The SME Community Podcast

Hosted by Tipperary Local Enterprise Office & TBF Digital Marketing Agency

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Dec 2024

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About the show

From the manufacturing industries to tech and finance, innovation in business is revolutionising every area of our lives. Meet the extraordinary business men and women from the Premier County who are leading the charge.Hosted by Tipperary Local Enterprise Office and presented by Aisling Hurley (The Business Fairy), The SME Community is a series of candid, inspiring and sometimes funny conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, and business people from all industries. These are stories of successes and failures, passions and ideas, which will inspire and guide you as you grow and scale your business. You are not on your own, we are all in this together. Forget the theory, these are real conversations from real business people. The SME Community is a podcast from the Tipperary Local Enterprise Office (LEO). For the latest in business news, training and mentoring available for businesses located in County Tipperary visit: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/Ask your Google Assistant or Alexa for the news from Tipperary Local Enterprise Office.Twitter: @leotipperaryFacebook: Facebook.com/localenterpriseofficetipperaryProduced by TBF Digital Marketing Agency (https://thebusinessfairy.ie)

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38 recent

December 10, 202445 min

Succession Planning for SMEs; Pass the baton, not the drama

As the holidays bring families together, it's the perfect time to reflect on the future—both personal and professional. In this episode of The SME Community Podcast, we dive into succession planning for small businesses. Aisling is joined by solicitor Ronan Kennedy and accountant Frank McMahon. Learn about the steps, challenges, and strategies to ensure a smooth transition for your business legacy. Whether you’re passing the reins to family or preparing for new leadership, this episode is packed with insights to help you plan for tomorrow. Don’t leave your business’s future to chance—start the conversation today.Frank McMahon, is the Managing Director at McMahon & Co Auditors & Accountants. He is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of experience, spanning both industry and public practice. He holds advanced qualifications in Forensic Accounting, Corporate and Personal Insolvency, and Business & Executive Coaching from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. Committed to staying updated, Frank regularly undertakes professional education in taxation, company law, and regulations.Ronan Kennedy is a Partner in Kennedy Frewen O’Brien Solicitors since 2003. He is a CEDR qualified mediator and the litigation partner at the 120 year old firm where he has acted for both Plaintiffs and Defendants. This gives him a unique insight into how opponents operate tactically. He has experience across the court system including the Circuit Court, High Court and Supreme Court.The Local Enterprise Office Tipperary, along with Enterprise Ireland, provide a wide range of help, incentives, training, and development programmes to entrepreneurs in Tipperary. You can reach LEO Tipperary on https://www.localenterprise.ie/tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, @TipperaryLEO. Contact Frank McMahon www.mcmahonandco.ie, email: info@mcmahonandco.ie.Contact Ronan Kennedy at https://kfos.ie, email info@kfos.ie.You can talk to the TBF Digital Agency production team on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://thebusinessfairy.ie or https://tbf.ie.Production TeamLEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/Madeline Ryan Ita HoranTBF Production Team:https://thebusinessfairy.iehttps://tbf.ieResearch & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry LuttrellThe SME Community Podcast Production Team LEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/ Madeline Ryan Ita Horan TBF Production Team: https://thebusinessfairy.ie https://tbf.ie Research & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry Luttrell

November 30, 202455 min

Cora Barnes - Customer Relationships; Turning One-Time Buyers into Lifelong Customers

In this episode of The SME Community Podcast, Aisling dives into the art of building lasting customer relationships with Cora Barnes, founder and M.D. of 3Q Recruitment Agency. Discover practical strategies to keep your customers coming back, turn them into loyal advocates, and create unforgettable experiences that set your business apart. Whether you're an SME owner or part of a growing team, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you foster customer loyalty and drive long-term success. Tune in and learn how to turn customer relationships into your secret weapon!Cora Barnes has over 27 years experience in recruitment with an Executive MBA from Smurfit, a Post Graduate Diploma in HR from DBS, and a BA in Social Science from UCD. She is a resident judge for the Dublin City Local Enterprise Office Female Entrepreneur Award since 2008, a Fellow of the Employment Recruitment Federation, ERF Skillnet & Small Firms Association committee member and a board member and fundraiser for educational and youth initiatives in Dublin and South Africa. She is also a mentor for the SHONA project for empowering young women.The Local Enterprise Office Tipperary, along with Enterprise Ireland, provide a wide range of help, incentives, training, and development programmes to entrepreneurs in Tipperary. You can reach LEO Tipperary on https://www.localenterprise.ie/tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, @TipperaryLEO. Contact Cora Barnes - cora@3qrecruitment.ie or https://3qrecruitment.ie/ or on LinkedIn.You can talk to the TBF Digital Agency production team on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://thebusinessfairy.ie or https://tbf.ie.Production TeamLEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/Madeline Ryan Ita HoranTBF Production Team:https://thebusinessfairy.iehttps://tbf.ieResearch & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry LuttrellThe SME Community Podcast Production Team LEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/ Madeline Ryan Ita Horan TBF Production Team: https://thebusinessfairy.ie https://tbf.ie Research & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry Luttrell

October 15, 202444 min

AI Strategies for SMEs Pamela Campagna

In this episode from Boston, USA, Aisling sits down with Pamela Campagna, where they discuss the practical, actionable strategies on using AI tools and how to begin integrating them into your business.Pamela Campagna has over 30 years of experience in consulting, business, marketing, and entrepreneurship. She is the President of BLUE SAGE Consulting, Inc. a certified women-owned management consulting firm founded in 1997, where she specialises in global strategy, business optimisation & human capital development.She is a former board member and chair of the Marketing Committee of CMC-Global Institute, a virtual global community for professional management consultants. She is also a Certified Management Consultant (CMC®), representing global standards in consulting competencies, professional behavior, and ethics.Pamela is a professor of Practice at HULT International Business School in Cambridge, MA and has lectured at several universities including Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.Her research focuses on team formation, using AI to develop personal success, as well as entrepreneurial self-efficacy for women entrepreneurs.Contact Pamela Campagna - https://www.bluesageconsulting.com/pamelac@bluesageconsulting.comLearn about AI: https://www.udemy.com/You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenterprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, @TipperaryLEO. You can talk to the TBF Digital Agency production team on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://thebusinessfairy.ie or https://tbf.ie.Production TeamLEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/Madeline Ryan Ita HoranTBF Production Team:https://thebusinessfairy.iehttps://tbf.ieResearch & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry LuttrellThe SME Community Podcast Production Team LEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/ Madeline Ryan Ita Horan TBF Production Team: https://thebusinessfairy.ie https://tbf.ie Research & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry Luttrell

September 26, 202445 min

National Womens Enterprise Day Special: WITH CLARE BRETT, DUBLIN HERBALIST

In this episode of The SME Community Podcast, Aisling sits down with Clare Brett, the founder of natural skincare specialist manufacturer, Dublin Herbalist. Clare is a guest at the upcoming NWED event on the 17th of October. Dublin Herbalists skincare range is created and blended by hand in Ireland. The range is suitable for all skin types and is the winner of several beauty awards including a GOLD award in The Global Green Beauty awards 2024.Clare shares how a hobby in 2012 became a business with a range of 24 products, where the products are now sold globally - even reaching Asia, the challenges along the way and key business survival tips on data analytics, branding and watching the numbers.Local Enterprise Offices, along with Enterprise Ireland, provide a wide range of help, incentives, training, and development programmes to female entrepreneurs nationwide. National Womens Enterprise Day is coming up on the 17th of October. This is Ireland’s largest female enterprise event that promotes, encourages and stimulates female entrepreneurship across Ireland. LEO Tipperary’s event takes place in the fabulous Dromoland Castle and CountryClub Hotel. National Womens Enterprise Day Bookings: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Portal/Enable-Enterprise-Culture/NWED/NWED-2024/What-s-On!.htmlNWED Tipperary Event Information:MC: Ciana Campbell.Speakers includeAimee Connolly, from Sculpted by Aimee With panel speakers Hannah Wrixon, Pressed Flowers By Nell and, Clare Brett of Dublin Herbalists.Contact Dublin Herbalist - https://dublinherbalists.ie/You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenterprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, @TipperaryLEO. You can talk to the TBF Digital Agency production team on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://thebusinessfairy.ie or https://tbf.ie.Production TeamLEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/Madeline Ryan Ita HoranTBF Production Team:https://thebusinessfairy.iehttps://tbf.ieResearch & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry LuttrellThe SME Community Podcast Production Team LEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/ Madeline Ryan Ita Horan TBF Production Team: https://thebusinessfairy.ie https://tbf.ie Research & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry Luttrell

September 12, 202451 min

Intellectual Property Strategy for SMEs - with Dr. Nadav Ben Haim of SETU

In this episode of The SME Community Podcast, Aisling sits down with Dr. Nadav Ben Haim, the recently appointed Life Sciences Commercialisation Case Manager at the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) of South East Technological University (SETU). Together, they dive into the essentials of Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy and explore how SMEs can leverage IP to create tangible monetary value. IP is seen as the domain of tech giants and larger organisations involved in such industries as pharma etc. but did you know that it is equally applicable to smaller businesses and startups?Dr. Ben Haim offers practical insights for beginners, helping business owners understand the basics of protecting their innovations and how smart IP strategies can unlock new opportunities for growth and revenue, helping you go from local to global. You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenterprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, @TipperaryLEO. You can contact Dr. Nadav Ben Haim at SETU: Nadav.Benhaim@setu.ieLearn about the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) of South East Technological University:https://www.setu.ie/research-innovation/innovation-and-entrepreneurship/technology-transfer-officesLearn about Innovation Vouchers: https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/supports/innovation-voucher You can talk to the TBF Digital Agency production team on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://thebusinessfairy.ie or https://tbf.ie.The SME Community Podcast Production Team LEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/ Madeline Ryan Ita Horan TBF Production Team: https://thebusinessfairy.ie https://tbf.ie Research & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry Luttrell

January 26, 202450 min

MASTERING MARKETING FOR RETAIL SUCCESS WITH EIMEAR DWAN

The retail landscape and customer behaviours, both online and in stores, have dramatically shifted over the past few years, placing significant demands upon retailers. They are having to innovate faster and increase buyer engagement while also finding significant operational efficiencies and addressing sustainability goals. This episode is a special edition in advance of the Retail Symposium being held in March by Tipperary County Council as part of Enterprise Week. In this episode Aisling is joined by Eimear Dwan who is the recently appointed marketing manager for the Crescent Shopping Centre in Limerick. Prior to this, she worked for Brown Thomas Arnotts as marketing executive over Fashions and Accessories. She has an honours degree in ‘Marketing & Management’ from TUS and a Master’s Degree from University of Limerick. Still only in her twenties, Eimear is the youngest ever marketing manager appointed to The Crescent Shopping Centre. You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, @TipperaryLEO. You can learn more about The Crescent Shopping Centre at: https://crescentshoppingcentre.ie/inspiration/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crescentshoppingcentre/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crescentshoppingcentreYou can talk to the TBF Digital Agency production team on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://thebusinessfairy.ieProduction TeamLEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/Madeline Ryan Ita HoranTBF Production Team:https://thebusinessfairy.ieResearch & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry LuttrellThe SME Community Podcast Production Team LEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/ Madeline Ryan Ita Horan TBF Production Team: https://thebusinessfairy.ie https://tbf.ie Research & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry Luttrell

November 3, 202348 min

Small Business, Significant Skills; Strategies to Attract and Magnetise Talent (With Sinead Heneghan)

2023 has been designated European Year of Skills by the EU Commission. In advance of the LEO Tipperary event on Thursday the 15th of November - How to Grow Local Talent, Aisling speaks with Sinead Heneghan of Landdi.ie about a huge issue amongst the SME community - which is attracting and retaining talent. Currently three in four EU companies have difficulty in sourcing workers with the skills the organisation needs, which is leading to prolonged and chronic shortages of the skills required to deliver on the organisation’s strategic objectives. Learn about the changing workforce, the design of work, funding for training and the hidden workforce available to small businesses.You can reach Sinead at: https://www.landdi.ie/ , Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LandDInstitute, https://www.instagram.com/landd_institute/You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, @TipperaryLEO or https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/You can talk to us using at https://thebusinessfairy,ie, on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast Mentioned in the podcast:Molly Madra: https://cardsbymollymadra21.ie/Inclusion Ireland: https://inclusionireland.ie/resource-hub/The SME Community Podcast Production Team LEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/ Madeline Ryan Ita Horan TBF Production Team: https://thebusinessfairy.ie https://tbf.ie Research & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry Luttrell

October 13, 2023Episode 136 min

From Solo to Soaring: How AI is Empowering the Small Business Landscape - with Geraldine Magnier

If you are wondering where to start with AI, or what it’s all about, this is the episode for you. Aisling talks to Geraldine Magnier of Idiro Analytics, pioneers of AI and analytics for over 20 years. From crafting an AI policy, ethical considerations, to integration strategies, we've got you covered. Unravel the nuances of managing AI responsibly and ethically, ensuring that your venture not only thrives but also stands as a beacon of trust and innovation. Learn more about Geraldine and Idiro Analytics at https://idiro.com/You can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, @TipperaryLEO or https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/ You can talk to us using at https://thebusinessfairy,ie, on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast The SME Community Podcast Production Team LEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/ Madeline Ryan Ita Horan TBF Production Team: https://thebusinessfairy.ie https://tbf.ie Research & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry Luttrell

May 22, 2023Episode 339 min

Intertrade Ireland - Business Support for cross border collaboration North and South Ireland

Imagine if you were considering exporting and could do it without the hassle of customs, flights or ferries? A whole export market is available to Southern based businesses via Northern Ireland - and you may even be eligible to get help to access it!In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of business collaboration and cross-border trade. Our spotlight is on an organisation that plays a pivotal role in fostering partnerships and driving economic growth in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Join us as we delve into the realm of Intertrade Ireland, an innovative agency that champions businesses and encourages cooperation across borders. Aisling talks to Anne-Marie McAteer who is the manager of the Inter Trade Ireland Acumen programme and Janet Toal who is the Manager for the Intertrade Ireland Innovation programmes, Innovation Boost and Boost B2B. You can learn more about Intertrade Ireland at https://intertradeireland.com/ You can follow them on Twitter @ Inter_TradeYou can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @LEOTipperary. You can reach the TBF podcasting production team, at thebusinessfairy.ie, or on Facebook (@TheBusinessFairyDigitalMarketingAgency) Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast. Production Team:Presenter; Aisling Hurley Research: Jane FarrellSound Engineer: Derry LuttrellThe SME Community Podcast Production Team LEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/ Madeline Ryan Ita Horan TBF Production Team: https://thebusinessfairy.ie https://tbf.ie Research & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry Luttrell

April 14, 202348 min

Financial Fluency for SMEs - with Sir Steven Wilkinson

You may have read the title of this podcast and wondered whether it was the pod for you, or even groaned. Let’s face it none of us really enjoy pouring over the book-keeping but trust us, by the end of this episode you will look at financials in a completely different light and you will actually enjoy it. You will also learn about how one business turned 100k into 9.9 million.Today Aisling meets Sir Steven Wilkinson, founder and CEO of Good & Prosper. Steven has been involved in business finance and investment for the best part of 30 years having started working for Merrill Lynch Investment Bank in Munich, Germany in 1987 at the tender age of 24. Good & Prosper is an advisory and investment company through which Steven acts as a thinking partner for business leaders and owners, supporting them as a generalist business expert across the fields of finance, leadership and culture. Good & Prosper is also a knowledge platform, teaching finance to entrepreneurs with a focus on Small & Medium sized businesses. You can learn more about Steven at https://www.goodandprosper.com/ or email him on steven@goodandprosper.com. You can follow him on Twitter @SKNWilkinsonYou can reach LEO Tipperary on localenteprise.ie Tipperary, or get in touch with them at their base in Clonmel, via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @LEOTipperary. You can reach the TBF podcasting production team, at thebusinessfairy.ie, or on Facebook (The Business Fairy Digital Marketing Agency), Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast. Production Team:Presenter; Aisling Hurley Research: Jane FarrellSound Engineer: Derry LuttrellThe SME Community Podcast Production Team LEO Tipperary Team: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Tipperary/ Madeline Ryan Ita Horan TBF Production Team: https://thebusinessfairy.ie https://tbf.ie Research & Host Aisling Hurley Sound Engineer Derry Luttrell