Dear Member, 

Welcome to this edition of the SFA e-zine.

This week our Brexit update focuses on funding available to support future working capital requirements and a Trader Notice on the importation of animal products into Ireland from the UK in the case of a no-deal Brexit. We also update you on an Ibec briefing with the Data Protection Commission on the impact of a no-deal Brexit on data protection compliance.

We include details on a new streamlining system which will make it easier for the non-EEA partners and spouses of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders to apply for work in Ireland. Members are invited to submit comments on the consultation on how the concept and objectives of community banking and local provision of banking and financial services may be furthered.

Did you know there’s a direct link between training and business performance? This is just one of the findings on the benefits of training from the most recent Skillnet Ireland Annual Report.

You are invited to a practical Energy Saving Breakfast hosted by SEAI, SFA and Chambers Ireland at the SEAI Energy Show tomorrow in the RDS. Following a fantastic event in Cork last week, our next Smart Business Workshop is taking place in Limerick on 4 April, register to attend now. Our next Business Bytes seminar on 10 April will focus on cyber security and GDPR. 

I am delighted to announce Dr Paul Redmond, a leading expert in generational theory & employability will be speaking at the SFA Smart Business Conference taking place on 2 May, book your place early to avoid missing out on this great day of learning and networking. 

Do you want to provide your managers with an overview of their roles and responsibilities for the day-to-day practical concerns of integrating health and safety with operational management? If so then we have an ideal safety awareness course for your managers coming up on 4 April. We also provide a summary of recent press coverage.

As always, we’d love to hear from you about any queries you may have, issues you wish to have raised with Government or other stakeholders and your ideas on how we can improve the business environment for us all. Please contact me on tel: 01 605 1602 or e-mail: sven@sfa.ie or tweet: @SFA_Irl or visit: www.sfa.ie.

Kind regards, 

Sven Spollen-Behrens

SFA Director