Networking News
Members of the LINK! Start Up Business Network, the Enterprise Network for Women and the PLATO Programme have been invited to attend the Dublin City Enterprise Board Christmas networking event.
This will take place on Monday 8th December. The venue is the O’Callaghan Mont Clare Hotel. Time: 7.00 – 9.00pm.
Members who have not already made a reservation to attend are requested to contact their network manager by the end of this week.
If you are not already a member of LINK! or the women’s network, and you would like to attend this event, there is still time to join our networks. Your subscription will carry your membership through to the end of 2009 and you will also be entitled to register for next Monday’s celebrations.
Another new benefit for our network members
We are just on the point of launching our new on-line networking forum. This will give our network members a new platform to interact, to raise the profiles of themselves and their businesses and it will also be a source of relevant, useful information.
Announcing the winners of our network competitions
At next Monday’s event, we will begin with an award ceremony when we will announce the winners of our annual network competitions. Brian Carey, Ireland Business Editor of the Sunday Times, will present the awards.
First place in the Enterprise Network for Women competition is the Dublin City Female Entrepreneur award. The prize, which will be awarded to the most improved business during 2008, includes a perpetual trophy, a certificate, €500 cash, and a DCEB voucher worth €500.
Second place, the Rising Star award, comes with a prize consisting of a certificate and a DCEB voucher worth €500.
First place in the LINK! competition will go to the Newcomer With The Best Business Plan. The prize package includes a perpetual trophy, a certificate, €500 cash, and a DCEB voucher worth €500.
Second place will be awarded for Newcomer With The Best New Product or Service. The prize includes a certificate and a DCEB voucher worth €500.
Network members involved in this event
This is the first year we have run the competition for the LINK! network. The perpetual trophy has been designed and produced by LINK! member Eoin McDonnell of Precious.
Eoin is a certified Diamond High Council of Europe Diamond Grader, he is responsible for training and education with the Federation of Jewellery Manufacturers of Ireland (FJMI), and is official Diamond Consultant to the North American Based NACBA Group.
Network member, Gráinne Duggan of Art and Soul Photography, will be on hand to capture the moment.
With studios in Dublin, Ireland and Waterloo, Canada, multi award-winning photographers Grainne Duggan and Gordon Aitken and are the creative talents behind Art and Soul. They specialise in relaxed, fun wedding photography, contemporary portraiture and commercial commissions as well as stunning art photography.
Thanks to our esteemed adjudicators
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our adjudication panel members who have worked so hard evaluating the entries:
Joan Bree, founder of Cush’n Shade Ltd, and winner of Dublin City Female Entrepreneur award in 2007
Brian Carey, Ireland Business Editor – Sunday Times
Pam Fay, Managing Director, Business Performance Perspectives
Ken Germaine, Chief Executive, BASE Enterprise Centre
Des Howett, Mentor with Dublin City Enterprise Board
Vincent Hutchinson, Mentor with Dublin City Enterprise Board
Willie Maxwell, Programme Director of The InterTradeIreland Acumen programme and President of the Institute of Management Consultants and Advisers
David O’Keeffe, Mentor with Dublin City Enterprise Board
Many of the adjudicators will also attend the award ceremony.
3-In-1 Networking fun and frolics
The award ceremony will be followed by facilitated introductions among the members of the three networks. Author, speaker and trainer Yanky Fachler will bring his own brand of high-octane networking to the proceedings. Yanky’s vast experience has been gained from working in Ireland, the US, the UK, Poland and the Czech Republic. Intending participants are reminded to bring plenty of business cards and freshen up their ‘elevator pitch’.
Wind down with some Christmas cheer
The lively networking session will be followed by some welcome refreshments and the opportunity to follow up with some of your new contacts in a more relaxed atmosphere.
We would like to remind members again that you must pre-book your place at this event with your network manager. link@dceb.ie or network@dceb.ie or Dublin@plato.ie