Industry and Manufacturing
sponsored by Ulster Bank

• Clare Spring Water Ltd
• Microsemi Ireland Ltd.
• Panalok Ltd

Retailer of the Year
sponsored by Retail Excellence Ire

• County Boutique
• Crosbies
• Rochford’s Pharmacy

Professional Services Award
sponsored by  AIB Bank

• ETeams (International) Ltd
• Clare FM
• Michael Houlihan & Partners

Innovation in Business
sponsored by Clare County Council    & Ennis Town Council

• Clare Focus
• Clare Spring Water Ltd
• Niall C Garvey & Co, Chartered Accountants

Customer Service
sponsored by Clare County Enterprise Board

• Aillwee Cave and the Burren Birds of Prey
• Aveda C Spa Hair and Beauty
• Moy House

Best Place to Eat
sponsored by Dawn Meats

• Preachers Pub at Temple Gate Hotel
• Souper Café and Restaurant
• The Pantry Restaurant/Deli/Bakery

Best Place to Work
sponsored by Energia

• Armada Hotel
• Microsemi Ireland
• Pacnet Services (Europe) Ltd

Best Use of ICT
sponsored by Microsemi

• Clare Focus
• Clare Vehicle Testing Centre
• Niall C Garvey & Co, Chartered Accountants

Tourism Initiative Award
sponsored by Shannon Development

• Armada Hotel
• Ennis Walking Tours
• Spirit of Killaloe/Spirit of Lough Derg River Cruises

The campaign comprises:
- print ads in regional papers and the Irish Times
- radio ads on regional stations Listen to our ad here
- Irish Rail offers

Chamber President, Guy Flouch, commented that “Saturday shopping has been droppiong significantly in town centres accross the country, as shoppers desert to anonymous shopping centres. This promotion is part of our strategy to bring business back to the town centre at weekends”

The results of Ennis Chamber Golf Classic 2010 were as follows:
1^st – 87 points – AAA Taxi: Martin White, Seamie Kelly, Brian Hassett and David Woods
2^nd – 84 points – Microsemi: Aidan Mulcahy, Jim Young, Ray O’Neill and Paul O’Brien
3^rd – 83 points – Ulster Bank: Paul Mullane, Colm O’Shea, Patrick Roughan and Conor Quinlan
4^th – 83 points – Flatley Engineering: Vincent O’Regan, Niall O’Regan, Andy Carr and Tom Ryan
Winning Ladies Team – Clare Youth Service: Rose Hally, Eileen Corry, Mary T. Real, Betty O’Reilly
Nearest to Pin Mens: Patrick Roughan, Ulster Bank
Longest Drive Mens: Andy Carr, Flatley Engineering
Longest Drive Ladies: Valerie Hassett, Temple Gate

 Prizes were sponsored by newly established business The Golf Arena, Quin Road Business Park who made a special presentation to Ray O’Neill of Microsemi for his Eagle on the Par 5 4^th hole.  Ray Hallahan of The Golf Arena was on hand to showcase the virtual golf experience they have to offer through the impressive mobile simulator at the start of the course.  There was also a Nearest the Pin simulator competition which the men’s was won by Finbarr Brougham, Shannon Development and the ladies by Valerie Hassett, Temple Gate.

 The 2010 Golf Classic gave an opportunity for the Clare Youth Service to highlight the range of crucial facilities and supports on offer through their displays and promotional material to the wider business community.  Staff and participants from Clare Youth Service assisted with the operation of the event and to answer and enquiries, with Chairperson Rose Hally and CEO Margaret Slattery, on hand throughout the day to explain the work of this vital organisation.  In presenting the Prizes to the winners, Chairperson Rose Hally welcomed this opportunity to communicate to the Business Community on the extensive work of the Clare Youth Service and to extend links with the Business Community by sowing the seeds for exploring mutually beneficial initiatives.

 In concluding the Presentation of Prizes, Ennis Chamber President Guy Flouch and Golf Committee Chairperson Paddy Darmody thanked all the teams who participated as well as those who sponsored tees or greens.  Such support is greatly appreciated in these challenging economic times, yet these events are vital in continuing to develop networks, recognise the contribution of staff and reward customers as well as building team spirit.

Clare Youth Service and The Golf Arena presenting 1st Prize

Sponsors at the Launch

Ennis Chamber launched this year the inaugural FBD Clare Business Excellence Awards.

At the launch, Guy Flouch President of the Chamber affirmed that:
“Clare is now ready to proclaim its excellence. As part of its strategy to encourage inward investment into Ennis and the Mid-West, Ennis Chamber has introduced the inaugural FBD Clare Business Excellence Awards. The awards not only give local businesses an opportunity to showcase their strengths and successes and gain the marketing edge of being an award winner, but they also communicate a clear message of excellence to the world at large. The awards benchmark the industrial, retail and service base in the county as a magnet for further investment”

The Chamber will be making awards in nine categories: Retail, Professional Services, Manaufacturing, Best Place to Eat, Best Place to Work, Innovation in Business, Best Use of IT, Customer Service Excellence and Best Tourism Initiative. An independent company will adjudicate all entries and present a shortlist of three businesses for each category.

There is no fee for nominating a business for an award. Businesses can nominate themselves or be nominated by staff, customers, suppliers, colleagues or the general public. The winners of the awards will be announced at an oscar-style evening on Thursday 30th September 2010 in the new conference facility at the Auburn Lodge Hotel

For further information on the Awards you can download the FBD Clare Business Excellence Awards brochure here: FBD Clare Busienss Excellence Awards 2010 Brochure

The attached document containing the Awards criteria can also be downloaded: FBD Clare Business Excellence Awards Criteria

Entries for the awards in 2010 closed on 16th July 2010.

CLICK HERE TO BUY ONLINE TODAY

Over 80 local businesses in the town covering a diverse range of retail outlets appropriate to all tastes and ages are taking part in the scheme.

Chamber President Guy Flouch highlights that “an important bonus of the scheme is that it has ensured that your gift is bought in Ennis, providing a much-needed boost to local retailers. Similar schemes in other towns have underlined that that vouchers such as these have proven very popular gifts but have an important shop local dimension to them”

Guy highlights an important dimension of the scheme in that “numbers of the vouchers are being bought by customers in the UK or the US which ensures that, wherever they are, the Clare diaspora can still shop in Ennis”

The vouchers are available from The Irish Shop.com at Lower Market Street and at the offices of Ennis Chamber at 54 O’Connell Street. They are also available for purchase from this website.

Participation in the initiative is absolutely free for Chamber members with a participation charge for non-members. There are absolutely no handling or other fees for participating stores. All participating stores are listed in the gift wallet and given a window or till sticker to advertise their participation in the scheme. Participating stores are also listed on this website.

Employers! Buy Gift Vouchers Tax Free for your Employees:

Employers may avail of the current €250 small benefits relief by giving each employee one single voucher to a maximum value of €250 on a one off basis in any tax year and the value of the voucher can be disregarded for PAYE/PRSI benefit purposes by the employee.  Ennis Gold Vouchers are an ideal way to reward valued employees while benefitting the local economy.

To follow Ennis Gold Gift Vouchers on Facebook Click Here

For more information, retailers should contact Karen, Ennis Gold Executive, at the Ennis Chamber on 065-684-2988

You can purchase vouchers online here

Participating Businesses

Promote Ennis is an initiative that has brought together key stakeholders in the town, aiming at boosting visitor numbers. The group produces an attractive visitor guide to the town and manages www.visitennis.ie , the town’s only website aimed at potential visitors to the town. The website currently attracts over unique 500 visitors daily to its pages.

The new printed guide is currently being put together, with a view to it being printed in January, in time for the marketing season for 2010 visitors. If you want to feature in the guide, please contact us on 065-684-2988

Download last year’s guide here

The Chamber Mission, as outlined in the document, is:

• to promote and support the economic well-being of local businesses, in particular that of its members
• to create a dynamic business climate in which entrepreneurial flair can flourish
• achieving a consensus for the strategic development of the town as an attractive place to do business, live and visit

Through 19 key actions, under three objectives, the Chamber will make a significant contribution the strength of the local business community and growth in the town.

Download the document here

The product, designed to assist employers employing 5 staff or less, will be provided at a cost price of €84 per month (excl VAT) over a fixed payment period.

The contract provides the same level of cover as the standard Chamber HR product, in terms of access to the 24 Hour HR Advice Service and Insurance Indemnity. The Indemnity funds the defence of Employment Litigation claims and settlements/awards where appropriate, if advice is taken and followed including claims for unfair selection on the grounds of a redundancy dismissal.

This service will be offered by the Chamber network across Ireland and chamber members will also be entitled to the use of the BusinessWise facility (Allowing employers to keep track of the day to day management of their workforce and the ongoing, recurring obligations), they will receive The Bottom Line and attend the free group training courses. The service will also provide contracts of employment and employment policies.

Download the Mid West Regional Task Force Interim Report