Home Instead Senior Care claims top service Franchise Award

Photo:Brian McEvoy

On Friday, October 11th at the Clyde Court Hotel in Dublin, the winners of the Ulster Bank Irish Franchise Association Awards 2013 were announced. 

The awards recognise excellence in franchising and reward the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals in the franchise industry.  Established over 20 years ago, the franchise awards are one of the longest standing and most prestigious business events in Ireland.  Over 230 guests attended the black-tie gala event hosted by Newstalk’s Jonathan Healy and officiated by John Perry, TD, Minister for Small Business. 

The Franchise of the Year (Service) accolade went to Home Instead Senior Care, which is the world’s leading provider of non-medical, in-home services to seniors, with over 1,000 branches throughout the world. 

Danette Connolly brought the successful franchise operation to Waterford in 2009 and today the Waterford office has cared for over 800 clients, employs 70 CAREGivers along with an office support team of 7, including 3 nurses.

Danette Connolly, Director of Care, Home Instead Senior Care, was delighted with the national franchise award.  “The Home Instead Senior Care is now a nationally recognised award-winning franchise.  That is simply down to the hard work and commitment of the Home Instead teams across the country.”

“Speaking from my own experience in Waterford our philosophy is to give seniors the chance to lead a full, independent life in their own homes.  Our CAREGivers have shown time and time again that caring is not just a job, but a vocation and they have all gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure our clients reach and maintain independence.  We are lucky to have such a wonderful team of CAREGivers in Waterford and this award is testament to their dedication.”

“By simply being with a senior who needs help getting to the shops, preparing meals or just by providing companionship, the work of the CAREGiver is invaluable and really does enhance the lives of those in our care.”

The judging panel for the 2013 Ulster Bank Irish Franchise Association Awards included Irish Dragon and Newstalk Presenter Bobby Kerr; Orna Stokes, Senior Manager, SME Propositions, Ulster Bank; Orla Nugent, Director Executive MBA, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School; Greg Swift of Dublin County Enterprise Board, Michael Bradley, former CEO of the Irish Franchise Association and Siobhan Lennon, Commercial Director of the Sunday Business Post. 

To find out more about the services provided by Home Instead Senior Care Waterford you can visit www.homeinstead.ie or call 051 333966.

6th South East Run for Life brings out the crowds!

The 6^th Solas Centre South East Run for Life drew almost 1,700 joggers, walkers and runners from all over the South East.

With the participants setting out from the Quay for the 10 mile route, the fun culminated in the People’s Park with the South East Fun for Life event.

Families of the runners, walkers and joggers were able to enjoy plenty of family entertainment in the People’s Park where there were bouncy castles, children’s races, penalty shoot outs with Waterford United FC, go–karting, a climbing wall, live broadcasts from Beat 102-103 and much more.

The total monies raised for the Solas Centre and the South East Cancer Foundation have yet to be tallied, but the organisers will announce the details in full next week.

Mr. Jonathan Earl, Chairman of the Run for Life committee was delighted with the event, “The annual South East Run for Life has become the highlight of the region’s sporting calendar and 2013 was no exception.” 

“The level of participation and involvement from the runners and walkers was fantastic.  The atmosphere around the route was invigorating and the work and dedication from the massive volunteer crew was wonderful, with everyone so  giving of their time, energy and ideas.”

Mr. Earl added, “All funds raised will go towards the Solas Centre.  It goes without saying that the generosity and goodwill of all those who participated will go towards ensuring that the Solas Centre can continue to provide the best cancer support services for those affected by cancer, their families and their carers.”

For further information about the Solas Centre and the cancer support services it provides check out www.solascentre.ie or call 051 304604.

HCS Business Solutions Workshops popular with regional SMB's

HCS Business Solutions hosted the first in a series of free Microsoft Office 365 workshops in Waterford today with a full house.

There is great interest in these practical, hands-on training workshops entitled “A New World of Work” which give small business managers, owners and business decision makers the opportunity to test drive the new suite of Microsoft technologies including Office 365, Sharepoint and Windows 8 across phone, tablet and PC.

Further workshops take place at HCS Business Solutions, Waterford on October 25th and December 13th, Castleknock Hotel and Country Club, Dublin on November 7th and December 5th. Kilkenny’s Ormonde Hotel on November 21st.

Most of the workshops are now full, but HCS Business Solutions intends to run more over the coming months. 

To register your interest in up and coming training workshops check out www.hcs.ie or call 051 595200.

Bakers use their loaf and prove they have what it takes to succeed!

M and D Bakery, the well known third generation family bakery was announced as the overall winner of the Waterford City Enterprise Awards and will go on to represent Waterford at the National Enterprise Awards which take place in Dublin Castle in November.

Founded by brothers Dermot and Michael Walsh, the bakery supplies a selection of baked “morning goods” to the households, shops, restaurants and hotels of Waterford.  However, M and D Bakery is probably best known for its production of a truly local delicacy, the blaa.

M and D Bakery has been a constant on the baking landscape in Waterford for almost thirty years and produces over 8,000 blaas a day.  More recently M and D Bakery spearheaded the drive, along with three local blaa bakers, to have the blaa safeguarded with a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).  With PGI status the once humble Waterford blaa can anticipate a standing equal to that of Stilton Cheese or the Cornish Pasty.

Speaking of the enterprise award, Dermot Walsh said, “We are delighted and honoured to be acknowledged by Waterford City Enterprise Board.  When we started the business almost thirty years ago, our focus was to bring good quality bread products to the city and environs.”

“However, as demand for the blaa grew, particularly outside of Waterford we needed to innovate and invest in ways to make it “travel” friendly.  The blaa is simply made from flour, water, yeast and salt with no preservatives or artificial additives, thus it has a very short shelf life.”

“With assistance from Waterford City Enterprise Board we invested in a freezer room which allows us to blast freeze the blaas so we can supply them to the rest of the country, Northern Ireland, Great Britain and now France.”

“Even though it was the French Huguenots who introduced the blaa to Waterford in the 1690’s, we’re sending it back there in 2013!”

Organised by the County and City Enterprise Boards, the National Enterprise Awards recognise outstanding micro enterprises in Ireland.  Ciaran Cullen, CEO, Waterford City Enterprise Board is delighted to support M and D Bakery in their pursuit of new export markets.

 

“Dermot and Michael have shown that there are great opportunities for growth if you explore further afield.  The blaa, which was practically unknown outside of Waterford, can now be found in food stores, forecourts and restaurants across Dublin, Belfast, Britain and even as far as Paris.”

“The Walsh brothers are passionate about what they produce and they produce it well.  With accolades such as the 2010/11 Good Food Producer award, a Euro Toques Taste Award and Gold at the 2012 Blas na hEireann Awards, they will represent Waterford with pride at next months National Enterprise Awards.”

If you want to find out more about M and D Bakery visit www.manddbakery.ie or call 051 378080.  Alternatively if you have a business idea and want to find out more about capital financing, mentoring or start up assistance talk to Waterford City Enterprise Board on 051 852883 or www.waterfordceb.com.

Sean Gallagher inspires Waterford Transition Year students

As part of the National Student Enterprise Awards Waterford City Enterprise Board brought entrepreneur Sean Gallagher to the Tower Hotel to speak to over 300 transition year students on the topic of enterprise and starting your own business. 

Ciaran Cullen, CEO of Waterford City Enterprise Board was delighted with the event, “ Sean gave an inspiring talk for over an hour. It was obvious that the students took much from it by the amount of questions they asked at the end”.

Home Instead Senior Care shortlisted in the Ulster Bank Irish Franchise Association Awards 2013

The Waterford Home Instead Senior Care Team

Home Instead Senior Care has been shortlisted in the finals of the Ulster Bank Irish Franchise Association Awards in not one, but two, categories.

Home Instead Senior Care has been shortlisted in the Franchisee of the Year (Service) category and also Best Marketing Campaign.

The awards categories represent both retail and service industries and recognise excellence in franchising and reward outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals in the franchise industry.

Home Instead Senior Care, the world’s leading provider of non-medical, in-home services to seniors, with almost 1,000 branches throughout the world, opened its franchise office in Waterford in January 2009.  To date the Waterford office has cared for over 800 clients, employs 70 CAREGivers along with an office support team of 7, including 3 nurses.

Danette Connolly, Director of Care, Home Instead Senior Care, is delighted with both nominations and said “To be nominated in both of these categories is a great endorsement of what we have been doing here in Waterford.”

“When my husband Michael and I brought the Home Instead franchise to Waterford almost five years ago, we knew we were bringing a well respected brand, dedicated to the provision of optimum home care to seniors.  However, we like to think that we have also put our own mark on the senior care landscape in Waterford.  We have a dedicated and passionate team of CAREGivers who genuinely go above and beyond the call of duty.  I am energised every time I meet a client who has formed a close warm bond with their CAREGivers.”

The awards will be presented at a formal black-tie awards ceremony at The Clyde Court in Ballsbridge, Dublin on Friday October, 11th 2103. The Awards ceremony is one of the highlights of the much anticipated Ulster Bank Irish Franchising and Start-ups EXPO on October 11th and 12th at the RDS Dublin.

The award ceremony is expected to be an impressive business event reflecting the remarkable growth of the franchise sector in these challenging times.  In fact the

Irish Franchise Association announced today that the largest ever number of entries was received for this year’s Franchise Awards.

Home Instead Senior Care offers an array of senior care services such as light housekeeping and laundry, meal preparation, transport and companionship, up to and including personal care, dementia care, post hospital care and disability care.

 To find out more about the services provided by  Home Instead Senior Care call Danette Connolly on 051 333966 or visit www.homeinstead.ie

HCS Business Solutions to deliver free Microsoft Office training workshops

HCS Business Solutions will host a series of free Microsoft Office 365 workshops over the coming months.

The free practical, hands-on training workshops entitled “A New World of Work” will be delivered in Waterford, Kilkenny and Dublin in October, November and December.

According to Neil Phelan, Director of HCS Business Solutions, the premise of these practical workshops is to give small business managers, owners and business decision makers the opportunity to “test drive” the new suite of Microsoft technologies including Office 365, Sharepoint and Windows 8 across phone, tablet and PC.

Mr. Phelan commented, “How we work is being challenged with our work-life balance evolving.  The future of productivity is about how our approach to technology is changing, how we are increasingly working on the move and how the idea of the office as the primary work location is no longer accepted as the conventional norm.”

“The New World of Work workshops will enable attendees to address and assess their changing circumstances and discover the right solutions for their businesses. Participating in the workshops is the best way to learn about the business productivity tools and technologies for your business and is designed to be interactive, experiential, and fun.”

Mr. Phelan added that the benefits are manifold.  “Pre-empting the new direction in work practices and implementing a strategy to accommodate these changes has been proven to lead to increased productivity, better efficiencies and even a more content workforce. “

“With new technologies it is now possible to be connected anywhere, at any time and we can be as effective at home, at the airport or even waiting for a taxi”, Mr. Phelan added.

The series of free three hour training workshops will take place at HCS Business Solutions, Waterford on October 11^th, October 25^th and December 13^th, Castleknock Hotel and Country Club, Dublin on November 7^th and December 5^th and Kilkenny’s Ormonde Hotel on November 21^st.

As the first Microsoft Partner in Ireland to achieve the new Microsoft Gold Small Business competency, HCS is also the first company to roll out this new free training initiative.

Places are limited and early booking is essential.  To book your New World of Work training place, visit www.hcs.ie or call 051 595200.