ThinkBusiness.ie

We talk to Claire Hanrahan, managing director of pensions business IPF which is blazing a trail in terms of women leadership at both executive and board-level. The business is an outlier in terms of equality and empowering all staff- male and female – to develop their careers and achieve their potential. Proving diversity works, it now has €1bn under management, counts more than 30,000 customers a...

We speak to the owner of the iconic St Bridget vessel Eugene Garrihy of Dublin Bay Tours. Faced with a choice between buying a new boat or committing to a more sustainable path, Garrihy chose the latter and embraced the circular economy. He decided to switch from traditional fossil fuels to Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil fuel. This renewable alternative reduces carbon emissions by up to 80% compared t...

We speak with entrepreneur Luke Joyce about his growing venture TheCleaningCompany.ie which he started armed with only his grandmother’s Toyota Yaris, a bucket and a squeegee. The business is now expanding nationwide driven by year-on-year 100 per cent increases in revenue. He talks about his passion for entrepreneurship, including winning Maynooth University Entrepreneur of the Year, and his plan...

We talk to Joe Quirke, head of GoCar in Ireland, about what’s happening in terms of transport in Ireland. GoCar has been a prominent contributor to Ireland's car-sharing landscape, with a fleet of over 1,100 vehicles nationwide. Launched with the aim of providing members with the freedom of car ownership without the hassle, GoCar ensures a seamless experience. We look at the evolution of car...

We speak with Richard Tierney, CEO of the Dublin St Patrick’s Festival. The St Patrick’s Festival is the biggest celebration of Irish arts, culture and creativity worldwide and its impact is astonishing. In 2024, it delivered an overall media reach of 400m+, publicity worth €522m, a digital and social media reach of 22m, a live audience in excess of 600k, a TV audience of 386k with a market share...

The restaurant industry in Ireland has been facing significant challenges over the past few years, with rising costs and tax constraints being the main factors. Since its soft launch in 2023, Early Table has connected over 34,000 active members with exclusive dining offers, providing savings of up to 50% while helping restaurants nationwide fill empty tables. We talk to entrepreneur James Lenehan...

Sean Glynn, chief learning officer at Irish tech firm Wriggle, talks about how the business is reshaping the school classroom as we know it through clever learning through digital devices. Uniquely the business employs Irish teachers to develop ways to help hundreds of schools integrate digital technology into their classrooms. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups an...

Three in five Irish consumers are more likely to support businesses committed to climate and nature. That’s according to Business in the Community Ireland CEO Tomás Sercovich. To help businesses navigate their sustainability challenges, Business in the Community has developed a new Pact that will help firms address the interconnected climate and nature crises.  Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more...

Founded by experienced secondary school grinds teacher Ronan Murdock and serial entrepreneur Brendan Kavanagh, Grinds 360 was born out of a desire to address gaps in the traditional grinds system and transform the current education landscape. With investors that include rugby stars Brian O'Driscoll, Caelan Doris, Jordan Larmour, Murdock talks about Grinds 360’s innovative approach to educatio...

Kilkenny Group CEO Evelyn Moynihan talks about how the Irish design and fashion retailer became a beacon of innovation and e-commerce during the pandemic and how this drove the company’s momentum as the world reopened. She discusses the Group’s investment in both bricks and mortar alongside e-commerce and driving the future of Irish retail trends in 2025. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news a...

Johnny O’Callaghan of Taxplanner.ie discusses how he helps individuals and families in Ireland navigate the complexities of Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) - commonly known as Gift Tax or Inheritance Tax. His ambition is to ensure his new online service becomes a trusted partner for those seeking to secure their family’s financial future.  Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for s...

A ransomware epidemic threatens to engulf Irish SMEs. Not only that but the rise of AI and deepfakes means businesses can be fooled into costly fraud and phishing attacks. Speaking ahead of the IRISSCON 2024 conference on the 6th of November, Jake Moore, one of Europe’s leading data security experts warns that Irish businesses are vulnerable and need to be wary of cybercriminals lying in wait.  Vi...

We talk to Bank of Ireland’s head of Food Sector Lucy Ryan as well as a range of artisan food and drinks businesses at the recent Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards.  Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness .

In this episode we speak to Martin Donovan from Killadoon Milk in Kildare which won ‘Best Start Up’, a prize also sponsored by Bank of Ireland as well as a variety of accolades including Gold for Whole Milk, Best in Kildare and Best in Leinster.  Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness .

Irishwoman Anne Ravanona is a recognised global advocate and voice for access to funding for women entrepreneurs and women’s economic empowerment. Rather than moving forward, she warns that women entrepreneurs are losing hard-earned ground. The answer she urges is fundamental change in financial policy and the need for more women investors.  Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports fo...

Recently 22 Irish SMEs graduated from a decarbonisation pilot, which was a collaboration between Business in the Community Ireland, Bank of Ireland, the Musgrave Group and SSE Airtricity. We talk to some of the SMEs who graduated from the programme about what they learned and how they will go about decarbonising their businesses.  Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups...

Creating a neuroinclusive working environment isn’t just good for the individual, it’s good for everyone. We talk to Yvonne Brewer from Auticon about the organisation’s unique business model of delivering complex IT projects by harnessing the exceptional talents and skills that neurodivergent people have to offer.  Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ire...

We talk to a variety of agri start-ups and early-stage food business that we met at the 2024 Ploughing Championships, from the latest tech to amazing flavours.  Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness .

At the 2024 Blas na hEireann Awards in Dingle we spoke with its founder Artie Clifford who talked about how the awards came into being and how his own experiences as a businessperson informed the need for not only a celebration of Irish food but for how food producers can help each other grow their businesses.  Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland...

Hosted at the RDS Simmonscourt on Sunday 10 November, the Nevo EV Show is poised to be Ireland’s largest-ever motor show – a must-attend for anyone interested in the future of mobility. We talk to Nevo’s Derek Reilly, the host of Ireland’s leading Electric Vehicle YouTube channel and Partnerships Director of Nevo, about what’s happening when it comes to the uptake of electric vehicles in Ireland....

We talk to Barry Guiney, head of the Scale Up Collective at executive search firm Odgers Berndtson Ireland about the prevailing trends in tech recruitment. Is the sector in slowdown or is it heating up? Barry has more than 20 years of senior executive experience in the technology sector and has his finger on the pulse of new hiring trends such as the emergence of the chief AI officer role. Visit w...

Mark O’Connor and Bobby McDonnell from Bank of Ireland Corporate Pensions outline the pros and cons of auto-enrolment for employers and employees and what every business owner needs to know.  Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness .

We talk to Lucy Ryan, head of Food & Beverage Sector at Bank of Ireland about the upcoming Blas na Eireann Irish food awards, now in their 17th year. She talks about how quality Irish food ingredients are having their moment and how we can make Irish food more sustainable to serve future generations.  Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If y...

With the 2024 Ploughing Championships about to welcome more than 300,000 people and 1,700 exhibitors, Bank of Ireland’s head of Agriculture Sector Eoin Lowry talks about the history of this iconic event and how it is at the crossroads of the sustainable future of farming.  Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a busin...

Caitriona Considine swapped the corporate world to transform an old cowshed near the cliffs of Moher into a thriving gift and coffee shop with the mission for Moher Cottage to be the best little shop in Ireland. The former engineer talks about swapping the long commutes for entrepreneurship and running a business sustainably on one of Ireland’s busiest tourist trails. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie fo...