Eibhlin Curley of Dublin City Enterprise Board is at it again, starting and encouraging networks for businesses to develop and prosper.
CreativeD was developed by Dublin City Council, Dublin City and County Enterprise Boards and The Digital Hub.
This network-based programme specifically designed for the creative industries is said to be the first of its kind in Dublin. Its aim is to define, develop and promote creative businesses and to ensure that individually and collectively the creative industries become a significant force in our new economy.
Meetings, Workshops, Networking events, Online forums, Seminars and Skills development sessions are promised with the first event kicking off on 20th October 2009, coinciding with Dublin Innovation Week. You can book a place for this event and/or think about joining the network. The annual subscription to the programme is 100 euros.
Closing date for receipt of applications for the complete programme is: Friday 2nd October 2009. For further information phone (01) 4293600 or visit the website.

Labels: Entrepreneurship, Out and About, Smart Work

Heard about the 5 minute marketing event organised by Irish Women in Business via Tara's post on IGOpeople. Reach target audiences, recieve feedback on your performance, make new contacts and reach more customers is what's billed on the schedule so if it delivers even half of that you'll be on to a winner given that it's one of many free seminars available to members, a snip at only 50 euro for annual membership.

Where: Bank of Ireland, Tallaght
When: Wednesday 24th June 2009
Time: 4.30pm to 6.30pm

They're also holding a draw on the evening for IWIB members. Select Digital Print have offered a Starter Pack Stationery Set comprising of business cards, comp slips, letterheads worth €300 to one lucky member who participates and is creative with their 5 Minute Marketing pitch OR vouchers/flyers/postcards for your business.

Labels: Entrepreneurship, Flexitimers, Out and About, Social Media

Flexitimers are attending the IIA Congress tomorrow in Dublin. There's an excellent line-up of speakers including representatives from Realex Payments, dotMobi, Google and Facebook.

I'm also involved in one of the break-out sessions where, along with my colleagues from the IIA Social Media Working Group, we'll be running a workshop entitled 'Establishing a Social Media Strategy in 45 mins' so if you're looking for a hands-on whistle stop tour of blogging, tweeting and general social networking well this is the 45 minutes for you. Hope to see you there.

Labels: Flexitimers, IIA SMWG, Out and About, Social Media

Flexitimers are speaking at the Goose Forum tonight about the trials and tribulations of outsourcing - the why, how and where. According to James Kennedy, the event organiser, the audience will be made of a small gathering of people interested or embarking on web ventures so I'll be there to talk about three things:
Starting up a web business in Ireland - help and tips
Outsourcing as a viable means of getting the job done and
Flexitimers as one of the platforms out there to connect companies to a pool of skilled and experienced freelancers, contractors and consultants.
The event takes place in the Maldron Hotel, Cardiff Lane at 6.30. More information available here.

Labels: Flexible Recruitment, Flexitimers, Out and About, Smart Work

Just back from the launch of "Join the Conversation: The Guide to Business Blogging" hosted by the IIA and their Social Media Working Group, which is now available for download.
Great turn out and excellent presentations from Aedan Ryan, Director of Puddleducks.ie and Michelle Daly of Paddy Power Trader.
Brendan Hughes, eCommerce manager with FBD.ie and chair of the working group spoke about the need for businesses to start getting involved in social media, "We called this guide "Join the
Conversation" because many companies may not even be aware that their customers are already
talking about them online. Once upon a time your customers' criticisms may not have spread beyond family and friends, but with the arrival of social media, the audience and reach has multiplied. These online conversations, good and bad, are happening. We're encouraging businesses to join in so they can get involved in the conversations about themselves."
You can view a video round-up of the event which was produced by Villa81.
So if you're looking for inspiration, reason or know-how on how to get started in the blogosphere, this is the guide for you.

Labels: Blogging, IIA SMWG, Out and About, Social Media

Busy few days ahead for Flexitimers wrt public speaking. First up, tomorrow at midday it's Bizcamp Limerick which is made all the more relevant with the latest news about even more job losses in Dell. So well done everyone involved for pitching in and organising an event that hopes to foster enterprise in a region so affected by the downturn.
Then we're helping out in Flexitimers' alma mater NovaUCD on Tuesday (11-12) where they're hosting an open day to coincide with Dun-Laoghaire-Rathdown Enterprise Week. Hopefully see you at one or both events.

Labels: Flexitimers, Out and About

Flexitimers are heading along to Bizcamp tomorrow in Dublin. Bizcamp stemmed from barcamps which are user generated un-conferences enabling entrepreneurs to talk, share and network. I'm really looking forward to it. We're giving a talk at midday if you're around.

Labels: Flexitimers, Out and About

Flexitimers went along this morning to the Sonru.com launch in Enniscorthy Enterprise & Technology Centre. The guest list consisted of who's who of Wexford business, and people working in web/tech and enterprise support. Edward Hendrick, Sonru's founder provided us with a demo of what will prove to be one of the most innovative and cost saving e-recruitment tools on the market today. 'Sonru is a smart, convenient, more economical tool for remotely interviewing people online' .Essentially, it's a tool for recruiters to automate initial screening of candidates and the case studies on their website catalogue the time and cost saving benefits.
Left: Fergal O'Byrne, Chairman & Edward Hendrick Director of Sunru.com with Paul Kehoe T.D. who officially launched Sonru.com.

Chris Horan, CTO Sonru, Maiken O'Byrne, Tom Banville, Wexford CEB & Fergal O'Byrne, Chairman Sonru

Labels: online recruitment, Out and About, Smart Work

Flexitimers hooked up with a few people yesterday - fellow staff, potential strategic alliances and also Krishna De - one of Ireland's top branding and social media strategists. We've been working in the web business since 1996 and in marketing since before then, but having said that - we can't and don't know it all so enter Krishna who's going to help on some very specific projects. I remember hearing Denis O'Brien speak a few years ago and he said it was good to know your strengths but also more importantly your weaknesses. So if you in any way doubt your ability in a specific area, it might be a good idea to hire in someone with that expertise even for a half day workshop to identify the gaps and point you in the right direction. Today, without sounding like a recessionista, we can't afford to hire at will but we don't have to go without either. A mentor, freelancer or indeed outsourcing can be the solution to this quandary and won't break the bank. Also think about the potential output for a small investment in your time a few hourly rates. I'm sure you'll find it more than pays for itself.

Labels: Flexible Recruitment, Flexitimers, online recruitment, Out and About, Smart Work

Flexitimers went along to a brilliant session entitled 'Marketing on a shoestring' kindly organised by Wicklow County Enterprise Board. The seminar was eBranding Guru Krishne De
who had so many great ideas on how to market and sell without any or
much marketing budget. The event shows how truly worthwhile the Enterprise
Boards in Ireland are in helping business upskill and remain competitive.

Labels: Flexitimers, Out and About, Social Media

We had a very interesting meeting recently with the CEO of Staff Balance, Ciaran McGowan when we spoke of the synergies between our companies to help businesses minimise staffing costs, maximise efficiencies and improve staffing flexibility. We've touched on this topic before, for example in our recent post about the recession being even more of a reason to hire smart. Staff Balance provides a scientific way for companies to deal with the downturn. The original idea for Staff Balance came about in more prosperous times when it was difficult and costly to recruit people but Ciaran is finding it applies equally in these current difficult economic conditions. Today, more than ever, companies are seeking to understand the staffing levels needed to service the business through its peaks and troughs. Their scientific approach saved their most recent client 12% of its total annual payroll and provided the means to predict staffing requirements based on changing business volumes and activity. Armed with that information management can work through Flexitimers to secure their staffing requirements. Makes sense to me.

Labels: Flexitimers, Out and About, Recession, Smart Work

Flexitimers attended the Big Debate in City Hall last Wednesday and were fortunate to put a question to the panel. The panel, which was chaired by by respected broadcaster John Bowman, consisted of Jay Bourke (Cafe Bar Deli), Martin Murray (Interactive Return), Brian Carey (Sunday Times), Marc Coleman (Newstalk), Mark Fielding from ISME, Damian Young Head of Small Business, Bank of Ireland, Paula Fitzsimons, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor author and Pat Lynch, Chairperson of Dublin City Enterprise Board.

Q: Did the panel think that companies (under pressure to cut headcount) were more likely to outsource activities or use part-time, freelance and contract staff in order to remain competitive during these challenging times?

Summary: there was unanimous agreement that companies must outsource and use flexible staff to stay in business.

Quotes:
Marc Coleman - 'there is no doubt, no option that companies will have to outsource / use agency staff'

Pat Lynch 'your largest overheads walk in to your company on two feet....businesses must control these costs', 'It (outsourcing and using flexible staff) is a good business strategy'

Jay Bourke - If you're not letting people go, you'll go out of business, outsource right away'

Brian Carey 'It's a growing trend in Irish businesses'

This is good news for Flexitimers and particularly good news for employers out there facing the challenge of headcount cuts yet who still have projects to complete. Flexitimers offers these employers access to a pool of highly skilled and experienced professionals who are available for part time, contract and freelance positions and projects.

You can see more pictures and coverage of the event by clicking this link.

Labels: Flexible Recruitment, Flexitimers, jobs, Out and About, Recession, Smart Work