Merry Christmas from B2B Communications!

Padraig goes top in Google rankings!

 Colin Goulding, Head of SMB Publishers, EMEA, Online Partnerships Group, Google Padraig O'Scanaill, Fund Recs, winner of Best Online Promotion of a Business Award and Valerie Legrand, Ads Quality Operations Vendor Manager, EMEA, Google (Keogh Photography)

Padraig O’ Scanaill, a young Waterford entrepreneur and finalist in Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition, picked up the award for the ‘Best Online Promotion of Business’ and won €1,000 worth of Google Adwords for his company, Fund Recs.

Of the 24 finalists from 17 counties competing in the inaugural national competition, the special award was presented to Padraig and was judged by Google to be the best at promoting business online.

Paddy Flynn, Director of Product Quality Operations at Google Ireland said: “The Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is a natural fit with the existing ‘Google for Entrepreneurs’ programme, which aims to foster entrepreneurship and empower the next generation of innovators to be successful. The ‘Best Online Promotion of a Business’ Award is an extension of that, offering one young entrepreneur the opportunity to find their audience, extend their reach, and grow their business both locally and internationally.”

Padraig was delighted to receive the award for his company, Fund Recs, which provides cloud based software to the Investment Funds Industry.

He said, “From start to finish the IBYE journey has been a rewarding experience for me and for Fund Recs.  We participated in invaluable business boot camps, received great mentoring from established practitioners, won best Waterford and Munster start-up titles and to top it all off were singled out by Google as having a national award winning online strategy.”

“The #TeamWaterford campaign was instrumental in driving visitors to our website. The content was engaging and interactive and it certainly increased our company’s profile.”

Padraig added, “Despite the much heralded economic difficulties, there has never been a better time to start a new business.  There are plenty of support services available to start-ups, particularly through organisations such as the Local Enterprise Offices to enable new companies to grow and become successful.”

Ciaran Cullen of Waterford Local Enterprise Office said, “Padraig was a deserving winner of the best online promotion award.  The Fund Recs online campaign has allowed them to grow their business and put them on an equal footing with some of the world’s more established software providers to the global funds industry.”

“Waterford LEO engaged the services of Waterford marketing company, B2B Communications, to implement and manage the highly effective #TeamWaterford social media campaign, which not only built links to support Fund Recs SEO efforts, it gave a wider audience access to the whole IBYE process and particularly, Padraig’s journey.”

Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through the 31 Local Enterprise Offices around the country. 

For further information about the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition, visit www.ibye.ie, www.localenterprise.ie or search #TeamWaterford or #IBYE on social media.

Top Christmas gift ideas for Waterford Grandparents

As Christmas approaches, many people struggle to find the perfect gift for grandparents and elderly loved ones. To help make gift-giving for grandparents easier, Home Instead Senior Care, Ireland's trusted source of home care for seniors, has studied over 12,000 senior requests for presents and compiled a list of the most popular items, which includes:

·        Gift certificates to restaurants, pharmacies, grocery stores or fuel cards for people who drive.

·        Vouchers for or a delivery of coal, briquettes or oil

·        Personal items such as hand and body lotions and creams

·         Blankets, robes and slippers

·        Books and magazine subscriptions

·        Crossword and puzzle books
·        Hats, mittens and gloves
·        Towels and washcloths
·        Boxed chocolates, or sweets
·        Stamps and stationery
·        Nightlights, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors
·        Bird feeders or plants.
·        Payment of an annual bill / subscription, e.g. TV, phone, broadband.

Wishing Ireland's seniors a happy Christmas, Danette Connolly, Director of Care at Home Instead Senior Care Waterford said, "At Home Instead Senior Care we encourage younger people in the community to remember their elderly loved ones during this festive season.

Giving a small gift like a box of chocolates or comfortable slippers is a simple gesture can really make senior feel loved and remembered. Of course the best gift you can give a senior is your love and time so remember to spend some time with elderly loved ones during the holiday season". 

A “plane” and simple solution to overcome the fear of flying!

You’ve booked your summer holiday flight or you have to attend a business meeting in the UK and all you feel is fear…fear of boarding a plane, fear of taking off, fearing of being in the air and fear of landing!

European Aviation College (EAC), a new pilot training college based at Waterford Airport, will host a series of one day courses from January to alleviate the fear of flying, a phobia that affects one in five people.

The course is the brainchild of Gillian Chiavacci, Head of Training at EAC. “We decided to develop and offer fear of flying courses to the public, as it is a phobia that affects almost 20% of the world’s population.  It is a common condition which can be debilitating.  In its most moderate form, it makes flying uncomfortable and unenjoyable, but an extreme phobia can lead people to become overwrought, stressed, anxious and more often, avoid flying at all costs.”

The course is practical and hands-on, delivered by experienced airline pilots.  Waterford pilot David Flynn, Course Instructor with EAC, has over ten years’ commercial flying experience.  He commented, “Evidence suggests that the main fear of flying stems from lack of knowledge, basically we fear the unknown.  The premise of the Fear of Flying course is to familiarise attendees with the workings of the aircraft, the causes of turbulence, an explanation of in-flight noises, dealing with anxiety and flight preparation.”

“The course is conducted over one day at Waterford Airport and gives attendees practical and hands-on knowledge, which empowers them to overcome their fear of flying,” David said.

“There has been a huge amount of interest already and in fact, we have seen an increase in referrals from G.P.s.” Gillian added.  “Many with aviophobia who can’t avoid flying, perhaps due to work or necessary overseas travel commitments, will either medicate or take alcohol, both of which can have adverse consequences. Alcohol can cause dehydration, particularly at an altitude of 35,000 feet.”

If you want to find out more about the European Aviation College’s Fear of Flying course, visit www.europeanaviationcollege.ie, call 051 843436 or email info@europeanaviationcollege.ie.

Rotary Memorial tree aglow!

Cllr. Lola O' Sullivan, Chief SuperIntendent Patrick Murphy, Anne Marie Caulfield and Danette Connolly

Yesterday evening (Thursday) the Rotary Club of Waterford launched its 17^th   Annual Memorial Christmas Tree at John Robert’s Square in Waterford City.

The Memorial tree will as always be a central feature in Waterford City’s Winterval Festival.

The Memorial Tree Appeal was officially launched by Her Worship the Mayor of Waterford Metropolitan District Cllr. Lola O’Sullivan.

As well as raising much needed funds in Waterford for the Hospice Movement, the Memorial Tree Appeal provides people with a means of remembering their loved ones in a dignified and meaningful manner.

Enterprising students have Christmas all Wrapped Up!

A Waterford City Student Enterprise Village will take place over two days in the Granville Hotel’s function room on Thursday and Friday December 11^th and 12^th from 10am to 4.30pm.

Since the start of September, 350 transition year students from Waterford City and six Youth Bank community groups have been busy setting up small businesses and creating products to sell for Christmas. They have been assisted by their teachers and Waterford Local Enterprise Office and business mentors.

Everything from crafted cakes to Christmas candles, reflective dog leads to traditional recipe books, Christmas cards and a host of other gift ideas. This array of products will be sold from the Granville Hotel’s function room on Thursday and Friday December 11^th and 12^th from 10am to 4.30pm each day.

Schools involved include De la Salle College, Abbey Community College, Waterpark College, Presentation Secondary School, Newtown Secondary School, Mercy Secondary School and Gaelcholaiste Phortlairge.

Ciaran Cullen of the Local Enterprise Office commented on the importance of the event, “The Enterprise Office continually tries to improve and evolve its services. This event is all about the students. We learned from last year’s experience and thought one event over two days might be more productive and profitable for the students. It is so important for Waterford City students to learn how to interact with customers and sell their products in a live retail environment.”

The student, schools, youth groups and Local Enterprise Office appeal to the public to visit the Student Enterprise Village, support the work they have put into their businesses and encourage their efforts.

For more information please contact your Local Enterprise Office at 32 the Mall in Waterford City. Alternatively you can email info@leo.waterfordcouncil.ie .