From isolation to connection: Cork couple stars in online video series about digital skills for older people

Patrick and Liz Downes, a couple from Mitchelstown in Cork, are featured in a new online video as part of the Consumer Technology Association’s ‘The Human Component’ series. The video showcases their journey with the Hi Digital programme in partnership with the Irish Girl Guides, Vodafone Foundation, and ALONE.

The video follows 76-year-old Patrick, who rediscovered his passion for woodworking by embracing the digital world through the Hi Digital programme. With the support of his wife Liz, an Irish Girl Guides Leader and Hi Digital Champion, and the local IGG Unit, Patrick learns to use the internet to find woodworking tools and stay connected with his granddaughter.

Initially feeling disconnected and uninterested in modern technology after his multiple sclerosis diagnosis, Patrick’s life underwent a transformative change with the introduction of the Hi Digital programme. His resilience shines as he navigates the digital world, guided by Liz and the local Irish Girl Guides. To watch the video, click here.

Since 2023, Vodafone Foundation has partnered with the Irish Girl Guides to roll out the Hi Digital programme across Ireland. This initiative aims to help older adults, and above, feel comfortable with digital usage and skills, thereby combating isolation and loneliness.

IGG has provided Hi Digital classes in 25 of their units around Ireland and has trained over 2000 older adults. IGG Guides, Senior Branch members, and Leaders participate in this mutually beneficial programme by tutoring older community members. The course is divided into short lessons, teaching participants how to access the internet, use smartphones, stay safe online, and identify and avoid scams and fraud.

Liz Downes, Irish Girl Guides Leader, talking about her involvement with Hi Digital, said: “It’s about more than just teaching digital skills, it’s about fostering connections and breaking down barriers that can leave older generations feeling isolated. Through Hi Digital, we’re building bridges between generations and creating a sense of belonging for everyone.”

Jenny Gannon, Irish Girl Guides Programme and Training Commissioner, adds: “Today’s world is one dominated by tech and it is important that we learn to support each other to navigate the challenges that brings for all generations. This programme allows our young people to help older members of their community to learn how to use different aspects of their devices, while our younger members have also learned new skills while working on Hi Digital. This programme offers real opportunities for intergenerational learning and has been a hugely positive experience for all involved.”

Judy Collins, Vodafone Retail Advisor in Oliver Plunket Street, said: “I am delighted to see this video come to life, showcasing the fantastic impact the Hi Digital initiative has on the older generation. It’s heart-warming to witness stories like Patrick and Liz’s and see first-hand how Hi Digital is empowering older people with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital world, reclaim their passions and stay connected with loved ones. We are thrilled to be able to provide this support”.

Explore the full series here: www.thehumancomponent.org

For more information about Hi Digital, visit: Welcome to Hi Digital

EA SPORTS Brings UEFA EURO 2024 to the Virtual Pitch in EA SPORTS FC 24 and EA SPORTS FC Mobile

Today, Electronic Arts, Inc. announced the Festival of Football update to EA SPORTS FC 24 and EA SPORTS FC Mobile ahead of the upcoming UEFA EURO 2024 tournament. In this free in-game update* fans can experience the authentic UEFA EURO 2024 tournament and all 24 qualified federations (and more) on PlayStation5, PlayStation4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and EA SPORTS FC Mobile. Players can lead their nations to European glory as the best players from across The World’s Game go head-to-head to become Champions of Europe.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be introducing UEFA EURO 2024 to EA SPORTS FC experiences for the very first time, a tournament that creates such excitement, outstanding competition, and moments to remember each year,” said Nick Wlodyka, SVP and Group GM, EA SPORTS FC. “With this in-game update, fans can make history alongside some of the best players in Europe, living every twist and thrill of the iconic competition’s experience through all 24 federations and a variety of authentic kits, real-life stadiums, game modes and more.”

EA SPORTS FC™ 24 puts players on the pitch in Germany with an immersive UEFA EURO 2024 experience that mirrors the authentic details of the tournament, from national team kit updates to real-life stadiums, as well as updated star heads to bring the faces of Europe’s best to the international stage.

“We are delighted to announce the inclusion of UEFA EURO 2024 within EA SPORTS FC and to see it in action as part of the upcoming eEURO finals” said Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA Marketing Director. “The global reach of EA SPORTS FC will allow millions of fans to connect with and experience the tournament like never before and  lead their favourite nation virtually, from group stage through to knockouts.”

Players can lead their country, play as a star of their chosen national team, or as their very own custom player. The in-game tournament offers players a variety of modes as they play their way to glory: in single player tournament mode, in kick-off, or head-to-head against friends online.

  • In Lead Your Nation mode, fans can put themselves in the heart of UEFA EURO 2024 by leading their nation to victory, taking the tournament by storm as a real footballer or with a custom player. As they play through the stages, fans can choose to navigate the tournament as a player, while enjoying the opportunity to complete training drills to earn PlayStyles, improving their game on the way to the trophy.
  • Players can also experience UEFA EURO 2024 in a single-player Tournament Mode that allows them to write (or rewrite) the future of their nation. Choosing between one of the 24 qualified countries, or another European nation, fans can play their way out of true-to-life groups and through the knockouts.
  • In Kick-Off Mode, fans can challenge one another or play against the CPU AI in an authentic tournament experience, selecting from a Group Stage or Knockout Round match, including updated “Match of the Day” fixtures that mirror the authentic tournament matchups.
  • Friends can also go head-to-head and experience the excitement of the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament with authentic matchups in Online Friendlies Mode.

An all-new set of ‘Challenges’ will allow fans to experience UEFA EURO 2024™ while earning rewards that can be unlocked/used in Football Ultimate Team, Clubs, Player and Manager Career.

Additionally, players can enjoy UEFA EURO 2024™ content in Football Ultimate Team, with a number of campaigns themed around the live action in Germany. These campaigns celebrate the players poised to lead their nations on the Path to Glory, breakthrough stars that emerge during the Group Stages, Greats of the Game who shone in past tournaments, and the best players across the whole month as the festival of football brings excitement and upgraded Player Items to Football Ultimate Team.

The UEFA EURO 2024 will also be coming to EA SPORTS FC Mobile from June 12 to July 25, featuring an In-Game Event where users can experience the full campaign with all 24 qualified countries, and jump into Key Match, a brand-new way to play select real-world UEFA EURO 2024 matchups. EA SPORTS FC Mobile will also feature Tournament Mode to play PvE matches, underlined by true-to-life authenticity to the game with two stadiums, national team flags and banners, broadcast transitions, and the UEFA EURO 2024  song.

Watch the official gameplay trailer for UEFA EURO 2024 in EA SPORTS FC here.

Read the full details of the UEFA EURO 2024 in-game mode now available in EA SPORTS FC 24 as part of the latest Festival of Football Update here.

Expleo invests €1M in new leadership upskilling service for Ireland

Expleo, a global engineering, technology and consulting service provider, today announces that it is investing €1 million in a new leadership development service in Ireland. Launching today, ‘Leading with Leadership’ will provide tailored leadership masterclasses, workshops, and coaching for Expleo’s existing and prospective clients, strengthening its role as a trusted advisor and enhancing client relationships.

The new offering addresses the crucial shortage of quality leadership and management development programmes in the market. Insights from Expleo’s most recent Business Transformation Index (BTI) Ireland Spotlight report underscores the pressing need for enhanced leadership capabilities. Three-quarters of business leaders identify driving cultural change and digital-first mindset adoption as a key challenge to successful business transformation initiatives. Recognising the gap, Expleo has integrated this and 61 further offerings into its educational arm, the Expleo Academy.

The new service offers a comprehensive suite of leadership programmes covering communication, personal development, management, business development and board-level leadership. It also provides bespoke workshop solutions, as well as personalised management coaching, leadership consultancy skills and other masterclasses. This service, including all courses and masterclasses will be delivered to businesses in Ireland and across the globe by a team of over 80 highly skilled facilitators, coaches and trainers.

Over the next three years, the new investment will cover the recruitment and support of specialised staff, client engagement, sales training & support, and venue rentals. It will also include further website development, and course and promotional materials. These programmes will be delivered in-person or virtually, based on client preference.

Patricia McGuire, Director of Expleo Academy at Expleo, said: “We are very excited about adding leadership development programmes to our existing Expleo Academy portfolio. Through our client engagements, it has become evident that there is a growing demand for improved leadership skills across all sectors, likely spurred on by pandemic-related disruptions. Even over the past eight months, we have noticed a significant increase in public sector organisations considering leadership development programmes.

“Effective leadership has never been more important, and we are proud to be pioneers in implementing this comprehensive initiative. To deliver this new service, we have curated a team of experts armed with extensive experience and a profusion of practical insights. We believe that true leadership is not just about guiding teams; it’s about igniting passion, fostering innovation, and shaping a brighter future.”

John Philp, who has been recently appointed as the Head of Leadership Development Programmes, will spearhead the new service on behalf of Expleo Academy.

John Philp, Head of Leadership Development Programme at Expleo Academy, said: “Leadership development is about understanding the essence of a business, driving meaningful contributions to its bottom line, and fostering a culture where excellence thrives. When businesses sharpen their leadership skills, they’re not just driving organisational change, they’re creating an environment where everything else just clicks.

“If organisations neglect to invest time and resources in developing these skills, they’re simply setting themselves up for failure. At Expleo, we are committed to making a tangible difference by reintroducing humanity into the workplace. Through this exciting new service, we eagerly anticipate supporting our growing client base and helping their existing and emerging leaders reach their full potential.”

NotebookLM comes to Ireland with support for websites, Slides and more

Last summer, Google introduced NotebookLM, an AI-powered research and writing assistant. Today, the business is bringing an upgraded version of NotebookLM — now using Gemini 1.5 Pro — to Ireland, along with over 200 countries and territories around the world.

Google’s goal from the beginning with NotebookLM has been to create a tool to help you understand and explore complex material, make new connections from information, and get to your first draft faster. You can upload sources — your research notes, interview transcripts, corporate documents — and instantly NotebookLM becomes an expert in the material that matters most to you. Today’s upgrade introduces several new features:

 

  • NotebookLM now supports Google Slides and web URLs as sources, along with Google Docs, PDFs and text files.

  • Inline citations now take you directly to supporting passages in your sources, so you can easily fact-check the AI response or dive deeper in the original text.

  • Notebook Guide gives you a high-level understanding of your sources by converting them into useful formats like FAQs, Briefing Docs, or Study Guides.

Thanks to Gemini 1.5 Pro’s native multimodal capabilities, you can now ask questions about images, charts and diagrams in your Slides or Docs. NotebookLM will even include citations to images as supporting evidence when relevant.

Case studies from real users

The range of uses that people are finding for NotebookLM has been incredible. Because NotebookLM was developed in close partnership with authors, students, and educators, many early adopters have integrated the product into research and writing workflows. Best-selling author Walter Isaacson has been working with NotebookLM to analyze Marie Curie’s journals for research on his next book. There has been similar enthusiasm from documentary and podcast researchers who need to sift through complex archives to generate scripts or story ideas. But the combination of Gemini 1.5 Pro’s advanced reasoning abilities and NotebookLM’s source-grounding architecture has unlocked many other potential applications:

 

  • In local governance, Thomas Gaume created a hyperlocal newsletter, aggregating city ordinances, land use data, zoning codes, and council meeting minutes. NotebookLM empowered him to be a “one-person newsroom and publisher”.

  • NotebookLM’s ability to summarize and adapt interview transcripts is helping users identify patterns and themes in raw transcripts, saving hours of manual analysis. For example, consultant Victor Adefuye uses NotebookLM to analyze sales call transcripts for targeted training and coaching.

  • Nonprofits have deployed NotebookLM to help them identify needs in underserved communities and organize information for grant proposals.

Some less than expected and playful use cases have also been noticed with the help of the 14,000 member Discord community, including:

  • Role-playing game enthusiasts use NotebookLM to manage detailed descriptions of fantasy worlds in games like Dungeons and Dragons.

Getting started

If you’re new to NotebookLM, getting started is easy: When you first access NotebookLM, you’ll create a notebook and upload documents for a specific project or deliverable. At that point you can read, take notes, ask questions, organize your ideas, or ask NotebookLM to create automatic overviews of all your sources—a study guide, for example, or a table of contents.

Whether it’s being used to build imaginary worlds, write bestselling biographies, or help salespeople find new customers, NotebookLM has given U.S. users powerful tools for making connections and generating insights out of large collections of documents.

All Aboard! Evolve IP On The Right Track As Webex Collaboration Demand Surges

Collaboration platform Webex is growing 10 times faster than Microsoft Teams across Evolve IP’s partner base – fuelled by powerful new features, designed to enhance the customer experience and boost reseller revenue.

The white-label UCaaS provider expects to see Webex adoption further accelerate thanks to a new ‘Vidcast’ video presentation tool as well as enhanced AI meeting functionality including a ‘Be-right-back’ innovation.

Olly Harrison Evolve IP (EMEA) Solution Consultant says successful collaboration is based on three key pillars – efficiency, analytics and security.

“Customer experience and revenue growth are intrinsically linked,” he explained. “Webex shines in all main areas and offers security by design. It is very cost-effective, delivers high-value functionality, low cost of ownership, and high-level integrations, including Office 365 and offers great margin potential.

“Webex by Cisco is growing 10 times faster than Teams across our partner base in terms of licensing. It’s very exciting that more organisations are starting to get aboard the Webex train in much greater numbers. So far, we’ve attracted hundreds of new customers this year as month-on-month demand intensifies.”

Outstanding Technologies 

Harrison pointed out how according to the latest industry research, around 85% of companies that work to improve their customer experience report an increase in revenue. Organisations with outstanding service generate around six times more revenue than competitors who fall behind, he said.

“Technology should not slow businesses down but improve the fast pace of the world we live in. It’s not just a tool but the foundation of modern customer experience,” he emphasised. “Evolve IP, Webex and our partners can help end users build greater customer satisfaction and retain more business for longer.”

Evolve IP boasts an international carrier-grade network to deliver integrated remote workforce technologies, that enable employees to perform anywhere. Evolve IP generated unprecedented growth and attracted record numbers of new partners last year.

Empowering Customers

Harrison pointed out how the latest Webex developments include Webex Assistant which provides transcripts, translations and message summaries. Powerful software can analyse writing styles and re-write messages before sending them.

AI Assistant in Webex meetings helps people catch up with quick summaries for late arrivals. Smart Chapters and a ‘Be-Right-Back’ option for those who need to step away from a meeting, such as if the doorbell rings, ensure smooth running collaboration for all participants – enabling fewer distractions and no missed information.

Webex also offers strong analytics about how hybrid teams are interacting, even down to what devices they are using and their file-sharing information. Vidcast is another valuable enhancement which enables the creation of quick demo videos or how-to guides for example, in minutes. This eliminates the need for unnecessary calling and enhances overall productivity. 

Harrison concluded: “More and more companies are joining us on the customer journey with Webex as a major driving force leading to lots of additional business opportunities. The latest platform developments will only add to its growing appeal.”

Learn more about Evolve IP’s Webex success here.

Tech Review – Creative Zen Air Plus Earbuds

The Creative Zen Air Plus Earbuds are one pair of a duo recently announced and of course we have both which is the Zen Air Plus and Zen Air Pro to check out just like the Aurvana Ace duo recently reviewed here on site and YouTube.

The Creative Zen Air Plus comes in a really nice case which is a good start and is a creamy hue color and comes with wireless charging and the flip top lid has a unique opening compared to others. It will fit in any pocket has a matt finish to the touch and just looks really nice. There is a USB-C charge port LED light and reset/connect button.

The earbuds themselves have a really nice fit and give a great seal straight away and these will not fall out of the ears either once the right tips are applied as I always advise people to do. The better the seal the better the sound and this is all before you even touch ANC mode.

You have the choice of two apps here these are SXFI ready and with Creative this has been a favourite of mine some years now, you also have the standard Creative app and there is where you find all your functions and features to get things going and set up to your personal requirements.

The controls are touch controls on the earbuds and work really well and as expected from the brand if you are familiar with the company you will already know there touch control game is on point and still is.

Creative Zen Air Plus – techbuzzireland

You have all the features you would expect to find here like skip and reverse tracks volume and call controls and voice assistant access plus more which you will see in the video review below.

Highs lows and mids are fine with decent volume and nice bass no lag latency or tinny sound or disconnecting during my testing and overall a pleasing sound which anyone would enjoy, battery life is quite good to for such small earbuds and overall there is little to complain about here and they come in a fantastic case and colour.

Creative APP

Creative SXFI APP

 

Features 

 

  • NEXT-GEN BLUETOOTH LE AUDIO-Improved wireless audio performance at lower bitrates and power consumption. Plus, seamless audio sharing via Broadcast mode, changing how you engage with audio
  • CRAFT YOUR SILENCE AND AMBIANCE WITH HYBRID ANC AND AMBIENT MODE-Together with 10 mm neodymium drivers, enjoy deep bass, balanced tunes, and a low latency (~55 ms) for seamless audio playback
  • BATTERY LIFE THAT LASTS MORE THAN A DAY-Up to 8 hours of playback on a single charge and up to 32 hours in total with a fully charged case. USB-C cable included for charging
  • BE HEARD CLEARLY-Effectively analyze and filter out background noise, while delivering clear voice input and superior call quality with six microphones and ENC technology
  • COMPACT CHARGING CASE-The Creative Zen Air Plus, weighing 48.6g / 1.71 oz with IPX4 rating, features Bluetooth 5.3 and touch controls, making it perfect for active use

BUY

Video Review

More than half of employees in Ireland suffer from productivity anxiety

Workhuman, the company revolutionising the way employees celebrate, connect with and appreciate each other in the workplace, today announces new findings from its Human Workplace Index, which found that 64% of employees in Ireland are suffering from productivity anxiety. Recognition is a key element in helping to improve employees’ wellbeing, with 57% saying they would feel less anxious if they received proper recognition for their work.

The research also found that although 58% of employees said they feel more productive at the office, a gender disparity exists in perceived in-office productivity. While 71% of male employees felt they accomplished more on in-office days, only 33% of female employees reported the same. Despite this, women are more likely to work in the office five days a week compared to men, with 58% of women required to be in the office, versus 30% of men.

The survey of 1,000 full-time employees in Ireland was commissioned by Workhuman and conducted by Pollfish to gain insights into workplace sentiment, productivity and wellbeing.

Additionally, while work-life balance is highlighted as the most important aspect of workplace wellbeing for 65% of Irish employees and 31% believe that companies facilitating work-life balance are more successful in fostering employee-employer trust, there are significant disparities in the distribution of wellness benefits between men and women. Nearly half of employees report receiving wellness benefits or perks in addition to standard benefits and say they improve their overall wellbeing, but men are more than twice as likely to have access to perks like gym memberships, healthy snacks, and in-office wellness spaces compared to women.

Niamh Graham, Senior Vice President of Global Human Experience, Workhuman, said: “With ways of working constantly evolving, it is not surprising that employees may be feeling more anxious about whether they are achieving enough at work, and being noticed for it. With recognition being the number one factor employees stated can help with their anxiety, leaders must start prioritizing this to foster a supportive work environment.  

Our survey also shows a discrepancy between men and women when it comes to working arrangements and wellbeing perks. With more than half of women saying they are more productive at home, but most of them being required to work five days a week on-site, it’s clear that leadership needs to be more in tune with the individual needs of its employees when designing flexible work policies and wellbeing benefits packages. Understanding and addressing these gaps is essential for companies to foster a fair, supportive, and productive work environment for all employees”

5 things to know ahead of Cork Carnival of Science this weekend!

There are mere days to go until Ireland’s largest outdoor science engagement event, Cork Carnival of Science gets underway at Fitzgerald Park from June 8th to 9th.  This unmissable FREE family science fun weekend is guaranteed to get a great ‘reaction’ with previous years proving the hypothesis that learning and fun really do go hand in hand!

Supported by Cork City Council and Science Foundation Ireland and organised by Cork City Council’s Lifetime Lab @ Old Cork Waterworks Experience, the Cork Carnival of Science is  hugely impressive and a high quality 2 day celebration of all things Science, Technology Engineering, and Maths that will see Fitzgerald Park transformed into a pop up science super park this coming weekend!

Organisers are calling on families to vote with their feet and head to Fitzgerald Park on Saturday or Sunday (or both!) where they will get to explore, investigate, experiment, and discover the wonders of science in a completely fun fuelled and interactive way…. and it’s all free!

Here are 5 things to know ahead of the weekend!

  1. Circus Tent Showstoppers!

Over the 2 days there will be as many as  26 live seated science shows in Circus Top and Stretch Tents, throughout the scenic park. Topping the bill are, of course, the live science shows performed by stars of the science education and entertainment who the kids will recognise from TV shows and Youtube. These seated shows draw large crowds and offer regular performances throughout the day, with no need to book in advance – just line up before the next performance! This year’s headliners include Airforce’ by Simply Science physicists Dr. Stephen Davitt and Phil Smyth from RTÉ’s Home School Hub, ‘The Crazy Weather Show’ by Science 2 Life’s wonderfully dramatic Scientific Sue, ‘Now that’s what I call Science’ by W5 from Belfast, ‘Its Only Water’ by Science Made Simple,  ‘Airheads’ by Thunder Bolts & Lightning and ‘The Circus Science Show’ by Inspirational Science, so plenty there to blow your mind!

  1. Putting Nature and the Environment under the Microscope!

This year’s theme will focus on climate and the natural world from a scientific point of view. Poppy from ‘Bee-ology’ will create a buzz with a circus-science that juggles bee and insect stories and facts.  A branch of the Irish Tree Network will take you on a remarkable journey through the world of plants, including their uses and benefits. The crew from the Marine Institute will float their Explorers Education Programme encouraging greater understanding of the marine world and recruiting young people to become ocean champions! Cork’s very own Lifetime Lab will be on hand to demonstrate the use of microscopes to get up and close with mini beasties from our rivers and the Animal Roadshow will bring along their petting zoo featuring lizards, snakes, spiders, owls, frogs and more.

  1. Eco Friendliness

Aiming to make the festival as sustainable and low impact as possible the organisers have taken a number of steps. These include providing free drinking water, so all you need to do is bring along a reusable bottle or keep cup to quench your thirst! All the food stalls have been vetted for sustainable food practices and are all local operators including; Bo burgers and steaks, Bad Boys BBQ, Dinky Donuts, Sultan Delight, Munchies, Bubble Waffle House, O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausage Company, Glanmire Ices, Keith’s Cones, Pizza base, Candy Rock Lane, The Crepe Man.  There will be a cycle valet service available on the day to encourage people to cycle to the event, they can then park up their bikes securely at bike stands within the park at the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion which will be supervised for the duration of the event. The festival has been reusing directional and branded signage since 2019 so that is certainly sustainability in practice!

  1. Activities and Accessibility!

Popular attractions on a gigantic scale will feature again this year, in the form of the Stardome Giant Inflatable Planetarium brought along by Blackrock Castle Observatory and the cheeky 40ft walkthrough inflatable model of the human digestive system from APC Microbiome Ireland. In fact there are over 45 different science based activities and demonstrations to discover throughout the scenic park, walkabout scientific performers, interactive stands, an active sports zone, microscopic wonders, lego mania, remote controlled robots, DNA investigations,  and discoveries big and small. Accessibility is a key focus to ensure enjoyment for all, and in consultation with the Deaf Community in Cork, provision will again be made to ensure sign language interpretation is available at live show performances and for ad hoc requests. The park itself is fully wheelchair accessible. They will also have a designated quiet zone in the area near the Sky Garden (where the reflective silver spheres are) which might be useful for young children or those with noise sensitivities.

  1. Navigate the Science Fun with Carnival Map and Brochure!

A top tip is to make sure to scan the QR Code for the festival brochure on arrival, this includes a colourful map of Fitzgerald’s Park with all the festival attractions laid out alongside the key what, where and when details of shows, workshops, and demonstrations to check out on both days. This will allow you to plan your route to take it all in, or hone in on particular areas of interest! Guiding you on your scientific adventure will be themed routes including ‘Exploration Avenue’, ‘Innovation Way’ and ‘Discovery Drive’ which will map out where rows of workshops and interactive experiences are located within the park. Here hands-on workshops will offer the chance to try out a broad variety of science-based tasks.

For more information see www.corkcity.ie/corkcarnivalofscience or stay tuned to social media updates from @corkcitycouncilofficial. #CorkCarnivalofScience #BelieveInScience

Enterprise Nation partners with Dargan Forum to help small firms evolve their technology to boost Irish localities

Small business support platform and membership community Enterprise Nation has announced a strategic partnership with business technology conference the Dargan Forum to help accelerate small business engagement with technology to boost Irish localities.
Aiming to create a broad awareness of the social benefits that spring from greater small business adoption of technology, the partnership with the Dún Laoghaire-based Dargan Institute, the organisation behind the Forum, will see the business support provider launch Ireland’s first Tech Hub, a free resource that will connect thousands of small firms to tried and tested tools and training.
‘Putting People & Places First – Harnessing Technology for A Better World’ is the theme of the day-long Dargan Forum, which takes place in the historic Assembly Room of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. It is all about empowering small businesses through digital knowledge, ‘smart’ solutions for localities, sustainable energy and digital towns to raise living standards for all.
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, who is one of the high-profile tech entrepreneurs speaking at the event, said: “When local stakeholders understand the profound benefits that supporting their small business community to accelerate digital adoption can bring, everyone benefits.
“Digital adoption is not just about new jobs, a tech-enabled, thriving local small business community creates better jobs, better businesses and more innovation – all of which contribute to a healthy local economy.
“Tech Hub is backed by experts and founding sponsors who all understand that failing to tackle digital performance now is storing up problems for years, and possibly decades to come.
“That’s why we’re delighted to be partnering with Dargan Institute’s forward-thinking plans to ensure Irish firms can get ahead in the global digital transformation race.”
Eoin Costello, national director of the Dargan Institute and adviser on the government’s Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum (EDAF) said: “We are seeing rapid change and there’s a real danger that local small business communities will be left behind – when the reality is that they have the most to gain.
“Offering digital support to local small businesses at scale is important to not only support growth and efficiency but also to ensure we can feel the benefit of change in our own communities, as well as helping to provide resilience to future shocks.
“Enterprise Nation does exactly that and it’s why we’re partnering with them for the Dargan Forum.”
The group is set to unveil its dynamic digital Tech Hub Ireland platform at the Forum, in partnership with global telecommunications provider Vodafone Business.
Enterprise Nation research found a quarter (25%) of small firms are buying technology and not using these tools due to lack of knowledge and training. The research also found the experience of wasting resources left businesses feeling short changed.
The group also plans to launch a new Tech Consortium, which will see policy leads from major technology brands come together to discuss how digital performance amongst small businesses can be boosted across Ireland.
Dargan Forum tickets are available on this link.