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Over 80 events planned for new and growing businesses

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Established businesses and budding entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to network and discover the assistance available to them during Kerry Month of Enterprise (KMOE) this March.

Now in its ninth year, KMOE is a collaborative inter-agency initiative, which aims to shine a spotlight on just some of the enterprise activities on offer all year round across Kerry and remind businesses of the wide range of supports available to them, especially at this challenging time.

The month is designed and delivered by a partnership including Munster Technological University, Kerry County Council, Kerry Local Enterprise Office, Enterprise Ireland, North, East & West Kerry Development; South Kerry Partnership Development, IDA, Udarás na Gaeltachta, IRD Duhallow and various companies and organisations throughout the county.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted just how important it is for business owners to access the supports available to them within their own region.

The calendar of events for 2022, which can be viewed at www.kmoe.ie, includes over 80 events across the month. The countywide events cater for businesses at various stages of development across many sectors from start-ups to established and growing businesses. All events must be booked in advance.

“Kerry is a county with entrepreneurship in its DNA and never has it been more important to support our business community," Minister for Education Norma Foley TD, said.

"Kerry Month of Enterprise has grown year after year, from a small calendar of about 20 events in 2013 to over 80 events this year. Kerry Month of Enterprise celebrates excellence in enterprise and shines a light on the activities that are ongoing throughout the year and the value that the partners involved bring to our county. Congratulations to all involved.”

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Highlights of the calendar of events for Kerry Month of Enterprise include a series of virtual 'Start Your Own Business' focused workshops hosted by the Kerry Local Enterprise Office, focused on branding, food business and sales and marketing, among others. Udarás na Gaeltachta will host sessions on how to boost online presence in a post-pandemic world and managing remote workers and SKDP, IRD Duhallow and NEWKD will host a number of events focused on supports including a Governance for Social Enterprises and Accounting for New Small Businesses. Munster Technological University will once again play host to the Kerry Start-up Challenge, New Frontiers Showcase, and a host of other events aimed at developing entrepreneurial mindset and enterprise creation.

"A great deal of time and effort has gone into arranging a wide range of events over the coming weeks with the diversity of the business sector in Kerry to the fore," the Leas-Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Michael Cahill, said. "I want to thank the many agencies involved for bringing together an exciting and engaging programme."

Kerry County Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell encouraged participation in the wide range of events.

“The Kerry Month of Enterprise is a great opportunity, particularly at this challenging time, for businesses to engage with each other and the supports on offer from a wide range of agencies and I encourage anyone in business to take part.”

Bríd McElligott, Vice President Research, Development & External Engagement at Munster Technological University added that “the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need for supports for all industry sectors within the Kerry region".

"Kerry Month of Enterprise offers a comprehensive spotlight during the month of March highlighting the various supports and initiatives that are available throughout the year. As we prepare for a post-COVID business environment, we want to showcase the supports that are available to ensure that Kerry’s economic recovery is maximised in as short a timeframe as possible.”

A full schedule of events is available at www.kmoe.ie.

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Five questions to ask yourself before buying a stock

By Michael O’Connor, theislandinvestor.com When it comes to investing, nothing is certain. There are no perfect stocks to buy because there’s no way of predicting the future with 100% accuracy. […]

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By Michael O’Connor, theislandinvestor.com

When it comes to investing, nothing is certain.

There are no perfect stocks to buy because there’s no way of predicting the future with 100% accuracy.

The truth is, investing is hard, and building a portfolio of top stocks that beat the market is something that even financial professionals have trouble doing consistently.

For most people, investing in index funds is the perfect hands-off approach, providing broad exposure to the stock market at a very low fee. Even my own personal portfolio is made up of roughly 70% ETFs despite the fact I invest in the market for a living.

But I believe some stock picking is a good strategy for many hands-on people.

Taking a small portion of your overall portfolio and diligently selecting a small number of companies to invest in gives you an opportunity to learn about the investing process and fully understand the businesses you are investing in, which helps to build conviction in your positions.

From a psychological standpoint “collector’s instinct” kicks in, enabling people to participate and invest more money over time.

Lastly, for Irish investors, there are tax benefits to consider. If you invest in individual stocks, you are taxed at the CGT rate of 33%, and the first €1,270 of your gains are exempt from CGT each year. When investing in index funds or ETFs, you are taxed at the exit tax rate of 41% with no annual exemption.

For those interested in picking individual stocks, here are five questions you should ask yourself before investing in any company.

Do I understand the business?

Too many people invest in businesses they don’t understand because it ‘sounds good’. If you have no idea how the company works, you won’t have the conviction needed to hold onto the stock when an inevitable downturn comes.

Can the balance sheet withstand severe, temporary adversity?

This seems obvious, but so many people invest in companies without understanding how much money a company holds and who they owe money to. Economic cycles are guaranteed. You must ensure that the company has enough cash-on-hand to avoid becoming obsolete when activity slows.

Will the company benefit from long-term trends?

Make sure the company will remain relevant into the future. If the stock is cheap now, it may be cheap for a reason.

Is the company enjoying profitable growth?

Not growth at all costs, but a combination of sustainable growth and value. All this information can be found online at sites like stratosphere.io.

What are the risk factors?

Is the company trying something new and untested? If yes, who are its competitors and how successful are they? If other players are more established, this company may have a tough time breaking into the market.

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Ballyspillane staff open up mental health conversation

By Michelle Crean “Hello, How Are You?” that’s the question staff at Ballyspillane Community Centre will be asking next week as part of a new campaign. It’s all in partnership […]

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By Michelle Crean

“Hello, How Are You?” that’s the question staff at Ballyspillane Community Centre will be asking next week as part of a new campaign.

It’s all in partnership with Mental Health Ireland (MHI) and the centre will host an information/coffee morning on Thursday next (March 30) at 12.30pm at their centre and all are welcome to attend.

The campaign initiated by MHI identifies the need for positive engagement and connections with the people around us.

It asks people to engage in open conversations about mental health and prompts us all to ask the question “How Are You?”

The word HELLO is a useful acronym to guide everyone through such conversations, H: Hello, E: Engage positively with the person, L: Listen actively, L: Learn about the person and O: seek options to assist the person if required.

“We all need a listening and compassionate ear sometimes to get us through some challenges in our lives and I think the pandemic has opened a new way of looking at the world, where we can all recognise the challenges that people experience more readily,” Derek O’Leary, Manager of Ballyspillane Community & Family Resource Centre, said.

“Our team here are in the business of supporting families and individuals across the Killarney area and beyond and see the challenges that people face first hand. We also see the positive impact that a caring person can have in such circumstances and this campaign that encourages positive engagement, regarding mental health is a great reminder to us all, the role we can play is assisting others who are struggling.”

Ballyspillane Community & Family Resource Centre provide a suite of support and intervention services including family supports, social prescribing/community connection services and physiotherapeutic services across the Killarney municipal area and beyond.

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