Launched last year by Laois Chamber and supported by Local Enterprise Office Laois, the Laois Gift Card is the ideal gift for friends and family, and a fantastic way to reward your staff.
Under the Small Benefit Exemption, employers can reward their staff up to €500 once per year completely free of tax, PRSI and USC.
The Laois Gift Card is available to purchase all year round. Find a list of stockists or purchase online at www.laoisgiftcard.ie.
Award nominations
Congratulations to IFAC, finalists the Digital Business Ireland National Digital Awards 2021 for the ‘Professional Services Website of the Year’ category, and Ballykilcavan Brewing Company, finalists in the ‘Small Business Website of the Year’; ‘Hospitality, Food, Beverage Website of the Year’; and ‘Sustainable Business of the Year’ Categories.
Brexit Changes – UK Import Controls
From the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: The UK Government postponed introducing phased import and custom controls until 2022.
The first of the new UK import controls will take effect from 1 January, with additional changes due on 1 July, 1 September and 1 November 2022. Further information about these dates is available at www.gov.ie/brexit.
Government has been asking businesses to examine their supply chains and ensure everyone is clear on their roles and responsibilities, including their UK customers.
In addition to customs changes, the agri-food products, pre-notification for EU food consignments will need to be carried out by a UK-based importer or UK based agent acting on their behalf using the UK’s Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed Systems (IPAFFS).
Alcohol Licensing Consultation
A public consultation has opened to seek the views of the public on the modernisation of Ireland’s licencing laws through the proposed Sale of Alcohol Bill.
The consultation will look at how best to update the existing laws governing the sale and regulation of alcohol in Ireland, in line with commitments made in Justice Plan 2021.
Deadline: January 21
You can read more about the consultation process here.
Bank of Ireland Sectors Update
Bank of Ireland has released its latest monthly report on key economic sectors, their performance and emerging trends which you can read here.
Business Supports
SEAI Energy Audit: Find out if your business is eligible for a €2,000 voucher towards the cost of a professional energy audit. Click here to find out more and to apply online:
InterTradeIreland E-Merge Programme: The E-Merge programme provides £2500/€2800 fully-funded consultancy support to help businesses develop online sales and eCommerce solutions. For more information and for eligibility criteria visit here.
Local Enterprise Office Trading Online Voucher: The Local Enterprise Office Trading Online Voucher is a government grant, designed to assist small businesses with up to 10 employees. It offers financial assistance of up to €2,500 along with training and advice to help businesses trade online.
Businesses that have already received a Trading Online Voucher can apply for a second voucher, where upgrades are required. Find out more here.
Enterprise Ireland Digitalisation Voucher: The Digitalisation Voucher is available to eligible companies to access independent technical or advisory services support related to the current and future operations of their business. The voucher may be used to obtain services from approved providers.
It is expected that outcomes of this short assignment will lead to further training/technical feasibility/innovation/capital projects, i.e. it will start companies on a journey of activities.
Am I eligible?
The Digitalisation Voucher is open to companies that operate within the manufacturing or internationally traded service sectors who employed 10 or more full time people on their payroll on the 29th of February 2020 OR employed 10 fulltime staff at the time of application. Find out more here.
Business Spotlight – Laois Chamber member TekEir
Q&A with Mouad Mentak, Head Of Public Relations and Marketing for TekEir
Tell us a bit about TekEir and why you chose Portarlington to locate?
TekEir was established in 2019 by a group of young entrepreneurs who joined forces after working together for 5 years, to create what we call “the future in manufacturing and trading innovation”.
A vision with the emphasis of bringing the best of consumer electronics from all over the world to our e-commerce selling platforms as well as providing audio visual and security services to professional businesses and end customers at the most affordable prices in Ireland and the EU.
TekEir is also very reputable within the On-Board Retail sector, working directly with the biggest airline Industries in the world, designing and manufacturing customised sled solutions as well as recycling devices to create a sustainable and balanced model to protect our planet.
Our Managing Directors come from different backgrounds in business, some with exceptional IT skills and others with incredible trading knowledge and multilingual capabilities, with a large portfolio of B2B contacts facilitating trade all over the world.
Our team of staff has grown exponentially over the last 2 years, where some industries found these unprecedented times a time of struggle, TekEir found the light at the end of the tunnel to grow beyond its means and become a respected company worldwide.
The reason behind being based in Portarlington goes back to before TekEir was established. Our Director of Operations, Peter Walsh, worked closely with Synergies Ltd trading as Free TV to create an online platform to sell products.
Later in time, David Maher, the owner of Free TV, allowed our Director of Operations to branch out and create his e-commerce platform which led to establishing TekEir.
What is different and compelling about what your business offers?
As I mentioned previously, TekEir is a diverse business model that offers various services that are fuelled by customer service and satisfaction. What makes TekEir so different from other entities is our team.
The TekEir team is enthusiastic, passionate and dedicated to achieving company goals. All in all, TekEir takes pride in the customer service it provides and the team that makes it possible.
We differentiate ourselves with product variation, quality and cost. TekEir is proud to compete directly with the biggest consumer electronics providers in Ireland and Europe through sales on our website, our highly rated eBay page, and Amazon.
Our On-Board retail specialisation has given us a niche in the market where we are innovating and creating new ideas for the biggest airlines in the world.
How has TekEir grown and developed since its establishment?
Since our establishment in 2019, TekEir has developed exponentially and has grown substantially. Every day we gain more trust and attention in the market nationally and internationally.
Any other news or expansion plans you can share with us?
For now, the current expansion plan is to renovate and expand the office as our team is constantly growing. We are planning for a modern office space in the new year, where the company will be focused on creating a work environment where not only staff will come in to do their 9 to 5, but a space where anyone involved in the company will be able to use for personal and professional use.
The facilities will include new offices for the different departments in the company, a fully equipped gym with showers, a ZEN room for taking breaks and relaxing, and a communal area with a gaming setup, such as PlayStations, table tennis etc., and much more.
For any business considering locating in Laois, what would you say are the best things about being located in Laois?
There are plenty of successful businesses and organisations in Laois which makes it the home of opportunity and a place where growth is a possibility.
Companies who wish to locate in Laois can rely on cheaper overhead costs when running a business, especially for online traders.
This relies on all major couriers being set up locally who would collect all deliveries daily for next day deliveries.
Our advantage of being located in Portarlington Business Park is the ability to trade with other local suppliers who have a similar line of business as ourselves as well as providing the local community with a service they are only able to get from major retailers in bigger towns or cities.
Where would TekEir like to be in 5 years’ time?
In 5 years, we plan to expand into the USA, where we currently do a lot of business. Most of our major airline clients are based in the USA.
A warehouse in the UK is currently in the plans for Q2 next year, where we hope to expand our wings to reach other business and clients and a hub that will facilitate selling via Amazon UK.
Our main goal remains in staying ahead in our field and provide the best service for our customers.
Visit www.tekeir.com
What’s Coming Up?
Trading Online Workshop with LEO Laois (FREE)
Attendance at this Trading Online Voucher Workshop is part of the application process for the Trading Online Voucher Scheme. Attendees will learn about e-commerce, website development tools along with how to complete the application process for the TOV Grant.
Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2022 from 10am to 12.30pm
Start your Own Business (Evenings) with LEO Laois (€20)
The Start Your Own Business Course focuses on those with a business idea and are unsure as to how to develop the idea into a business plan.
This course will be delivered over 6 evening session on Zoom and will also include one to one mentoring sessions to further tailor content to your needs.
Dates: January 26; February 2, 9, 16 and 23; March 2 – from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.
Visit LEO Laois online booking system.
Worth a listen – Architects of Business Podcast series
We’re going back over three years for some of these but the Architects of Business Podcast by Joe.ie was an exceptional series of indepth interviews with some of Ireland’s leading business minds.
As well as interesting chats with the friends behind the Cully and Sully food business, Ray Coyle, the owner of Mr Tayto and Tayto Park, and the founder of DoneDeal, there is also a strong local interest, where you can find interviews with Kevin O’Loughlin from Rosenallis who founded Nostra, the Killeshin-based David Walsh, who founded NetWatch and Tom Brennan from Ballacolla who set up Trivium Vet.
Most of the episodes were recorded pre-Covid but there are some fascinating insights and the stories of their lives and businesses makes for very pleasant listening.
You can check out the full series here.
The LaoisToday Business Briefing is brought to you in association with Laois Chamber. Interested in joining Laois Chamber? Visit www.laoischamber.ie or e-mail info@laoischamber.ie .
