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Individuals who are unemployed because of redundancy and other reasons can now avail of new supports and options in seeking to return to employment. Start up your own business courses are being rolled out across the country and Irelands only National Franchise Centre located in Limerick Institute of Technology is now running a Franchise Acceleration Start-up Training Programme (FAST).

Addressing an audience of thirty participants, Paul Callan Managing Director of the multi-award winning Car Medic presented to participants of the FAST programme in the National Franchise Centre, in Limerick Institute of Technology about his highly successful franchise. Car Medic Ireland is an example of a company currently offering franchises in the automotive industry. Car Medic provides a convenient, mobile cosmetic bodywork repair service, by taking the body shop to the customer and delivering high quality at a low price. This cost effective alternative to the traditional body shop, has seen a huge increase in business for Car Medic recently.

“I was very impressed at the number and variety of participants on the course, people of all different backgrounds and ages,” said Paul Callan, managing director, Car Medic Ireland. “I have found some major benefits to owning and operating Car Medic Ireland. Studies show that 95% of Franchise businesses are successful, compared to 55% of non-franchise business set-ups. With a franchise you are investing in a proven method of doing business, where all the problems associated with start-up business have already been ironed out. A Car Medic franchise is a full-time job for individuals who are ambitious, well organised, and have a good customer service attitude. From a financial point of view, there are supports available out there.”

The FAST programme is open to all members of the public and offers a unique insight into becoming a franchisee and setting up one’s own business. The FAST programme will enable participants to identify and select a franchise suitable to their skills and interests, and guide them on developing, managing and successfully running a franchise business.

The FAST Business Training Programme, in partnership with Limerick Chamber of Commerce captures the criteria for what makes franchises successful and incorporates the discipline into a comprehensive accelerated 6 month training programme, creating franchise-ready candidates with franchise opportunities clearly identified including a financial support structure.

For more information on purchasing a Car Medic Ireland franchise and the new SMART car repair service, please visit http://www.carmedic.ie

For more information on the Franchise Acceleration Start-up Training Programme, please visit http://www.FASTLimerick.ie

The Louth Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is seeking corporate sponsorship via their new website. A completely voluntary organisation, the Louth SPCA relies solely on donations to fund their activities. If you are interested in making a donation, and in turn having your logo on the site, check out this link.

This week Cooley Distillery, Ireland’s only independent whiskey distillery, continued its phenomenal strike rate on the international circuit by claiming 12 gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The 11th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition brought together a panel of 33 judges from across the industry to taste and score a record number of entries, 1,106 products from 61 countries.  The judges awarded Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals to the participating brands and special awards to the most outstanding spirit in its class.

Cooley won the top award, the coveted Double Gold Medal for its Connemara Cask Strength Peated Single Malt, Tyrconnell 10 Yr Old Madeira Finish Single Malt, Tyrconnell 10 Yr Old Port Finish Single Malt and topped it off with a Double Gold Medal and Best in Class for the Michael Collins 10 Yr Old Single Malt it produces for US importer Sidney Frank.

In addition, Cooley collected Gold Medals for its Kilbeggan 15 Yr Old, its Tyrconnell 10 Yr Old Sherry Finish Single Malt and for two further expressions of its Connemara brand.

Jack Teeling, Managing Director of Cooley Distillery, commented, “This latest success proves that Cooley is consistently producing some of the finest whiskeys in the world today.

These awards will further elevate the profile of Cooley Distillery in the US which is now the largest market for Irish whiskey in the world and continues to grow by double digit figures year on year. In 2010, we doubled our sales of whiskey to the US and our recent awards will help us continue this growth in 2011.”

Eures together with Dundalk Chamber of Commerce are working in conjunction with Marshes Shopping Centre Dundalk to organise a Cross Border Employment & Advice Fair for one day only on Friday the 15th April 2011.

The event will be attended by both local employers, locally based Employment Advice Agencies and a number of Cross Border Advisers who will be  available to assist those interested in employment and career development options both north and south.

In addition, Irish Advice and Welfare Agencies will be represented including those dealing with Social Welfare, Taxation, Education and Housing.

The event will take place in Marshes Shopping Centre Dundalk and will be open on Friday 15th April 2011 from 10.00 am until 7pm.

Dundalk Chamber is part of a European Commission network called EURES (European Employment Services). EURES advisers are trained specialists who provide information and guidance to jobseekers and employers interested in the European labour market and Cross Border Working. The EURES service is free of charge.

If your company has vacancies  or sales opportunities and would like to advertise them free at the event then please book a free stand for your company by calling Brenda in the Chamber on Tel: 042 9336343 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Also if you are a training provider this may suit you also to have a stand. You also may have a franchise opportunity and this would be ideal for you to promote your service.
There is a limited number of stands available and will be on a first come first serve basis.

The focus of this year’s North/South Postgraduate Scholarships scheme, co-sponsored by ESB and Universities Ireland, is on energy and engineering.

Universities Ireland, which promotes collaboration between universities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), the largest energy company on the island of Ireland, are offering five scholarships to students undertaking a recognised Master's or the first year of a PhD programme (taught or research) in the other Irish jurisdiction. Dublin Institute of Technology is also a partner in this scheme, which has been running since 2005.

These scholarships are worth €15,000 (approx. Stg£12,750) each. This year three of the scholarships will be in the areas of energy and engineering, and will be co-sponsored by Universities Ireland and ESB. Two more will be in another area - arts (including philosophy), business, science and social science - and will be funded by Universities Ireland alone. These scholarships must be taken up for the academic year 2011-2012.

The aim of this scheme is to encourage outstanding students from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to cross the border to undertake postgraduate study and experience life in the other Irish jurisdiction. Because it is 50% sponsored by ESB, there is a particular emphasis this year on the areas of energy and engineering, and the scheme aims to help build all-island innovation in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) which will be crucial in moving the island towards the kind of sustainable knowledge society that is vital both for its future prosperity and environmental sustainability. It is thus a scheme which has been conceived both to support the continuing peace process in Northern Ireland and to train highly skilled postgraduates to contribute to a new phase of economic and environmental development for the island as a whole.

Applications are now open and the closing date is 16th May. Please send the link below to any students you think might be interested.

http://www.universitiesireland.ie/news/scholarship2011.php