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<h2>What a great out of hours message! </h2>“Thanks for your call, our opening hours are Monday to Thursday 9 - 5, If you’re calling outside these hours, we’re probably busy with other things, like life, horse-riding, karate, or good ole-fashioned sleep. Please leave a message and we’ll get back to soon.” This is the kind of message you’ll hear if you try to contact Indy Cube in Wales. They’re just one of the many companies opting for a 4 day week &amp; employees retaining full salary! While they open from Monday to Thursday not all companies taking the 4 day working option do this, some still open Monday to Friday but just schedule their workforce over 4 days but keep them on their regular 5 day salary.So the idea is that you keep your pay, but work fewer hours; having a day off in the week to pursue your own interests or to spend time with the family, which will also save many on commute and childcare costs.  Companies such as Glasgow-based marketing firm Pursuit Marketing switched to a four-day week three years ago, giving every employee Fridays off without cutting pay. Lorraine Gray, their Marketing Operations Director said; &quot;When we raised it initially, our finance director looked at it as just a salary cost,&quot; But she says that since then, the gains have been obvious.Productivity has increased by about 30%, sickness leave is at an all-time low and there have been unexpected cost savings too: the company no longer needs to pay professional recruiters to hire staff, as so many people want to work for them. The 4 day week is a massive attraction.Another company Radioactive PR, in the UK opted to go for a 6 week trial initially and found that they achieved just as much and more than when they had the 5 day week. They say happy employees work harder – the 4 day week enables employees to have a better worklife balance and less stress and health issues.<h2>Could more business follow suit?</h2>Those who have called for the introduction of a four-day week include the Green Party in the UK and Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress. O’Grady argues that where businesses have increased their profits as a result of automation, that success should be shared with workers in the form of reduced hours: “It’s time to share the wealth from new technology, not allow those at the top to grab it for themselves,” she says. There is both opportunity and need, on health, happiness and business grounds. The four-day week doesn’t mean working 40 hours over four days; nor is it about shift patterns. Rather it is about working a 28- to 32-hour week but being paid for a 35- to 40-hour, traditional full-time job. In Edinburgh, workers at the tech firm Administrate are also on four days a week, although the office is open five – some people work Monday to Thursday, others Tuesday to Friday. They find that the practice is great for the retention of staff, “who wants to move back to working 5 days a week?”Administrate introduced the four-day week in 2015. “It was an experiment,” John Peebles, its chief executive, says. “We wanted to see: if we invest in our people, will the financial outcome be better than if we pinched every penny?”Overwhelmingly, the scientific evidence has said that working shorter hours makes us more productive. A marketing company in Glasgow, Pursuit Marketing, that switched 120 people to four days in late 2016 claims it has been instrumental in a 30% increase in productivity. Perpetual Guardian, a New Zealand trust business that supervises nearly NZ$200bn in assets, switched its 240 employees to a four-day week and has reported a 20% increase in productivity. <h2>So what about Irish businesses?</h2>Recruitment firm the ICE Group has recently announced the move to a 4 day week, they say they want to reward hard-working staff by reducing the length of their week. They’re confident of the move saying that research shows that having a three day weekend creates a more focused and energised workforce. The company has over 50 employees and offices in Galway, Dublin, Limerick, Sligo and Sydney. Employees will work an additional hour in the four days that they are rostered and their holidays will not be affected by the new measures.Margaret Cox, Director of ICE Group, said that by adopting more flexible ways of working, the company will &quot;motivate, encourage and retain staff&quot;.Ms Cox said: &quot;We know that a happier and valued workforce will result in a positive working environment and company growth. Working effectively now means working less and having a three-day weekend enables people to have quality time outside of their job to do the things they want with the people they love.” Adding &quot;We value our employees and want to ensure that their quality of life both inside and out of work is as good as it can be.”<h2>What do you think?</h2><h2>Check out jobs at the ICE GROUP: <a href="https://www.icejobs.ie/about-us/join-us-work-for-us">https://www.icejobs.ie/about-us/join-us-work-for-us</a></h2><h2></h2><h2>For more information about the whole 4 Day Week thing check out this link; <a href="https://4dayweek.ie/">https://4dayweek.ie/</a></h2>

A case for the 4 Day Working Week 

Director & Ideation Manager

Pamela Doyle

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has reiterated the Government&#39;s pledge to cut income tax over the next five years. In a speech given to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis last November, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the level at which people hit the higher rate of income tax will rise to €50,000 over the next five years if Fine Gael is in power. Speaking in the Dáil this morning, Mr Donohoe said if the economy continues to grow and the resources are available, it is possible to reduce the standard rate cut off point every year. The Minister said any cuts in the upcoming Budget depended on negotiations with Fianna Fáil. He was responding to Sinn Féin&#39;s finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty, who said if the Government went ahead with this plan then resources would have to be taken from other areas. Mr Doherty said it would mean that €2.5bn of tax would be foregone to the State at a time that there are huge pressures in public services, health, housing and the cost of childcare and insurance. He said the money was not there to provide for services that we need at the moment. Fianna Fáil&#39;s finance spokesperson Michael McGrath asked the minister about the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council report, which highlighted the volatile nature of corporation tax receipts. He said there had been a massive increase in the number of receipts in recent years and he said there is now significant risk posed to the public finances and the wider economy from that dependence on corporation tax. Mr McGrath asked the minister about his plans to manage that risk to the public finances and the wider economy. Responding, Mr Donohoe said a shock to the corporate tax base cannot be ignored particularly in light of change and uncertainty internationally. He said it was imperative to ensure that increases in public expenditure are sustainable. The minister told the Dáil, the rainy day fund had been set up and efforts had been made to broaden the tax base. Mr Donohoe said the Government was aiming to deliver a surplus of 0.2% of national income this year. He said a process was being put in place in order to get a better &quot;view&quot; of the sustainability of corporation tax receipts.

Minister for Finance reiterates Government’s pledge to cut Income Tax

<h1></h1><h2>Top engineering university to open jobs exclusively to women</h2>Eindhoven University of Technology aims to address ‘implicit gender bias’Job vacancies at one of Europe’s leading engineering universities will be open exclusively to female candidates for at least the next 18 months in order to overcome the institution’s “implicit gender bias”.The rector of the Eindhoven University of Technology, Frank Baaijens, said progress towards a better balance of men and women in academic roles had been stubbornly slow.Under the new recruitment policy, men will only be eligible for any academic post if no suitable female candidates emerge within six months of a job becoming available.The proportion of vacancies that will be open only to women will be adapted after 18 months of a five-year programme to reflect the success or otherwise of the scheme.About 150 jobs are expected to become vacant during the five years and each new female employee will be allocated an additional €100,000 (£90,000) to be spent on their mentoring and their own research.Baaijens said: “We attach great importance to equal respect and opportunities for women and men. And it has long been known that a diverse workforce performs better.“It leads to better strategies, more creative ideas and faster innovation. That’s why we’ve had measures in place for years to increase the low percentage of women among our academic staff, but we’re progressing too slowly.“We’re aware that we are suffering from an implicit gender bias. We are now using the fact that plans to expand our academic staff considerably in the coming years can be used as a means to make a big step forward in one fell swoop.”The policy will be enforced from 1 July. The university said it wanted at least half of all newly appointed assistant professors to be women over the next five years, with a 35% minimum for recruitment of associate professors and full professors.EU law allows the targeting of recruitment from underrepresented groups.Figures from the European commission suggested there was a majority of female scientists and engineers in only five EU member states: Lithuania (57% female), Bulgaria and Latvia (both 53%), Portugal (51%) and Denmark (just over 50%).In the UK, 41% of scientists and engineers are women – the EU average. The worst-performing countries include Hungary and Luxembourg (25%), Finland (29%) and Germany (33%), whose chancellor, Angela Merkel, is an accomplished scientist. In the Netherlands, 39% of engineers and scientists are female.There has been a long-running problem of women being attracted to science and engineering degrees only to subsequently fail to find employment.According to the latest statistics, about three-quarters of female graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics find jobs in those sectors after their studies – 10 percentage points lower than the employment rate of men with the same qualification.Source: The Guardian COLLEGE WEBSITE; <a href="https://www.tue.nl/en/">https://www.tue.nl/en/</a>

Dutch Engineering College open jobs to females only for the next 18 months

<h1></h1><h2>Are you a business or home owner who wants to cut down on energy costs - you may qualify for lucrative grants from the SEAI?</h2> As Ireland faces more pressure to become as environmentally friendly as our EU neighbours including the UK - for the moment - the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) has a wide range of grants available to homeowners, business owners, communities and large industries who are willing to play their part.<h2>BUSINESS OWNERS</h2>From SMEs to Large energy users, funding opportunities apply to both the public and private sector and a wide range of businesses.<h1></h1><h2>Project Assistance Grants</h2>Spending over €250,000 per year on your energy bills? SEAI grants can help you develop projects to reduce energy consumption and costs.They offer grants to businesses and public sector bodies who are seeking to develop energy saving projects. The aim of these projects should be to achieve significant energy savings, and build good procurement practices.<h2>The benefits for your organisation</h2><ul><li>Significantly reduce energy costs</li><li>Enhance the organisation&#39;s reputation and image</li><li>Improve competitiveness</li></ul><ul><li>Improve the knowledge of your employees around reducing energy use</li><li>Improve your Display Energy Certificate</li><li>Ability to divert savings to other activities</li></ul><h2>SMEs can save up to 90% of their lighting electricity costs by upgrading to energy efficient lighting</h2>At SEAI, they want to help SMEs become more competitive and the SME Lighting Support Scheme can provide grant support to upgrade your lighting and reduce your electricity bills.Since the scheme launched in 2017:<ul><li>SEAI have supported 200 businesses through the scheme to date</li><li>SEAI have provided financial support of €1.5 million</li></ul><h2></h2><h2>Why lighting?</h2>Lighting is a significant cost for many SMEs, and is the second highest cost for many businesses after staff costs. New developments in lighting technology, particularly Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology, means that businesses can reduce their lighting bills by up to 60% or more.<h2></h2><h2>What support is available?</h2><ul><li>The SME Lighting Support Scheme offers a grant of up to 30% of the eligible approved costs of upgrading existing lighting</li><li>Eligible costs include product and installation costs. For a full list of eligible costs, please see the Application Guide on the website link below.</li><li>The grant is for the replacement of existing fittings, not fitting out a new site, and the existing lighting must be in working order at the time of application</li></ul>Check out the SEAI website to find out more; <a href="https://www.seai.ie/grants/business-grants/lighting-support-scheme/">https://www.seai.ie/grants/business-grants/lighting-support-scheme/</a><h2>Energy Investment Projects</h2>Grants are available under &quot;The EXEED grant scheme&quot; for organisations who are planning an energy investment project. The EXEED Grant Scheme provides grant support of up to €500,000 per year.The grant level may be extended by 20% for small enterprises and 10% for medium enterprises. SEAI are now accepting grant applications for 2019.<h2>Who can apply</h2>This scheme is open to all organisations planning an investment in an energy project. This includes:<ul><li>public and private sector</li><li>new design projects,</li><li>major energy upgrades of existing buildings and assets</li></ul><h2></h2><h2>Types of projects</h2>Projects can be of any scale or complexity. The organisation must also be seeking EXEED certification distinction i.e. Designed, Verified or Managed.<h2>Homeowners</h2>Home owner can possibly qualify for these lucrative grants including the following, as well as a bonus for multiple upgrades:<ul><li>Insulation (30% of a home’s heat is lost through poorly insulated walls)</li><li>Solar Thermal</li><li>Building Energy Rating (BER)</li><li>Heat Pump System (alternative to fossil fuel heating.. grant values are €3,500 for any pump system going to water and for air to air €600)</li><li>Heating Controls (an upgrade grant is €700)</li><li>Solar water heating grant is €1,200 while you can obtain a rebate grant for a battery storage system of up to €1,000 plus you can get €700 for each Kilowatt (kWp) of solar PV installed – the power output of the panel - up to 2kW equal to about 6 solar panels. These can save c. €200 - €300 per year on your domestic electricity bill.</li>Do I qualify?In order to qualify for these grants, you must:<ul><li>Be a homeowner or landlord whose home was built and occupied before 2006, if applying for an Insulation or Heating Controls grant.</li><li>Be a homeowner or landlord whose home was built and occupied before 2011, if applying for a Heat Pump System or Solar Thermal grant.</li></ul>You can apply online for any SEAI grant here; <a href="https://hes.seai.ie/GrantProcess/ApplyForGrantAfterWizard.aspx">https://hes.seai.ie/</a>Insulation grants include:<ul><li>€400 for attic insulation</li><li>€400 for cavity wall insulation</li><li>€1,600 for &quot;dry-lining&quot; on an apartment or mid-terrace house </li><li>€2,750 for external wall insulation on apartment or mid-terraced</li><li>€2,200 for &quot;dry-lining&quot; on semi-detached or end of terrace house</li><li>€4,500 for external wall insulation on semi-detached or end of terrace</li><li>€2,400 for &quot;dry-lining&quot; on a detached house</li><li>€6,000 for external wall insulation on a detached house</li></ul>If you complete three upgrades, your grant value will be increased by €300, and with four upgrades, it will be increased by €400. Grants last for six months so the work must be completed by then.If your home was built and occupied before 2006, and you are in receipt of social welfare payments, you may be eligible for free energy efficiency improvements.Mobility Aids Grant SchemeThis scheme does what it says on the tin, offering financial help towards the cost of upgrading your home in line with your mobility needs, such as access ramps, suitable bathrooms or stair lifts. Although the scheme can cover the full cost of works needed, the maximum available grant is €6,000.Do I qualify?In order to qualify for this scheme, you must:<ul><li>Have a yearly income of less than €30,000.</li></ul>Housing Aid for Older People SchemeSimilar to the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme, this scheme exists in order to facilitate older people with more complex needs to live at home by upgrading their properties. The maximum grant amount available is €8,000.Do I qualify?In order to qualify for this scheme, you must:<ul><li>Be over 66 years of age (although exceptions may be made by local authorities).</li><li>Have a yearly income of less than €30,000 in order to qualify for the maximum grant rate of 95%.</li><li>Have a yearly income of between €30,001 and €35,000 in order to qualify for the next greatest grant rate of 85%.</li><li>Have a yearly income of between €35,001 and €40,000 in order to qualify for the next greatest grant rate of 75%.</li><li>Have a yearly income of between €40,001 and €50,000 in order to qualify for the next greatest grant rate of 50%.</li><li>Have a yearly income of between €50,001 and €60,000 in order to qualify for the lowest grant rate of 30%.</li></ul>Lead Pipes and Fittings Replacement SchemeThis scheme was introduced in 2016 and applies to those in low-income housing whose water quality is affected by lead in their pipes. The maximum grant available is €4,000.Do I qualify?In order to qualify for this scheme, you must:<ul><ul><li>Own your home and occupy it as your main residence.</li><li>Be replacing pipes that carry water used for human consumption.</li><li>Be able to provide evidence that lead contamination is a significant risk. </li><li>Have a yearly income of less than €50,000 in order to qualify for the maximum grant rate of 80%.</li></ul>Have a yearly income of between €50,001 and €75,000 in order to qualify for the next greatest grant rate of 50%.There you have it – there is no excuse now. You’ll be financially better off too!Check out the SEAI website to find out more; <a href="https://www.seai.ie/grants/business-grants/lighting-support-scheme/">https://www.seai.ie</a></ul></ul>

Grants available to Businesses and Homeowners for Energy Saving Upgrades

<h2></h2><h2>Restaurant association says education system is partly to blame for the staff shortages as the Chef Crisis worsens</h2>Mr Adrian Cummins, the association’s chief executive said &quot;a key obstacle is the fact that restaurants must pay apprentices while they are at college, unlike other apprentices where participants receive an allowance.&quot; He says&quot; it is now time for a review of apprenticeships to ensure culinary students receive the same benefits as apprentices from other sectors.&quot;The struggle is real for businesses, like restauranteur Liam Edwards, He gave the Irish Times his view on the &quot;Chef supply crisis&quot; saying ‘I’m certain there are no chefs left in country’. He normally works front of house at his seafood restaurant in Kinsale, but for the past three months he has been full-time in the kitchen, helping out his short-staffed team of chefs.I’ve no choice but to help out in the kitchen. I’m not even a qualified chef; I only know from watching others.” says Edwards, owner of Jim Edwards restaurant.&quot;I’m seeing restaurants closing a few days a week because they don’t have the staff or they’re trying to keep them fresh, the arrival of eastern European workers during the last economic boom meant shortages never got out of hand&quot;, he says.But with fewer foreign staff to choose from, close to full employment in the wider economy and and high living costs, Edwards say the shortages have now reached crisis point. “It is really at an all-time low.&quot; Official statistics back up Edwards’ experiences. In 2015, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs reported that the hospitality sector was facing a deficit of about 5,000 chef trainees annually.<h4>Deficit</h4>Three years on, the restaurant sector estimates that this deficit has climbed to about 7,500 a year.Yet just 1,800 chefs are qualifying each year from certified culinary training programmes.The Restaurants Association of Ireland says the education system is partly to blame for the staff shortages.Mr. Cummins says there used to be a good system in place known as Cert, the State tourism training agency, which was responsible for providing a trained workforce for the hotel, catering and tourism industry. It was abolished in May 2003.Cummins says a new system of apprenticeships has not filled the gap.A new commis chef apprentice programme was launched in 2017, while a chef de partie programme began in September last year.Like most other “earn and learn” apprenticeships, they involve a combination of learning on-the-job with an employer as well as studying in college.Numbers, however, are relatively small – about 117 are on culinary apprenticeships.<h4>Pay apprentices</h4>Mr Cummins says a key obstacle is the fact that restaurants must pay apprentices while they are at college.This is in contrast to other apprenticeships developed before 2016 – such those in the construction sector – where a training allowance is paid by the State to apprentices while attending off-the-job training. In some cases, a contribution towards travel or accommodation costs may also be paid.“This means some students in the culinary sector are at a marked disadvantage compared to their counterparts training in other industries,” says Mr Cummins.A spokeswoman for Solas – the State agency that oversees further education and training – confirmed that the State pays for training in pre-2016 apprenticeships, while the employer pays in post-2016 apprenticeships.“This was a policy decision taken as part of the apprenticeship review in 2014,” she says.These new apprenticeships were developed in consultation with the education and industry and were aimed at allowing more flexibility in their design.<h4>Foreign workers</h4>Mr Cummins says it is now time for a review of apprenticeships to ensure culinary students receive the same benefits as apprentices from other sectors.Edwards, meanwhile, says in the short-term restaurants need access to foreign workers.He has applied for a work permit for a chef in Turkey. That was five months ago; however he is hopeful the chef will be able to join his team shortly.“It will help,” says Edwards, “I used to have a staff of eight chefs. It’s now down to four, and one part-time. But I feel the wages and working conditions we’ve offered are still very good.”Source of Article; Irish TimesFor chef jobs and apprenticeships check out; <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/">https://www.jobalert.ie/</a>

More Culinary Students Required as Chef Crisis Worsens

<h2></h2><h2>Civil engineers, quantity surveyors, construction project managers and mechanical/electrical engineers with BIM experience added to the Critical Skills Occupations List to combat current skills shortage in the construction industry. </h2>These changes mean that non-EEA nationals with these skills will now be able to apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit to work in Ireland.A number of occupations were also removed from the Ineligible Occupations List and will now be eligible for a General Employment Permit including sheet metal workers, crane drivers, plasterers, bricklayers, pipefitters and welders.The changes follow engagement by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation to combat skills shortages in the industry. A report in May showed that 10,600 extra workers joined the construction workforce in 2018, up 8% year on year and bringing the total workforce to 145,500. Cost of ConstructionThe report also showed that the cost of construction rose by 7.7% in 2018 and was forecast to rise by 6.5% 2019, indicating that the increases were being caused by the high demand for construction services, skill shortages in the sector and wage increases.Hubert Fitzpatrick, Director of Housing, Planning &amp; Development at CIF, said: “The Irish economy has been growing strongly over the past number of years and it is clear from these figures that the construction industry has been growing with it. We’ve seen an extra 10,600 workers join the construction industry last year, which is helping to meet the 20% increase in investment in the sector.”“With investment in the industry expected to reach €41 billion in 2023 and construction costs continuing to increase, we need to encourage more people to enter the construction industry, so skill shortages are not holding back growth, both of the industry and the economy as a whole. We’re confident that the employment permit changes we have secured will help to address this issue and that Ireland will start to see more skilled workers enter the construction industry.”If you are looking for a Job check out our website; <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/"></a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/">https://www.jobalert.ie/</a>For more information on Critical Skills Employment Permits <a href="https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Permit-Types/Critical-Skills-Employment-Permit/">CLICK HERE</a> <a href="https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Permit-Types/Critical-Skills-Employment-Permit/"></a>

Construction Roles added to Critical Skills Occupations List 

<h2>The Freight Transport Association of Ireland is calling on the Government to provide urgent funding and support to reverse the current skills shortage across the business, requesting development of more apprenticeships and structured training programmes to attract new entrants to the industry.  </h2>According to FTA Ireland (FTAI), the business organisation representing all aspects of the sector, the Irish government must provide urgent funding and support for the country’s logistics operators, to reverse the current skills shortage across the businesses responsible for keeping Ireland trading, and protect the nation’s supply chain ahead of the impact of Brexit.Otherwise, as Aidan Flynn, General Manager of FTAI comments, the impact could be significant for both domestic and international business: “Ireland’s workforce is currently at almost full employment, yet there are still vacancies in the logistics sector which need to be filled,” he says. “The industry needs urgent help from government to attract young people into logistics, by promoting a driver apprenticeship and structured training programmes which will raise awareness and educate the workforce of tomorrow of the opportunities which are available to them. “A new independent research study conducted by FTAI in partnership with the TU Dublin School of Management has identified key issues to be considered by the industry when looking to recruit new personnel. The perceived hours of work, levels of pay and career opportunities are areas which confuse potential recruits and could prevent applications to the roles which need to be filled if our businesses, factories and retail outlets are to continue to be supplied with the products and services that they need. “It is vital that employers across the industry take a long hard look at the roles on offer to new entrants. Professional driving, in particular, is a fulfilling and motivating career, but many young people overlook the jobs available, based on pre-conceptions about the pay and conditions on offer. This is something we should all be working to change as a matter of urgency, if Irish business is to be prepared for a post-Brexit world.” Funding for training and development of individuals is still sporadic, and this must be prioritised by government, as Flynn continues, to ensure that a pipeline of future employees can be developed and maintained: “Many of the issues identified by the new research as barriers to joining the logistics industry, including working conditions and the lack of sufficient training and education, could be resolved easily if government would back appropriate development and apprenticeship programmes for logistics. Brexit is, of course, challenging how the supply chain will work in the future and unless government works more closely with business, there is a risk that business viability will come into question and goods and services will go undelivered. “Ireland has always been a trading nation, and has a real opportunity to capitalise on the changing business conditions which Brexit will present,” Flynn concludes. “However, without a suitable, trained workforce, it will be impossible to move the goods and services which support the Irish economy – this is an opportunity which government simply cannot afford to miss.” 
Source; https://www.hgvireland.com/government-support-needed-to-address-logistics-recruitment-issues-says-ftai/ For Freight and Logistics jobs check out our website; <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/">https://www.jobalert.ie/</a>TO ADVERTISE VACANCIES CLICK HERE; <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/employers">https://www.jobalert.ie/employers</a>

Urgent funding required by logistics operators to resolve skills shortage 

<h2></h2><h2>There&#39;s now a National Craft Butcher Apprenticeship, the first government-funded programme for Butchers in Ireland. The two-year &quot;earn and learn&quot; programme is designed for those who wish to learn the craft of butchery through both off-the-job training and on-the-job practical experience. </h2>Upon successful completion of the programme, apprentices will be awarded the QQI Level 5 Certificate in Craft Butchery Major Award.  Apprentices will, by then, have gained the knowledge and skills to cut, prepare, package and present meat and meat products to the standards required to the business and specialist needs of customers. The off-the-job training for the Craft Butcher Apprenticeship takes place in Teagasc Ashford Food Research Centre, Co. Dublin. The centre has state of the art cooking, manufacturing and packaging facilities, and boasts its own fully-functioning abbatoir. The apprentices will spend the rest of their programme hours with their approved employer.This is the first government-funded butchery apprenticeship for the Irish Food Industry and has been designed to train butchers for the 21st century in order to secure and protect the future of Irish butchery. Additionally, the course has been structured to expand the skillset of new and existing butchers, so that the future skills needs of the industry can be met.The training curriculum itself incorporates modules essential for the developing core skills required of the modern butcher, including  Food Safety and Hygience, Food Prepartion, and Animal Welfare. The course expands into a number of business areas to encourage apprentice butchers to build up a more versatile skillset, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship central to the course. Marketing Practice, Customer Service and Sales, and Entrepreneurial Skills are some of the other elements of the programme.Here&#39;s some butchers that are currently recruiting Apprentices;FxBuckley<a href="http://www.fxbuckleybutchers.ie/apprentice">http://www.fxbuckleybutchers.ie/apprentice</a>Cork<a href="https://www.wallacemyers.ie/job/368-apprentice-butcher-cork?utm_source=https://jobalert.ie">https://www.wallacemyers.ie/job/368-apprentice-butcher-cork?utm_source=https://jobalert.ie</a>Waterford<a href="https://www.jobsireland.ie/en-US/job-Details?id=2084083">https://www.jobsireland.ie/en-US/job-Details?id=2084083</a>If you&#39;re interested in a career as a Butcher, maybe contact your local butchers or supermarkets and ask them if they&#39;re interested in taking on an Apprentice - you might just be lucky!Best of Luck

New Government Funded National 2 Year Craft Butcher Apprenticeship

To all the &#39;Fathers&#39; and &#39;Father figures&#39; out there who WORK very hard everyday at being great role models, have a Fabulous one!

So it’s the day when we show our appreciation for Dads, but we all know that there are so many &#39;Father Figures&#39; out there that deserve a mention today as well. 

The influential men, the Grandfathers, Uncles and Brothers doing the Dads role, Mums who have to be both Mum and Dad and of course Stepdads and Carers who also ‘step’ up to the mark.

It&#39;s an opportunity to say thanks and to acknowledge how lucky we are to have these guys in our lives.

Happy Father&#39;s Day!

To 'Dads' who WORK hard everyday at being great role models 

<h2>The Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has joined the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in apologising to a former garda who faced dismissal in the 1980s after having a child out of wedlock.</h2>In a statement on Sunday morning Mr Flanagan said he had spoken to Commissioner Harris about the case. “I welcome his apology to Ms Majella Moynihan on behalf of An Garda Síochána. I echo that apology in my capacity as Minister for Justice and Equality.“As a young Garda, Ms Moynihan faced an appalling ordeal at a time in Ireland that was sadly too often characterised by stigma and intolerance. What happened to her was clearly wrong on every level,” he said.In a statement on Saturday evening, Commissioner Harris said: “On behalf of An Garda Síochána, I fully apologise to former garda Majella Moynihan for the manner in which she was treated and the subsequent lifelong impact this had on her.”Earlier on Saturday, Ms Moynihan spoke publicly for the first time about her ordeal in an RTÉ Radio One documentary.When she was 22, Ms Moynihan was charged with breaching the force’s disciplinary rules for the transgression of having premarital sex with another garda, becoming pregnant and having a child.Transcripts from an internal Garda hearing from the time reveal an aggressive line of questioning by senior officers, scrutinising the young woman’s sexual history, and her use of contraceptives.Faced with dismissal for bringing discredit to the force, Ms Moynihan only kept her job at the intervention of the archbishop of Dublin, who feared firing her would lead to more gardaí travelling to England for abortions, if they became pregnant outside of marriage.Ms Moynihan was born in Kanturk, Co Cork in 1962, and in 1983 joined An Garda Síochána.Training in Templemore, Co Tipperary, she met another Garda recruit, who she had had a previous relationship with. The pair started seeing each other again and Ms Moynihan became pregnant.In correspondence, a district officer in Store Street Garda station told a chief superintendent Ms Moynihan was “honest, dependable and willing”. The officer said: “I am particularly impressed by her devotion to duty while pregnant.”She gave birth to the baby, David, in Galway Regional Hospital in May 1984, and gave him up for adoption.“I felt and I still feel that I was pressurised into it . . . From the time that I told the authorities in the Garda Síochána that I was pregnant, that’s the one thing that was kept being mentioned: Was adoption, adoption, adoption,” Ms Moynihan told RTÉ’s Documentary on One.“And unfortunately I signed that paper. To me it was a forced adoption because I was in no state of mind to sign it,” she said.Then after later returning to work, she was charged on two counts of breaking the force’s disciplinary code.The first charge against her was for having premarital sex with another garda.The second charge was that Ms Moynihan, “being a female member of An Garda Síochána, did on or about the 31st of May 1984 give birth to a child outside wedlock”.Ms Moynihan said: “I remember thinking ‘what are they doing?’, ‘Why am I being charged like a criminal?”The internal case against her was dropped, and she was not dismissed from her job, due to concerns raised by archbishop Kevin McNamara with Garda commissioner Larry Wren.Despite the internal case being dropped, Ms Moynihan was summoned to a sworn internal hearing into the conduct of the father of the child. She was asked about their relationship and whether he had used contraceptives.“I walked in and the father of my son was sitting on the right with his representative. There were chief superintendents, superintendents, an inspector, a sergeant and a stenographer and I was put in a seat in the middle of the floor. And they started,” she said.“I don’t understand why they felt that they had a right to ask me about anything of my past. It had nothing to do with me getting pregnant. And then I was told that I had discredited the force,” she said.“How that they could even comprehend to put a 22-year-old vulnerable person who did nothing wrong, that they portrayed I had done so much wrong, into a room full of men and to tear me apart like they did,” she said.As a result of the hearing the male garda was fined £90 over his conduct.An Garda Síochána has never apologised to Ms Moynihan over her treatment. “I knew 35 years ago what they did was wrong. I know today what they did was wrong. Yes, I want an apology,” she said.In 1998, Ms Moynihan sought early retirement from the force, after 15 years service.Years later in 2017, she was contacted through a social worker and informed her son David wished to meet her.“One of the hardest things I ever did in my life was meeting my son, I found it very, very difficult because I felt that he was angry with me and I had my own pain,” she said.Ms Moynihan and her partner Martin, who she began dating in 1994, also have a 21-year-old son called Stephen.“I think for Ireland in the 1980s, in the middle 1980s, that it’s an appalling infliction on any female to have been charged with giving birth and charged with having intercourse,” she said.“Two of the most beautiful things in the world, and yet I was charged with them, and today I know that what they did was totally wrong and that I am very lucky to be the strong person that I am to have come out of it,” she said.Source: Irish TimesListen to a podcast of interview on &#39;Documentary on One&#39; here;<a href="https://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/2019/0613/1055120-the-case-of-majella-moynihan/">https://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/2019/0613/1055120-the-case-of-majella-moynihan/</a>

Apology for Garda who faced dismissal for giving birth outside wedlock

As the much-anticipated Centre Parcs Holiday Destination in Longford announces to open it&#39;s doors on July 29th - Recruitment is in full swing!Center Parcs Longford Forest has announced that the long-awaited €233 million forest  holiday resort will officially open in Newcastle Wood outside Ballymahon on Monday, July 29, in time for summer short breaks and recruitment is still on going.Nearly 800 Center Parcs jobs filled as clock winds down to €233m leisure resort&#39;s opening and they are still recruiting.Current jobs available include;<ul><li>Freelance Fitness/Dance Instructors</li><li>Assistant Manager / Senior Team Leader - Housekeeping</li><li>Line Cooks &amp; Junior Chef de Parties</li><li>Kitchen Assistants, Chef de Parties, Stewards, Porters, Manager &amp; Supervisor, Head Chef and Commis Chefs </li></ul>There will be ongoing recruitment as already a total of 760 vacancies have been filled in Center Parcs Longford Resort with new recruits starting their new jobs in the Ballymahon resort this week.Center Parcs will officially open in Newcastle Wood, set amongst 400 acres of beautiful woodland, the resort includes 466 self-catering lodges and 30 apartments. In total, the forest resort will welcome up to 2,500 guests during each short break.With more than 100 indoor and outdoor activities to choose from there is plenty to keep the family entertained, from nature activities and new adventures for little ones through to activities designed to be enjoyed together. The jewel in the crown of the resort is the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, which is set to be Ireland’s largest indoor water park and is heated to a tropical 29.5C all year round.The waters in our indoor Subtropical Swimming Paradise are warming. The luxury lodges are being filled with everything visitors will need. The lake is full of water and the beach is complete with sand. The 400 acres of forest and its friendly forest creatures are waiting to greet our new team. So, what are you waiting for? Join us this summer from 29th July 2019, when family short breaks in Ireland change, forever.For Information on Jobs click <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/jobs?search=centre%20parcs&amp;location=longford">HERE</a>

Recruitment in full swing at Centre Parcs, as nearly 800 jobs created!

ATC, one of Ireland’s leading computer transport and logistics companies and data center specialists is hiring Apprentice Transport Planners as part of the recently launched 2 year Logistics Associates Apprenticeship Programme. Learn as you Earn – Get paid between €23,801 – €25,565 during the programme. On successful completion of the Logistics Associate apprenticeship the apprentice is awarded a Level 6 Higher Certificate in Logistics. This programme involves four days per week on-the-job, and one day per week off-the-job in college - DIT Aungier Street.Here&#39;s the job spec;OBJECTIVEThe Apprentice Logistics Associate will work as part of a team which plans and coordinates transport routes across Ireland, the UK and Europe as well as daily manpower allocations in Dublin, London &amp; Frankfurt.The Apprentice Logistics Associate is linked to the Logistics Associate Apprenticeship run in conjunction with DIT and the Freight Transport Association of Ireland. The successful candidate will be trained to perform administrative tasks efficiently and to a high standard, in accordance with standard operating procedures. After training, the successful candidate will ensure all queries and requests are dealt with promptly and professionally. S/he will be responsible for the preparation of documentation, maintaining files and completing financial transactions. MAIN DUTIES &amp; RESPONSIBILITIESThe Apprentice Logistics Associate will rotate through areas and functions of the business in a structured way to develop their skills across the business. Areas of expertise and responsibility will include:<ul><li>Assisting our Planning Team with daily and weekly activities to ensure effective use of resources.</li><li>Ensuring proofs of delivery are actively managed in a timely manner.</li><li>Liaising with the Planning control tower and team to ensure service levels are maintained</li><li>Liaising with clients, sub-contractors, overseas offices and agents.</li><li>Working closely with clients supply chain function to ensure schedules are met and are accurately reported on</li><li>Responding to changing customer demands seamlessly</li><li>Communicating with customers and understanding customer requirements.</li></ul>The Apprentice Logistics Associate will be based between the companies Headquarters in Citywest Business Campus our Operations Centre in Greenogue Industrial Estate. SKILLS REQUIREDAbility to be flexible in respect of work standards and demands. Capable of working under pressure at times and to strict deadlines. Ability to complete tasks. Resilient and able to deal with changing priorities. The successful candidate will be required to possess and demonstrate:·       A strong willingness to learn in the area of transport planning, document control &amp; record keeping.·       A strong willingness to learn in the area of financial logistics, including administrative aspects such as billing, quotations and invoicing.·       A passion for delivering superior customer service.·       An ability to learn how to operate in a fast-paced ‘white glove’ service provider – serving world-class global technology companies.·       A focus on results, demonstrating a “can-do” attitude.·       Strong written and verbal communication skills.The following qualifications, skills and experience would be an advantage:·       A working knowledge of a European language.·       Experience of Microsoft products in a corporate environment, including Office 365 and SharePoint.·       Academic qualifications in logistics and supply chain management fields,  COMPENSATION &amp; BENEFITSATC Computer Transport &amp; Logistics is committed to rewarding employees. The Apprentice Logistics Associate role carries a base salary with an incremental increase in year 2 provided that excellent standards of work and academic performance are met. The Apprentice Logistics Associate role is a two-year fixed term contract with the following salary scale. At the successful completion of the contract, including successful completion of the apprenticeship, the candidate is eligible to apply for a permanent position with ATC.·       Year 1 – €23,801·       Year 2 – €25,565 subject to both satisfactory work and academic performance. DIT course fees may be reimbursed at the end of each academic year subject to exam/academic performance, with 100% reimbursement for the highest grade, and pro-rated if lower grades are achieved. Training will be provided for all workplace systems and procedures. A workplace mentor will guide the Apprentice Logistics Associate through their work placement and provide input into other relevant aspects of the course and career development. Note: Candidates are required to have the right to work in the EU/EEA. ATC does not sponsor applications for visas. For More Information or to apply click here;<a href="https://www.atc-logistics.ie/careers/apprentice-logistics-associate/">https://www.atc-logistics.ie/careers/apprentice-logistics-associate/</a>For More Information about the College Programme click here;<a href="https://www.dit.ie/business/schools/management/logisticsassociateapprenticeship/">https://www.dit.ie/business/schools/management/logisticsassociateapprenticeship/</a>Best of Luck

2 year Logistics Associates Apprenticeship Programme

<h2>Apprenticeships leading to Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Auctioneering and Property Services on offer in Dublin &amp; Cork – Over 100 Apprentices to start this September 2019. Apply now, earn as you learn!</h2> This two year apprenticeship programme is aimed at school leavers and mature applicants who wish to follow a career in Property Services. Learners will be employed in Auctioneering, Estate Agency, Property Management and Property Letting firms. Learning will take place in the company where apprentices will work four day per week and learners will attend college one day per week. A salary of approx. €20,000 will be paid for the duration of the apprenticeship.Application is made through the participating colleges in Dublin and Cork for now (see links below). Applicants will then be contacted for a CV and other documentation to allow for screening for eligibility. If applicants are successful they are sent for interview with registered employers. If an employer offers an applicant an apprenticeship, they are offered a place on the programme with a two year apprenticeship contract.On graduation, in addition to achieving a Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Auctioneering and Property Services, learners will be eligible to apply for a Property Services Regulatory Licence (PSRA).Apprentices are employed in numerous locations around the country and spend four days a week in the workplace and attend college one day per week. Employers that are currently employing apprentices from the initial intake include Sherry Fitzgerald, Knight Frank, Lisney, REA Ed Dempsey Estate Agents, Savills, Flynn &amp; Associates, Casey Kennedy Estate Agents and M &amp; R Property.Those interested in applying for the intake in September 2019 should apply through the colleges in Dublin or Cork, depending on their preferred location (see links below).  <h1></h1><h2>More Information</h2><h2>QQI Advanced Certificate in Auctioneering and Property Services – Level 6</h2>The Auctioneering and Property Services Apprenticeship is a two-year ‘earn and learn’ advanced certificate programme, combining on-the-job training with academic study.The government-supported programme was developed by the CDETB in partnership with the Property Services industry. There are no courses charges for the apprentice. This programme leads to an Advanced Certificate in Auctioneering and Property Services and allows apprenticeships to hit the ground running early in their career.Apprentices spend four days a week in the workplace and attend college one day per week. They develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours necessary for a successful career in estate agency, property management and property letting. The apprentice is supported in the workplace by a mentor and a structured programme of on-the-job training and development. <h2>Employment Opportunities</h2>Learners who successfully complete the apprenticeship will be eligible to apply for a Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) licence which qualifies them to work in the sector. <h2>Entry Requirements</h2>o   Leaving Certificate Grade 06/H7 or above in 5 leaving certificate subjects or equivalent ORo   A full QQI Level 5 or Level 6 Certificate in a Business Discipline of equivalent ORo   Other relevant experience/employment (3 years) having reached the age of 19. Adjudicated on a case by case basis.  <h2>Programme Content</h2>Year 1:o   Estate Agency Skillso   Estate Agency Practiceo   Marketing &amp; Customer Serviceo   Valuations 1o   Valuations 2o   Law for Property Services 1o   Economics for Property Serviceso   ICT for Property Serviceso   Professional Development Award Stage (Year 2)o   Sales &amp; Marketingo   Building Construction 1o   Building Construction 2o   Law for Property Services 2o   Property Management 1o   Property Management 2o   Professional Management Capstone <h2>Certification</h2>Awarding Body: QQIAward Title: Advanced Certificate in Auctioneering and Property ServicesAward Code: 6M20629Level: 6 – further education and trainingLearners who successfully complete the apprenticeship will be eligible to apply for a licence from the Property Service Regulatory Authority (PSRA). <h2>TO APPLY CLICK LINKS BELOW THE PARTICIPATING COLLEGES IN DUBLIN AND CORK;</h2> Dublin; <a href="https://www.ballsbridgecollege.com/apply/">https://www.ballsbridgecollege.com/apply/</a>Cork: <a href="https://corkcollegeofcommerce.ie/auctioneering-and-property-services-apprenticeship/">https://corkcollegeofcommerce.ie/auctioneering-and-property-services-apprenticeship/</a>

Level 6 Advanced Cert in Auctioneering & Property Services Apprenticeship

<h2>Are you a PAYE worker who works full or part-time from home? You could be in for a tax break!</h2>Employers can make a payment of €3.20 per workday to an e-Worker employee without deducting Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) or Universal Social Charge (USC). So calculating that there are approximately 253 working days, when you deduct weekends, public holidays and paid holidays this could be as much as over €800 in your pocket. This payment is to cover expenses such as heating and electricity costs.Recent statistics from the CSO show that the number of people working from home is growing by 2,000 people per year, with estimations suggesting that over 100,000 people are now &quot;mainly working at or from home&quot;.<h2>So who qualifies?</h2>If you’re working part of the time at home and the remainder at a ‘normal place of work’ or working full time from home, or working on the move with visits to your ‘normal place of work’, you could be in for a Tax Rebate. Going forward it&#39;s a substantial tax relief that you may not have been aware of.Are you an e-Worker? According to Revenue.ie an e-Worker is a person who is;<ul><li>working for substantial periods outside the normal place of work</li><li>logging onto a work computer remotely</li><li>sending and receiving email, data or files remotely</li><li>developing ideas, products and services remotely.</li></ul>So if the above applies to you your employer can make a payment of €3.20 per workday to you without deducting Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) or Universal Social Charge (USC). It may not be a fortune but it’s your entitlement and every little helps! Your employer can also provide the following items to you for business use to without you incurring any benefit-in-kind:<ul><li>computer or laptop</li><li>printer</li><li>scanner</li><li>software to allow you to work from home</li><li>telephone, mobile and broadband</li><li>office furniture.</li></ul>Any questions or for more Information go to Revenue.ie here: <a href="https://www.revenue.ie/en/employing-people/employee-expenses/e-working-and-home-workers/index.aspx">https://www.revenue.ie/en/employing-people/employee-expenses/e-working-and-home-workers/index.aspx</a>

Do you work from home?  You could be due over €800!

<h2>Avoiding Emergency Tax when you start a new job!</h2>Congratulations if you’ve started a new job, but be sure to give you Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to your new employer immediately when you start. Otherwise you will be deducted a high rate of emergency tax which could be as high as 40% and 8% Universal Social Charge.When you give your PPSN to your new employer, they will notify Revenue on-line that you have started working with them and will be able to make the correct deductions from your salary. If there&#39;s a delay Emergency Tax will kick in.From January 2019 a new system came into place that gives employers access to a Revenue Payroll Notification (NPN) for each employee so that they can immediately see what tax and USC they should deduct for the current year. The NPN ensures that they are using the correct credits and cut-off point for you.If this is your first job in Ireland you must sign in to <a href="https://www.ros.ie/myaccount-web/sign_in.html?execution=e1s1">myAccount</a> with Revenue.ie  to register your new job using the <a href="https://www.revenue.ie/en/online-services/services/paye-services/add-a-job-or-a-pension.aspx">Jobs and Pensions service</a>. <h2>What happens if you get deducted too much tax (Emergency Tax)?</h2>You should ensure that you have given your your PPSN to the right person and that the Accounts person or the Payroll Department have requested a Revenue Payroll Notification (RPN) on your behalf with Revenue.ie. If this is your first employment you will have to register with Revenue.ie as soon as possible - more information <a href="https://www.revenue.ie/en/jobs-and-pensions/starting-your-first-job/index.aspx">HERE</a>.If you are unfortunate to be deducted too much tax, don’t worry you will get it back as soon as an RPN is retrieved by your employer. In the next pay run the employer will refund any tax and Universal Social Charges that you have overpaid. You should get your Tax Refund really soon if you have provided all the necessary information to your employer.According to Revenue.ie if you give your PPSN to your employer you will be taxed under normal rules where you are allowed a single person’s rate band for the first four weeks of employment. You will be taxed at the standard rate (20%) on income up to the limit of the rate band. Any income above that rate band will be at the higher rate on any income above this. After four weeks, your full income will be taxed at the higher rate (40%).If you don&#39;t give your employer your PPSN or if the payroll person does not receive it on time, you will be taxed as if it were week 5 under &#39;normal emergency tax rules&#39; as above. More information can be found about &#39;tax rules&#39; on revenue.ie<h2>Getting a Tax Refund</h2>Your employer will process the refund of over paid tax as soon as they have your NPN. You will get the refund in your next salary / wages.If it&#39;s just short term work or you leave your job before getting the refund and are unemployed, you can claim a tax refund directly from Revenue.ie. If you move to a new job before getting your refund your new employer will deal with the refund which will be issued to you in your salary.More information on all the above can be found on www.revenue.ieBest of Luck in your new job!

Avoiding Emergency Tax when you start a new job!

<h2>Árainn Mhór (Arranmore) the largest inhabited offshore island in Co Donegal is looking for new new residents to boost its population.</h2>Its population has dropped to just 469 people and the island has recently invited more people particularly families to live on the island. The current inhabitants have also written open letters to the people of the United States and Australia, urging them to relocate there.New residents will be offered the chance to swap the hustle and bustle of big cities for the calm and beauty of Arranmore.The island has recently undergone huge technological advancement and has become the recipient of Ireland’s very first offshore digital hub.Not only are they offering new residents the chance of a delightful place to retire to, the community is trying to make the island a more attractive place for families and business people who work remotely.Arranmore now boasts of internet speeds that rival Dublin, London and New York City.Inhabitants on the Island list graphic designers, games developers, photographers and app developers as just some of the professionals who have made successful careers while working on the island.They say: “Your commute, no matter where you are, will only ever be five minutes. You’ll have the best diving in Ireland on your doorstep and seafood to rival the tastiest New England chowder.“There are fewer people here than would fit in a couple of Amtrak carriages, but enough musicians and good Irish whiskey to keep the party going well into the night,” the letter continued.The island is just five miles by three miles wide and is smattered with rocky cliffs, stretched beaches and sea caves.Historically, traditional industries like farming and fishing have dominated the island, but they’re not enough to keep young people from leaving.As a result, the population has been dropping rapidly for 30 years and the island is in danger of losing its structure.The island is twinned with Beaver Island in Lake Michigan. In the 1800s, families evicted from Arranmore relocated to Beaver island and most of the residents who live there today can trace their roots back to the Irish island.It’s hoped that with the advent of high-speed internet, which has changed the professional landscape of the island, and by reaching out to the likes of America and Australia for residents, Arranmore can attract enough people to not only keep the island’s population up, but also to transform it into one of Ireland’s most attractive places to live.Ringed by dramatic cliffs, cavernous sea caves and clean sandy beaches, the island measures just 9km by 5km. Irish is the main language spoken on Arranmore Island, although most residents also speak English. <h2>The People</h2>Last year the community welcomed back from Dublin, islander Fiona Ní Ghloinn, her American husband Jesse Smith, and their three daughters. For Fiona and Jesse the move was about a better lifestyle for their family. Like other islanders however, they had to think outside the box when it comes to making a living on Árainn Mhór.Fiona is a teacher while Jesse is a graphic designer.Both are passionate about Irish music and now Jesse teaches music to children, runs his own graphic design company, www.blackroguedesign.com from home and works part-time in the community centre, Ionad Chrois Bhealaigh as well. The manager of the centre, Eamonn Bonner, well aware of the challenge of finding work on the island, noticed the growth in people like Jesse, people working from home, talented craftspeople with products and services to sell.He decided to bring them all together and asked Jesse to create a website to promote them, their work, and the many attractions of the island. www.madeinarranmore.com is the result and it features people like Jesse who specialises in album covers, posters and webdesign.Living on an island in the Atlantic Ocean is irrelevant to his work, he can communicate online with customers in Ireland and America and he has the lifestyle he wants, &quot;no red lights&quot; and a community where everyone knows everyone else. For islanders like Gearóid Sweeney it&#39;s all about creating your own work out of the natural resources around you and the new website gives him a window to the world and the opportunity to sell his craftwork without having to leave home.Gearóid left Árainn Mhór to join the navy and struggled to find work when he left the service. Stone sculpting was a hobby since his schooldays so he decided to give it a go and now carves beautiful bowls, boats and other pieces from the abundant stone on the island.The finishing touches for some of his work are floating candles he makes from local heather. Rushes are the raw material of Mike Glynn&#39;s work, he&#39;s a basket-maker who also creates artworks but his main interest is in passing his skills on.He and his wife, islander, Gráinne, have retired to Árainn Mhór, where Mike says, there is no such thing as ageism.He works with local transition year students and hopes that some will continue the craft on the island and use it as a means to stay living there. Mike is also planning to run workshops on basket-making for visitors and says he&#39;s hopeful about the future of the island, where, he says, there&#39;s a great sense of entrepreneurship.For Eamonn Bonner, that sense of entrepreneurship combined with the strong community spirit is key to securing the future of the island.Árainn Mhór has a naoinraí, two national schools and a secondary school and two ferry services operate daily between it and the mainland. It is also hoped the new developments with the digital hub will encourage more people to move to live on the Island and that it will create more jobs there.The ambition is to stimulate employment and reverse over a century of emigration that has seen the island&#39;s population drop to just 469 people. In a world where business is more global than ever, and the growing trend towards remote working means we are even more in control of where we choose to live and raise a family. And that&#39;s why Americans are also being presented with the unique opportunity of swapping the hustle and bustle of the city for the calm and beauty of Arranmore.Speaking on the significance of the change, Adrian Begley of Arranmore Island Community Council, said: &quot;For us, this connection is the electrification of the 21st century. It&#39;s that big a thing. Whilst the Irish economy is growing, the islands have been neglected; emigration continues and culture gets lost, but we&#39;re confident that&#39;s all about to change.&quot;Neil Gallagher, CEO of tech company Caped Koala Studios, added: &quot;Moving home has always been a dream but the fundamentals of connectivity for my line of work just made it impossible. The digital hub means people working for tech companies like mine can now work on Arranmore. The set-up is as good as any city in the world, but the view is so much better.&quot;High-speed connectivity has been extended to the island&#39;s schools, medical centre and a number of local businesses and community facilities, making Arranmore a more attractive place for families and business people to live and work. Anyone wishing to connect with Arranmore’s community can send them a message via their Facebook page here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/arainnmhor">https://www.facebook.com/arainnmhor</a>or check out their website <a href="http://madeinarranmore.com/">HERE.</a>

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