HP Unveils Industry’s Largest Portfolio of AI PCs

HP Inc. has announced the industry’s largest portfolio of AI PCs leveraging the power of AI to enhance productivity, creativity, and user experiences in hybrid work settings.

In an ever-changing hybrid work landscape, workers are still struggling with disconnection and digital fatigue. HP’s 2023 Work Relationship Index reveals that only 27% of knowledge workers have a healthy relationship with work, and 83% believe it’s time to redefine our relationships with work. Most employees believe AI will open new opportunities to enjoy work and make their jobs easier, but they need the right AI tools and technology to succeed.

“At HP, our mission is to empower companies to capitalise on the power of AI, sparking ambitious and meaningful progress in every organisation,” said Val Gabriel, Managing Director, HP Ireland. “We are proud to represent the industry’s broadest portfolio of AI PCs. By harnessing AI as a personal tool, we are creating more personalised and meaningful work experiences, revolutionising the way we interact with technology and each other in the workplace.”

Focus on the work that matters with AI PCs

For today’s leaders, knowledge workers, and creators, HP introduced the newest generation of AI HP Elite PCs, featuring Copilot in Windows and Windows 11 Pro, and Z by HP mobile workstations, delivering high-performance computing solutions designed to power the most demanding workflows.

HP introduces the industry’s largest portfolio of AI PCs1

The latest HP Elite and Pro PC solutions are equipped with AI capabilities powered by multiple Intel® Core™  or next-generation processors with dedicated NPUs for tackling AI tasks. The new PCs are designed to automatically anticipate and adjust to usage behavior, ensuring the best balance of performance and power.  They offer improved, natural on-camera interaction and collaboration for a seamless user experience.

HP now has the largest portfolio of Intel® and AMD-based AI PCs, demonstrating a commitment to innovation and performance. The lineup launched today includes:

  • HP Elite 1000 Series G11 Notebook PCs: As the world’s most powerful AI business PCs the series is designed to deliver a seamless blend of portability, performance, and up to 21 hours of battery life for leaders and workers on the go. Harnessing the power of AI, users experience up to 80% better graphics performance, up to 38% less power for AI-enhanced collaboration, and up to 132% faster AI video editing compared to the previous generation.

 

  • HP EliteBook 800 and 805 Series G11 Notebook PCs: Created to meet the needs of enterprise knowledge workers taking on daily workloads that demand powerful performance and collaboration features.
  • HP EliteBook 600 and 605 Series G11 Notebook PCs: Crafted for corporate and public sector organisations that need to maximise value and flexibility to equip a range of users in hybrid environments.
  • HP ProBook 400 and 405 Series G11 Notebook PCs: Purpose-built for hybrid workers splitting time between the office and home, these devices unlock AI-powered workflows and essential performance while offering upgradeable storage and memory.
  • HP Elite Small Form Factor 805 G9 Desktop PC: Engineered for desktop workers looking to take productivity to the next level, workers experience boosted connectivity to take advantage of cloud-based AI applications.

Z by HP delivers high-performance solutions designed to power the most demanding workflows. The newest generation of AI HP ZBook mobile workstations tackle the challenges of mobile work yet maintain the necessary collaboration tools for executing large, complex projects from anywhere. Z by HP’s comprehensive hardware and AI software solutions ensure reliability, security, and mobility for creative professionals.

  • HP ZBook Power G11: A high-performance computing solution with the ability to power the most demanding workflows, boosting productivity in a new premium design with pro-grade components for running AI development and conceptual design applications. The HP ZBook Power G11 is designed to handle 3D modeling, AI-powered content creation, and heavy multitasking with ease.
  • HP ZBook Fury G11: Designed to deliver the power of desktop performance from anywhere, the ZBook Fury enables powerful AI acceleration for editing 8K videos, advanced 3D rendering, VFX, or tuning and running local AI models. Advanced thermal technology ensures optimal efficiency during demanding tasks.
  • HP ZBook Studio G11: Enhance focus and productivity in a sleek, portable form factor; the ZBook Studio allows users to build complex assemblies, bring AI capabilities to content creation tools, render in real-time, and visualise data on the go.
  • HP ZBook Firefly G11: The perfect fusion of pro-level performance and true mobility. The ZBook Firefly enables seamless project management from anywhere and is equipped with AI-accelerated performance and offers dynamic power efficiency and exceptional battery life.

Work protected with HP security solutions

Building on reputation as the world’s most secure and manageable PCs, today, HP introduced the world’s first business PCs to protect firmware against quantum computer hacks featuring HP’s upgraded Endpoint Security Controller (ESC) chip. This helps ensure the manageability and protection of sensitive data.

The HP Elite and ProBook notebooks and Z by HP workstations are equipped with HP Wolf Security for Business to protect end users no matter where and how they work. HP also launched HP Cloud Endpoint Manager SaaS, which is purpose-built for mission-critical devices to help IT secure endpoints from threats with automated device monitoring and remediation.

 Accelerate data science capabilities with the HP AI Creation Center, including by HP AI Studio

HP is accelerating the AI era with customised data science solutions. HP’s AI Creation Center combines the world’s most advanced workstation for AI with robust solutions like the Z by HP AI Studio to deliver the world’s most comprehensive workstation solution for AI development. Z by HP workstations and solutions designed in close collaboration with NVIDIA® will help scale compute and AI resources from an on-premise infrastructure to the cloud, simplifying building and customisation of private AI models through a platform that connects data teams, tools, and compute.

For data scientists and AI creators, the ability to seamlessly scale projects from an AI workstation to the cloud is critical. By building AI models in a hybrid environment from one, centralised location from the start, they can more easily shift from product development to production for the most substantial data science and AI tasks.

Swappie appoints new country manager – Luísa Vasconcelos e Sousa

Swappie, Europe’s foremost brand in refurbished smartphones, is delighted to introduce Luísa Vasconcelos e Sousa as the Country Manager for Ireland. Armed with a degree in Business Management and a specialization in Digital Transformation, Luísa brings a wealth of experience from her years at Facebook’s European headquarters (Meta) in Dublin, coupled with a diverse background in banking and marketing.

With a mission to promote conscious choices and habits, Luísa joins Swappie with a dedication to reducing the environmental impact of technology and strengthening the circular economy through the promotion of refurbished devices. Her strategic role aligns seamlessly with Swappie’s ongoing commitment to making refurbished tech mainstream, exemplified by the company’s current #Women4SustainableTech initiative.

Launched in celebration of International Women’s Day, #Women4SustainableTech underscores Swappie’s dedication to gender diversity and empowerment within the tech industry. Luísa’s role as the Country Manager for Ireland plays a pivotal part in this initiative, adding momentum to Swappie’s commitment to fostering an inclusive

Luísa Vasconcelos e Sousa, commented: “Working at Swappie is an incredible opportunity to be part of a movement towards more sustainable technology. I look forward to leveraging my experience to drive Swappie’s mission in Ireland, encouraging conscious choices that positively impact our environment.”

Luísa Vasconcelos e Sousa

As Swappie continues to celebrate women making strides in sustainable tech through the #Women4SustainableTech campaign, Luísa’s dynamic background and commitment to sustainability position her as a key player in furthering the company’s goals. With Luísa at the helm, Swappie looks forward to making a lasting impact in Ireland, fostering a more connected and sustainable society.

Electronics contribute to the largest and fastest-growing waste stream worldwide, and less than 15% of phones are recycled. Swappie aims to make it easier for people to purchase environmentally friendly, responsible smartphones by closing the loop on refurbished electronics and making circular smartphones accessible to the masses. Swappie controls its entire value chain, including carrying out all refurbishments at its factories in Helsinki, Tallinn and Leipzig, to ensure that the phones consumers receive are refurbished to the highest possible standards using the latest technology. 

Dublin City launches ‘Data Insights for Active Travel’ Project to determine impact of Active Travel infrastructure as part of Global Network of Cities

Lord Mayor Daithí de Róiste has announced that Dublin City Council (DCC) has joined forces with the Partnership for Healthy Cities to pilot new cutting-edge technologies for evaluating and measuring the impact of the city’s active travel investments (walking and cycling). Other partners include the National Transport Authority (NTA), ADAPT, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology, and Trinity College Dublin (TCD).

This unique partnership is set to boost understanding on active travel patterns in the city. The project will generate new data, which will be used to inform future infrastructure planning and improve safe and active transit options for city residents.

“Over the coming years, Dublin is investing in a city-wide Active Travel Network to provide 310 km of safe, accessible, and convenient pathways for walking, cycling, and other forms of active transportation. While this capital investment will be transformative for the city we need to think beyond the physical infrastructure and ensure that we are investing in the right technologies to generate better data and actionable insights to help evaluate and justify these investments,” said Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daithí de Róiste.

“The last three years have seen a significant ramping up of NTA investment in Active Travel projects across the country, with many large projects, such as Clontarf to City Centre, now coming to fruition. The monitoring and evaluation of these projects needs to keep pace through the deployment of detection and counting equipment. Smart detection technology may have an important role to play in understanding trends and patterns to inform decision-making and monitor the impact of schemes. The NTA recognises that new technology and data captured will greatly improve our ability to monitor and communicate the impacts of Active Travel schemes,” said Joe Seymour, Head of Active Travel Investment, NTA.

The project will fill a gap in current methodologies by developing an Active Travel Data Toolkit, replacing the ad-hoc approach of data collection with a systematic and integrated process that supports and guides future investments in active travel.

“This project stands as a testament to DCC’s commitment to active travel as a cornerstone of health and well-being. By integrating advanced monitoring technologies, and data visualization techniques, DCC aims to set a new standard for active travel infrastructure. The ultimate goal is to achieve a measurable positive impact on citizen behaviour, emissions reduction, and overall public health, while also influencing active travel policies to foster healthier urban spaces,” said Andy Walsh, Director of Active Travel Programme Office, DCC.

By establishing a robust framework for data gathering and analysis, DCC, in collaboration with the NTA will be able to measure the true value of active travel enhancements more accurately. The initiative will be working through DCC’s Smart City team, leveraging the existing partnerships with ADAPT and collaborating with Prof Brian Caulfield, TCD.

Phase 1 of this project will target two active travel schemes – the Clontarf to City Centre (C2CC) corridor and the Kilmainham to Thomas Street scheme and the surrounding areas. The initial steps will focus on sourcing, validating, and implementing the latest innovations in active travel monitoring. During Phase 2, the insights gained will inform the development of a toolkit to enhance policy-making and active travel project implementation citywide.

Through the Partnership for Healthy Cities, cities commit to one of 14 proven interventions, from improving safety for vulnerable road users to strengthening public health surveillance systems. The network is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the global health organization Vital Strategies.

“Sustained investment in a city’s safe and active transit infrastructure can reduce noncommunicable disease risks and health inequities,” said Ariella Rojhani, Director, Partnership for Healthy Cities at Vital Strategies. “Today, we congratulate Dublin on its commitment to the health and safety of its residents and look forward to seeing how this new data is used to improve their quality of life.”

The announcement comes as this week DCC presents its work to public health leaders from more than 50 cities at the Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit in Cape Town, South Africa. The annual event provides cities from around the world with the opportunity to advance solutions and exchange ideas on how to create healthier, safer and more equitable urban centres.

Mapped: How Much Netflix Costs in Every Country

Netflix, the renowned streaming giant, has transformed the way we consume entertainment, providing a vast library of movies, TV shows, and documentaries at the touch of a button.

However, the cost of accessing this digital haven varies significantly from country to country, reflecting economic disparities and market dynamics.

This graphic from Preyash Shah, via Visual Capitalist, maps Netflix price by country, using standard (basic) package subscription monthly rates from Netflix.com and converting to USD as of December 10, 2023.

What is the Netflix Price by Country?

Across 244 countries and territories that had Netflix available in December of 2023, Switzerland was the most expensive at $21.48 per month. That was $5 more than the second-most-expensive country on the list.

Countries Netflix Cost (USD)
 Afghanistan $7.99
 Åland Islands $12.92
 Albania $8.61
 Algeria $7.99
 American Samoa $15.49
 Andorra $14.00
 Angola $7.99
 Anguilla $12.99
 Antigua & Barbuda $12.99
 Argentina $3.57
 Armenia $10.76
 Aruba $12.99
 Australia $11.19
 Austria $14.00
 Azerbaijan $10.76
 Bahamas $12.99
 Bahrain $10.49
 Bangladesh $7.99
 Barbados $15.29
 Belarus $10.76
 Belgium $14.54
 Belize $5.99
 Benin $9.99
 Bermuda $12.99
 Bhutan $7.99
 Bolivia $5.99
 Bosnia & Herzegovina $8.61
 Botswana $7.99
 Bouvet Island $9.99
 Brazil $8.10
 British Indian Ocean Territory $7.99
 British Virgin Islands $12.99
 Brunei $11.99
 Bulgaria $8.61
 Burkina Faso $7.99
 Burundi $7.99
 Cambodia $7.99
 Cameroon $7.99
 Canada $12.13
 Cape Verde $7.99
 Caribbean Netherlands $12.99
 Cayman Islands $12.99
 Central African Republic $7.99
 Chad $7.99
 Chile $9.58
 Christmas Island $7.99
 Cocos (Keeling) Islands $11.19
 Colombia $6.75
 Comoros $7.99
 Republic of the Congo $7.99
 Democratic Republic of the Congo $7.99
 Cook Islands $11.32
 Costa Rica $12.99
 Côte d’Ivoire $7.99
 Croatia $8.61
 Cuba $5.99
 Curaçao $12.99
 Cyprus $11.84
 Czechia $11.42
 Denmark $16.46
 Djibouti $7.99
 Dominica $5.99
 Dominican Republic $7.99
 Ecuador $7.99
 Egypt $3.88
 El Salvador $7.99
 Equatorial Guinea $7.99
 Eritrea $7.99
 Estonia $10.76
 Eswatini $7.99
 Ethiopia $7.99
 Falkland Islands $12.99
 Faroe Islands $16.46
 Fiji $7.99
 Finland $12.92
 France $14.54
 French Guiana $13.46
 French Polynesia $11.99
 French Southern Territories $12.92
 Gabon $7.99
 Gambia $7.99
 Georgia $12.70
 Germany $14.00
 Ghana $7.99
 Gibraltar $14.00
 Greece $11.84
 Greenland $16.46
 Grenada $5.99
 Guadeloupe $13.46
 Guam $15.49
 Guatemala $7.99
 Guernsey $13.79
 Guinea $7.99
 Guinea-Bissau $7.99
 Guyana $5.99
 Haiti $5.99
 Heard & McDonald Islands $9.99
 Honduras $7.99
 Hong Kong $9.99
 Hungary $9.85
 Iceland $14.00
 India $5.98
 Indonesia $7.72
 Iran $9.99
 Iraq $7.99
 Ireland $16.15
 Isle of Man $13.79
 Israel $12.67
 Italy $14.00
 Jamaica $5.99
 Japan $10.28
 Jersey $13.79
 Jordan $7.99
 Kazakhstan $10.76
 Kenya $4.52
 Kiribati $7.99
 Kuwait $9.99
 Kyrgyzstan $10.76
 Laos $7.99
 Latvia $10.76
 Lebanon $7.99
 Lesotho $7.99
 Liberia $7.99
 Libya $7.99
 Liechtenstein $21.48
 Lithuania $10.76
 Luxembourg $14.54
 Macau $9.99
 Madagascar $7.99
 Malawi $7.99
 Malaysia $9.65
 Maldives $11.99
 Mali $7.99
 Malta $14.00
 Marshall Islands $15.49
 Martinique $13.46
 Mauritania $7.99
 Mauritius $7.99
 Mayotte $13.46
 Mexico $12.62
 Micronesia $15.49
 Moldova $10.76
 Monaco $14.54
 Mongolia $7.99
 Montenegro $8.61
 Montserrat $12.99
 Morocco $6.41
 Mozambique $7.99
 Myanmar (Burma) $7.99
 Namibia $7.99
 Nauru $11.99
 Nepal $7.99
 Netherlands $12.92
 New Caledonia $11.99
 New Zealand $11.32
 Nicaragua $5.99
 Niger $7.99
 Nigeria $4.48
 Niue $11.32
 Norfolk Island $11.19
 North Macedonia $8.61
 Northern Mariana Islands $15.49
 Norway $9.99
 Oman $10.49
 Pakistan $2.82
 Palau $15.49
 Palestine $7.99
 Panama $8.99
 Papua New Guinea $7.99
 Paraguay $5.99
 Peru $9.28
 Philippines $7.19
 Pitcairn Islands $7.99
 Poland $10.68
 Portugal $12.92
 Puerto Rico $15.49
 Qatar $9.99
 Réunion $12.49
 Romania $10.76
 Rwanda $7.99
 Samoa $7.99
 San Marino $14.00
 São Tomé & Príncipe $7.99
 Saudi Arabia $11.47
 Senegal $7.99
 Serbia $8.61
 Seychelles $7.99
 Sierra Leone $7.99
 Singapore $13.02
 Sint Maarten $12.99
 Slovakia $10.76
 Slovenia $8.61
 Solomon Islands $7.99
 Somalia $7.99
 South Africa $8.41
 South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands $9.99
 South Korea $10.25
 South Sudan $7.99
 Spain $14.00
 Sri Lanka $7.99
 St. Barthélemy $5.99
 St. Helena $7.99
 St. Kitts & Nevis $12.99
 St. Lucia $5.99
 St. Martin $5.99
 St. Pierre & Miquelon $14.54
 St. Vincent & Grenadines $5.99
 Sudan $7.99
 Suriname $5.99
 Svalbard & Jan Mayen $9.99
 Sweden $12.32
 Switzerland $21.48
 Taiwan $10.49
 Tajikistan $12.70
 Tanzania $7.99
 Thailand $9.90
 Timor-Leste $7.99
 Togo $7.99
 Tokelau $11.32
 Tonga $7.99
 Trinidad and Tobago $12.99
 Tunisia $7.99
 Türkiye $3.38
 Turkmenistan $10.76
 Turks & Caicos Islands $12.99
 Tuvalu $7.99
 U.S. Outlying Islands $9.99
 U.S. Virgin Islands $15.49
 Uganda $7.99
 Ukraine $8.07
 United Arab Emirates $10.62
 United Kingdom $13.79
 United States $15.49
 Uruguay $12.99
 Uzbekistan $10.76
 Vanuatu $7.99
 Vatican City $14.00
 Venezuela $5.99
 Vietnam $9.08
 Wallis & Futuna $7.99
 Western Sahara $9.99
 Yemen $7.99
 Zambia $7.99
 Zimbabwe $7.99

Other wealthy countries like DenmarkIreland, and the U.S. were in the top five most expensive countries for Netflix subscriptions, ranging from $16.46 to $15.49.

On the opposite side of the pendulum, Pakistan had the lowest Netflix subscription cost at $2.82 per month. It was followed by Türkiye at $3.38 and Argentina at $3.57.

Several factors influence the flux in pricing of Netflix subscriptions across different nations. These include:

  • Economic Factors: Netflix tailors its prices to align with the purchasing power of consumers in each market. Countries with higher average incomes typically bear higher subscription costs.
  • Market Competition: The presence of strong local streaming services can exert downward pressure on Netflix prices, forcing it to adjust its offerings to remain competitive.
  • Content Licensing: The cost of acquiring content rights varies across regions, influencing the overall pricing structure. Countries with higher licensing fees may experience higher subscription costs.
  • Currency Fluctuations: Currency exchange rates can impact Netflix’s pricing model, leading to occasional adjustments or fluctuations in subscription costs.

While affordability remains a primary concern for consumers, Netflix’s pricing strategy also aims to balance accessibility with content acquisition and profitability.

As the streaming industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to observe how Netflix adapts its pricing model to maintain its global dominance while catering to the diverse needs and preferences of its audience.

Momentum on Sustainable Energy Transition at Risk as Consumer Fatigue Sets In

As the sustainable energy transition enters a crucial new phase, momentum is at risk of slipping amongst Irish and global consumers. While households say they are more interested than ever in sustainability and the potential of a clean energy future, only three in ten (30%) feel they can do more at this time to be more sustainable. With 70% of the expected benefits of the energy transition to be driven by changes in consumer consumption, and at a time when energy prices are beginning to decline, reengaging households is key.

That’s according to the latest EY ‘Energy transition consumer insights’ report, which surveyed 23,000 residential energy consumers across 21 countries, including 1,042 in Ireland, and which also highlights the key role the energy providers can play in helping to close the gap between interest and action amongst consumers on energy sustainability.

In Ireland, 78% of consumers say they are doing as much as they can to be sustainable at this time. When it comes to shifting to cleaner sources of energy, the majority of Irish households say energy providers (57%) and Government (57%) should take the leading role, with just over one in five (21%) believing individual consumers should be leading. The global energy crisis and cost of living challenges continue to impact Irish households, with 69% of Irish consumers saying they can’t absorb a bill increase of 10%.

The research also identifies a generation gap when it comes to the sustainability premium of energy amongst Irish consumers – with Gen Z (32%) and Millennials (20%) willing to pay a premium for sustainable energy solutions, significantly ahead of Gen X (14%) and Boomers (15%).

Sean Casey, EY Energy & Infrastructure Consulting Leader says:

“After a number of years of spiking energy prices due to the conflict in Ukraine, combined with cost-of-living challenges facing many, it’s not surprising that Irish households feel that they are not in a position to do more on energy sustainability. Our research finds that the majority of Irish consumers say that they’ve already done everything they can, with only three in ten feeling they can do more to be more sustainable.

“This presents a significant challenge as we move into the next critical phase of meeting our ambitious but essential climate change commitments. While efforts on the supply side from producers are gaining momentum, with record renewable energy generation on the grid, we need an even more fundamental shift in how we engage and encourage sustainable energy consumption behaviours, as 70% of the outcome of the energy transition depends on people changing their behaviour, most notably how we power our homes and how we get around.

“With energy prices beginning to decline from the spikes of late 2022 and early 2023, there is now a window of opportunity in terms of promoting and incentivising sustainable energy behaviours at a household level. Energy consumers need a broad range of supports to make personal energy choices easier and more affordable. These supports are in such areas as renewable energy solutions for the home, electric vehicles and simply how consumers use energy every day. Closing the gap between their interest and action will depend on energy providers, government, and the broader energy ecosystem working together to pull every lever available.”

The Action-Reaction Paradox

The EY research also delved into consumer behaviours when it came to energy usage, finding that households are often undermining their own positive sustainability actions – in many cases without being aware of it. This behaviour is not uncommon and referred to by researchers as the ‘action-reaction paradox’.

More than seven in ten (72%) Irish consumers report they offset their positive energy actions with negative actions and behaviours. These can include replacing an appliance/device with a new one and continuing to also use the old one (21%), the increased use of a new appliance/device because it costs less to operate than the one it replaced (28%) or taking an action or making a purchase that helped reduce energy bills and using the savings to buy something else (31%).

Sean Casey says, “Our research finds that even when Irish households take action to increase their energy sustainability, they can sometimes offset the gains – frequently unknowingly – by undertaking another energy intensive action. This challenge is compounded by the fact that the consumption of a good or service often increases as prices fall – meaning that the rapid gains in terms of sustainable energy entering the grid in the past decade will be outweighed by increased energy demand overall. It’s imperative therefore that we redouble efforts to educate and support households to reduce energy use where possible. This can include switching to renewable energy – which is increasingly available without a premium – or to switch to dynamic plans that incentivise usage outside of peak periods of demand.”

Opportunity for Energy Providers

While 81% say that it’s the energy provider’s responsibility to be sustainable and offer sustainability options to consumers, usefully providers are Irish consumers’ most trusted source of guidance on energy sustainability and purchasing energy products and services (44%). This gives these companies a significant opportunity to play an increasing role in powering the next stage of the energy transition.

Kyle Kirkpatrick, EY Ireland Customer Strategy and Transformation Lead says“Our research tells us there is a real opportunity for energy providers to act as trusted advisors to householders – making change easier, faster, broader and deeper. Consumers are becoming more comfortable with new technologies being part of their energy experience – including the use of AI and Generative AI to help provide personalised advice and information about new energy solutions, and these technologies can play an increasingly important role in enabling consumers. One thing is clear: a collaborative, holistic approach to the energy transition, with consumers at the core, is how we will accelerate progress toward a fairer, greener, and better energy system that delivers more value for everyone.”

Find out more here.

Not just a man’s world – the transformation in the machinery sector

Mechanical engineering, industry, construction, and workshops: These are environments typically associated with men – at least according to the prevailing view in society. This is because women are supposedly not interested in technology and machinery. However, this perspective is outdated, as confirmed by four women in key roles at the industrial auction house Surplex.

The industry and mechanical engineering sectors, long considered male-dominated fields, are on the cusp of significant changes. For decades shaped by traditional gender roles and distributions, the rigid boundaries that hinder women’s access to technical professions and leadership positions are increasingly being broken down. Statistics paint an encouraging picture: The proportion of women in these fields is growing. This development, especially highlighted on International Women’s Day on 08 March, underscores the growing recognition of the importance of diversity in the workplace. Yet, there are still many challenges women often face.

New perspectives: women in technical professions

Surplex, an industrial auction house for used machinery in metalworking, woodworking, and construction, is also a typically male-dominated company. This is reflected not only in the industry but also in the professions: The Surplex project managers and sales managers, often with technical training, are responsible for acquiring machinery and conducting individual auctions, serving as direct contacts for predominantly male providers. Therefore, it is not surprising that two-thirds of Surplex’s employees are male.

However, Karin Schneider, Head of HR at Surplex, sees a positive change in the proportion of women at Surplex. A major problem, however, is the applicants’ experience. “The trend for more women to take up ‘typically male professions’ is still relatively new, so unfortunately, the depth of experience of most female applicants for higher positions is often not sufficient.“

The Surplex management team consists of three people, one of whom is a woman: Ghislaine Duijmelings. “It has been proven that diverse teams lead to better results. Therefore, it is crucial to consciously steer in this direction. In terms of internal labour mobility, we want to directly address women about new opportunities.“ Schneider also adds, “For us, gender is less important than a person’s qualifications. Such attributes should actually be irrelevant in a modern society.“ Despite the suitable working environment, why are there still fewer women in this industry?

Overcoming challenges, reducing self-doubt

“I think it’s due to cultural aspects such as stereotypical gender images, the way education is structured, and there are fewer female role models in these sectors. Also, the image of these sectors as a man’s world can deter women,“ says Duijmelings, echoing Schneider’s argument: How modern is our society today?

The fact that there are few women in this industry is not because they are excluded by men, as Nancy Castañeda, Project Manager for Surplex in Spain, and Kristina Voosholz, Acquisition and Purchasing, know from their own experience. “Of course, there was the occasional remark ‘Do you even know anything about machines?’, but you have to rise above that and charmingly convince the conversational partner otherwise,“ says Voosholz about her experience in the used machinery trade. Her long-standing expertise in the business has given her enough confidence to face sceptical business partners. And Nancy Castañeda feels the same: “Sometimes I felt like I wasn’t in the right place because I was surrounded by men, but I was confident that my work was good enough and I believed in myself.“ Sceptics were quickly convinced, and today she has many very good relationships with her business partners. Both women have not experienced outright rejection during their time at Surplex.

Balancing career and family: a management task

The combination of family and her role as CEO is not always easy, but for Duijmelings, it’s no obstacle. “It’s important to be flexible. I don’t stress when unforeseen circumstances arise. Taking responsibility also means setting priorities.“ And even though her children will always come first, it’s important to her to demonstrate that it’s important to be independent and to fulfil oneself.

Castañeda shares similar challenges between career and family. As a mother, she finds the time away from family the most challenging, an experience she shares with her male colleagues. “But the truth is, I have the support of my husband.“

So, flexibility is key for mothers – not just in technical professions. Surplex actively strives as an employer to create an environment where all employees can combine family and work. Whether through flexible working hours, part-time offers, workation (work & location, i.e. working in a different country than usual), or home office.

Diversity as the key to success

Women bring a new perspective to the market. Studies show that teams with a mix of different cultures, genders, and age groups are the most successful. It sounds like a cliché: Especially a balanced gender distribution leads to better decisions because it balances the extreme risk-taking of men and the excessive caution of women. The most important thing, therefore, is to encourage women to dare to enter technical fields.

For all women considering whether they are cut out for the machinery market or whether they should opt for a different career, Ghislaine Duijmelings has a tip: “My advice to other women: You are exactly right the way you are. Just take your position as a woman! Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know.“

New Engineers Ireland report projects 6,000 jobs in 2024

6,000 engineering jobs are projected to be created in Ireland in 2024, according to a new report by Engineers Ireland.

While the employers surveyed in the report acknowledged there are skills gaps in the profession, respondents indicated there are 722 current vacancies in the engineering sector.

The report ‘Engineering 2024: A Barometer of the Profession in Ireland’ was launched today as part of Engineers Week 2024, the annual campaign that highlights the diverse world of engineering to primary and secondary school children.

The engineering industry is optimistic about the prospects of the industry here, with 71% of engineering directors and managers planning to recruit engineers in 2024, a signal of confidence of growth. 68% of engineering employers stated that their financial position improved during 2023, compared to the previous year.

The public also had a positive outlook on the sector, according to the report, with 86% believing that there are plenty of jobs in engineering, while 85% believed engineering to be a financially rewarding career.

Flexibility with regard to remote working also appears to be growing across the industry, with 79% of engineering employers expecting a hybrid model of working, with greater ability to work from home, site and the office as required, to be the norm this year, up eight percentage points from last year.

This year’s report also found that 75% of the public believes that engineers are critical to combating climate change and biodiversity loss. In 2023, 26% of all Engineers Ireland CPD events had a sustainability focus and, in April 2023, Engineers Ireland became the first organisation outside of the UK to be licensed by the Society for the Environment to award the Chartered Environmentalist title.

Speaking about the report, Damien OwensDirector General of Engineers Irelandsaid: “Engineering is not merely a career, it is a vocation that intertwines with the very fabric of our nation. It is critical to ensuring that our infrastructure, our economy, and our public services can support living standards and growth – from clean water supplies and safe buildings to renewable energy and new manufacturing technologies. Our work extends beyond blueprints and equations – it touches lives, transforms communities, and safeguards our future.

He continued: “The Irish engineering landscape is teeming with opportunities and demand for engineers in this country greatly outstrips supply. As we celebrate Engineers Week 2024, there is a great sense among the public that engineering offers a positive career path for young people, with interesting work, plenty of jobs, and financial rewards, but the reality is the number of students studying STEM subjects and moving into third-level engineering and technology sectors needs to be much larger to meet our country’s current and future skills needs.”

For more information, see www.engineersireland.ie.

Free Digital Technology Kit for every Primary School in Ireland

Students from Stanhope Street Primary School visited Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) today to celebrate the launch of a landmark educational research project that will see every primary school in Ireland receive a free Digital Technology kit. EDTips – Enabling Digital Technology in Primary School will provide every primary school with free digital technology teaching resources and equipment to prepare for the introduction of the Primary Curriculum Framework during the 2025/2026 academic year. The project, led by CSinc (Computer Science Inclusive) at TU Dublin, has received funding from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and is supported by the University’s industry partners AWS In Communities and Workday.

Running over two years, EDTips will train primary school teachers in a suite of age-appropriate and interactive educational tools, catering to the abilities of all pupils and encouraging them to become confident, creative, and critical users of digital technology. TU Dublin academics with research expertise in Computer Science education will develop comprehensive teaching materials and activities modelled on the Primary Curriculum Framework, while AWS In Communities will supply 3,000 free offline Digital Technology kits, enabling all schools, irrespective of technical infrastructure, geographical location or socio-economics, to fully engage pupils in the curriculum. EDTips is also supported by Workday, a leading provider of enterprise cloud applications for finance and human resources. Employing over 2,000 people in Ireland, Workday will provide critical resources to help deliver the programme, including software development, content, design and project management.

Commenting Minister for Education Norma Foley T.D.,said. “EDTips will not only equip primary school teachers to deliver Digital Technology education but also has the transformative ability to spark the imaginations of young minds. This could set the pupils from Stanhope Street Primary School on a trajectory of educational discovery, potentially paving the way for a rewarding career in Ireland’s tech sector.”

Welcoming the Stanhope Street Primary School pupils and their teachers to Grangegorman, TU Dublin’s Vice President for Research and Innovation, Dr Brendan Jennings, said, “Empowering primary school teachers with resources such as EDTips not only enhances their ability to deliver quality STEM education, but also contributes to the overall development of their pupils. This early exposure to STEM concepts has the potential to set students on a path of educational discovery, helping them build a strong foundation for future academic and professional pursuits in digital technology.”

Welcoming the launch of EDTips, Dr Lisa Higgins, Head of Challenge Research, Education & Public Engagement at SFI, commented: “Science Foundation Ireland’s Discover Programme is funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and is designed to create opportunities for broader participation and engagement of the public with STEM. SFI is delighted to support this significant STEM educational programme that builds awareness and confidence in teachers to effectively deliver digital technology in primary school classrooms using fun, hands-on learning.”

AWS Country Lead for Ireland, Neil Morris, said: “These new technology kits will enable teachers in every primary school in Ireland to learn and be curious with coding and empower them further with digital literacy tools ahead of the introduction of Digital Technology curriculum. At AWS Ireland, we are determined to play our part in fostering the next generation of Irish technology leaders and we will continue to look for opportunities to encourage young technology talent and supporting them in their journey through school and into further education.”

Welcoming the EDTips initiative, Victoria MacKechnie, Director of Corporate Affairs and Operations, Workday, said: “Skills are increasingly important in the future of work, which requires competencies for new jobs and roles that are emerging every day. EDTips is an innovative way to further upskill teaching professionals in the latest technology, enabling them in turn to transfer both tech knowledge and skills to their students. This will help ensure pupils are ready for a flourishing skills-based economy”.

Read more: https://www.edtips.ie/

THE GIRLS IN GREEN LEGACY: Seeing Televised Professional Sport provides A Real Incentive To Take It Up, But Access To Local Clubs Is Vital

More than 2.4m people watched RTÉ television’s coverage of the Women’s Football World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last summer.  In that tournament, the Republic of Ireland’s game against Canada was the most watched women’s team sport event in Irish TV history with an average of 551,000 viewers.

New research from Royal London, the founding partner of the first British and Irish Lions Women’s Rugby Tour, shows the wider significance of viewing figures like these. Almost one in four (24%) of parents surveyed across Ireland say the more sport is shown on TV, the more likely their children are to take it up. Furthermore, 15% of parents in Ireland say their child took up a team sport after seeing it live professionally, and 15% say their child got into team sports as they were inspired watching a sporting role model on TV. However, the ability to play alongside their friends is also a big draw for children when it comes to sport, with more than one in three (35%) of the parents in Ireland surveyed citing the opportunity to play alongside their friends as the reason their children became interested in sport.

Over a fifth (23%) of parents in Ireland say their children have been involved in team sports due to having access to a local club. When looking at how realistic this is for children across Ireland, more than seven in ten (72%) of adults have a sports club within half an hour of their home. However, one in five (22%) have to travel longer than 30 minutes, while 6% don’t know where their local sports club is. Interestingly, while the numbers were low overall, of the women surveyed, they were seven times as likely as men not to know the location of their local sports club (7pc of women versus 1pc of men).

When reflecting on their own decision to take up team sports, 44% of adults in Ireland did so to play with friends and three in ten (30%) said it was a fun way to keep fit that wasn’t solo. A quarter (25%) were encouraged to play by a teacher or coach.

Shaunagh Brown, professional rugby player for England and Harlequins, says: “This Women’s Lions tour, the first of its kind, will allow more people to witness women playing rugby at a high level. I was interested, but not surprised, that the research showed more adults would consider taking up a team sport if they saw people who looked and sounded like them playing it. To believe you can do it, you have to see someone like you living, breathing and enjoying it. And, even if you don’t end up following a professional path with sport, the benefits you will feel from playing as part of a team in terms of greater confidence, resilience and improved social skills will be with you for the rest of your life.”

Susie Logan, chief marketing officer at Royal London says: “At present, through either a lack of airtime or wider exposure, some women’s sports have not yet been visible enough to inspire future generations.

The blend of seeing it played well on TV and taking it up with friends is key. Team sports create a community and can become an important part of a child’s development. We need to keep striving towards equality at all levels, whether that be what’s televised or at grassroots. Both are essential to create foundations for the future and give every child the inspiration and access they need to thrive playing team sport. This is why we’re proud to partner with the first British and Irish Lions Women’s Rugby Tour.

Royal London has been announced as Founding Partner of the first ever Lions Women’s team. The partnership will see Royal London invest in player development in each of The British & Irish Lions constituent Unions through the delivery of a special elite players’ Pathways Funding grant. The grants will support the elite women’s player and coach pathways in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and England, to help Unions develop more players and coaches capable of being selected for the inaugural Lions Women’s Tour. In addition, Royal London will also be investing in women’s and girls’ grassroots rugby across the UK and Ireland in the run-up to the Tour.”