Top business worries revealed for new year
BEING able to attract and retain key staff is the No1 concern of businesses this year, according to a report by Dublin Chamber.
The survey, carried out amongst 210 companies, found more than two thirds of firms (69%) rank the retention and attraction of employees as an issue of high concern.
Concerns about new GDPR data protection legislation – due to come into effect in May – provide the second biggest headache for firms. Around 62% stated they are highly concerned by how the new regulations will impact on their business.
Nearly one-in-four firms (23%) said they felt their business is unprepared for GDPR. More encouragingly, 60% said they feel “quite prepared” for GDPR, while 11% believed they were “very prepared”.
Traffic is expected to remain a big issue for firms in the year ahead. Around
Chamber chief Mary Rose Burke 53% of firms said they were highly concerned about the impact of increasing congestion on their firm in 2018.
Dublin Chamber chief Mary Rose Burke said: “Irish businesses are in a relatively good place going in to 2018.
“However, this survey shows that there are a number of significant challenges that companies will need to overcome over the next 12 months.
“It’s no surprise that fears over retaining and attracting good staff are top of mind.
“With the country edging ever closer to full employment, competition for talent continues to heat up.
“We see this both at a national and international level.
“We have some of the world’s best staff working in Dublin, but keeping them here – and attracting more like them – has never been tougher.”
Unsurprisingly, Brexit continues to occupy the minds of Irish business owners and managers.
Around half of respondents (49%) pinpointed it as an issue they were highly concerned about over the coming 12 months.
Encouragingly for the Government, businesses are positive about how it has
GOLFERS have putt their money where there mouth is in a bid to raise money for charity.
St Margaret’s Golf and Country Club in North Co Dublin has completed a remarkable year raising more than €68,000 raised for handled Brexit negotiations so far. Three-quarters of firms rated the its performance in Brexit discussions as either “good” or “very good”.
Around 20% described the Government’s performance as average, with just 4% summing it up as “poor” or “very poor”. However, businesses are more critical of the Government’s performance in solving Dublin’s infrastructure issues. 85% said the Government was not doing enough to ease infrastructure pressures facing Dublin,
Ms Burke said: “Dublin is competing on a daily basis with other cities around the world and it is vital therefore that we ensure that Dublin is as attractive and as competitive as possible.
“This includes ensuring that Ireland’s tax base is attractive and compares favourably with other cities, notably the UK cities. Measures must also be taken to continually improve the quality of life that’s on offer in Dublin.”
the Laura Lynn Foundation in 2017. The club held a number of events during 2017, including charity golf events, quizzes, while members also donated a portion of their prize money from their regular competitions.