Taking Care of Business with Ronan Berry Midlands103

Athlone’s Regina Bushell, Managing Director of Groveland’s Childcare, has been elected Chair of Childhood Services Ireland, the Ibec trade association representing childcare providers across the country. Regina details the significant difficulties faced by services in the sessional, full-day, and school-age childcare sectors and the need for supports for providers of all types, better pay and conditions for staff, and most importantly - quality services for children and their families.
Ahead of Bord na Móna’s ‘Ireland’s Sustainable Future 2023’ conference on June 1 at the Tullamore Court Hotel, Sharon Doyle, Head of HR and Corporate Affairs and Elaine Negi Strategic Projects Manager joined Ronan to detail the businesses participating in Accelerate Green, the conference, key speakers and themes and, Bord na Mona’s long term commitment to climate action.
All-Ireland Business Foundation 'Business All-Star Organizational Psychology Visionary of the Year 2023 Teresa Hand-Campbell of THC Consult is back with this months ‘Co-Creating a Great Place to Work - Everyone has a Role’ session and promises a deep dive into a psychologically safe workplace and psychological contracts.
Social enterprise Grow It Yourself (GIY) is aiming to raise €1 million in order to deliver the food education and mental health programme GROW At School in primary schools for the academic year 2023/24. Nell Ward, Director of Development at GIY, has all the details of this ambitious project.

With one-third of employees now partaking in remote work based on Census 2022, Minister Pippa Hackett discusses the opportunities for the midlands region and the role of remote work in helping reach climate action goals. Plus, Stuart Trotter will detail The Liberty Digital Way in advance of the Grow Remote Summit in Portlaoise.
Mullingar has retained its Purple Flag accreditation for its evening and night-time economy. Aisling Coleman of Mullingar Chamber will outline how it is achieved and the positive impact it has on the town.
Sophie Freeman setup Sophie’s Soap’s five years ago in Mullingar and counts some major national brands as stockists. Despite this, her business is feeling the pressure of rising costs lately.
For the second year in a row, the team at Ballykilcavan Brewery has taken home a prestigious award from the National Sustainable Business Awards. And they’ll represent LEO Laois at the National Enterprise Awards on Thursday 1st June too. Owner David-Walsh Kemmis joined Ronan with all the details.

- Killucan landscape designer Tom Leavy on how he took home a Silver Gilt medal for his Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical Garden at Bord Bia Bloom.
- Athlone’s Dead Centre Brewing launches a new brand of craft lemonade. Founder Liam Tutty is the man adding the fizz!
- Shena Brien CEO of IP Telecom on What the ‘Big Switch Off’ means for small businesses. By the end of December 2025, landlines will be fully-phased out meaning any business and home phone calls will instead be hosted over Internet Protocol (IP).
_ Three midlands business owners joined Ronan to reminisce on their time sitting the state exam and to impart advice to the students starting the Leaving Cert this week - with Niamh Dooley of BiaSol, Colin Donnery of FRS Recruitment and Ray Carolan of Lakeland Kayaks.

• Fiorbhia Farm is a Ballyfin based regenerative farm producing nutrient-rich food without artificial fertiliser, GM feed, chemical sprays or animal medicines. Owner Brendan Guinan picked up a sustainability award at The RDS Spring Awards last week and will drop in to tell their amazing story.
• Dr Diane Cooper owner of EduFit will deliver a S.E.L.F Care for Entrepreneurs Workshop at the upcoming LUNCH AND LEARN EVENT hosted by Local Enterprise Office Laois and Laois Chamber Alliance on 15th June The Killeshin Hotel.
• Noelle Burke HR Director at Vodafone Ireland on the new ‘Caring for Vulnerable Others’ support for employees which includes 10 additional days’ paid leave while also providing additional support such as, flexible start and end times and hybrid working.
• Rathdowney’s John Aherne is selected to represent Ireland at the prestigious Cannes Young Lions, often referred to as the ‘Oscars of Advertising’.

• Flowers by Lisa opened for business in Tullamore in March of this year. Owners Lisa Bracken and Lorraine Wynter have over 47 years combined experience in the trade and joined Ronan in the studio to discuss their new venture.
• Getting the right person for the lead role and how an individual's leadership style impacts on an organisation with Teresa Hand-Campbell of THC Consult, All-Ireland Business Foundation 'Business All-Star Organizational Psychology Visionary of the Year 2023.
• ‘Learning in the Hubs’ is a new partnership between remote working hubs and universities to allow students to live and study within their own communities. It was launched in TUS Athlone by Ministers Heather Humphreys and Simon Harris recently - full details with Dr. Michael Tobin.
• A 'Women in Tech' Saturday Networking event is being held at Ardonagh Analytics Lab, Mullingar, this weekend. Co-Founder Sharon Keane of Zinkwork will outline origins of the group and how you can get involved in upcoming events.

Celebrating Pride, sustainability, glamping and unforgettable experiences at the Best Sustainable Accommodation in Ireland Inch House Stradbally with MD Michael Fitzpatrick
The number of people working two or more jobs is rising and an estimated 80,000 of you work two or more jobs. Jasmine Elkershi of AllPro Recruitment will have the insights and provide an overview of the jobs market.
Pita Pit is Mullingars newest food outlet and owner Eoghan Murray will discuss the latest venture by a family with a long history in the food scene in the Westmeath town