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Pharmaceutical Giant MSD have recently announced the expansion of its Carlow site, generating almost 300 jobs for the region.
The global healthcare and pharmaceutical company MSD have recently announced that they will expand their Carlow facility, with a aim to open by 2022.
The announcement will result up to 300 jobs for Co.Carlow, where the company were granted permission to build a 13,000 square metre manufacturing facility.
The new facility will focus on producing vaccines and biologics and is expected to hire an additional 170 staff as well as 100 contractor staff.
The Carlow facility is one of two in the South East, with another in Co. Tipperary as well as others in Cork Dublin and Wicklow.Source <a href="https://beat102103.com/news/pharmaceutical-giant-msd-to-create-300-jobs-at-their-carlow-site/?fbclid=IwAR1qo0Y5Gs9ZnhA7J3n2AR9yRvmt-x77CtQICyIdjUiuZAWrSGRKPqrY-oY">here</a>.

MSD to create 300 jobs at their Carlow site

Are you looking for love? Love Island may be over for another year but applications for the 2020 show are already open.Love Island is returning for two seasons next year and producers are on the lookout for new contestants.The hit reality show will be back early next year in an all new location. The first series of the year will bring sunshine to viewers at home from a brand new villa in South Africa.The summer series will then return to Europe for a summer of love closer to home.LOVE ISLAND SERIES 6: CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM
ITV2 are looking for vibrant singles from across the UK who want to head to the Winter sun, in search of love ! The chosen cast will spend time in a luxury villa, getting to know one another, but to remain in paradise they must win the hearts of the public and their fellow Islanders who ultimately decide their fate on Love Island. 
Please complete this form (the “Application Form”) in order to apply for “Love Island” (the “Programme”) co-produced by ITV Studios Limited (“we”, “us”, “our”) and Motion Content Group Limited (“Motion”) for initial transmission by ITV Network Limited (the “Broadcaster”). 
The closing date for submitting the Application Form is: 30 November 2019 (the “Closing Date”). You will not be able to apply unless you have submitted a Application Form by the Closing Date. We may extend the Closing Date at our discretion without notice. &lt;ad&gt;Please ensure you meet the eligibility requirements (as set out below) and read the Programme’s application terms and conditions (the “Terms and Conditions”) very carefully before you start to complete the Application Form.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 
1. You must be aged at least 18 (eighteen) years of age on or before the closing date of 30 November 2019, due to the nature of the Programme.
2. You are not:
currently employed by us, Motion or the Broadcaster and have not been previously employed by us, any of the ITV group of companies, Motion or the Broadcaster; or
a live-in partner or immediate relative (for example, mother, father, son, daughter, brother or sister) of an employee of ours, Motion, the Broadcaster or any of the ITV group of companies.
3. You must hold a passport which will be valid for the whole period of 1st December 2019 to 30th June 2020 (inclusive), and be eligible to travel to the Programme destinations we specify. You also agree to notify us immediately of any change to your passport or travel status;
4. You must be exclusively available to participate in the Programme for a minimum of eight consecutive weeks from January 2020Start your application <a href="https://itv.etribez.com/ag/itvli/loveisland6/welcome.html">here.</a>

Applications for Love Island 2020 are now open

The period of unpaid parental leave will be extended from the current entitlement of 18 weeks to 22 weeks from September 1 2019Working parents can now apply for four weeks&#39; extra parental leave, it was announced yesterday.Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan signed the Commencement Order for the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019 yesterday, letting enabled working parents apply for the additional unpaid parental leave from the start of September.Minister Flanagan said: “The period of unpaid parental leave will be extended from the current entitlement of 18 weeks to 22 weeks from 1st September 2019.“Further changes will come into place on 1st September 2020 when the unpaid parental leave entitlement will be extended to 26 weeks.“The new measures allow any parent who has already availed of their current entitlement of 18 weeks to avail of a further eight weeks of parental leave.<h5>“Parents can now apply to their employer for permission related to the first additional four weeks.</h5>“The legislation also introduces an increase to the age of the child for which parental leave is available from eight to 12 years.“Both mothers and fathers may apply for this leave which I anticipate may be of particular benefit to parents that wish to take the unpaid leave when their children will be returning to school in September.”Minister of State David Stanton added: “An estimated 60,000 parents a year are expected to gain from this change.“The Government will continue to support parents by providing greater flexibility in achieving and managing a work life balance.”Source: <a href="https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/working-parents-can-now-apply-18777464">Here.</a>

Working parents can now apply for four weeks' extra parental leave

<h2>Barefoot Bookseller Role</h2>Ultimate Library in partnership with Soneva Fushi, a 5-star luxury resort in the Baa Atoll, opened the first Pop-Up Bookshop in the Maldives last December to worldwide acclaim. After an incredibly successful first season, the shop will be opening its doors once again in mid-October. With Soneva Resorts best-loved for its Robinson Crusoe-style laidback luxury, the return of the Pop-Up Bookshop creates the ultimate vacancy for a desert island bibliophile: barefoot bookselling, in one of the most beautiful places in the world.The bookshop was created to reflect the stunning natural environment and intelligent luxury that Soneva Fushi provides. While most of us find that holidays are the only opportunity we get to read for pleasure, finding the perfect book that enhances your destination and opens your mind can be a challenge. Previous Barefoot Booksellers have provided guests with unforgettable literary experiences from writer’s workshops to personal reading consultations. We are interested to see what new ideas you can bring to the role!The lucky individual will have a month’s pre-departure product training with the Ultimate Library team, prior to flying to the Maldives to join the Soneva team for a 6-month placement role in mid-October. The ideal candidate will be a team player with a passion for books and the ability to engage with guests of all ages. They will have excellent written and verbal English skills; a lively tone of voice to write an entertaining blog that captures the exhilarating life of a desert island bookseller, and the skills to host workshops and other guest experiences. They must have the ability to fit in with the distinctive Soneva culture.&lt;ad&gt;&#39;Being the Barefoot Bookseller was an absolute dream. I got to meet amazing people, work with incredible books and live on a stunning luxury island. Very much the dream job!&#39; – Aimée Johnson, Barefoot Bookseller 2019. Read Aimée&#39;s full story <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/irish-woman-lands-dream-job-in-the-maldives-my-life-as-barefoot-bookseller-1.3838027">here </a>on how she got on in the Maldives!‘The Barefoot Bookseller has become an integral part of the Soneva guest experience, providing much, much more than reading recommendations.’ – Sonu Shivdasani, Founder and CEO of Soneva.​Activities, duties &amp; responsibilities:<ul><li>Day to day running of a small the bookshop including sales management, engaging with guests &amp; hosts</li><li>Responsible for all stock management and reporting back on sales &amp; stock updates</li><li>Hosting experiences for Soneva guests such as creative writing classes, bibliotherapy, tutoring (Ages 9-18) and literary lectures.</li><li>Running the Barefoot Bookseller social media presence, including Instagram</li><li>Writing monthly blogposts &amp; creating entertaining and informative newsletters</li><li>Liaising with Ultimate Library &amp; Soneva marketing teams on potential events and collaborations</li></ul>Required Skills &amp; Experience:<ul><li>Excellent written &amp; verbal English skills</li><li>A love of reading &amp; in-depth knowledge of both classical and modern literature</li><li>Experience in bookselling/publishing is highly desirable</li><li>Strong knowledge of running social media pages and following trends</li><li>Experience writing blogs or newsletters</li><li>To be a team player and self-starter with a sense of fun and creativity</li></ul>Desirable:<ul><li>Experienced in sales</li><li>Photography</li><li>Tutoring</li></ul>Check out the adventures of our previous booksellers @barefootbookseller or <a href="https://www.barefootbookseller.com/">www.barefootbookseller.com</a>.To apply please read the terms and conditions before sending your CV &amp; a covering letter to barefoot@ultimatelibrary.co.uk.TERMS &amp; CONDITIONS<ul><li>We can only accept and respond to applications written in English</li><li>Due to such a high volume of applicants we will only be responding to successful candidates </li><li>Applications will only be accepted if they are sent to barefoot@ultimatelibrary.co.uk and include a cover letter and CV</li><li>Please don’t apply using any other channels or contact details, especially the Soneva.com website.</li></ul>Application Deadline: 1st September 2019.

'Barefoot Bookseller' wanted in the Maldives

Total job vacancies in Ireland have dropped over the last year due to uncertainties over a no-deal Brexit, according to a new report.According to the latest edition of the IrishJobs.ie Jobs Index, while vacancies remain strong in construction and hotel and catering, there have been reductions in accounting and finance, banking, financial services and insurance.The report points to total job vacancies declining by 4% year-on-year and 2% quarter-on-quarter, despite a healthy, growing economy.These reductions have been driven primarily by a group of knowledge-intensive sectors, says the report, particularly accounting and finance, and banking, financial services and insurance, which fell by 8% and 15% year-on-year, respectively.&quot;Financial services and banking have been hit by ongoing restructuring within the industry. We&#39;ve seen a lot of restructuring in AIB, Bank of Ireland and more recently Deutsche Bank,&quot; Jane Lorigan of irishjobs.ie explained.&quot;A lot of that might be accounted for by a focus on moving to digital platforms and mobile banking, away from traditional banking jobs.&quot;Ms Lorigan said an anticipated boost in financial services positions from UK based firms moving operations here hadn&#39;t materialised to the extent that might have been expected.&quot;We saw some banks moving offices but not the boost that was expected at all. Anecdotally, a number of jobs that did migrate to Dublin were filled from with the [bank&#39;s] network so there was no net gain for banking jobs here.&quot;While other factors, including virtually full employment and sluggish European markets, are affecting hiring, recruitment has been made more difficult and uncertain by Brexit.Employers who depend on exports, like the science, pharmaceuticals and food industry, whose job vacancies declined by 1% year-on-year, must factor in the disruption that may be caused by tariffs, border checks and other supply chain disruptions.&quot;Companies in manufacturing are putting off hiring decisions until they get more certainty about what&#39;s going to happen,&quot; Ms Lorigan said.However, despite the obvious difficulties of Brexit, the Irish economy is in an overall strong position, underpinned by high consumer expenditure, low unemployment and sustained foreign direct investment.The IrishJobs.ie Jobs Index shows that job vacancies in the construction, architecture and property, engineering and utilities sector increased by 7% year-on-year and 4% quarter-on-quarter, reflecting an unabated demand for new residential and commercial units.Ireland remains a top overseas tourism destination.Hotel and catering job vacancies rose by 6% year-on-year and 8% quarter-on-quarter, and the sector continues to advertise the largest share (25%) of total job vacancies by a significant margin.&quot;Tourism and construction are very strong sectors and have been consistently for the last year. There&#39;s still quite a bit of disposable income and inbound tourism. There&#39;s been a shortage of chefs in the Irish market for 5 years. There&#39;s no sign of that abating.&quot;The construction sector is very vibrant with huge demand for staff, Ms Lorigan said.<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/0722/1064429-job-vacancies-drop-brexit/"> Original source.</a>

Job vacancies drop due to no-deal Brexit fears

How many of you reading this think, “My boss has no clue about me, or any of my co-workers.” And, how many of you just say it silently? In fact, you think this many times a day – under your breath.If you say nothing and just show up at work disengaged, you are in the majority.According to Gallup, just 13% of employees are engaged at work. Engaged employees like and look forward to coming to work. So, chances are that you probably belong in the 87% of employees who either are not engaged, or actively disengaged.The not engaged are the silent majority. They account for more than 50% of the workforce – at least in the United States.<blockquote>Disengagement is a symptom, not a root cause of employee dissatisfaction.</blockquote>About a decade ago was the first time I saw a CEO really engaged in employee engagement. Funny to say that isn’t it: “engaged in employee engagement.” She was giving employees pedometers and encouraging 10,000 steps per day – even before I had ever heard of it. This was part of creating a culture of health. Plus, she was busy implementing team-building exercises.To see if they improved on employee engagement, the company queried employees’ engagement scores based on survey data. I thought this was ridiculous. How was 10,000 steps a day, or even team-building exercises going to improve employee engagement?I am not totally right. These exercises were starting points in creating a supporting culture. But in the end, after the team building is over, and the 10,000 step challenges are completed – employees go back to their jobs and their desks. And, they are back in the reality of daily life. So, I contend I am not totally wrong.Many of these programmes do not deal with the core issue. They become an interlude to the daily grind that employees face. And that daily grind exists in and out of the workplace.I find that disengagement can come from three key sources;1. Not belonging – or placelessness2. The environment, or culture of the company3. A boss who is simply awful (which was the root cause in sentence #1 of this post)<h2>Placelessness &amp; the need to belong</h2>So, dealing with these in order – what is placelessness?It seems like a contrived word. But, it is not.<blockquote>Placelessness is what is says. It is a sense of not belonging – not knowing your place perhaps in your company, your family – or the world.</blockquote>Placelessness is accelerated by our virtually and globally connected society and work world. First, virtual is not in person. Think of all the relationships in your life where you have never spoken to a person that you have connected with’ many times via e-mail, Facebook, chat, Instagram, and more. I can tell you first hand that I consult with many executives I have never seen in person.Now, think about times when you had an assignment lobbed over to you via e-mail. How often have you worked on your piece of a project not understanding the entire project – or members of your immediate team?Think about getting an assignment virtually, mostly working in virtual teams in virtual meetings. Then think about doing just your part of the project and not understanding the whole.Each activity 1) virtual assignment, 2) virtual teams, 3) and virtually just getting your piece done – all are displacing. They do not make a person feel like they are a part of a team. This is one dark side of the virtual work life.I have worked with CEOs who insist on face-to-face meetings on a somewhat regular basis. They are right. It gives people a sense of place and of team.In 2013, Marisa Mayer of Yahoo banned its 12,000 employees from working from home. It was controversial and not well received by many. However, it was an attempt in creating face-to-face interactions between people at work.<h3></h3><h2>The need to belong</h2>Through a sense of place, comes a sense of belonging. And humans have a basic need to belong.Belonging as a basic human need, was documented by Roy F. Baumeister of Case Western Reserve University, and Mark R. Leary of Wake Forest University in a 1995 study called ‘The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation’.However, even those that show up physically at work each day can feel as if they do not belong. They are not part of a team, or do not feel as if they are.Regardless, if you are at a company, and there is no sense of belonging – it is a strike against you being engaged at work.<h3></h3><h2>Company culture</h2>A company can create an atmosphere that serves as a place of belonging. Every year, Fortune publishes a list of The 100 Best Companies to Work For. This year’s top 10 include: Google, Wegmans Food Markets, The Boston Consulting Group, Baird, Edward Jones, Genetech, Ultimate Software, Salesforce, Acuity, and Quicken Loans.While these are the best, I guarantee that you will not be happy with the culture that all of them practice. In fact, chances are that you could thrive at one and suffer at the next.The issue is culture. I have worked for 25 years with leading head-hunters and watched the ones that are the best. They can understand the culture of an organisation and find the leaders who are the right fit.Remember, many successful people failed before they succeeded, including Walt Disney, Oprah, Dr Seuss and others. Read about 29 of them in Business Insider.<blockquote>So, culture plays a huge role in determining your level of engagement at work.</blockquote>Do you want to work at a start-up, or a big corporation? Are you a leader, or a follower? Do you like a highly structured environment, or one that is more free flowing?So, even a company that creates great teamwork may not be the team for you.<h2>The awful boss</h2>Having the wrong boss supersedes all else. You could work at any of the top 10 best companies, and if you have a terrible boss – it is simply awful and you will disengage.I have written about passive-aggressive bosses, coward bosses and more.But, an awful boss will create a culture that is toxic, and will make you feel displaced. Even if the rest of the organisation is perfect.I do not have to research this. It is the number one reason people disengage from work.So how do you avoid working at a place where you are disengaged?The answer begins at your job interview stage. While there are no guarantees, you should ‘actually interview’ your future boss.Ask your potential boss about the people he or she has managed who went on to do greater things. A good case in point is Jon Stewart – the comedian who was the host of the Daily Show for years. He had to be an incredible boss. The proof is in the people and careers he launched. Here is a partial list;1. Stephen Colbert2. John Oliver3. Steve Carell4. Larry Wilmore5. Samantha Bee6. Ed Helms7. Rob Riggle8. Wyatt Cenac9. Jessica Williams10. Rob Corddry11. Mo RoccaCan your boss produce a list of even three people? And do you feel that you are on track to be celebrated as one of your boss’s greatest successes?If not, you are probably part of the 87%, and it is time to engage with yourself and find your right fit. When you do, you will likely end up with a boss who has a clue about you. By<a href="https://leaderonomics.com/functional/87-workers-disengaged-jobs"> Rob Wyse </a>

87% Of Workers Are Disengaged From Their Jobs

The Young Offenders are now casting for the new Season of the smash hit BBC show in association with RTE.Their casting call reads: &quot;Please fill out the application form below. We will be in touch with further details if we find a character who you could be right for.&quot;In addition to their personal details, applicants are also asked to submit an introduction video and an improvised or rehearsed demo scene performed in the applicant&#39;s own accent (no need for the phony Cork accents, folks).<a href="https://www.theyoungoffenders.com/casting">Apply here</a> Closing Date: 2nd August 2019

Casting Call - The Young Offenders

Lifestyle publishing consortium Agora is to create 135 new jobs in Co Waterford.The Agora Companies have their headquarters in Baltimore in the United States and the expansion of their operation in Waterford city and Portlaw will make this country the group&#39;s largest hub outside America.One of the consortium&#39;s magazines, International Living, was established in Waterford in December 1998 and local employment has grown since then, with 270 people currently on the Agora payroll in the city and in Portlaw.The new jobs will be mainly in software development but also in digital publishing along with technical and customer support.&lt;ad&gt;Founder of the Agora Companies, Bill Bonner, said the expansion underlines the group&#39;s &quot;commitment to Ireland&#39;s southeast which has established itself as a strategic location for a number of multinational corporations and continues to capture talent from the capital with the offer of a better quality of life&quot;.The new jobs are backed by the government through IDA Ireland.Agora are celebrating 20 years of location in this country at a special event tomorrow in Portlaw. According to Agora, the majority of the new jobs will be in the group&#39;s technology services operation, Threefold Systems, which is based in Waterford city.The customer support centre already provides assistance to more than 20 different companies across 17 countries.A global publishing consortium is to create 135 new jobs in Co Waterford.&lt;ad&gt;The Agora Companies, which produce financial, health and lifestyle publications in print and online with a worldwide circulation, already employ 270 people in Waterford and Portlaw.The new roles will be in digital publishing, technical and customer support and software development.The expansion is backed by IDA Ireland and the 20th anniversary of the group&#39;s establishment in this country will be celebrated at an event tomorrow in Portlaw.Source : RTE

Publishing group has announced 135 new jobs for Co Waterford

Programme: Manufacturing Technician Maintenance SkillsAward: Level 6 Maintenance Skill Technology Major AwardLocation: Celbridge, Co. KildareDuration: 48 Weeks - Full TimeCost: The course is free subject to eligibilityStart date: The course is due to start in August 2019<h4>Course Aims:</h4>The programme is designed to position female and male candidates to pursue a challenging and rewarding career in the exciting role of manufacturing process support in a wide variety of settings. These roles encompass electronic, electrical, mechanical, programmable logic controllers and some mathematical skills. Candidates who successfully complete this programme should be seen in the context of members of a multidisciplinary team of professionals including mechanical and electrical engineers, electricians, supervisors, safety professionals and manufacturing representatives. This programme aims to develop the candidates technical acumen and personal effectiveness, project management and employability skills so as to maximise their potential for employment.<h4>Modules</h4><ul><li><h5>Programmable Logic Controllers</h5></li><li><h5>Electrical Principles</h5></li><li><h5>Mechanical Maintenance Skills</h5></li><li><h5>Electronics</h5></li><li><h5>Industrial Electrical Systems</h5></li><li><h5>Maths for Information Technology</h5></li><li><h5>Communications</h5></li><li><h5>Work Experience</h5></li><li><h5>Control Systems</h5></li></ul>For more information and to apply <a href="https://fit.ie/etb_course/manufacturing-technician-maintenance-skills-2/">click here.</a>

Manufacturing Technician Maintenance Skills Course

Stay-at-home parents would receive an annual wage of almost €44,000 if they were paid for their services in the home including cooking, cleaning and childminding, new figures show.With eight in 10 people here underestimating the value of a stay-at-home parent, research has found it would cost €43,934 to employ someone to carry out all of their household duties.Each week, stay-at-home parents are estimated to carry out 30 hours of childminding, 15 hours of cooking, eight hours of cleaning, five hours of teaching, four hours of handiwork, an hour of gardening and 10 taxi trips.This means they would take home a weekly wage of €844.89 when compared to real-world wage data, according to research carried out by Royal London.However, when asked how much it would cost to employ someone to perform the duties of a stay-at-home parent, 61% of those surveyed believe stay-at-home parents&#39; wages range from €10,000 to €30,000.A further 6% believed they would be paid less than €10,000, 17% believed their wage would be between €31,000 and €40,000 and 7% believed it would be more than €50,000.The survey, which saw 1,000 people throughout the country take part, also looked at the number of stay-at-home fathers in Ireland.It found that 72% of those surveyed did not know any stay-at-home dads, and just 5% classified themselves as a stay-at-home dad.In Munster, the figure was even higher with 75% of those surveyed not knowing any stay-at-home fathers, and 4% classifying themselves as a stay-at-home dad.This compares to the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures which found the vast majority of stay-at-home parents are women, although the number of men in this role nearly doubled in the 10 years up to 2016.There is a contrast between perception and reality when it comes to remuneration for the myriad of jobs carried out by a stay-at-home parent, according to Sara Murphy of Royal London.<blockquote>“The role of a stay-at-home parent could be described as priceless, but we thought it might be a good exercise for people to consider how much it would cost to replace them in a financial sense and to contrast this with some real-world wage data.&quot;</blockquote>“The average expected salary of €27,500 is significantly lower than the €43,934 we estimate as the economic cost of a stay-at-home parent, and lower again than the €47,596 reported by the CSO as the average earnings of a person in full-time employment during 2018.”By Jess CaseySource: <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/stay-at-home-parents-would-be-paid-almost-44k-for-in-house-services-new-figures-show-937363.html">Click here.</a>

Research finds that Stay-at-home parents would be paid almost €44k

10 full-time jobs are to be created in Sligo by the Connolly Motor Group, which has just been appointed as main dealers for SEAT in Sligo.Connolly’s SEAT will open in Collooney in October and will see Connolly Motor Group make a significant investment in a building that has remained vacant since the recession.&lt;ad&gt;The new jobs will increase the number of full-time employees at the Connolly Motor Group to 230 and the company will begin recruitment immediately. Once Connolly’s SEAT is opened, the group will employ 93 people in Sligo.The deal sees the motor group – which is one of the biggest in the country and run by brothers Kevin and Neil Connolly — expand its representation with Volkswagen Group brands.&lt;ad&gt;It already runs hugely-successful Volkswagen dealerships in Ballina and Sligo as well as Audi dealerships in Galway, Ballina and Sligo.The new SEAT dealership will be located in a prime location on the approach to Sligo town.Neil Connolly, Connolly Motor Group Director, said:“We are particularly pleased to be growing our representation with the Volkswagen Group brands and are delighted to be investing in the SEAT brand and bringing this great name back to the Sligo region. My brother Kevin and I are extremely proud to be bringing more jobs to Sligo and delighted that we can breathe new life into a building that has been lying vacant in Collooney.”&lt;ad&gt;

10 new jobs to be created in new Sligo Seat dealership

Manor Farm is proud to employ over 820 people in Ireland. After a major €13m overhaul, their production plant in Shercock, Co. Cavan is now one of the most modern and sophisticated in Europe. Its full-steam at their Shercock plant as a major recruitment drive is currently underway for new staff. Manor Farm is looking to recruit enthusiastic, proactive and hardworking General Operatives. There are multiple positions available at present and new starters will cover shifts across day, evening and nights.The roles will require General Operatives to effectively and efficiently perform their daily work tasks to the highest level of hygiene, food safety and health and safety standards while working in a fast-paced cold environment. The role involves the employee being an integral part of the team, working together and meeting production plans.If you feel like you fit the bill and would like to be part of the team, please visit the Manor Farm <a href="https://www.chicken.ie/carton-brothers-manor-farm-about-us/careers.875.html#anchor1">careers page here</a>. Best of luck with your application.

Great News - Major Recruitment Drive for General Operatives at Manor Farm

12 million euro is being invested in to the world’s first dedicated plastic waste to wax factory in Co. Laois.The facility – which is being opened in Portlaoise today (17th July 2019) – will see plastic that would usually end up in landfill turned into an eco-friendly wax.The wax is then used to make products such as lipstick, candles, crayons and even chewing gum.Chief Executive of Trifol Darragh Gilmore says innovative facilities like this are what’s needed to tackle climate change.From their website;<h2>Introducing a new breakthrough in sustainable wax</h2><h3>MADE WITH PATENTED TRIFOL TECHNOLOGY</h3>It’s nothing short of an environmental scandal. Every year the world produces 350 million tonnes of plastic, but only 9% is ever recycled. The vast majority of old plastic is burnt, sent to landfill, or ends up in the ocean.<h3>Plastic is a global problem</h3>The world is finally waking up to the urgent need for a more responsible approach to plastic waste – so here’s an innovation with huge potential impact. Trifol is the Irish technology company that’s developed and patented a revolutionary process for transforming plastic waste into high-grade wax.<h3>Wax is everywhere</h3>You’ll find wax used as an essential ingredient in many everyday products – from lipstick and paint to chewing gum and food packaging. But most of that wax is currently derived from petroleum, itself an unsustainable raw material.<h2>What makes Trifol wax unique?</h2><ul><li>The sustainable choiceEvery tonne of Trifol wax we produce prevents 1.5 tonnes of plastic waste polluting the environment.</li><li>High grade guaranteedTrifol wax is chemically identical to ‘virgin wax’ and can be used in any application, from printer ink to waxed fruit.</li><li>Growing global demandChanges in the oil industry have led to a worldwide shortage of wax. And demand for wax is growing four times faster than supply.</li></ul><ul><li>A proven, patented processTrifol technology is based on years of R&amp;D at Queen’s University Belfast. Our IP is protected by four patents.</li><li>An efficient, virtuous cycleRecovering wax from plastic creates by-products like diesel and naphtha. None of them go to waste.</li></ul>Trifol Resource LimitedUnit 1, Clonminam Business Park, Portlaoise, R32P380, Co Laois, Ireland

€12 million invested in plastic waste to wax factory in Co. Laois

PwC Ireland has reported a gender pay gap of 5.7% as the company becomes the first of the &quot;Big 4&quot; Professional Services firms to voluntarily report such results.&lt;ad&gt;The PwC gender pay gap compares to the country&#39;s gender pay gap of 13.9%, as reported by Ibec.The company said it is confident that it pays all of its staff people equally for doing equivalent work and its analysis highlights that the gender pay gap is mainly driven by the fact that there are more men in senior roles within the business. &quot;While we have strong female representation at 54% firmwide, this reduces somewhat at very senior levels,&quot; the company said. PwC said it is focused on its diversity and inclusion strategy and is taking action that will contribute to improving female representation at the senior levels within the firm. It said these actions include having a gender focus on all recruitment related activities, focusing on learning and development including developing talent to ensure it has a gender balanced and inclusive mix of talent.It also provides equal opportunities for career enhancing roles and managing performance and reward with a gender lens.&lt;ad&gt;Emma Scott, People Partner, PwC Ireland, said the company believes in transparency and communicating its gender pay gap now is a natural next step for it on its diversity and inclusion journey.&quot;We understand from research and experience in other countries that sharing gender pay gap results can only have a positive impact over time,&quot; Ms Scott added.

PwC Ireland reports a 5.7% gender pay gap

<h2>The winner will receive investment to fund the production of a short film and feature in next year’s Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival</h2>Adrian Dunbar headlines Judging Panel together with Irish Film industry expertsVirgin Media has launched Virgin Media Discovers, a short film competition to discover and support the very best filmmakers in Ireland.Ireland’s creative industry is an economic and cultural powerhouse. This competition will ensure we continue to develop the film making talent of the future, rewarding them for their creative content and encouraging their ambition to compete on the global stage.&lt;ad&gt;Entrants are invited to submit scripts by Friday 26th July for a proposed 10 minute short film which, if chosen, will feature in next year’s Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival schedule, alongside other local and international filmmakers, and will debut on national television on Virgin Media Television. The winner will also receive €35,000 from Virgin Media and a TV production crew to support them in making their short film.Virgin Media wants Ireland to stay a frontrunner in the film sector where people at home and around the world can enjoy Ireland’s world-class artistic and cultural output.The judging panel comprises of film industry experts, actor Adrian Dunbar, Director Neasa Hardiman, Grainne Humphreys, Festival Director of Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival, Bill Malone, Director of Content at Virgin Media Television and Birch Hamilton, Director of the Screen Directors Guild.&lt;ad&gt;Adrian Dunbar, the BAFTA nominated actor best known for Blood (2019), The Crying Game and Line of Duty said: “This is a fantastic opportunity and it’s great to see Virgin Media playing a leading role supporting creative work which is crucial to a thriving production industry in Ireland and abroad. We’re looking for innovative, fearless filmmakers to submit clever and thought-provoking scripts. The Virgin Media Discovers entries could be about lifestyle, relationships, goals, social problems, oddities or just a new way of looking at something we already know about. Whatever your point of difference is, we’d like to hear about it. The film duration must be no longer than ten minutes so it’s tight! A shortlist will take place at the beginning of August and the winning film will go into production in September 2019.”Neasa Hardiman has carved out a global career in film and television drama, and was awarded a BAFTA in 2017 for Happy Valley, as well as in 2010 for Tracy Beaker Returns. She commented, “This competition encourages emerging Irish film makers to share their most original, thought provoking and challenging work. Our industry has become increasingly global, and there’s plenty of opportunity for Irish film makers to find an international platform for their work, if we support them in their early endeavours. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow judges to celebrate great Irish screen storytelling.”&lt;ad&gt;Grainne Humphreys, Director of the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival added, “We had a massive success at this year’s Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival. For such a small country, we really punch way above our weight by producing world renowned films supported by a massive pool of terrific writers, actors and directors. The Virgin Media Discovers short film competition is searching for fresh and fearless filmmakers. It is something I would encourage anyone who wants to get their name and work noticedto enter. I’m delighted that we will be including the short film as part of our schedule in next year’s festival.”Birch Hamilton, Executive Director of the Screen Directors Guild said, “Supporting talent is key to the continued growth of the Irish audio-visual sector. Virgin Media Television is growing the talent pool in Ireland - in particular through its drama series productions - and I hope this new competition from Virgin Media will make an impact in the development of filmmakers at an early stage.”Bill Malone, Director of Content at Virgin Media Television, said, “Virgin Media is taking a strategic approach towards the creative industries as a key driver of economic growth. We want to challenge, inspire, and generate conversation. This is only the beginning, we want to build on this first step and make the competition even more ambitious over time. That’s what lies at the heart of this competition. We see so much potential in this sector where our creative industries show our country at its best and we’re looking forward to seeing what our entrants will submit.”&lt;ad&gt;Join the conversation online @VirginMediaIEPRFor more information visit <a href="www.virginmedia.ie/discovers">www.virginmedia.ie/discovers</a>

Virgin Media announces new Short Film Competition

There&#39;s still time for participants and employers to register for the Insurance Practitioners Apprenticeship programme before the first semester of studies begins in September.<h2></h2><h2>The Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship is Ireland’s first apprenticeship to award a level 8 honours degree – the BA (Hons) in Insurance Practice.</h2>The three-year, work-based training programme combines academics with on-the-job learning, allowing you to acquire both technical and soft skills. As an apprentice, you will be recruited into an insurance organisation, where you will learn the practical aspects of the job while studying towards your degree. All study is done online through IT Sligo and The Insurance Institute or the LIA.<h2>How it works</h2><ul><li>You’ll specialise in one of the core industry areas – underwriting, claims or direct customer support. Learn more about these areas.</li></ul><ul><li>You’ll learn about the business by completing projects and case studies. </li><li>You’ll study through a blend of online lectures, discussions and face-to-face group sessions – all during working hours.</li></ul><ul><li>A mentor and supervisor will help you along the way. </li><li>You’ll earn a salary and your academic training is government funded*.</li></ul>&lt;ad&gt;<h3></h3><h2>Year 1</h2>While you’re learning the ropes on-the-job, you’ll also be studying:<ul><li>The nature of insurance</li><li>Compliance and advice</li><li>Personal general insurance</li><li>Professional business communication</li><li>Teamwork and workplace collaboration</li><li>Selling and customer service for insurance products</li></ul>Qualification:Accredited Product Adviser (APA)<h2></h2>&lt;ad&gt;<h2>Year 2</h2>Once you’re settled into your role, you will move on to learning about:<ul><li>Commercial general insurance</li><li>Risk control and underwriting</li><li>Claims and loss adjusting</li><li>General insurance broking</li><li>Numeric technical communication</li><li>Introduction to business (management and marketing)</li><li>E-business and innovation</li><li>Negotiation in practice</li></ul>Qualification:Certified Insurance Practitioner (CIP)<h2></h2>&lt;ad&gt;<h2>Year 3</h2>For your final year as an apprentice, you’ll advance your knowledge and expertise through:<ul><li>Capstone project/dissertation</li><li>Innovation, creativity and critical thinking</li><li>Financial analysis and interpretation</li><li>Business law for insurance practitioners</li><li>Big data/advanced Excel</li></ul><h2></h2>Qualification:BA (Hons) in Insurance Practice&lt;ad&gt;<h2>Who’s hiring?</h2>From large corporations to small hometown brokerages, insurance companies from all over Ireland are looking for talented, driven and team-oriented apprentices like you! Right now companies are hiring;Insurance ApprenticesClaims ApprenticesClient Service Advisor ApprenticesCheck out some of the latest apprenticeship positions in the Insurance Institute&#39;s Job Bank by clicking <a href="https://info.iii.ie/apprenticeship-jobs?__hstc=23070949.c3a91cdd44c40f7d1855bfc4190a19f5.1562871924261.1562871924261.1562871924261.1&amp;__hssc=23070949.1.1562871924261&amp;__hsfp=219599793">HERE</a>Companies willing to take on Apprentices within the Insurance Industry should <a href="https://www.iii.ie/apprenticeships/boost-your-business-employ-an-apprentice">CLICK HERE</a> there&#39;s still time to register!Employers can register their interest in recruiting for the programme at any time before the first semester of studies starting in September. Find out more about employer duties and responsibilities<a href="https://www.iii.ie/apprenticeships/boost-your-business-employ-an-apprentice"> HERE</a>&lt;ad&gt;<h2></h2><h2>Benefits to business</h2>There are many benefits for employers as a direct result of hiring an apprentice, ranging from low-cost training to staff retention amongst others:<ul><li>Government funded</li><li>Soft skills development</li><li>Fill your skills gaps</li><li>Fast track to compliance</li></ul><h2></h2><h2></h2>

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