‘LEAP’ (Local Enterprise Achievement Programme) with 8 schools in Waterford city and county. The schools involved are:- Light of Christ N.S. (Dunmore), Passage East N.S., Kilmacthomas Primary School, Holy Cross N.S. (Tramore), Mount Sion Primary School, Presentation Primary School, St. Mary’s N.S. (Ballygunner) and St. Saviour’s N.S.

200 primary school students aged 10-11 have some exciting ideas, inventions and companies being formed. Over the past few months, they have worked along-side junior achievement volunteers who are entrepreneurs from local companies and who are encouraging the children to become entrepreneurs and setting up their own businesses.

Junior Achievement Ireland would be delighted to invite you to view the classes where the students showcase their ideas, which will be held in the foyer of the WIT, School of Business on 29th & 30th May and the students will also have the opportunity to present their ideas and inventions to the F.R.O.G.S. (for recognition of greatness in students). If you would like to come along anytime between 10.15am and 12.30pm you would be very welcome.

We are all aware of the benefits for students, when they can make connections between their in-school work and what they see as the ‘real world’. JAI volunteers and Waterford Local Enterprise Office are working together to inspire and motivate students to make the most of their education and maximise their potential.

Junior Achievement is a not for profit organisation that has been working with the Irish Corporate sector to deliver practical life skills programmes into Irish primary and secondary schools for 20 years. In the last school year Junior Achievement volunteers delivered programmes to 60,000 students in Ireland with the support of 165 partner organisations who made available more than 3,000 volunteers.

On behalf of the team at JAI and the Waterford Local Enterprise Office, we look forward to the possibility of seeing you at the showcase!

As part of its expansion of world-class health care in Ireland, UPMC announced today that it has acquired the Whitfield Clinic in Waterford, as well as full control of the cancer centre that it has operated at the hospital through a joint venture for the past 12 years.

The 80-bed hospital has been renamed UPMC Whitfield. The cancer centre is now UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre, part of UPMC’s expansive network of more than 60 cancer treatment facilities, with access to the cutting-edge research and expertise available at the academic hub in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

“The excellent staff and leadership at UPMC Whitfield and our UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre provide a solid foundation for our plans to grow high-quality health care services throughout the country.”

Added Ireland country manager and UPMC Vice President David Beirne, “We look forward to working with our consultant and insurance partners, as well as our dedicated staff, to expand the hospital’s capabilities. By accessing the clinical, research and technological innovations of UPMC, we anticipate adding needed services and employment at the UPMC Whitfield campus in the coming years.”

Opened in 2006, Whitfield Clinic is the largest private hospital in the South-East, serving a half million people in five counties and nationwide. UPMC Whitfield will build on its wide range of existing services, including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, oncology, endoscopy and other surgical specialties. With more than 50 consultants and 180 employees, the hospital has been growing rapidly in the past five years.

Also opened in 2006, the cancer centre within the hospital has treated more than 17,000 patients with the most advanced radiation therapy, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy and image-guided radiation therapy. Recognising a local need, physicians and the Health Service Executive partnered with UPMC to provide an advanced cancer treatment centre that would care for patients close to home.

UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre at Whitfield is based on UPMC’s “hub-and-spoke” model in which a wide range of oncology services is offered in local communities with support from UPMC’s academic and clinical hub at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre in Pittsburgh. Based on its high-quality standards and patient safety, the centre in Waterford has been accredited three times by the Joint Commission International since 2008. Next year, in partnership with Bon Secours Health System Ltd., UPMC will open a radiotherapy centre in Cork.

An event by the Waterford Micro Business Network kindly sponsored by the Local Enterprise Office

Put the Mojo back into your business and discover how to create promotional videos using your mobile phone. Delivered by Denise Whitmore, The Social Media Department.ie.

Date: Tuesday, 22nd May

Time: 6.30pm to 8.00pm

Venue: Dooley’s Hotel, The Quay, Waterford

Book your place early as this event will sell out fast!!

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/create-videos-for-business-using-your-mobile-phone-tickets-45797090330

Date: Tuesday, 22nd May

Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Cork Road Campus, WIT

Cost: Free

Now in its eighth year, Springboard+ has to date provided 47,000 free higher education places, primarily to jobseekers in need of upskilling or reskilling to allow them to re-enter the labour market. From last year, the eligibility criteria for Springboard+ was expanded to include homemakers and those in employment who wished to upskill or reskill to meet specific emerging skills needs in the ICT and Biopharma/Med Tech sectors.

This year, for the first time, Springboard+ courses will be extended so that all courses will now be open to people irrespective of their employment status.

• Level 6 courses will remain free to all participants.
• Returners and those in receipt of certain allowances, including Jobseekers Benefit, will continue to be able to access courses free of charge.
• For employed participants on courses NFQ level 7 – 9, 90% of the course fee will be funded by the Government, with participants required to contribute just 10% of the fee.

This change reflects the Government’s emphasis on the importance of life long learning and upskilling/reskilling throughout one’s career.

Find out more about Springboard+ opportunities for 2018 at WIT at our Springboard, Part-time & Postgrad Open Evening on Tuesday 22nd May.

Please support this event and check out our Facebook for updates: www.facebook.com/WFOArchitecture.

There are a number of events over the weekend from 18th – 20th May including free exhibitions; tours of buildings usually closed to the public; international sketching with Garter Lane; and much more. An event that may interest the business community in particular is a talk by well know architect James Pike on ‘Living over the Shop’.

There are proposed relaxation laws governing conversions of commercial and industrial units into residential. We are holding this event on Sat. 19th at 13.00 upstairs in the Kaz Bar.

All events are free. Thanks to our main sponsors, WCCC, Murphy International and local architects and engineers.

The Southern Regional Assembly in association with the Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference (BCERC) will host an event When Science met Business on Friday 8th June 2018 in ArcLabs, Waterford Institute of Technology. The event will provide a forum for researchers and industry to explore potential mutually beneficial collaborations and may be of interest to you or colleagues.

This is an industry and science engagement event.

The primary focus under this programme is to improve the competitiveness of the regional economy. This will be achieved through a number of routes, including the Science Foundation Ireland’s Research Centres where scientists and engineers are linked in partnerships across academia and industry to address crucial research questions. Enterprise Ireland’s Commercialisation Fund and Innovation Partnership schemes play a crucial role in supporting the creation of technology based start-up companies and the transfer of innovations developed in Higher Education Institutes and Research Performing Organisations to industry in the region.

Mindful of the honour afforded us to associate our event with the Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference (BCERC) to be held in Waterford Institute of Technology, we want  When Science met Business, to showcase exemplar projects and in line with the spirit and objectives of the Regional Programme, facilitate where possible industry/research engagement.

The format for this half-day morning event will be a series of talks and market-place activities where attendees can hear from and meet with researchers and key programme actors.

Booking is necessary as spaces are limited. Please contact Yvonne on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to book. 

Bookings can also be made at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/when-science-met-business-tickets-45513841124?aff=es2

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, Ireland’s most beautiful summer music festival, is delighted to partner with Waterford Chamber in offering its members a special package for either of two featured events in this year’s programme which runs from May 29th to June 3rd.

Rossini’s sparkling Opera L’Italiana in Algeri is the highlight of the festival and the Double Bill at Dromore Yard promises to be a memorable day of music. Full programme here.

Lovers of garden opera, romantic castles, good food and beautiful music are spoiled for choice at this summer’s Blackwater Valley Opera Festival. With three nights of opera at Lismore Castle, plus recitals in some of the historic and fascinating Great Houses along the Blackwater River, there’s something for everyone. See our festival video here.

Chamber members can avail of a special package for either of two featured events:

L’Italiana in Algeri Opera: Opera Ticket only €80* / Opera Ticket & Dinner €130

(* Single price ticket across all seat categories subject to availability)

Dromore Yard Double Bill: Morning & Afternoon Recital including lunch €50

While Saturday night’s performance of the opera is already sold out, tickets are still available for an extra Gala Night show, in support of Enable Ireland on Wednesday May 30th, and our special Night at the Opera performance on Friday June 1st.

Also on Friday, a special Festival Double Bill at Dromore Yard begins by bringing you the most exciting new talents to this gorgeous new riverside venue followed the afternoon by a memorable opera recital.

There are also there is an outstanding array of dining and hospitality choices to accompany both events here.

There’s lots to love on the Blackwater this summer, so book now to ensure you don’t miss out. See our full programme here. Please apply the Chamber special code WA20 when purchasing on-line or call Emma on +353 (0) 85 207 8944.

Bringing a group? Contact the box office directly to discuss special offers and concierge booking by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling Emma on +353 (0) 85 207 8944.

Go to www.blackwatervalleyoperafestival.com for full details of all events.