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Griffith College is to launch a Bar Manager’s Degree Apprenticeship in 2019. The news comes after the Apprenticeship Council of Ireland approved the course for development earlier this year. The three-year degree has been designed in partnership with the VFI, LVA and the wider industry including Diageo, Heineken and Febvre Wines.According to Michael McNamara, Strategy and Public Affairs Manager with Griffith College, the Bar Manager’s Degree will form part of Minister for Education Richard Bruton’s target of 9,000 new entrants each year in new apprenticeships. “The original idea for the degree came from Limerick VFI member JJ Mulcahy,” he says. “We are now deep in the process of developing the course content and plan to commence the degree in 2019.”“This new degree will give graduates a qualification that’s recognised worldwide,” says VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben. “The apprenticeship model is the perfect blend of ‘hands on’ experience and college work. It’s time bar managers received a qualification like the degree that has been available in hotel management for many years.”The apprenticeship model, which has been so successful in Germany, is very attractive for those who are accepted on the scheme. It is a ‘learn and earn’ model which sees the apprentice paid a full-time salary and allowed study on the job, and be released for lectures one day a week at one of the Griffith College campuses in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.The syllabus and course content has been agreed and developed by the employers, who have designed the Occupational Profile for those attending the proposed three year QQI degree at level 7 on the National Framework on Qualifications. SOLAS working with HEA and QQI are the state agencies involved.If you&#39;re looking for jobs check out www.jobalert.ie

Bar Manager’s Degree Apprenticeship

Do you have an inquisitive mind? Do you like problem solving?Why not consider a 2-year Tech Apprenticeship in Cyber Security that will provide apprentices with excellent experience and an Advanced Certificate at Level 6?FIT - Fastrack to Information Technology have a 2 year Cyber Security Apprenticeship Programme on offer!Apprentices will complete the apprenticeship programme and gain an Advanced Certificate in Cybersecurity at Level 6 in the National Framework of Qualifications.The FIT Cybersecurity Apprenticeship is the third in a series that have been developed by FIT and delivered in partnership with Educating and Training Boards - the previous two are software development and network engineering.Applicants must be 18 years or older with the eligibility to work and live in Ireland. FIT warmly welcome applications from all genders, and from candidates who may have a physical or hidden disability.Apprentices will spend the first 6 months in full-time training, and the next 12 months working with their employer for 3 days per week with 2 days of college. The final 6 months will be spent working with their employer 4 days per week with 1 day in college finalising their certification.To apply for this fantastic opportunity, go to their registration page here; <a href="https://fit.ie/ictap_course/fit-ict-associate-professional-cyber-security/">https://fit.ie/ictap_course/fit-ict-associate-professional-cyber-security/</a><h4>Course Aims</h4>FIT Cybersecurity Apprenticeship<ul><li>The programme will provide a new talent pipeline for tech employers who have a need for tech practitioners in the field of Cybersecurity. It will provide cybersecurity apprentices with the theory and practical skills required to be employed as Cybersecurity specialists.</li><li>The Cybersecurity programme is designed for those who have recently completed second level education or mature learners who are seeking to retrain.</li></ul><h4>Modules</h4>Apprentices will complete the apprenticeship programme which is of two years duration, as detailed below, to gain an Advanced Certificate in Cybersecurity at Level 6 in the National Framework of Qualifications:<ol><li>The CompTIA Cybersecurity Pathway which includes:</li><li>City &amp; Guilds transversal learning modules including</li><li>City and Guilds Award for Professional Recognition (Information Technology)</li><li>Applied Learning in the Workplace (Apprentice Online Logbook)</li><li>A Capstone Project – Red Team vs Blue Team capture the flag workshop</li></ol><h4>Requirements</h4>FIT accepts a number of different entry routes to the ICT Associate Professional Apprentice Programmes depending on your own individual background. Applicants must be 18 years or older with the eligibility to work and live in Ireland. FIT warmly welcome applications from all genders, and from candidates who may have a physical or hidden disability. The following stipulations will apply to the screening of your application:Knowledge, Skill and Personal Competence (upon application)Candidates must be numerate and literate with the capacity to learn new skills and absorb varied product knowledge. In addition, candidates must demonstrate a capacity to work as a member of a team and display a capacity to clearly communicate with others. Each candidate must demonstrate a level of personal motivation and a clear desire to work in the field of ICT.Secondary School Leavers (Republic of Ireland)Candidates should have completed a Leaving Certificate with pass grades in at least five Ordinary level subjects (including Maths and English).School Leavers (Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom)Candidates should have completed a level of second-level education equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. This may be composed of the attainment of ‘A Levels’ subject based qualification (General Certificate of Education).Recognition of Prior LearningCandidates who wish to apply for entry, and who do not satisfy any of the standard entry requirements are advised; that an evidenced and justifiable rationale will have to be provided for consideration to be entered into the selection process. This will include the submission of a detailed synopsis of previous educational, life and/or work experiences. The FIT Registrar or delegate will review such cases with regard to the FIT Policy on Access, Transfer and Progression.Apprentices will spend the first 6 months in full-time training, the next 12 months working with their employer for 3 days per week with 2 days on college day-release and the final 6 months working with their employer 4 days per week with 1 day in college finalising their certification.Where are the courses run?All of the off-the-job learning will take place in Education and Training Boards (ETBs) nationwide with the on-the-job learning carried out by the apprenticeship sponsor company. The first phase of courses is taking place in Dublin and Cork with plans to roll-out all around Ireland in the coming months. What is the deadline for applications?The great news is that there is none! We are recruiting all year round so be sure to get your students on our radar by completing an application form here.They will then be invited to an information session with the FIT team in due course. What are the entry requirements?Candidates must be at least 18 years old with at least a Full Leaving Certificate or Level 5 certificate. However, there is no age limit and should someone have relevant work experience and a passion for ICT, this would be taken into consideration. It is important that the candidates posses technical capability and demonstrate an aptitude for learning. For more information, check out FIT <a href="https://fit.ie/">https://fit.ie/</a>

FIT Cybersecurity Apprenticeship

Director & Ideation Manager

Pamela Doyle

With LinkedIn becoming the go-to for jobseekers and recruiters alike, is your profile likely to make your CV obsolete? Hays’ Nick Deligiannis explains why this will not be the case.It’s no secret that an up-to-date and engaging LinkedIn profile can help you to get noticed by recruiters, whether you are actively or passively looking for a new role. But does that mean CVs are becoming less important?The short answer is no. Your CV and LinkedIn profile are two separate but complementary entities that serve different purposes both to a recruiter and to yourself during the application process and at different stages. Allow me to clarify.What does the recruiter see first, the CV or the LinkedIn profile?The answer to this question all depends on how you apply for a role. For instance, if the initial job application didn’t require you to submit a CV (eg if using LinkedIn Easy Apply), then your recruiter may search for you on LinkedIn first after receiving your application. Alternatively, your recruiter may find you on LinkedIn because, even though you haven’t actively applied for a job with them, you match their criteria for a role that they are hiring for.On the other hand, if you register with a recruiter or apply for a job using your CV, whether this is through a job board, recruitment website, LinkedIn or directly with the organisation, then your recruiter will view your CV first and is then likely to search for you on LinkedIn.Long story short, both your LinkedIn profile and CV will be carefully reviewed by the recruiter at some stage during the application process and will provide them with different information, which brings me on to my next point.Why a strong CV is central to your job searchAs you can see from the above, your CV is still the main means of applying for roles and should serve the purpose of giving the recruiter a factual and chronological snapshot of your skills and experience to date. What’s more, the recruiter will need to know why you are both interested in and suitable for this job specifically and will need something a little more tailored than your generic LinkedIn profile. Therefore, it is important that you adapt your CV to fit the types of roles you are applying for. You can do this by:<ul><li>Tweaking your personal statement to outline why you want to work for this particular industry and organisation</li><li>Streamlining your skills, education and experience to highlight only the most relevant information</li><li>Identifying the keywords used to describe the desired skills on the job description, such as ‘strong analytical skills’, and ensuring these are incorporated on your CV where possible</li></ul>A strong LinkedIn profile should bring your CV to lifeNow on to your LinkedIn profile. Thanks to the visual, flexible and interactive nature of LinkedIn, you have the opportunity to bring all of your skills and experience to life and tell the recruiter more of a story about who you are and what you are looking for.In addition, a strong LinkedIn profile can increase your chances of being approached by a recruiter first. Recruiters are using advanced data analytics tools to both find and engage with suitable passive and active jobseekers – so an up-to-date profile and frequent online activity can certainly get you noticed by the right people. That is, if you make the best use of this platform. Here are some tips for having a strong and engaging LinkedIn profile:<ul><li>Upload an up-to-date and professional photo</li><li>Add a compelling headline that more accurately reflects your specialism and interests, eg ‘Ambitious IT sales professional with a passion for cloud computing, and three years’ experience in this sector’</li><li>Make sure your skills and experience sections are up to date and supported by visual examples, such as videos, pictures, PDFs and other rich media</li><li>Share content relevant to your specialism or industry</li><li>Post your own professional insights – be it in blog format or via an update</li><li>Like/share/comment on other people’s updates</li><li>Get involved in forum discussions</li><li>Connect with people in your network and ask for endorsements and recommendations – but remember online networking etiquette</li></ul>In conclusion, it isn’t a case of your LinkedIn profile versus your CV. CVs are still the most important weapon in your armoury when it comes to getting a job, but yours should be complemented by a strong, professional and active LinkedIn profile – one that brings all the claims you have on your CV to life and showcases everything you have to offer as a person and as a professional.By Nick Deligiannis <a href="https://www.siliconrepublic.com/advice/linkedin-profile-cv-jobseeker">- Source.</a>

What’s more important – your CV or your LinkedIn profile?

Director & Chief Biscuit Dunker

Sean Breen

Irish company wants to use drones to deliver takeaway meals.Start-up expects to get approval to start delivering food by drones in Ireland shortlyManna chief executive Bobby Healy says the start-up’s goal is to build a worldwide drone delivery system that can deliver at “massive volume”.Manna, an Irish start-up which is looking to deploy autonomous drones to deliver takeaways, has raised up to €10 million in an oversubscribed round.The company, which was founded and is led by former Cartrawler chief technology officer Bobby Healy, is shortly to seek regulatory approval from the Irish Aviation Authority to allow it to begin rolling out its own aviation grade drones in the Republic.The exact amount raised in the funding round has not been disclosed but Elkstone Capital and Frontline Ventures are among the five venture capital firms that participated.Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr Healy said the company had settled on a relatively small seed round for now with a view to seeking a “massive” one in six to 12 months time as it looks to quickly expand into multiple markets in Europe.Mr Healy, who prior to joining CarTrawler in 2006, founded Eland Technologies, admitted the company was embarked on a high-risk mission.“Our goal is to build a worldwide drone delivery system that can deliver at massive volume,” he said.“We’ve started with food delivery simply because there is no other sector that will get us to that quickly but the ultimate plan is to be able to deliver pretty much anything and everything,” Mr Healy added.Manna is hoping to receive approval in the coming months with the aim of being up and running by the end of 2019.The company’s drones fly at a height of about 100 metres, operate at a low noise level and can make deliveries within a two to three kilometre radius. When they reach their destination, the deliveries are lowered down with a biodegradable linen thread.Manna isn’t the only company with a plan to use drones for deliveries. Alphabet’s Wing subsidiary was last month granted approval to take to the skies of Canberra in Australia, while Zipline operates a commercial service delivering blood supplies in Africa. Amazon is also trialling the technology.However, Mr Healy said Manna’s aviation level drones were significantly more advanced than most commercially available ones.“We’re had positive dealings with the aviation regulator to date and would expect to get the go-ahead once we formally apply for permission from them later this year,” he said.“We’ve spent two years developing our own purpose-built drones and are now on the third generation of them. We have produced drones that are of aviation standard, which you need to have if you’re going to be flying over people’s houses. No-one else is at where we are in the sectors we want to operate in so we can build a leadership position if we move quickly,” added Mr Healy.The entrepreneur admitted that with many obstacles in front of the company, investors have been somewhat wary of backing Manna. The fact that conversations with some investors happened during the period when Gatwick airport was forced to close due to drones seen near the runways, didn’t help the businessman.“Part of the reason for doing a relatively small seed round was that there are a lot of questions, including will we get regulatory approval and the approval of the communities in which we intend to operate, which is also important,” he said.“When I started out on the funding round I had 160 VCs in my funnel but about half of those immediately turned me down despite me having a good track record. I ended up with about 10 VC that were very interested in us but even then it was hard to find one that would lead. Of course, once we did everyone else flooded in with offers,” said Mr Healy.The businessman said the plan is to scale as quickly as possible with a view to being in a number of markets as early as the company can.“We could end up the market leaders in the space and I think that we will. But this is something where we could as easily be gone in 18 months or within five years could be dominant in multiple markets and either looking at floating to acquire our way globally or, being acquired ourselves,” he said.“It does seem like a mad idea but the thing is that drone deliveries are absolutely going to happen across the globe and it will lead to huge behavioural change,” he said.<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/irish-company-wants-to-use-drones-to-deliver-takeaway-meals-1.3893226"> Original Source.</a>

Irish company wants to use drones to deliver takeaway meals

The passing of a law to extend unpaid parental leave should spark a “serious debate” on improvements to work-life balance including the idea of a four-day working week.Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall made the remarks while hailing the passing of the party’s Parental Leave Bill 2017.The new law will allow parents of children under 12 to take 26 weeks unpaid leave, up from the current allowance of 18 weeks for parents of children under eight.This is to be introduced on a phased basis with four extra weeks set to become available from September this year and a further four weeks from September 2020.The Bill was passed by the Dáil this evening.It comes after the Fine Gael-led minority government agreed to adopt the Bill and Fianna Fáil and Labour helped in getting it through the Seanad.Ms Shortall said it&#39;s “really important we have agreed this legislation and I think it will make a huge difference to the lives of so many families and children”.She said it should be seen as the start of a new approach to enable parents to strike a balance between family and work life.Ms Shortall has said that many parents use the current unpaid leave allowance to work four-day weeks to give them “breathing space” to take children to appointments or collect them from school.She told the Dáil “We have a lot more to do in terms of providing paid leave and unpaid leave.”She said “we might now start a serious public debate on how we can ensure that work does not dominate people’s lives to the extent that it does now where it results in huge pressures and huge stresses on people.”According to Ms Shortall other countries and individual companies have been looking at the idea of a four-day week.She said: “We are a bit behind the curve” and that the State has a role to play in encouraging employers to start trialing such initiatives.Earlier Ms Shortall was asked by reporters if she believes the government enabled the legislation to “soften up” the Social Democrats as possible future coalition partners.She said: “I don&#39;t know if they&#39;re at that or not but the Taoiseach has been very supportive recently.“Unfortunately in the early days of this Bill we didn&#39;t see that happen”. Original source <a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/calls-for-serious-debate-on-fourday-working-week-after-passing-of-extended-parental-leave-38111961.html">here.</a>

Time to debate 4 day work week after passing of extended parental leave

Minimum rates of pay for workers in the construction sector are set to rise by 5.4% while rates in the electrical sector will increase by 2.7%.The increases, which have been approved by the Government and will come into effect in the Autumn, were formulated in two Labour Court recommendations.For workers in the construction sector, the 5.4% increase will come into effect in two stages - the first 2.7% increase will apply from October 1 until September 30, 2020, while the second will run from October 1, 2020.<li>‘Craftpersons’, including the likes of bricklayers, joiners, painters and plasterers will see their basic hourly rate rise to €19.44 and on up to €19.96.</li><li>For ‘Category A’ workers - including the likes of scaffolders, steel fixers and crane drivers the minimum will rise to €18.86 and on up to €19.37.</li><li>Category B workers’ minimum rate will rise to €17.50 and then up to €17.97. They are skilled general operatives who have worked in the sector for more than two years.</li><li>New entrants will see their minimum rate rise to €14.52 overall.</li>Apprentices will see their pay rise in line with the craft rate - they get 33% of the craft rate in year 1 up to 90% in year 4.In the electrical sector Category 1 workers’ minimum rates will rise to €23.49, Category 2 will rise to €23.96, and Category 3 will rise to €24.34. The minimum apprentice rates in the sector will range from €7.05 to €18.80.The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation said the recommendations also provide for unsocial hours payments and set terms for pension and sick pay schemes.The recommendations, once approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas, will take effect by means of a Sectoral Employment Order.Sectoral Employment Orders (SEOs) are legally binding on the sectors to which they apply and their provisions are enforceable by the Workplace Relations Commission.<h3>READ MORE</h3>Taoiseach needs to sort out insurance industry, says owner of closing adventure parkWhere enterprises in sectors that are covered by SEOs are experiencing severe financial difficulties they can apply to the Labour Court for an exemption from paying the rates provided for in the Order.Agreement of the majority of workers for whom the exemption is sought is also required by the Court before such an exemption will be granted.“The Sectoral Employment process is welcome in that it provides an independent assessment of pay rates that takes into account the views of all interested parties,” said junior minister Pat Breen who formally approved the increases.However, the Small Firms Association said the approval of increases was “disappointing” for small businesses working in the industry.“Due to the high demand for tradesmen on building sites across the country, service providers in the construction and electrical sector are finding it difficult to compete against these labour rates, and to retain and attract tradesmen,” said SFA Director, Sven Spollen-Behrens.<blockquote>These small businesses also offer permanent stable employment, training and upskilling alongside additional benefits, it is discouraging that the debate on terms and conditions in the construction and electrical sector continues to revolve around one single number and does not take the broader package on offer into account.</blockquote>

Pay increases for electrical and construction workers

Bartender Wanted For Dream Job Of Pulling Pints At Floating Pub In JamaicaWe all know that sinking feeling that comes with the morning alarm, when you realise you have to drag yourself out of your warm, cosy bed and into the office for another day of the daily grind.But what if your commute didn&#39;t involve 40 minutes on a packed bus, but paddle boarding across crystal clear waters? What if your office wasn&#39;t in some sterile high rise, but a secluded floating bar in the Caribbean?That&#39;s the life you could be living - temporarily, at least - as Virgin Holidays is looking for someone to take over the reins at Floyd&#39;s Pelican bar in Jamaica.You see, Floyd, the titular bartender of the famed drinking hole, is in need of a bit of a break. That&#39;s where you step in.Floyd with supermodel-turned-publican Jodie Kidd. Credit: Virgin Holidays&quot;Say &#39;Hi&#39; to Floyd!&quot; the Virgin Holidays website says.&quot;He&#39;s been pulling pints at Floyd&#39;s Pelican Bar in Jamaica since he opened it in 2001. And we think he needs a break!&quot;That&#39;s where you come in - we&#39;re looking for a bartender to head out to Jamaica to take Floyd&#39;s place for a while.&quot;You&#39;ll pull pints in one of the most Instagrammable drinking spots in the world. With flights and seven nights accommodation included, you&#39;ll enjoy a taste (and a sip or two) of the Caribbean. Cheers to that!&quot;There are some stipulations - but don&#39;t worry, there&#39;s nothing you can&#39;t handle.Along with being &#39;willing to commute by boat or paddle board, even when the weather is a little too beautiful to go to work&#39;, and &#39;eager to chat to locals and tourists alike and get to know them over a cool bottle of local beer&#39;, you must be up for managing the music playlist to ensure &#39;chilled beats are playing at all times&#39;. Total doddle, I know.Floyd&#39;s Pelican Bar floats around a mile off Jamaica. Credit: Virgin HolidaysEvery now and again, you might also have to throw the occasional fish to the resident pelicans - which is how the bar got its name - and welcome passing boats looking for a refreshment.Finally, the perfect candidate must be able to multitask. Why? Because it can be tricky to hand out beer and appreciate the glistening turquoise water at the same time, obviously.Supermodel turned publican, Jodie Kidd, who will be helping to judge the applications, said: &quot;I love being a pub landlady here in the UK, but if I had the opportunity to take the best of the job and do it all from an island paradise in the Caribbean, I wouldn&#39;t say no.Jodie Kidd will help judge the applications. Credit: Virgin Holidays&quot;This is an incredible chance for anyone looking to combine the best job in the world with one of the best overseas destinations - and give a local legend a well-deserved holiday - so what are you waiting for?&quot;Joe Thompson, Managing Director of Virgin Holidays, said: &quot;We think the Caribbean is your playground - filled with so much fun and beauty to explore, from the white beach sands to the vibrant culture.&quot;We have sent millions of British holiday-makers to explore this idyllic part of the world over the last few decades, but never like this.&quot;It&#39;s an opportunity to truly immerse yourself in the Jamaican culture - a once in a lifetime experience.&quot;If you think you&#39;re the right pint-puller for the job, get yourself in with a chance by visiting the<a href="https://www.virginholidays.co.uk/pullpintsinparadise"> Virgin Holidays website</a>, where you can also find the full terms and conditions.

Bartender Wanted For Dream Job Of Pulling Pints At Floating Pub In Jamaica

Amazon.com is rolling out machines to automate a job held by thousands of its workers - boxing up customer orders. The company started adding technology to a handful of warehouses in recent years, which scans goods coming down a conveyor belt and envelopes them seconds later in boxes custom-built for each item, two people who worked on the project told Reuters. Amazon has considered installing two machines at dozens more warehouses, removing at least 24 roles at each one, these people said. These facilities typically employ more than 2,000 people. That would amount to more than 1,300 cuts across 55 US &quot;fulfillment centres&quot; for standard-sized inventory.Amazon would expect to recover the costs in under two years, at $1m per machine plus operational expenses, they said. The plan, previously unreported, shows how Amazon is pushing to reduce labour and boost profits as automation of the most common warehouse task - picking up an item - is still beyond its reach.The changes are not finalised because vetting technology before a major deployment can take a long time. Amazon is famous for its drive to automate as many parts of its business as possible, whether pricing goods or transporting items in its warehouses. But the company is in a precarious position as it considers replacing jobs that have won it subsidies and public goodwill.&quot;We are piloting this new technology with the goal of increasing safety, speeding up delivery times and adding efficiency across our network,&quot; an Amazon spokeswoman said in a statement. &quot;We expect the efficiency savings will be re-invested in new services for customers, where new jobs will continue to be created.&quot;Amazon last month downplayed its automation efforts to press visiting its Baltimore fulfillment centre, saying a fully robotic future was far off. Its employee base has grown to become one of the largest in the US, as the company opened new warehouses and raised wages to attract staff in a tight labour market. A key to its goal of a leaner workforce is attrition, one of the sources said. Rather than lay off workers, the person said, the world&#39;s largest online retailer will one day refrain from refilling packing roles. Those have high turnover because boxing multiple orders per minute over 10 hours is taxing work. At the same time, employees that stay with the company can be trained to take up more technical roles.The new machines, known as the CartonWrap from Italian firm CMC, pack much faster than humans. They crank out 600 to 700 boxes per hour, or four to five times the rate of a human packer, the sources said. The machines require one person to load customer orders, another to stock cardboard and glue and a technician to fix jams on occasion.Though Amazon has announced it intends to speed up shipping across its Prime loyalty programme, this latest round of automation is not focused on speed. &quot;It&#39;s truly about efficiency and savings,&quot; one of the people said. Including other machines known as the &quot;SmartPac,&quot; which the company rolled out recently to mail items in patented envelopes, Amazon&#39;s technology suite will be able to automate a majority of its human packers. Five rows of workers at a facility can turn into two, supplemented by two CMC machines and one SmartPac, the person said. The company describes this as an effort to &quot;re-purpose&quot; workers, the person said. It could not be learned where roles might disappear first and what incentives, if any, are tied to those specific jobs. But the hiring deals that Amazon has with governments are often generous. For the 1,500 jobs Amazon announced last year in Alabama, for instance, the state promised the company $48.7m over ten years, its department of commerce said.Amazon is not alone in testing CMC&#39;s packing technology. JD.com and Shutterfly have used the machines as well, the companies said, as has Walmart, according to a person familiar with its pilot. Walmart started three and a half years ago and has since installed the machines in several US locations, the person said. The company declined to comment. Interest in boxing technology sheds light on how the e-commerce behemoths are approaching one of the major problems in the logistics industry today - finding a robotic hand that can grasp diverse items without breaking them. Amazon employs countless workers at each fulfillment centre who do variations of this same task. Some pack inventory, while others pick customer orders and still others grab those orders, placing them in the right size box and taping them up. Many venture-backed companies and university researchers are racing to automate this work. While advances in artificial intelligence are improving machines&#39; accuracy, there is still no guarantee that robotic hands can prevent a marmalade jar from slipping and breaking, or switch seamlessly from picking up an eraser to grabbing a vacuum cleaner. Amazon has tested different vendors&#39; technology that it may one day use for picking, including from Soft Robotics, a Boston-area startup that drew inspiration from octopus tentacles to make grippers more versatile, one person familiar with Amazon&#39;s experimentation said. Soft Robotics declined to comment on its work with Amazon but said it has handled a wide and ever-changing variety of products for multiple large retailers.Believing that grasping technology is not ready for prime time, Amazon is automating around that problem when packing customer orders. Humans still place items on a conveyor, but machines then build boxes around them and take care of the sealing and labeling. This saves money not just by reducing labour but by reducing wasted packing materials as well. These machines are not without flaws. CMC can only produce so many per year. They need a technician on site who can fix problems as they arise, a requirement Amazon would rather do without, the two sources said. The super-hot glue closing the boxes can pile up and halt a machine.Still other types of automation, like the robotic grocery assembly system of Ocado Group are the focus of much industry interest.But the boxing machines are already proving helpful to Amazon. The company has installed them in busy warehouses that are driving distance from Seattle, Frankfurt, Milan, Amsterdam, Manchester and elsewhere, the people said.The machines have the potential to automate far more than 24 jobs per facility, one of the sources said. The company is also setting up nearly two dozen more US fulfillment centres for small and non-specialty inventory, according to logistics consultancy, which could be ripe for the machines. This is just a harbinger of automation to come. &quot;A &#39;lights out&#39; warehouse is ultimately the goal,&quot; one of the people said.<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2019/0513/1049142-amazons-move-to-automation/"> Original source.</a>

Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

A Dublin artist told how losing two fortunes at the height of the boom left him paralysed on the floor with sciatica, a minor stroke and alopecia until art saved him.Chris O’Hara, 49, made and lost it all by the age of 38 and painting has lifted him from a life of despair.When the crash hit he let all his possessions fall by the wayside and in doing so discovered who he really was – a passionate artist.Dubliner Chris told the Irish Mirror: “I suffered a minor stroke, got alopecia, lost half my hair through stress and worry and the final straw was sciatica, I got that about five years ago and it left me on the floor, I couldn’t move.”“I call it my rebirth, I couldn’t sit, I was on the floor for nine months.“Trying to create an empire and all the underworld stuff that goes on and then losing everything, it all came out in the wash.”The dad of two owned 30 restaurants by his mid-30s including the popular Anglers Rest. The City Bank Hotel was his first franchise in 1993.He said: “I always knew it never really filled the void, I set up the whole idea of franchising in Ireland before anyone had.“I created Wacky Wing Sauces, 72 labels under my brand, I managed a rock band, the Slick Hippies, I set up a poker business and did lots of things that tried and failed. I even did catering for concerts.“We moved to Canada for a while and I had my own TV show but nothing made me happy.“I was obviously on the wrong journey, the body will always tell you if you aren’t on the right road.”An artist trying to break free, Chris told how his late mother inspired him.He said: “My mum was an artist, she was my best friend, my rock, as a child she was always working on art, she was big into display art.”After his empire collapsed he started to go back to what he loved, art and met an old man in a park who inspired him.He explained: “I was taking a walk in St Anne’s Park and I sat down beside a man on a bench, it was like something out of a movie.“He said the best bit of advice I can give you is, until you strip yourself of everything you think reflects who you really are, you won’t really know who you are or what you really want.“It could be the BMW, the big house etc, if you hold these things around you, it limits who you are.”The businessman was on course to live a monk’s life, shedding himself of all possessions.He explained: “I got a silver Hiace seven years ago and cheaply converted it inside and wanted to live the complete opposite way, depriving myself of everything.“I went on a three-month roadtrip across Europe and then Africa, parking up at the side of the road, with €5 a day to spend on food.“I travelled 75,000km and captured the essence of the trip and 500 photos were chosen.“And the pictures went on a tour of all the shopping malls in Dublin.”On this trip the artist finally broke free, adding : “What I thought was a geographical journey was a journey into the soul, the journey inside was 10 times tougher than the physical.”Now an established artist with a waiting list of over 900, Chris has finally found his calling.He said: “If you do what you’re passionate about, they’ll end up queuing up to pay for it.”On a quest to find out what went wrong he studied psychology.He added: “What happens to most of us we look for our happiness outside of ourselves, our partner, the new car, the new house. That’s trying to fill something that’s missing and then when that wears off after a day or two you’re frantically trying to fill that void again. If people just realise that all the happiness is inside you and you just have to let go and allow the process to begin.”Opening up about his darker days, he added: “I suffered from depression myself but if I feel the dark cloud coming over me I get out and walk.“Look at nature and stop worrying about what may never happen and pick yourself back up.“I remember at the height of it thinking I can’t believe I have to wake up with you every day asin me, I had to let the whole thing go.”Art happens organically for Chris, it’s all about letting go. He explained: “I often paint throughout the night, being a trained chef I don’t use paint brushes, I use kitchen utensils.“Suddenly you feel this leap to jump forward and just go with the flow and see what happens next.“Six hours could pass and it’s like coming out of a trance and you’re not forcing it.“I paint large paintings at a rapid rate and try to keep them affordable for the average person, so they range from €400 to €700.“I wouldn’t have got this far without the average person supporting me.“I provide a call-in service as much as possible, I’ll bring out 15 to 20 paintings to your home to see if they suit your house.”Chris’s dream is to leave this world in a better place and create an art hub in Dublin City Centre in honour of his beloved mum.He said: “We’re looking a hub, some of them in the city are up to 30,000 square feet where I’d house 30 different art studios, it’s going to be a free service where any artist can show their work.“It would be affordable for upcoming artists, all in mum’s honour, she was an amazing artist and an incredible woman and I want to leave something in her honour.“My empire was self-serving and for that reason it was very forced and it was never going to work.”Celebrities are snapping up his art he adds: “I knew a few celebs in the business, Glenda Gilson bought one, Pippa and Brian Ormond O’Connor have five at the moment, Lucy Kennedy is getting one, Christy Moore bought one, Vogue and Spencer got one too.”A very famous author is currently working on his life story and he hopes his story will inspire others to follow their passion, the man who was once lost has been found.For more information see chrisoharaart.comFind Jobs here; <a href="http://www.jobalert.ie/">http://www.jobalert.ie/</a>Advertise here; <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/employers">https://www.jobalert.ie/employers</a>Source: <a href="https://www.irishmirror.ie/lifestyle/health/chris-ohara-art-save-meaning-15025468">https://www.irishmirror.ie/lifestyle/health/chris-ohara-art-save-meaning-15025468</a>

Dublin Businessman who lost everything in the Recession saved by Art

We have an exciting job opportunity! To ensure we continue to keep a high standard of products on our site, we have decided to hire a yacht reviewer. You’ll spend a week on a yacht and create a detailed report of everything you find.

There are obvious perks to the job; you’ll live, sleep, eat and shower on a yacht for a week, but during that week, we’ll need you to test everything on the yacht. This means every plug socket, door, bed, shower, tap – everything to make sure that the yacht is up to our standards.

It will be on a pro-rata, self employed basis, so we’ll need you to be flexible with when we need you. We might be sending you all over the world to review yachts, so we’re asking for you to be over 21 years old, have a passport and be available on short notice throughout the year.

We also need you to be reliable, hard-working, have an eye for detail and a flair for writing detailed and high quality reviews.

You do not need experience of yachts, but if you do, that will give you an advantage.

You will be paid £1,000 ( €1,160) per yacht you review on completion of the week’s stay and the report being received. With the potential to review up to 50 yachts a year, the successful applicant could earn £50k. 

Aaron Harpin, HushHush.com founder, said,

“Obviously, we’re a very high end site and expect our products to be of the highest quality, which is why we’re looking to hire someone whose job is solely assessing the quality of yachts and ensuring they meets our high standards.
“We need someone who is reliable, hard-working and has an eye for detail, we’re expecting them to find things that no-one else would notice. I’m hoping to find someone who is perfect for the job as soon as possible!”<a href="https://www.hushhush.com/yacht-tester/">Apply here.</a>

Dream job! Get paid €1,160 a week to test out Luxury Yachts 

Ireland&#39;s Fittest Family is back! Have you and your family got what it takes to win?Now in it’s seventh series, this year will see the competition fiercer than ever before!We are searching the country to find the fittest, fastest, strongest families to enter Ireland&#39;s most extreme fitness competition.Does your family have what it takes to win the €15,000 cash prize and be crowned Ireland&#39;s Fittest Family 2019? If so, apply now!!* Minimum age is 14 years old on 01 June 2019* Each family will be comprised of four immediate members - e.g. Grandparents/ Parents/ Children/ Step-Children* Series will be shot July - September 2019

Ireland’s Fittest Family 2019 – Applications Open!

Life can be tricky. Let&#39;s face it, sometimes you need a helping hand.Coco Television are currently open for applications for a brand new RTÉ2 series which aims to give a boost to people who are struggling and need a helping hand. They could be grappling with anything from confidence issues, to employment difficulties, to self-image worries, or their living situation may not be ideal and might need to be reimagined, we&#39;re really open to hear from anyone who is experiencing any difficulty to try to work out if we can be of assistance.The programme features four friends and mentors, each of whom have fought their own fight and come through the other side, ready and willing to help others and each will each be addressing the issue from their own unique angle. It&#39;s going to be fun and warm-hearted and hopefully we&#39;ll really be able to make a difference for some people too!If you, or someone you know, is struggling with any of the above, or is simply at an impasse and needs help finding the way, apply now. Go to <a href="https://cocotv.myauditionstage.com/#/guest/apply_login/20">www.cocotelevision.ie/lostyourway</a> or call us at 01 497 0817.

'Lost Your Way' - A New RTÉ2 series is searching for applicants

Campaigners are calling to urgently repeal old Victorian legislation regulating horse drawn carriages in Dublin. Some of the carriage drivers have been doing this job their whole lives. One driver explains how his Grandfather took care of horses his whole life in Guinnesses’ Brewery. Another told how his family did the coal and logs around Ballyfermot, horses were their life. According to David Mulreany, Carraige Driver and a representative for the group, the men have paid fees, insurance and have provided certificates and background checks to the local council for 15 years, but they’re livelihoods are now in limo as they struggle to find a solution.Dublin Horse and carriage drivers led a convoy to Leinster House today to ask that new bye-laws be made for drivers in Dublin City Centre, the carraiges are a fantastic tourist attraction in Dublin City Centre and provide self-employment to the men involved.Since 2018 Dublin City Council no longer issue licences for carriage drivers that allow them to operate commercially, due to an old Victorian law that sees this responsibility go towards ‘a police force’ (Dublin Carriage Acts 1853, 1853 and 1855).This resulted in the Dublin City Control of Horse Drawn Carriages bye-laws of 2011 to not be valid. This has left many carriage drivers in a ‘legal limbo’ as they are unsure of what happens next.They say they worry that a lack of bye-laws could lead to unlicensed operators and they have safety concerns for animal welfare. A sentiment echoed by My Lovely Horse Rescue who also attended today. The drivers delivered a letter to Minister of Transport Shane Ross which asks to enable Dublin City Council to draft new, improved and enforceable bye-laws. A journalist from The Journal.ie contacted the Department of Transport about the issue. It stated that since the older Dublin-specific legislation was not repealed, Dublin City Council has no legal basis to make bye-laws.Minister Ross has requested that the Department of Transport engage with An Garda Síochana and Dublin City Council to seek separate legal advice.It’s a very sad and unsure situation for the group who are doing a decent days work in our city.

Dublin horse and carriage drivers’ livelihoods are at risk 

Rio Williams was born with Down’s Syndrome, and part of his heart wrapped around his windpipe. It meant the toddler, now 14 months old, had breathing problems and a whole host of other health conditions which kept him in hospital for 45 nights. A mere 24 hours after coming into the world, Rio, from Somerset, had to have surgery as his bowel had perforated. It was then that mum Kimberly found out he had Down’s Syndrome. Eventually, Bristol Children’s hospital found that Rio’s windpipe was being severely compressed by vessels from the heart. He had two millimetres to breathe through. Months later, Rio had cardiac surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital which moved the main vessels from the heart and fixed them away from Rio’s windpipe meaning he could breathe a bit better.

After coming out of hospital, Rio is doing well and was recently signed by Zebedee management, an agency specialising in models who are different. Since then Rio has modelled for a charity that helped his family with living arrangements. But his latest campaign is a big one – Rio is now modelling for Primark. The family are now raising money for the other charities that helped them, principally Wouldn’t Change a Factor which has included Rio in its 2019 calendar. Kimberley said: ‘The principal purpose for this is to change individual attitudes to Down’s Syndrome. That’s why we’re doing this. ‘We simply need him to be included and wish everybody can see that he is similar to anybody else. He’s no different to another child.’
‘It’s onwards and upwards now, however, the first 12 months of his life was touch and go. ‘The ability to have a standard life – modelling for Primark – is simply superb. A few months ago we weren’t even positive he was going to be right here.’ On his GoFundMe page, Kimberly wrote that the family wanted to repay the charities that helped Rio. She said: ‘Rio got through it all because he is a warrior, we got through it all because we had a lot of help. ‘Eight fantastic charities have supported us in more ways than we could explain. We have been given somewhere to stay, close to the hospital when Rio has been in intensive care or in high dependency.’

Little boy with Down’s Syndrome & a breathing condition models for Primark

L’Oreal Paris has unveiled some clever ads calling for more women in leadership based on graphs, charts and actionable insights from recent research that has proven increased revenue, innovation and employee satisfaction within teams lead by female leaders!What do you think? The messaging is crafted specifically for business minded executives as it speaks to key measures such as profitability (+15% revenue with female leaders), innovation (+20% patents with female leaders) and employee satisfaction (+24% mentoring score for female leaders).The campaign ran in both top business magazines as well as women-oriented fashion and lifestyle publications like Vogue or Cosmopolitan.The visual ads are based on real data from global studies by Peterson Institute for International Economics, the University of Arizona Eller College of Management and Korn Ferry Hay Group. However, as Patrick Coffee, senior editor at Adweek noted, there is still a strong irony in the making of the campaign. Every member of the McCann team credited with working on this campaign is a man.Interesting!To Advertise Jobs go to our website www.jobalert.ie We look forward to hearing from you!

This is an Ad for Men

Recruitment is to begin within the next week for a total of seventy positions at a brand new state of the art nursing home in Bunclody. Work is currently ongoing to transform the old Millrace Hotel in Bunclody into the SignaCare Care Home and the owners say that things are really starting to come together with late July in mind for an opening date.Initially, the transformation of the former hotel into a nursing home was met with some opposition locally, with Bunclody residents concerned that the lack of a hotel would do detrimental damage to the town and result in a loss of employment. However, when it became clear that the hotel would not remain, nursing home operator John Dargan was firm that he would be intending to provide a much needed shot in the arm for the local economy.It&#39;s a busy time for Mr Dargan, who has also recently taken over the running of a nursing home in New Ross which had been under the management of the banks for the past ten years, as well as having a nursing home in Killerig, Co Carlow, all under the SignaCare brand.&#39;Things are progressing very well in Bunclody,&#39; Mr Dargan said. &#39;The vast majority of the main works will be completed by the end of May, then we&#39;ll be looking to fit it out in June. At the moment, we&#39;re hoping we might be able to open the doors by late June or early August, once we get HIQA approval and that type of thing.&#39;Mr Dargan says that he is hoping that the new Bunclody care home will be a real &#39;game-changer&#39; in terms of nursing homes and that it will offer an &#39;enhanced product&#39; to clients, including a state of the art, highly accredited &#39;memory care section&#39;.&#39;We&#39;re hopeful that it will provide a great boost for Bunclody, particularly in terms of employment,&#39; he continued. &#39;When fully operational, there will be around 70 staff and we&#39;ll be starting the recruitment process in the next week or two. In addition to this, we&#39;ve agreed to try and source all food and products required locally as much as possible to generate as much of a boost to the area as possible.&#39;Mr Dargan says that there is already considerable interest in the nursing home and he has encouraged anyone who may be interested in taking up a position there to email info@signacare.ie.Local councillor Barbara Anne Murphy said that while the loss of the hotel continues to be a major issue for Bunclody, the new nursing home will certainly be a welcome development for the town.&#39;It&#39;s great to see that they&#39;re ready to recruit,&#39; she said. &#39;We&#39;re delighted to see anything that will create more jobs locally. I think most of the workers who have been renovating the building are local as well, which also provides a wonderful boost.&#39;Meanwhile, Cllr Murphy says that she is continuing to discuss the matter of accommodation for tourists with interested parties in the hopes of achieving some kind of replacement for the Millrace Hotel. It had initially been touted that an anonymous businessman had expressed an interest in building some kind of boutique hotel for the area, however, as yet, this hasn&#39;t materialised.Original source: <a href="https://www.independent.ie/regionals/enniscorthyguardian/news/new-nursing-home-to-create-70-jobs-38062437.html">https://www.independent.ie/regionals/enniscorthyguardian/news/new-nursing-home-to-create-70-jobs-38062437.html</a>

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