CEAI Newsletter | Issue 1 | Spring 2022

In This Issue

CEAI News
Member News
Preferred Providers
Enterprise Ireland
Sectoral Updates
Media Highlights
Q1 Highlights
Blog

Keep Up With Us

In Case You Missed It!

Under the 2021 ARISE (Awareness Raising Initiative for Social Enterprise) Scheme, CEAI secured funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development to promote the role of social enterprise in communities using its members’ network. CEAI is now working with several host locations to facilitate a series of regional Social Innovation Pitch Events during May/early June – targeting participation from individuals across local communities who are driven to solve local problems. A shortlist will be drawn up from across the regions to participate in a final event, to be hosted by Innovate Communities before end of June 2022. Anybody interested in getting involved should email [email protected].

Other Updates

A new Connected Health & Wellbeing Cluster was launched recently at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) which supports Ireland’s ambition to become a global leader in the sector that merges the latest technology with established healthcare solutions. The Connected Health & Wellbeing Cluster recently announced a new 6-week support programme for digital health startups on the island of Ireland – the winner receives $100k of AWS credits. The new Enterprise Ireland-funded cluster will encourage and facilitate increased collaboration between industry (indigenous and FDI), academia, healthcare providers, and enterprise support agencies.

CEAI News

QHubs FAQ

What is the Qhubs Programme?

The QHubs Programme, funded by Enterprise Ireland, is the emerging Quality Development Programme for the National Hub Network, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, ongoing innovation and best in class leadership within centres and hubs nationally. The Programme will support the development and strengthen the long term sustainability of the National Hub Network.

Why has the Qhubs Programme been created?

The Programme was designed to support the growth of the National Hub Network and optimise quality, innovation and additional core management performance metrics across the Network. ISO Standards are central to the design and development of the QHubs Framework and Programme.

How do I find out more?

Find out more about how the QHubs Programme is going to provide support to the National Hub Network on our website here.

“I’d like to commend the Team on an excellent job. We are particularly delighted to see strong emphasis and grounding of the initiative in ISO Management Principles. Verification will also serve to strengthen the profile of the initiative in line with our national SME/ Entrepreneurship Growth and innovation agendas” Stewart Hickey | Head – Business Excellence Certification | NSAI, March 2022.

Member News

QHubs Preparatory Training Support for Public Sector Employees of the National Hub Network

CEAI has just secured funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development to support the training of centres and hubs which did not previously qualify for training support under the MentorsWork Programme. Any location interesting in participating in this programme – offered at no cost and subject to approval by the Department, should contact Siobhán Finn, National Hub Network Manager for CEAI on [email protected].

Preferred Providers

Provider Spotlight – Small Firms Association

Here at the CEAI, we are lucky to work with and have the support of a variety of like-minded partners and providers in the sector. With that in mind, we’re delighted to announce a new partnership with the Small Firms Association Ireland. The even better news for our members is that this partnership means that members can now avail of a variety of benefits and offers from the SFA to help develop and grow their hub or centre! Click here for more information about our Preferred Providers.

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Enterprise Ireland’s 2021 Statement

Each year, our partner Enterprise Ireland releases an End of Year Statement highlighting key annual outcomes across a variety of areas such as employment, regional development, market growth and expansion and many more. This year, we are delighted that CEAI and the introduction of the new QHubs Quality Standard is included as one of the initiatives under EI’s ‘Powering the Regions’ strategy. We’re really looking forward to continuing to drive balanced regional development in Ireland this year. To read the full statement, click here.

Sectoral Updates

Ministers of State with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Robert Troy T.D. and Damien English T.D. recently announced government funding of up to €17 million for regional enterprise projects.

€12 million is being made available to address construction inflation costs and support the completion of existing regionally funded projects under the Regional Enterprise Development and Border Enterprise Development Funds. Up to €6 million will be made available this year with a further €6 million after 2022.

The initial funding of €6 million will be made available by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through Enterprise Ireland, who will contact existing regional and community based REDF/BEDF projects and advise of the new fund. Read more here.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment have almost completed the regional launches of nine different Regional Enterprise Plans over the last month. These Plans have been developed by regional stakeholders and place a strong focus on collaborative initiatives that can help realise enterprise growth and job creation in each of the regions. The Plans are an important part of the Programme for Government commitment to achieving more balanced regional enterprise development and build on core strategies of the Enterprise Agencies, the Local Enterprise Offices and the wider range of State Bodies directly involved in supporting enterprise development in the regions.

Across the Regions, members of CEAI play a role in the delivery of these plans with CEAI itself being a key stakeholder across several Plans. The Network of Regional Enterprise Plan Managers also have representation on the QHubs National Steering Group with Sarah Morgan who is Programme Manager for the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan.

Media Highlights

“National Hub Network shows future of the Irish workplace”

We were delighted to be mentioned in a recent article in the Sunday Independent about the future of work written by Clare Power, Chief of Staff with Enterprise Ireland. Community Enterprise Association Ireland and Enterprise Ireland have had a longstanding partnership over the past two decades – we were founded with the support of Enterprise Ireland in 2008 are funded under the 3rd Regional Enterprise Development Fund since 2019 – and we are very grateful for their continued support and championing of the community enterprise centre sector across Ireland.

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Q1 Highlights 2022

“As a member of CEAI, BloomHQ receives invaluable support through our membership of the network. The QHubs Preparatory Programme – supported by MentorsWork as a 12-week management and innovation programme from Skillnet Ireland and SFA – has been an important resource for us in supporting staff training through, Masterclasses, Workshops, and access to the Online Learning Platform. In addition, the support of the One-to-One mentoring sessions has been of great value to our Operations and Community Manager. Our future plans for our social enterprise here in Mountrath Co. Laois have been validated through the mentorship of experienced MentorsWork mentors.”

– Regina Dunne, Operations and Community Manager, BloomHQ, Mountrath, Co Laois

In partnership with Skillnet Ireland and with the support of the SFA, CEAI is currently facilitating the delivery of a management training preparatory programme to member locations across the National Hub Network. Over 50 locations are currently engaging in the MentorsWork Programme which covers areas such as Business Processes, People, Finances & Growth and Digitisation.

The aim of the Programme is to develop the Management Mindset with a focus on delivering high quality and innovative management services to clients and tenants of their centre or hub and underpins the planned rollout of the QHubs Quality Programme, commencing later in 2022.

Blog – ‘How to Score First in Cyber Security’

Our guest blog this quarter is from Softcat, leaders in the delivery of IT infrastructure services across the public sector, social enterprises and the private sector in both Ireland and the UK. With cybercrimes and online attacks having increased dramatically over the last 19 months, cyber security has never been more important. For advice and guidance on where to start with strengthening the defence of your online systems, check out our guest blog ‘How to Score first in Cyber Security’ written by Alexander Lewis, Principal Security Consultant and Blogger at Softcat.

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The Community Enterprise Association Ireland is a non-profit organisation.

We are grateful to those who continue to support our growth and ambition including: