And the winner is………..

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2020 has come to a winning end for Ray Moran Transport, who won the annual Licensees’ Christmas draw, as chosen by our colleague, Katherine Earley.  Our efficient and friendly face at reception, Deirdre Fox, presented the hamper to Ray Moran today as Wexford Enterprise Centre staff prepare to take a well-earned two-week Christmas holiday break from Friday, 18 December 2020, returning on Monday, 4 January 2021.

Wishing all our licensees, your staff and your clients a very happy, peaceful and safe Christmas. We will see you in the new year!

Wexford Enterprise Centre revises guidelines for operations under Government’s move to Level 3 of Covid restrictions

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Following the recent downgrading to level 3 of the “Government Plan for living with Covid-19”, Wexford Enterprise Centre reaffirms its commitment to ensure that all those working within the building do so under the highest health and safety measures so that the Centre can continue to be accessible.

Effective Tuesday, 1 December tenants are invited to bring guests into the Centre if necessary, but the main entry door will remain by key-access only. We are delighted to announce that the Centre Point Cafe will open on Friday, 4 December from 8.30am to 12pm each day with seating for tenants and their guests. In addition, the meeting rooms will be available to tenant companies on a restricted basis of 2 people in the upper meeting room, 4 people in the Innovation Room, and 7 people in the Conference room. The Smoking Shelter will remain closed.

Looking forward, it is our intention to reopen the Centre Point Cafe and resume full service to the general public from Wednesday, 6 January 2021, subject to government restrictions. Social distancing, mandatory wearing of facemasks, hand sanitizing, and temperature access control procedures will be observed.

“The increased health and safety measures re-introduced in early October are working well thanks to the diligent efforts by the resident tenants. Observing the latest safety and operational upgrades continues to build on the combined efforts to make sure that Wexford Enterprise Centre remains Covid-free.” – Brendan Ennis

Profitsflow Delivers with “Best in Class” Accreditation

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Profitsflow, whose Headquarters are located in Wexford Enterprise Centre, was recently awarded the coveted All-Ireland ERP Solution Provider 2021 accreditation, signifying it meets the highest standards of service and trust.

Profitsflow was founded in 2009 by current CEO Tadhg Henderson. With a background in implementing enterprise IT solutions, Tadhg saw opportunity in providing a fully turnkey, end-to-end and personal service to the manufacturing & field service sectors in the provision of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.

Now officially recognised as ‘Best in Class’, the All-Ireland ERP Solution Provider 2021 accreditation is overseen by the prestigious All-Ireland Business Foundation, whose adjudication panel is chaired by Dr Briga Hynes of the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick and Kieran Ring, CEO of the Global Institute of Logistics.

Dr Hynes said the accreditation, which is now held by over 350 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards, but have nothing to measure them by. “We evaluate a company’s background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors,” she said.  “We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”

Commenting on the award, Profitsflow’s CEO Tadhg Henderson said “This is the culmination of many years’ hard work. This accreditation proves what we already know, that we provide a truly excellent service to our customers in delivering their projects. Every single member of the Profitsflow team past and present has played a part in ensuring we are recognised by our customers and suppliers as Best in Class.”

Congratulations to all the team at Profitsflow! Another local business making a huge and far-reaching impact. You can find out more about this award-winning Wexford-based company on www.profitsflow.com

Tánaiste Announces Funding for Enterprise Centres to help combat the effects of Covid-19

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The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, today announced €8.24m in grants for 95 Enterprise Centres around the country under Enterprise Ireland’s Enterprise Centres Fund.

Under the Powering the Regions – Enterprise Centre Scheme, Wexford Enterprise Centre received €144,395 in funding. This Fund, which was launched in August, was open to both not-for-profit and for-profit enterprise centres which have seen their income significantly impacted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic we eligible to apply for grants ranging from €10k to €150k.

The funding announced today through Enterprise Ireland will ensure that the enterprise centres, many of whom have been negatively impacted by Covid-19, can sustain their businesses, pivot and further develop their services to support the next wave of Irish start-up companies.

Wexford Enterprise Centre, an independent, not-for-profit organisation, is home to 32 startups and SMEs. The grant will used for capital improvements to the building, a business support plan and a health and well-being programme for the resident businesses and their employees. Wexford Enterprise Centre will also invest an additional €36,000 to meet the cost of the plan.

Under the strategy, measures to increase the health and safety features in the building include the installation of ‘touchless’ facilities on all doors and taps and the construction of a high-tech studio to facilitate online meetings and conferences.

An extensive business support plan is also in progress and encompasses three components: a ‘triage’ programme, to identify and provide support to businesses at risk of not making it through the crisis by identifying their needs and then providing them with a team of specialists to help them recover from the brink; a ‘Pro-Team’ project, which pairs relatively new Entrepreneurs with older, more experienced business leaders to mentor and take an active role within the start-up companies; the third programme, the ‘Ark Sessions’ is a series of forums for additional training and development purposes. A health and well-being programme will also be established to form a holistic approach.

Enterprise Centres are embedded in communities in every county in the country. They provide space and training for entrepreneurs, allowing them to work remotely, access training and advice, and network with other business leaders. Wexford Enterprise Centre, which officially opened its doors in 1989, was the first of its kind in Ireland and is recognised as pioneers in the field of social enterprise.

Welcoming this announcement, Chief Executive of Wexford Enterprise Centre, Brendan Ennis said, “Small businesses by their nature combat challenges on a daily basis, so in many ways they are best placed to tackle the challenges this pandemic brings. But to do this, they need support, guidance and time. This grant enables us to provide those businesses located here at Wexford Enterprise Centre with that opportunity and we are grateful to Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for their robust support for the SME and start-up sector in response to the Covid-19 crisis. In particular, I wish to thank Enterprise Ireland, who throughout the years of various economic ups and downs, has helped to establish, develop and nurture an environment for enterprise centres across Ireland to thrive.”

Following opportunity: David Dempsey, Co-founder of Salesforce Europe and Board member of Wexford Enterprise Association recounts his career path.

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We are led to believe that a traditional career path includes finishing secondary school, going to University and studying a particular subject and then continuing in that field for the rest of your working life. But many career paths are less straight forwarded and are instead guided by opportunity, curiosity and drive.

David Dempsey is an original co-founder of Salesforce Europe, bringing Salesforce into Europe in 2000. He is also a proud Wexford man and is one our dynamic, voluntary Board members with Wexford Enterprise Association who lend their energy and expertise for the betterment of Wexford.

We often measure ‘success’ based on a person’s present position. However, it is probably better to measure it by how they arrived in their present position. Opportunity, curiosity and drive are key.

David’s road to ‘success’ not only included business experience, but invaluable life experience. David left school at 16 to go to work for An Post and would eventually be introduced to the field of IT while working there. After being made redundant, which proved to be opportunity in disguise, he went to work with Oracle and spent 11 years there gaining experience in the rapidly changing world of IT. It was only after reading an article in Business Week magazine that he and two of his business colleagues got an idea to set up Salesforce in Ireland. The very example of an Entrepreneur.

David tells his story in more detail in the Irish Independent https://bit.ly/3kpU1Sv

Photo by Mary Browne

Helen McLean – Artist ‘Art With A Heart’ project – Creativity and Community in Covid Times

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Helen McLean – Artist
‘Art With A Heart’ project
Creativity and Community in Covid Times

Visual Artist Helen McLean’s studio is located in Wexford Enterprise Centre. Though much of her business is dependent on public access to the Centre, when the Covid-19 restrictions took hold, the ever-creative Helen reached outside the confines of her physical studio to unite the Wexford community through her ‘Art With A Heart’ project. Here is her story.

“When Covid-19 descended all my art sessions came to a halt. Until then, each week I would have engaged with over 13 adult classes in my studio in Wexford Enterprise Centre as well as other adult education groups throughout the county. All age groups and types of people attend my art classes and for many, it is not only about being creative, but about connecting with others and making new friendships. Many people have been in my groups for years and their art session is an important part of their week, so when all halted it was difficult for many.

To keep everyone’s moral up and keep all connected throughout the lockdown I decided to start the “Art With A Heart” project. It started as a small idea and a method to kick start our fundraising for the class charity of 2020, Relay for Life, Wexford.

I asked my adults students to paint, mosaic or collage small paintings within a heart theme on an easily accessible square, the size of a coaster. I put a box with squares outside my home for all to safely access. The painted hearts were then photographed and I put them up on Facebook for a donation fee of €20 in memory of a loved one who had passed. The idea was to mount all the hearts like a painted quilt on boards with the dedication below each heart. The hearts would form one huge artwork and in some ways be a symbol of lockdown 2020, as well as a memorial to loved ones passed.

Over the coming weeks over 500 hearts were donated. The hearts came to symbolise the emotion and memories of loved ones from the larger community. Each little heart was a mini-memorial to a loved one who had died. We had donations of over €9,300 in nine weeks.

It was amazing to see how the project caught the imagination of my students and the wider community. It connected people from Gorey to Ferns to Enniscorthy to Kilmore Quay to Wexford. I set up art groups from all regions and we had daily chats on Whatsapp. All the creators of the little paintings got an adrenalin rush when their heart sold. For those cocooning painting, was a way to pass the hours isolated from family. This whole project happened virtually with true community spirit.

My ultimate dream is to hang all 8 panels together in one location for all to see. My second dream is to create a book that tells the story of the project as I think it was a unique event and with each heart photographed it means people who purchased the hearts for loved ones have an immediate reference to their piece.”

See more of her work on https://www.helenmcleanart.com/ or visit her Facebook page.

Wexford Enterprise Centre responds to the new Level 5 regulations of the Government’s ‘Living with Covid-19’ Plan

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Following the recent announcement by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin to increase the “Government Plan for living with Covid-19” to Level 5 from midnight Wednesday 21st October 2020 due to the substantial increase in Covid-19 cases countrywide, Wexford Enterprise Centre reaffirms its commitment to ensure that all those still permitted to work within the building do so under the highest health and safety measures so that the Centre can continue to be accessible over the coming weeks for those companies delivering Essential Services in accordance with the new Government Guidelines and travel restrictions.

The increased health and safety measures re-introduced in early October are working well thanks to the diligent efforts by the resident tenants. Observing the latest safety and operational upgrades continues to build on the combined efforts to make sure that Wexford Enterprise Centre remains Covid-free.

“Level 5 now places greater personal responsibility on all us to play our part in reducing the spread of this virus and I am confident in our ability to deliver on that request with support from all tenant companies, we have ensured the protection of all those using the Centre. Together we have also managed to navigate a well-defined path that has enabled us to remain operational throughout the entire duration of the pandemic. I want to thank you and your staff for your support in this regard.” – Brendan Ennis, CEO

Wexford Enterprise Centre responds to the Government’s move to Level 3 of the Living with COVID-19 Plan and reinstates Stage 3 of its own Covid-19 Business Continuity Plan

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To comply with the latest Government decision to move all Counties to Level 3, Wexford Enterprise Centre will introduce the following restriction to the operations of the Centre:

From Wednesday, 7 October, only Tenants and their staff will be allowed entry to the Centre, Monday to Friday and then only between the hours of 8am to 5.30 pm. Occupation of the Centre outside of these hours including weekends, will not be possible, without consultation with the Centre management.

All entry and exit doors including the Main Reception Door will be locked at all times. Access to the building will only be available with key access through the Front Reception Door which will remain as the only entry point to the building. Any person unlocking this door at any time must re-lock it after them. Each Tenant is responsible for getting their staff in and out of the building. Exiting the Centre remains through the McConnell Door and must never be left in an open position.

In addition, deliveries of services or goods in the normal manner will no longer be possible and outgoing post will no longer be accepted from Tenants at reception. Meeting rooms will no longer be available, and the Smoking Shelter will be closed.

All Tenants and their staff are reminded to continue to observe personal health and safety procedures including non-invasive temperature checks, hand-sanitising, wearing of a facemasks and social distancing.

The Centre Point Café will offer a Takeaway Service (only) to Tenant Companies with a limited menu. The Café will operate from 8.30am, Monday to Friday, and will close its doors strictly at 2pm each day. If required, orders can be booked in advance at anna@ovendoorcatering.ie or 053 9144055.

“Please be assured, our entire focus is on reducing in so far as possible the risk of you and your staff contracting the Virus while operating from the Centre and the continuation and success of your business. Our combined efforts since March has keep this Centre free from contamination and we sincerely thank you and your staff for your cooperation. We could not have achieved this without you. We are committed to doing everything within our control to ensure Wexford Enterprise Centre remains open to our tenant companies and their staff.” – Brendan Ennis, CEO Wexford Enterprise Centre

Dulann set to expand its operations

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Without a doubt, this is a challenging time for the SME sector. But for Dulann, one of the resident companies located at Wexford Enterprise Centre, it is taking the opportunity to invest and grow its business.

Dulann is a Digital Transformation Company, though perhaps to the wider public, it is known more for its e-learning services, which only accounts for approximately 5-10% of their overall business.

Dulann specialises in applying technology to existing paperwork type systems to help companies to increase their compliance and efficiency. ‘Compliance is very much paperwork driven, so by deploying advances in technology, Dulann helps it’s clients to become far more efficient and cost effective. With the increased number of employees working remotely, conducting business by digital methods is more critical than ever’. Danone, Glanbia, Virgin Media and Zurich Insurance are just a few of their clients.

CEO Damian Donlon established Dulann in 2010, in the middle of the last recession. Now 10 years in operation, it employs 26 people throughout its network of offices all over Ireland and is currently looking to expanding its workforce. ‘Having started during the last recession helped us to adapt quickly to the current economic impact from the Covid-19 fall-out. The fact that we went through the last recession played a big part in how we are currently handling this one.’

Wexford Enterprise Centre is home to 30 diverse and dynamic businesses. We want to help our residents to get to know their ‘neighbours’. If your business has a story to tell, we’d love to share it. Email the WEC Communications Officer, Elizabeth Rose at elizabeth@wec.ie

Centre Point Cafe Reopens to the Public

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Wexford Enterprise Centre is delighted to announce the reopening of the hugely popular Centre Point Cafe, operated by Oven Door Catering. The Centre Point Cafe has always been the very ‘hub’ of Wexford Enterprise Centre, where tenants and other local business people often met up for coffee or lunch and a bit of networking. However the café was required to close last March under government restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus, though Wexford Enterprise Centre was able to remain open to the businesses located on the premises thanks to the swift implementation of strict health and safety measures.

Fortunately, the Centre Point Cafe is quite spacious and was easily modified to comply with the new health and safety regulations which enabled it to reopen in July. New tables and chairs were sourced as well to ensure that there is ample room between tables. In addition, access into Wexford Enterprise Centre itself is through the main reception area only, where people are asked to sanitise their hands and undergo a non-invasive temperature check before heading up to the café via a one-way system, which is in place throughout the entire building.

The café is open Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 3.30 pm to look after the WEC tenants and neighbouring business community, offering the same great menu options, ranging from breakfast to hot and cold lunches and snacks with homemade soup and daily specials. The Centre Point Cafe is also open again to cater for meetings, takeaway lunches or training sessions.

With plenty of free parking and free high-speed Wi-Fi, the Centre Point Cafe remains an ideal place to host a small meeting over coffee or lunch.