number of meetings with FÁS and having developed the recommendation further, we hosted a Focus Group of Employment leaders here in Sigmar  in September, made up of HR Directors, Independent Business Consultants, Private Training companies and directors of FÁS.

 

The ”Enterprise Placement Scheme” has been the core driver in the development of the Skills Development Internship Programme, which was announced in the budget last week.

 

The Skills Development Internship Programme will consist of 5000 work placements in the private sector. The job seeker will attend a 3 month training programme, before being placed on a 9 month internship. The intern will retain their social welfare payments while the company pays the intern €150 per week. More is to be announced on this in January.

 

One other recommendation which has attracted a lot of interest is the “Export Ireland Initiative”. Following a number of meetings with the Department of Trade Enterprise & Innovation and EI, we have conducted and submitted a feasibility report on the recommendation. We were subsequently approached by a financial institution who were keen to adopt the initiative and it is currently on the agenda to be discussed at the next board level meeting between the financial institution and EI.

 

I would like to thank you our contributors for their  support and would encourage all private companies to engage with the new internship, as it offers real value to all involved.

 

 

Ten Ways to Improve Job Creation

Speaking at a special job creation initiative in Dublin, MacGiolla Phádraig said that such a role would support a practical, integrated approach to job creation initiatives coming from government, state agencies, business groups and among employers.

‘‘We are calling for a state appointed ambassador or chieftain to become one clear, recognisable face for job creation,” said MacGiolla Phádraig.

‘‘It would be a non-executive or evangelist type position filled by someone who understands all the moving parts involved in job creation, and who can link together all current job creation initiatives across different government departments, agencies and other stakeholders.

‘‘I would see the individual coming from the private sector, with a background in dealing with government agencies and departments.”

The ‘jobs tsar’ idea was one of the suggestions put forward in MacGiolla Phádraig’s ten point employment plan, which he presented to Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe last Thursday, at an event in the Hibernian Club on St Stephen’s Green.

The aim of the plan is to boost job numbers and remove barriers for job seekers. Elan, Microsoft, Cadbury and Hertz were among the companies that contributed to the plan, while Fiona Mullan, HR director of Microsoft, and Joe Carr, managing partner of Mazars, spoke at the event. A dedicated website – www.jobcreation – was also launched.

‘‘The idea for the campaign came from our employer clients who had good practical ideas for job creation that were not being channelled,” said MacGiolla Phádraig. ‘‘We Took the initiative to look at constructive ideas and asked large employers what would work for them.

Over the last three months, we took individual recommendations from different companies and came up with the ten point plan.”

MacGiolla Phádraig said that, although the economic challenges facing Irish business were steep, smaller, practical measures could be taken to create jobs.

‘‘The macro-economic conditions are probably the biggest challenge, but we focused on the parts which are more easily controllable through practical suggestions or ideas,” he said.

‘‘The plan contains positive steps that companies can take to create jobs or which remove barriers to entry for jobseekers.”

The Sigmar-led plan recommends that the government establish an independent recruitment body to help match qualified candidates with the needs of employers.
‘‘This goes against our own commercial interest, but it was suggested by the companies we spoke with,” he said.

‘‘It would involve someone From the private sector helping candidates through the recruitment process, and placing them in companies free of charge.”

The plan also calls for a new enterprise placement scheme and an SME graduate programme to allow firms to integrate new staff into their existing workforce.

Other proposals include a national jobseeker database, with free access for employers who want to target specific skills and an open data Initiative that would make job-related information publicly available online.

For jobseekers, the plan also recommends a lifelong learning initiative that would identify continuous learning services that would support national competitiveness and innovation.

A separate self-employment initiative would, the plan said, provide a legal frame work to allow jobseekers to pitch for business directly via public or private tender processes.

A piecework initiative would remunerate jobseekers at a fixed rate for each tangible unit of work produced.

MacGiolla Phádraig said unemployed people around the country would consider innovative solutions that would help them to get back into the workplace.

‘‘There is a huge over-supply of jobseekers at present so they know they need to be innovative in their approach,” he said.

‘‘They may need a mindset switch from looking for ‘employment’ to looking for ‘work’, in whatever form that may take.’

He said the successful implementation of the plan would require a combination of fresh government funding and the reallocation of existing resources.

‘‘We did a cost/benefit analysis for every recommendation and we hope to work with the government and state agencies to see what challenges might be there regarding resources,” MacGiolla Phádraig said.

‘‘We would recommend that some initiatives would sit within some government agencies and utilise resources that are in place with a minimal amount of funding required. We will continue talking to the department and other government agencies to implement the most viable recommendations.”

Despite live register figures of 433,000, MacGiolla Phádraig said that he was cautiously optimistic that the rate of job losses would slow before the end of the year.

‘‘I would see net job creation this year as being neutral, with some redundancies still to come out in the wash,” he said.

‘‘Last year, people were waiting to see what would happen, but companies are now positioning themselves for growth.

‘‘Current trends suggest a movement towards more flexible recruitment options such as temporary work and fixed term contracts. The real barometer would be an uplift in permanent jobs.”