TechNorthWest Skillnet are running a Basic Food Hygiene course (EHOA) on Friday 17th February in Letterkenny and have a limited number of spaces available. I have attached a document with course details and a booking form. If this course may be beneficial to your organisation, please fill out the booking form and return to the email address below. Feel free to contact Kieran Griffin if you have any further queries.

Kieran Griffin
Network Administrator 074 9186705
info@technorthwestskillnet.com

INNOVA is an all-island collaborative R&D programme initiated by InterTradeIreland to stimulate, promote and support R&D co-operation between companies, North and South.

This unique cross-border programme offers an opportunity to accelerate new product, process or service developments through partnering with a company in the other jurisdiction. InterTradeIreland has released over €6m to North/South company partnerships to date and we are now looking to support more collaborative innovation projects.

Under the current competition offers to successful partnerships will be up to £250K (or € equivalent) in total per project. Grant aid rates will comply with the relevant EU R&D Framework and State Aid Regulations however aid intensities will be up to 50%, with varying rates for SME & large companies. Final offers will be determined through the rigorous assessment process including independent technical and commercial/financial assessments.

For more details contact Oonagh who will assist with your application for INNOVA funding.

South China University of Technology (SCUT) is establishing a new Food Engineering Research Centre. SCUT is now recruiting high-talented researchers internationally to join the Centre. Further details on the vacancies can be found at http://222.201.132.23:8088/article/art624.htm
Please note that applications should be sent directly to Prof Xin-An Zeng in SCUT at xazeng@scut.edu.cn before 15 February 2012.

The JFC Innovation Awards for Rural Business is up and running again. To be in with a chance of winning this competition, all that is needed is a business idea that is realistic.

The overall award winner will receive €15,000 which includes a cash prize of €5,000, mentoring and business support worth €5,000 and advertising space in the Irish Farmers Journal worth €5,000. There will be up to 12 regional/category prizes worth €1,500 each.

There are four categories for this year’s JFC Innovation Awards for Rural Business, as follows:

· Energy / Manufacturing
· Value Added / Speciality Food
· Services / Rural Tourism
· Startup (not yet trading)

The JFC Innovation Awards for Rural Business application forms are available from Teagasc offices, Irish Farmers Journal and DARD, or from the organisation’s websites: www.teagasc.ie www.ifj.ie http://www.dardni.gov.uk/ruralni

Wishing all my clients and colleagues and very happy, healthy and increasingly prosperous new year! This year is the one for broading out one’s thinking – how else can income be generated ? what else can you offer ? what skills do you have that you’re not using ? what interests do you have that you might monetise ? New approaches may well pay off, and what’s the worst that could happen? You won’t know unless you try. Go for it!

Mayo North East Leader Partnership Co. held a Meet the Maker Food Fair Showcase event on November 30th last in Foxford to celebrate the success of the Small Food Producers Development programme of Mentoring & Training that has run over the past 18 months. Midwest radio were there filming and if you missed it on TV last week, you can see it on www.midwestradio.ie. Check out programme (Ireland West Music TV), 10-11pm, week of Dec 16th, part 2 (!) about 12 minutes in!

30th November;
Foxford Leisure Centre, Foxford, Co.Mayo
6-9pm

This was a great opportunity to meet your local small food producers and to try out their fabulous range of foods – everything from jam, cakes, bread, macaroons, pasties, honey, sausages, you name it!

This project is assisted by Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company through the Rural Development Programme which is part-financed by the European Union and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Guest Presentation
from

James Burke of James
Burke & Associates

James Burke is a food
retail specialist for small and medium food producers and start ups in
particular.

As former group purchasing
manager with Superquinn he has firsthand knowledge of what buyers look for and
as he is also heavily involved in the foodservice sector, which is another big
opportunity area for producers.

Tuesday 15th November

7:30pm SHARP!

Gateway Hotel Swinford

For more details text/phone Oonagh on 086-176 0496

Alpha Omega has a new office phone number, its (071) 916 4003. So whenever the mobile is not in service, try the landline ! htank you.

The conference will be on Wednesday, 14 September 2011 & located at the Ballykisteen Hotel & Golf Resort which is in
Limerick Junction, Co. Tipperary. See http://www.teagasc.ie/events/2011/20110817a.asp for details