Author: admin

to rent near town; all mod cons; fully furnished; side entrance; tel no (087) 6544946.

to let to a per- son with references. Kilkishen area. Tel 087 6950735.

to share house in Park Avenue. Ensuite room. Located rear of Dunnes Stores Ennis. Tel 086-8521265

house to let, two ensuite, all mod cons, 5 min- utes walk from Ennis Town Cen- tre. Tel 087-7979065

mahogany finish 60”°L 19”W 30H. In very good condition. Would suit rented property. Tel 087-9785079

Bed and Break- fast Business for immediate sale. Excellent Value. Phone 6828278

THE team at Design Shannon are hard at work researching a new train- ing programme for enterprises in the Shannon Region.

The project centres on developing a network of companies who are in- terested in participating in a training programme that focuses on design as a driver of innovation.

And the good news is that compa- nies could have their training subsi- dised by up to 75 per cent under the government’s Skillsnet initiative.

Design Shannon are currently in- viting SME’s to join them at 4pm on Thursday, August 25, at the Clarion Hotel, Steamboat Quay, Limerick, to discuss the programme in detail.

Design Shannon Skillnet will pro- vide access to cutting edge training and professional development.

The focus is on training that uses creativity to help capture premium niche markets rapidly and efficiently.

“The result we are promising is a training programme that works in creating a new Strategic direction for

each company’s business plan that is knowledge based, driven by good re- search and development and strong market foresight,” a spokeswoman for Design Shannon said.

The spokeswoman said that the pro- gramme “will be delivered locally and will base its topics and themes on issues that have been expressed to De- sign Shannon through its Design Au- dit and Design Cluster programmes.”

All participating companies will get an opportunity to collaborate and network with other members. Design Shannon will facilitate the network which will be driven by its participat- ing companies.

“We are currently seeking views and feedback on some of the key themes of the training programme as well as the core topics,’ the spokes- woman said.

Skillnets is an enterprise-led, part- nership based support body dedicated to the promotion and facilitation of learning as a key element in sustain- ing Ireland’s national competitiveness. For more information, log on to www. designshannon.ie/seminars.html.

THE ENNIS Chamber of Commerce has called for laws to make big business pay interest to small concerns on unpaid bills in a climate in which small firms are being crippled by late payments.

ISME, the independent business organisation said this week that small businesses are being squeezed to death by the failure of creditors to pay their bills on time.

According to a survey carried out by ISME, one-third of small companies are waiting long- er for payments than they did this time last year

and the distribution sector faces the biggest problem, with 41 per cent of those companies waiting longer now than they did last year.

While legislation exists to deal with prompt payments, Mark Fielding, Chief Executive of ISME, said that the laws are “not worth the pa- per they are written on. The evidence suggests that small companies are still being forced, particularly by accountancy-led big business to accept credit terms longer than those outlined in the legislation.”

CEO of the Ennis Chamber, Rita McInerney, said that the Chamber’s view on the Prompt Payments Legislation is that it is “a positive fa-

cility for business as it’s objective is to stimulate erowth and development. However, indigenous small businesses in Ireland are under increas- ing pressure, as they are operating in a country that has seen consistent rising costs while ex- pected to compete with the foreign stores and products.”

Ms McInerney said that while competition is healthy, mechanisms should be in place to en- courage domestic enterprises.

“It should be made easier for small businesses to implement the good intention of the Prompt Payments Legislation. It is time to rectify the situation where larger businesses can dictate

credit terms to small businesses while these smaller enterprises have to wait for payment and pay promptly themselves.

“When a government department or agency is late with a payment, they are obliged when settling an account to pay interest to their sup- plier on the overdue amount – private compa- nies should be made to adhere to these same conditions,’ the CAE said.

ISME is now calling on the government to amend the prompt payments legislation and in- troduce a mandatory level of 30 days for credit terms from the 53-day term which currently exists.

THERE’S a lot more written Irish in evidence these days, fol- lowing the Language Act. Many bodies are issuing Irish versions of their annual reports, and job advertisements and public notices are more frequently appearing in both English and Irish. But there’s not much Irish being used on shop fronts and the exteriors of restau- rants, pubs and other business premises, outside the Gaeltacht. .

This could change quite soon, however, if enough Clare busi- nesses take part in new pilot schemes offering financial as- sistance for bilingual signage. These are offered on a first come first served basis, and while the

schemes are open until a deadline of 14 October this year, the early bird has a better chance of catch- ing the worm. Foras na Gaeilge is offering this financial assistance to small and medium sized com- panies through two new schemes.

Under the outdoor signage scheme, it will provide match- ing funding to a maximum of €3,000, and under the materials scheme the maximum matching funding is €1,000.

Readers can apply for the schemes through Blathnaid Ni Ghréachain, An Rannog Gnd/ Business Sector, Foras na Gaeilge, telephone 01-6398438, email eno @forasnagaeilge.ie.

According to Foras na Gaeilge, an all-Ireland body set up in 1999, these bilingual/Irish language

schemes will give businesses a marketing advantage over com- petitors.

It says that the Irish language as a communication tool is becom- ing more important for businesses keen to attract new customers and to add value to their products.

“Using Irish is_ increasingly recognised as a potential Unique Selling Point for businesses,” said Blathnaid Ni Ghréachain.

“Using bilingual/Irish language signage, as well as print and mul- timedia materials, is a simple and cost-effective way of creating a positive image,’ she added.

“Both schemes will offer busi- nesses a competitive marketing edge and improve their customer services.”

WHEN Kate Moss turned up at Glastonbury in 2003 sporting a belted mini dress and boots, she somehow managed to redefine casual glamour. Here she was, in the midst of the mud and the rain, living in a tent (but not as we know it, obviously) yet she still somehow managed to look drop-dead, rav- ishingly gorgeous.

Since that fateful day, festival fashion has become a masterclass, attempted by many, mastered by few. Sienna aced it, of course, in those vintage yellow aviator shades and her long mussed-up locks. And Queen Kate raised the bar even further this Summer with her hot-pants-and-wellies combo.

But what about us mere mortals? At the up- coming O2 in the Park and Electric Picnic festivals, which promise to be melting pots of glamour and style, how can we expect to score high fashion grades?

Unfortunately, our reliably inconsistent cli- mate makes it quite a challenge. We have to consider every kind of weather condition, from sweaty, sunburnt days to cold nights tucked up in a flimsy two-man tent. But rest assured, successful style can remain a possi- bility, despite such hurdles: just keep in mind the two golden rules.

One, be realistic. There will be inches of mud and you will not — NOT — be able to wear those new three-inch stilettos OR those white skinny jeans, so don’t even try. Swop the dryclean-only ensemble for something a little more washing machine-friendly. Ex- pect nothing but rain and mud and dirt, and truckloads of inebriation. Remember, we’re talking Laois, not the Ritz.

Two, festival chic is all about low mainte- nance. This is not the time to get your fake fingernails applied and painted, and don’t ex- pect to achieve perfect makeup each morning

— you’ll be lucky if you get to brush your teeth, let alone your hair. No matter how 1m- maculate you are normally, this particular weekend you’re aiming for hippy chic which, by its very nature, is dishevelled but stylish; and at a music festival, the emphasis is on the former.

To achieve a look more Sienna Miller than Grace Kelly, your rucksack will require a few essential items.

1. Keeping in mind that the weather will most likely range from wet and cold to hot and sunny, with some snow and gale-force winds thrown in for good measure, make sure you bring a comfy pair of jeans (prefer- ably distressed), a cute denim mini or shorts and a gypsy skirt. With these three, you’ll have every eventuality covered.

2. Throw in a choice of vests, t-shirts and jumpers so you can layer up or down accord- ingly. Those of you brave enough may even want to pack a few bikini tops…

3. Spice it up with flip-flops (oh, how we hope) or wellies (See paragraph two — re- alistic outlook called for at all times). Long shunned by the fashion elite, wellingtons have recently re-emerged as style classics, and Hunter boots are now almost as sought after as Jimmy Choos.

4. If you want to add a touch of femininity, pack a floaty dress or a kaftan, but team it with the wellies to stay practical and look so cool everyone assumes you’re with the band.

5. Contrary to common belief, greasy hair is really not the way to impress a rock star. Bring along a cowboy hat or bandana to hide limp locks.

6. Accessories are key to festival chic. Hobo bags, chunky bangles and, of course, big, big sunglasses (the latter perform a double func- tion: in addition to looking fabulous, they can be very effective in hiding the dreaded pink- eye the morning after the night before).

7. And finally, the pieces de resistance…the roll-up plastic mac and a mini brollie. Hon- estly, if you only pack two things, let these be it…

Ladies’ Day at the Races may require you to look as groomed and glamorous as a movie star, but at music festivals, everything and anything goes. So get out there, mix it up, and enjoy.