Graham’s School of Motoring turns 45 this year

Thu, Feb 27, 2014

A Galway driving school which has been advertising with the Galway Advertiser classifieds since the first edition in 1970 is marking its 45th year in business this year.

Aerogen growth continues with thirteen new jobs in Galway

Thu, Feb 20, 2014

Galway-based medical device and drug delivery company Aerogen has announced that it is creating thirteen new high-tech positions at its base in Dangan.

Business owners who have taken part in ManagementWorks programmes are already noticing the difference

Thu, Feb 20, 2014

ManagementWorks, an initiative by the state agency Skillnets, provides a range of subsidised training programmes to SMEs under the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs. Over 700 business people are currently participating on ManagmentWorks Programmes across the country and are already seeing the concrete impact it is having on company performance.

Learning the lessons from teaching job hunt

Thu, Feb 20, 2014

Q: I qualified as a primary school teacher last year. I’ve spent the last few months sending out CVs, but to no avail. Some of my friends are saying I should call into schools, rather than sending on CVs, but I think that might only make a nuisance of me to the principals. I’ve only got a few days subbing along the way. Even though I have applied for about eight longer-term positions (maternity leaves, mainly), I have only got called for one interview, and I didn’t get the job. I’m beginning to despair. Any tips? (DR, email)

Ballinasloe-based association awarded European Commission contract

Thu, Feb 06, 2014

The Association of Ireland Festival Events (AOIFE) based in the Town Hall Theatre, Ballinasloe has been contracted by the EU Commission as one of 28 festival hubs in a major, pilot festival labelling and awards programme for the next two years.

Ulster Bank helps Galway companies ‘Get Ahead for Business’

Thu, Feb 06, 2014

Ulster Bank this week hosted a breakfast business event to help companies in Galway and the surrounding area plan for 2014 and beyond. The event took place in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway and is part of the Bank’s networking series, Ahead for Business.

KPMG — at the heart of commerce in the west for almost four decades

Thu, Feb 06, 2014

Leading accountants and business advisers KPMG have been at the heart of commerce in the West of Ireland for almost 35 years. While the economic environment has changed immensely in that period some things have stayed the same.

Working from home — how to find and keep your motivation

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

If you want to find and keep your motivation in 2014, this seminar is for you! Nowadays, many of us work from home. We may be in business, setting up a business or looking for employment – whatever the situation, we face similar issues. Have you ever found yourself sharpening pencils or checking social media instead of tackling an important task?

Galway companies develops students’ commitment to completing Leaving Cert

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

Employees in some of Galway’s top companies recently welcomed fifth year students from local schools into their premises to give them a chance to see what it is really like to work there, as part of the Schools Business Partnership (SBP) which facilitates partnerships between schools and local businesses.

KBC Galway hosts ‘Change Your Bank Day’

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

KBC Bank Ireland is hosting ‘Change Your Bank Day’ in its Eyre Square hub in Galway on this Saturday February 1. With many consumers re-assessing their personal finance arrangements early in the year and Danske customers researching alternative banking arrangements, KBC is opening for a full day on Saturday to offer greater flexibility to customers seeking to change banks.

‘Change Your Bank Day’ is an entire day dedicated to making it easy to change your bank. A team of KBC advisors will be on hand to handle questions on KBC’s full suite of retail banking products and services, and to assist new customers in making the seamless change over to KBC. Customers can compare the value for money of their current banking products to those on offer at KBC and advisors will be there to demonstrate how customers can bank with KBC for as little as €2 per month, or in other words, the price of a cup of coffee.

VAT 2014 and beyond

Thu, Jan 23, 2014

From 1 January 2014, businesses which have not paid for supplies (either in full or in part) within a six month period will be required to repay to Revenue the VAT previously reclaimed on these supplies. This is mainly an anti-fraud measure, however it is hoped that it will encourage prompt payments, thus increasing cash flow for suppliers, as we all know that cash is king!! Where the supplier is subsequently paid, the amount of deductible VAT can be reclaimed by the customer again. This is measured on a pro rata basis.

For example, Customer A receives an invoice for €10,000 plus VAT from Supplier B in May and immediately reclaims 23% VAT (€2,300) on it. If A pays €7,000 of this debt in the first six months (e.g. July/August VAT period) and they still owe the remaining €3,000 after the November/December VAT period, they must pay back 30% of the VAT claimed initially (€690). If the outstanding €3,000 is subsequently paid at a later date, January onwards for example, they can still reclaim the 30% of VAT in relation to this, meaning the right to deductibility is not entirely lost.

One hundred thousand visitors to the Galway region used Ireland West Airport Knock

Thu, Jan 16, 2014

2014 promises to be another milestone year at Ireland West Airport Knock with the year ahead forecast to be the busiest ever in the airport’s history with passenger numbers expected to exceed 700,000 for the first time.

Galway company signs new contracts totalling more than two million euro

Thu, Jan 16, 2014

A west of Ireland based retail management systems company has signed major new contracts in the UK and Ireland, worth well in excess of €2million. Retail Solutions, based in Tuam, Co Galway – and with offices strategically located across the country – has already much of the Irish market sewn up and has plans to branch into South Africa this year.

Female entrepreneurs in Galway sought for new cycle of Going for Growth

Thu, Jan 09, 2014

Going for Growth, an Irish programme which helps ambitious women entrepreneurs grow their business, is launching a call out for women entrepreneurs in Galway to apply for its 2014 programme.

Forty six people lose their lives due to workplace accidents

Thu, Jan 09, 2014

Official figures released this week by the Health and Safety Authority, show that there were 46 people killed in work-related accidents during 2013, compared to 48 in 2012.

People believe economy will improve but they will not benefit

Thu, Jan 02, 2014

Irish people are optimistic about the economy generally for 2014 but feel that their own circumstances will get worse. The apparent contradiction is contained in a major survey of 26,000 Irish people carried out by The AA.

NUI Galway report values Ireland’s ocean economy worth over a billion

Thu, Jan 02, 2014

NUI Galway’s Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) has published its second report on Ireland’s Ocean Economy as part of their ongoing process of collection and analysis of marine socio-economic data in Ireland — and its findings reveal that the ocean economy is worth €1.2bn

Results from the report show that in 2010, the direct economic value of the Irish ocean economy was €1.2 billion which translates into approximately 0.8 per cent of GDP. The sector had a turnover of €3.5 billion, and provided employment for approximately 16,300 people (Full Time Equivalent). The report allows for the comparative analysis of the contribution of the marine sector to the national economy in the 2007-2010 period.

Retailers enjoy robust St Stephen’s Day sales

Thu, Jan 02, 2014

Retail Excellence Ireland, Ireland’s largest retail industry body, have confirmed that the St. Stephens Day Sales were the busiest in six years.

Retailers warned that shoplifting is costing two million a month in Ireland

Thu, Dec 19, 2013

ISME, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, has warned retailers to be extra vigilant during the Christmas and New Year period as they are being targeted by organised gangs of shoplifters. The Association outlined that retailers are twice as likely to be victims of shoplifting over the Christmas, as the level of crime rises due to the greater opportunity and the recession.

The Retirement Planning Council urges employers to help staff prepare for retirement

Thu, Dec 19, 2013

The Retirement Planning Council of Ireland is calling on employers to give the gift of a retirement planning course to their employees this Christmas. A recent campaign by the Retirement Planning Council emphasises how retirement can be the most daunting time of a career and preparation is crucial in order to maximise the time ahead.

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