Half of consumers in Cork are paying too much for their car insurance, according to new research. The figures, released by the Irish Brokers Association (IBA), indicate that nine out of ten brokers will provide the cheapest quote, but with an estimated 50 per cent of consumers in Cork going direct to insurers for their car insurance, the majority of these are likely to be paying over the odds. Findings from the study showed that significant savings could be made if consumers obtain car insurance from a broker rather than going direct.

Five of the 12 companies that completed the Supplier Innovation Development Programme, four of which are based in Cork, have either succeeded in achieving new product listings with Superquinn or are actively engaged in discussions to achieve listings in the near future. This marks a significant development for these companies and for their potential to develop their business further; both in Ireland and in export markets.

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Despite the malaise of the labour market and the well-documented economic struggles in the country, there has been some good news. Signs are emerging of a more stable jobs market with increases in recruitment across a number of sectors. Donal Flanagan, Cork Team Leader with recruitment firm, CPL, spoke to Peter Tobin about the current challenges and success stories in the world of recruitment

A major investment programme and strategic alliance has been struck between a Cork company and a US corporation. Luxcel Biosciences, based in University College Cork (UCC), is a specialist producer of luminescence based gas and pH sensors. It recently announced a strategic partnership with MOCON Inc. a global leader in gas sensing technologies and package testing/shelf life instrumentation for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical and other industries.

Workers in Mallow are claiming that they have still not received redundancy payment from former employer, Thomas Barry Jnr, seven months later. The former employees of Barry's Menswear, which closed in June 2009, claim that Mr Barry is refusing to cooperate with their union Mandate, and also with the State in settling redundancy payments owed to the workers.

Name of your business?
i-to-i
Location?
The i-to-i office is based in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford and we run TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) training courses in cities nationwide.

Name: Judy Hopkins
Appointment: Account Manager – New Media
Judy Hopkins has joined the Cork-based family firm, Hopkins Communications.

Cork restaurant, Nash 19, has been named as the December 'Just Ask Restaurant of the Month' award in association with Bord Bia and the Georgina Campbell Ireland Guide. 'Just Ask' is a Bord Bia campaign that aims to encourage consumers to look for information on where their food is coming from when eating out and encourages chefs to provide this information on their menus.

Engineers Ireland, Cork, is volunteering its services and that of its members to act as a resource for secondary school education. A meeting will be held on Thursday 28 January to discuss the challeges of teaching maths and science in the current system and how engineers can promote these subjects in schools.