Wexford Enterprise Association visits Savannah as TradeBridge Regional Development Programme gets underway

After a two year delay arising from the pandemic, CEO of Wexford Enterprise Association (WEA) Brendan Ennis and TradeBridge Director and WEA Board member, Éamonn Murphy were in Savannah over the St Patrick’s week to finalise the structure of the TradeBridge Regional Development Programme with their partners, World Trade Center Savannah (WCTSav) and Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA). The WEA travelled to Savannah along with the Cathaoirleach, Mayor and representatives from Wexford County Council as part of ‘Team Wexford’ to further develop economic, educational, cultural and civic ties between the two regions.

During their visit, they met with the new Chair of the World Trade Center Savannah, Laura Moore and the new Chairman of the Savannah Economic Authority (SEDA), Paul Hinchey to finalise negotiations on matching staff and resources, on both sides of the Atlantic, to work as one unit to drive export opportunities for South East Irish companies looking to export into the US through South East Georgia and for South East Georgia companies looking to export into Europe through the South East of Ireland. The negotiations concluded successfully for both partners and as part of the international agreement, a new Head of Trade Development has been appointed in Savannah. The Georgia partners also committed to visiting Wexford in the near future.

In further news, after an extensive search, a Head of Trade Development has been named to oversee the TradeBridge office in Ireland. Neil Harte was recently appointed as Head of Trade Development for TradeBridge, based out of Wexford Enterprise Centre. Neil brings with him more than 20 years of experience in the Telecoms, ICT, Software, Medical Devices and Pharma Industries in senior management roles across Global markets, with particular expertise in commercial leadership, sales management, virtual roleplay software services and new business streams across EMEA and Americas.

TradeBridge is a not-for-profit trade development programme funded by Enterprise Ireland and the five local authorities in the South East of Ireland. For information on TradeBridge, visit www.tradebridge.ie

Wexford Enterprise Centre welcomes two new Resident Companies

While we can now begin to meet each other person-to-person, we’d like to welcome two new Resident Companies to Wexford Enterprise Centre, Anu Heritage and Spiritual Earth.

Anú Heritage, founded and managed by Caroline Kearns Gethings, aims to bring a high-quality, dedicated service and holistic approach to conserving and recording Ireland’s cultural heritage, delivered with originality, creativity, and ingenuity. Anú Heritage is a result of many years of practical experience working in both the private and public sectors. Alongside many of Ireland’s talented traditional contractors, Caroline has successfully completed many built heritage, tourism, and community development projects in both a paid and voluntary compacity. Recent heritage projects in Co. Wexford include Johnstown Castle, Castleboro House and Demesne, Loftus Hall and The Norman Way, to name but a few. Anú Heritage

With personal and professional well-being at the top of the agenda these days, Spiritual Earth was founded ten years ago in 2012 by CEO Calodagh McCumiskey, an accredited Master Practitioner in Wellbeing and life coaching and trainer. She started Spiritual Earth to help people realise their potential no matter what their circumstances. Her weekly column can be read in INM owned regional publications around Ireland, including the People Group of newspapers.

Describing what Spiritual Earth offers, Calodagh explained, ‘We provide Wellbeing solutions that help organisations create and maintain a ‘well culture’ that fosters innovation, cooperation and high-performance. We deliver programmes that empower people and teams to boost their wellbeing and effectively manage stress in the modern world. All of our programmes are bespoke and designed to address the actual wellbeing needs and goals of your organisation and people. We work with a broad range of clients from SMEs to larger companies, entrepreneurs, Government bodies, NGOs and schools. We have a very practical approach. Our dedication to customer service has recently been acknowledged by The All Ireland Business Federation. After three rounds of auditing, we were awarded ‘The All-Star Business Accreditation’.

We wish you both continued success in your new home!

You can find out more about our newest residents on www.anuheritage.ie and www.spiritualearth.com – though we hope to ‘bump in to you’ in person, along with all the staff from the other 30 Resident Companies located in Wexford Enterprise Centre.

Wexford Enterprise Centre welcomes the easing of Covid restrictions

Wexford Enterprise Centre cautiously welcomes the changes to the Government Covid restrictions which came into effect on Monday, 28 February 2022. We look forward to our Resident Companies and the Centre itself returning to a more stable, normal, and vibrant working environment. But we also acknowledge that the virus remains active within our community and therefore our response to the new Government Guidelines, while positive in nature, is cautious in practice and delivery.

Speaking directly to the 32 companies resident in Wexford Enterprise Centre, CEO Brendan Ennis said, “I would like to sincerely thank each of you, your staff and your visitors for the unwavering support and understanding you have afforded to my team and I, in our efforts to maintain Wexford Enterprise Centre as a safe, healthy, and secure environment from which to work. Your cooperation is always very much appreciated, but never taken for granted.

Wexford Enterprise Centre intends to eliminate, modify, or maintain elements of our current Covid-19 Health, Safety and Wellbeing policies and practices. Our main priority remains the protection of our Resident Companies, our combined Staff, and all those visiting the Centre.

Masks & Social Distancing
While the wearing of Masks and Social Distancing is no longer mandated within the common areas of the Centre as of today, we respectively suggest that when using these common areas, you are mindful of others also using the Centre, and if possible, please continue to social distance and wear a mask or face covering while using all communal areas of the building.

Cleaning & Sanitising
Working together we have achieved a hygienic and safe working environment and the Centre’s increased cleaning and sanitation programs will continue. We are maintaining ALL hand sanitising stations throughout the Centre and we strongly encourage their use. It is important to note, each tenant is responsible for keeping their own unit hygienically clean and ensuring their staff maintain a high level of personal hygiene at all times and follow all advice detailed on:
www.hse.ie
www.gov.ie
www.who.int

Entry and exiting the Centre
For the month of March, we are maintaining the current Entry and Exits point to and from the Centre as is. Entry to the Centre will be through the Front Reception Door and the only exit is by way of the McConnell door at the end of the building Infront of the McConnell stairs. All other external doors and shutter doors will remain closed to the public and kept closed at all times apart from when loading or accepting a delivery. These practices will be reviewed at the end of the March.

Temperature Control Checks
We are ceasing these checks, but please be advised that it may be re-introduced if it is deemed necessary. These checks have played a fundamental part in maintaining a safe and healthy environment within the Centre over the past two years. It is no exaggeration to say that our Temperature Control Checkpoint in Reception has been our first line of defence against Covid and has never let us down. We were one of the first buildings in Ireland to put such measures in place and its use has proved invaluable.

Meeting Rooms
All meeting rooms are now open to both tenants and non-tenants. Social Distancing and Perspex Screens within these rooms will be maintained for the time being: Williams Innovation Room max 6 persons; the McConnell Conference Room max 11 persons; Huddle Room 2 persons.

Café
We are pleased to confirm the Centrepoint Café is back in full operation and open to both tenants and non-tenants alike from 8.30 am to 2.30 each day (Monday to Friday).

Post
Outgoing post reception service will remain suspended for the month of March, but incoming post will continue to be managed. Only small Parcels will be accepted by Centre Staff, and you will need to make your own arrangements with An Post in relation to medium and large size parcels. Again this will be reviewed at the end of next month.

Wexford Enterprise Centre warmly welcome you all to Wexford Enterprise Centre and thank you for your continued support and cooperation! Here’s to a brighter and healthier future!