Businesses unite
A new initiative to combine a number of business associations in into a collective organisation across Cork city and county has been launched.
The initiative is being launched by Little Island Business Association which represents Cork's largest business district.
The new collective, known as Cork's Business Channel, is a not for profit initiative and includes a total of eight independent business associations in key districts and areas of Cork city and county.
These eight associations are Cork Northside Business Association, Cork Southside Business Association, West Cork Business Association, East Cork Business Association, North Cork Business Association, Cork Docklands Business Association, Ringaskiddy Business Association and Little Island Business Association.
Cork Docklands Business Association and Ringaskiddy Business Association were established in 2015 in advance of the infrastructural and state investment in these areas and Little Island Business Association was established in 2012.
CEO of Little Island Business Association and Cork’s Business Channel, Michael Mulcahy said this new initiative is something that has been in development for the past six years.
He said: “In March 2021, the Government announced a €355 million investment package for Cork Docklands while the €220 million M28 motorway from Cork to Ringaskiddy is advancing.
“With 45,000 businesses, 265,000 employees in those businesses and a population of over 540,000 people that is expected to grow to one million by 2040, every part of Cork being represented by its own business association and being part of the collective model will be hugely beneficial for every business and area that is part of it.”
According to Mr Mulcahy, this new collective presents an opportunity for each area, with representation from each of the eight areas on its members council, to have its own business association representing it and fighting for its interests.
“Cork is poised for exponential growth over the next 20 years and I believe that whether it is Cork city or north, south, east or west Cork, every area needs strong representation that will promote it and fight for its future, ensuring that it gets its fair share of investment and opportunity,” he added.
From this month forward, the eight business associations listed above will operate in the collective of business associations in Cork which is the first county in Ireland to have such a model.
Operating under the new brand of Cork's Business Channel, all eight business associations will operate independently as member led organisations through their own digital channels and through the collective channels of businessassociations.ie.