John Ryan, the owner of the Pembroke hotel in Kilkenny, delivers a great guide on how to start and run a boutique hotel. 
In 2009, businessman and quantity surveyor, John Ryan took back the reins of his hotel property, the Pembroke Kilkenny, located in the heart of the medieval city of Kilkenny. In the midst of the recession and using an innovative style of management, he outlines how he has helped transform the property into one of the leading boutique hotels in the South East of Ireland.

How are you different?
Boutique doesn’t necessarily mean small, but it is a niche in many respects. It’s somewhere you should find a superior standard of service, where the personal touch and customer service are pronounced and quite tangible. The Pembroke is a hotel that listens intently to its customers, because really listening to feedback, whether positive or negative, provides excellent learning and insight.
“I decided to take back direct control of the hotel.”
Building the hotel
The property had been a garage-site, formerly known as Stakelums, which had been vacant for many years – and I could see that the location had significant potential for a quality hotel from the first-hand experience, project-managing a large number of hotels across the country. In 2004, I was fortunate to end up buying the property, and the Pembroke Kilkenny now stands on the site where the Stakelums garage used to be located.
At that stage, as managing partner, I was heavily involved in professional services within the Nolan Ryan Partnership, one of the leading practices in the country, which we went on to sell in 2005. During this period, I built the hotel and leased it out to a hotel operator. In 2009, during the early stages of the recession, I decided to take back direct control of the hotel because of market

When it comes to creating strong connections, networking is most effective when online and offline activities are combined.
Social postings can help build our profiles, but it can also be difficult to be ‘heard above the noise’ of the millions of daily online posts.
Some years ago I helped build and grow a global online network. To achieve this I used Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook and email marketing. However, I discovered when physically launching the network in New York and London, that ‘on the ground’ networking was as important as the online activity.
Each of us has a combination of strong and weak connections within our networks. We all need to work at improving our networking skills. Here are some tips to help nurture your own business network.
Harry, meet Sally
As appropriate, make introductions between your connections. Ideally you should seek the permission of both parties. We all remember those people who made introductions for us which proved beneficial to our businesses.
Pay it forward
Reach out to share information that may help your contacts. It’s good to ‘pay it forward’ and not to be always looking for something for ourselves in return. This attitude has been a key component in the success of Silicon Valley’s start-up ethos.
Give due credit
Engage with your online connections directly (e.g. by congratulating them on new career roles.) This also gives you a chance to update them on your current situation and explore possible synergies that may exist between you.
Ask to get
The old adage is true: if you don’t ask you don’t get. Use the knowledge and influence of your network, by asking for help when you need it. Most people are glad to help, if they can. It is equally good to engage and offer your help to others. After all, what’s the point in building networks if we don’t help

KPOS Sports Management is a startup sports agency set up by four solicitors who believe they can offer athletes unparalleled supports which will help their career progression. Co-founder Stephen Kirwan talks to ThinkBusiness about his vision.
What is KPOS Sports Management?
KPOS Sports Management is a one-stop shop for financial, commercial and legal solutions for individual athletes and sports clubs. We provide financial advice to young athletes who want to play professional sports and we also work with clubs in those areas on an advisory basis.
Why was the company started?
There are four directors on the board and we are all fully qualified solicitors and we feel spotted a gap in the legal market in terms of offering advice on sports law. We’re all really passionate about sport, particularly Irish sport, and when we did the market research we believed there was a void that needed to be filled. There are some really good negotiators out there who deal solely with contracts, but there are very few people who can deal with that along with sorting out visas, financial advice and source commercial deals all under the one roof. By offering all these services together, we can keep our overheads down and not have to outsource different things. So we found that our competitors in the market offer a much narrower product. Also we Brexit coming up, we believe it’s going to offer a fantastic opportunity for Irish athletes.
Is it difficult getting athletes in Ireland on board with what you are trying to do?
The Irish sports market is somewhat stagnant at the moment. When you break it down, there are hundreds of kids moving over to the UK every year to play sports. So we see the UK as one of our primary markets, along with the rest of the continent and the US.

Richard Hobson set out to build an inexpensive tag to monitor the key performance indicators of farm animals, for the one billion people, who rely on livestock, for their livelihood around the world. 
In 2015, Hobson travelled from Dublin to Eagle Labs in Cambridge to access funds and developed an initial prototype. Here he tells the story behind his ‘Fitbit for farm animals’ vision and the groundwork in opening up new global markets for tagging and tracking, from cashmere goats in China to wild stock conservation of rhino and buffalo in South Africa.
How are you different for the other monitors on the market?
We offer a smart device that helps you to monitor farm profitability, and because of its intelligent design, we don’t need to charge the earth for it. It’s also the world’s first tag that can be used on any animal, making it both flexible and cost-effective. Herdsy’s primary target market is the (non-dairy) dry stock farm which is most in need of affordable digitisation, as current ag-tech is proving too expensive and too complicated for the needs of these farmers.
Herdsy is a unique technology as it only requires a small number of tags (from two to four tags, depending on herd size) to extrapolate the health of an entire herd, radically cutting down the cost of ag-tech, which means that it’s 95% as good as tagging every animal but 98% cheaper. The first Herdsy collar combines a mix of smart sensors featuring GPS, a 3D-accelerometer, temperature sensors, barometric pressure, heart and pulse monitors and body mass measures.
We aim to help the farmer optimise profitability by using our technology to monitor his herd or flock continuously and provide alerts and updates on lameness, weight gain, location mapping and even informing the farmer if a dog is chasing his sheep.
“We have

The Irish data analytics firm CitySwifter has announced a significant partnership with Reading Buses in the UK.
The Reading Buses chief executive officer, Martijn Gilbert, has described the deal as “groundbreaking”.
CitySwifter specialises in helping local bus networks run more efficiently through the use of predictive analytics and big data.
“We’re moving into a new world where the public transport profession is starting to understand the power of its data,” says Gilbert (pictured left).
“The work of CitySwifter is right at the heart of this and is, in my opinion, one of the first credible signs of us being able to do something that will truly help revolutionise bus networks in a digital world.”
The rise of CitySwifter
CitySwifter is a data analytics business on the move. Last year it won a place on the prestigious Intelligent Mobility (IM) accelerator, a partnership between Transport Systems Catapult and Wayra UK. 
As a startup, it was one of the teams selected for Bank of Ireland’s second incubator programme in the Innovation Lab in Galway. The firm has also been chosen to join Bank of Ireland’s New York Innovation Lab programme for 2018.
Making public transport better
Explaining how CitySwifter helps public transport buses run better, CEO, Brian O’Rourke (pictured right) says, “Bus scheduling is an art, but now for the first time, we can combine schedulers’ expert knowledge with advancements in data science and technology.”
O’Rourke says it is now time for public transport vehicles like city buses to take full advantage of the power of data analytics. “This partnership with Reading Buses is a big step toward empowering traditional buses to thrive in a data-driven world.”
For more about CitySwifter go here.
For more about Bank of Ireland’s Innovation Lab in New York, read this.
 

Here is a selection of towns that entered the National Enterprise Town Awards in 2017 and why they made the final judging process. 
A question that is often asked about the National Enterprise Town Awards is what type of towns enter the awards and what qualifies a town to enter?
Below are some examples of town entries from last year (2017).
Please note, these are randomly selected examples from the four provinces and are meant simply to serve as an illustration as to what types of towns enter and why they enter. Over 70 towns and villages entered the awards in 2017. In 2018, over 90 entered. 
The National Enterprise Town Awards showcase how communities around Ireland embrace business and enterprise to help their towns thrive. One of the key pillars of the awards is how a town can demonstrate a collaboration between businesses and community groups that have helped it prosper.
Cootehill
This Ulster town is located in the north of County Cavan on the border with County Monaghan. The population is circa 1,853.
Collaboration between businesses and community groups
The Town Team initiative was introduced in three towns in County Cavan in 2016, including Cootehill. It aims to help the people of County Cavan to create towns they can be proud of with town centres that are prosperous and vibrant.
Membership of the Town Teams is open to all over 18 years of age who live or work in the town and its environs.
The Town Team initiative was founded to create an environment that will support job creation, and encourage businesses, the local community and other relevant stakeholders to work together to energise and reinvigorate their towns in collaboration with public authorities and other service providers.
Stand out and original achievements
As part of the Town Team action plan, a SWOT analysis was carried out which identified town strengths

If you take business design seriously, this event in Boxworks, Waterford on July 19 is for you.
Design thinking is a human-centred approach to problem-solving. The big question is always – how can businesses use creative and design thinking to solve problems and gain more customers?
“Designing a business isn’t a one-time activity; it’s a continuous and evolving pursuit. Every component of a business can be tested, and all components must work elegantly together to successfully sustain your offer out in the world,” says Kerry O’Connor, IDEO design director.
“Creative and design thinking skills are now crucial for any business that hopes to grow.”
Over 92% of businesses now recognise that creative thinking is one of the critical elements of business design.
Businesses need to move faster, network more and be open to a more collaborative approach.
Creative and design skills are now crucial for any business that hopes to grow.
A must-attend event
The STEAMworks team has put together a formidable panel of experts to take us on a journey of thought, discussion and practice for a ‘Design in Business’ masterclass. STEAMworks is a bi-monthly meet up for people passionate about Science, Technology, Enterprise, Arts and Media in Waterford and the South East.

The speakers include:

Diarmuid Reil, owner/architect of Diarmuid Reil Architects – ‘Spatial Design.’
Lesley Tully, (pictured), head of design thinking, Bank of Ireland – ‘Design Thinking.’
Louise Allen, head of innovation and development DCCoI – ‘Ireland – Design Island.’

fuse:d will also present a case study with Yvonne Rath, creative director of Pixelpod entitled: ‘Design Thinking: how to brand a region’.

The chairperson of the event is the journalist, Jennifer O’Connell.
To be part of the #STEAMWORKS journey into ‘Design in Business’ book now. This is a free-to-attend event, and places are limited.

Declan Gallagher built a thriving, global business from harvesting seaweed in Donegal.

In 2004 CEO Declan Gallagher founded OGT, a seaweed company based in Kilcar, Co. Donegal. It was privately funded with an original investment of €300,000. The ambition was to sustainably harvest and then process some of the area’s natural seaweed, into a liquid seaweed extract, to sell to the golf industry in Ireland. It’s very much a success story as production levels have grown to 3,200 tonnes per annum with the business employing over 30 full-time staff.
Why seaweed?
I grew up close to the ocean and was always involved in some ocean-related business. Going back the years, farmers used seaweed to enhance and improve grass growth and to improve crop growth in potatoes. I can also remember from a very young age, how my grandmother used to go down to the shore and collect dillisk and bring it home, to dry out at the back of her house. After finishing secondary school, I studied business in Letterkenny Institute and went on to work in my father’s company, which made fishing nets for the large fishing boats in Donegal.
I always wanted to do something for myself, in an industry that I was passionate about. Obviously being from Donegal, a lot of people are into sports and personal experience made me aware that seaweed could have potential benefits for the sports industry. There was a lot of local knowledge on seaweed but not a lot of research. There were no competitors as such to compete with and consequently no blueprint to follow.
“Our liquid extracts help build up the immune system of a plant, similar to a person taking a multivitamin for their health.”
What problem do you solve for golf courses?
The seaweed extract contains small amounts of nutrients and growth enhancers, which allows

If your business’s money is sitting on deposit, it’s unlikely to be working for you. Here’s how to make the most of it.
Most business owners would agree that it takes a combination of time, tremendous effort and significant success to accumulate large cash balances.
Having worked so hard to get the cash, the all-important question is whether it’s working for you?
If your company’s money is sitting on deposit, it’s just not working as hard as it should be.
“Irish companies held €50.6 billion on deposit at the end of April 2018.”
Huge cash piles
According to the Central Bank of Ireland, Irish companies held €50.6 billion on deposit at the end of April 2018 (excluding financial corporations).
Today, interest rates are at record low levels; in fact, some more substantial deposits are on negative interest rates. This situation is unlikely to change for some time.
The end of 2019 is widely believed to be the earliest for interest rates to rise again. While the official rate of inflation is pretty benign, many firms are experiencing elevated cost levels. Smart business owners realise the importance of continuing to grow the real value of their assets, in other words, the level of growth after inflation. This growth involves the company doing some financial planning and to do this; they need to take a holistic view of their business. So how do you about it?
Start with a holistic view
The first step is to take a snapshot of your business’s assets and liabilities; to capture any loan facilities and what levels are drawn and undrawn. You should take a look at typical cash flow patterns and identify what role seasonality plays. What does your debtor book look like – have you substantial receipts coming shortly?
“How much of an emergency fund do you need?”
The next stage is about looking forward. This

Here we take an enterprising look at Fingal, one of the most innovative food-producing regions in Europe and home to Ireland’s youngest population.
Fingal is a region north of Dublin City and also bordered by South County Dublin, Meath and Kildare. To the east is the Irish Sea. It is one of Ireland’s most enterprising regions, and the focus is firmly on farming, food and flying.

An abundant place
Most people in Ireland will travel to Fingal at some stage in their lives, but only to access Dublin airport. However, it is a region worth visiting and exploring, especially during the summer months. The county is known locally as the ‘market basket of Ireland’. It is one of the most significant food-producing areas in Ireland and Europe.
The official motto of the county is ‘Flúirse Talaimh is Mara — the abundance of land and sea.’
Speaking at the recent Flavours of Fingal county show, Caitriona Redmond, a well-known writer and founder of Wholesome Ireland says the food produced in Fingal “is not only on our doorsteps, but it’s also in our shops. I would encourage people to look for local produce when they are shopping. Local produce supports jobs, keeps the economy going and is more environmentally friendly that food-mile heavy imports”.
The county
Fingal has a population of over 300,000 people. The population increased by 77% between 1996 and 2011 and is also the youngest in Ireland.
The county is blessed with a rugged, natural 88km coastline that stretches from Sutton to Balbriggan. There are three protected estuaries, salt marsh habitats and thirteen good beaches.
Apart from Dublin airport, the most significant driver of the local economy is farming and food production. Over 600 farmers milk cows, rear sheep, grow vegetables, harvest crops and produce honey and fruit in Fingal every day.
It is estimated the county provides