Connect Consulting Completes Bentley Systems New Offices

Connect Consulting was appointed to manage the fitout of Bentley Systems New Offices in Dublin, Ireland. Their new offices are loacted at Europa House in Dublin 2.

Bentley Systems have announced that they are to create 150 jobs in its new Dublin Headquarters. Bentley Systems develops and provides software for infrastructural projects such as roads, hospitals, apartments and public buildings.

Connect Consulting continues to be appointed by foreign Direct Investment Companies to assist them in setting up their offices from a functional point of view.

Bentley Systems Europa House

In the current market there is significant value in the Irish Market for Foreign Direct Investment. Commercial Office Rents are down almost 40% and this is matched by reduction in Salaries and the Cost of living. Employment laws are also leaning to the side of employers, very different to that of many other European Countries.

This is backed up by 12.5% corporation tax which is fundamentally the reason for Ireland being so successful in attracting foreign direct investment.

Manufacturing may be ‘Dead in the water’ in Ireland but the basis for a knowledge based economy is there already. Companies such as Google, Ebay and more recently Facebook have all positioned their European Headquarters in Ireland.

Connect Consulting hope to continue to facilitate these companies in getting their premises up and running and a seamless entry into the Office market. For more details contact r.brennan@consultant.com

Crunch ‘creates flexible workforce’

Another article written in todays Irish independent backs up the flexibility of the workforce the flexinbility of the workforce that Greg Bentley Spoke about.

http://www.independent.ie/business/european/crunch-creates-flexible-workforce-1951044.html

Firms will emerge from the recession with a smaller core workforce but more staff on “flexi” arrangements, a leading business group has predicted.

The CBI said a more flexible workforce was one of a number of areas where “fresh approaches” will develop because of the economic downturn.

More financing options will be developed, firms will seek to improve “corporate citizenship” to help attract and keep customers and staff, and companies will re-examine their relationship with suppliers and other organisations such as universities, according to the CBI.

Director general Richard Lambert said: “We may be at the start of a new era for businesses, in which attitudes to finance and to corporate leadership are changed for a generation by the shock of the past two years.

“What we now need is a more balanced, less risky pathway to growth, one in which the short-term returns may be lower, but the long-term rewards for management success will be a lot more sustainable and secure.

“Firms looking to reduce risk and acknowledge their interdependence are seeking more collaborative ways of working through partnerships and joint ventures. Perhaps we will see a flourishing of supply chain finance – in which firms with the largest, most solid balance sheets help finance their smaller suppliers or customers.”

The report was published ahead of the CBI annual conference in London.

Recession = Current Market is good for Foreign Direct Investment

In previous posts I spoke about the current climate being extremely advantageous for Foreign Direct Investment to set up in Ireland.

Greg Bentley the CEO of Bentley Systems has reinforced this in an interview written in todays Sunday Business Post.

http://www.sbpost.ie/news/ireland/recession-attracts-major-us-employer-45813.html

The chief executive of a US firm which is creating 150 jobs in Dublin said his company would not be locating in Ireland if it were not for the recession.

Greg Bentley, of Bentley Systems, said that the company had originally discounted Ireland from its plans for an international shared ser vices centre, on account of high costs and the difficulty in hiring qualified people. ‘‘The recession creates capacity for us.

Otherwise we wouldn’t be here,” said Bentley, whose company had revenues of $500million last year.

He said that the scarcity of office space and talented workers in Ireland in recent years had become an ‘‘urban legend’’ outside Ireland.

The firm, which develops software for big infrastructure projects, had shortlisted a number of eastern European countries as potential locations for its new facility.

It was already at an advanced stage in planning when it decided to re-examine Ireland in the light of changing economic conditions, said Bentley.
‘‘While I sympathise with the rising unemployment rate, it is those unemployed who we will be hiring,” he said.

Bentley said that the unemployed people of a generation ago were ‘‘unemployable’’, but that today’s unemployed were the opposite.

‘‘We will be hiring young professionals, including those who may have been involved in the infrastructure-oriented professions, such as architects and engineers.

They have gone through their learning curve and are available to hit the ground running,” he said.

The company rated the positive Irish business environment and labour market as the primary factors in choosing the location, above any other cost considerations.

‘‘Only late in the game did we consider the tax advantages. I regard Ireland’s corporate tax rate as merely signifying its commitment to growth; it’s not the first or second consideration,” Bentley said.

Connect Consulting have assisted Bentley Systems in  setting up their Dublin Office Where they have already hired 35 people and expects to triple this number within six months, before bringing the total number hired to 150 within a year.

How to build a business in tough times – Will King

It’s easy to moan and groan about the current state of the economy in Ireland. The Irish are generally great a having a good moan! (Travel in a taxi and  you will know what I mean!).

But here is  book written by Will King the man behind the King of  Shaves that gives inspiration to anyone looking at starting their own business, particularly during a recession!

Recession Reads

Will King decided to take on one of the biggest brands in the world in Gillette. It is a market where the only opposition is Wilkinson Sword.

What interested me the most was his approach to marketing and PR. He is always looking for new and inventive ways to market his business.

According to David Merrman Scott (www.davidmeermanscott.com) the rules of Marketing and PR have changed. Will King seems to have a strong grasp of these new rules and it is clearly evident in this book.

It shows what you can do with a vision and persistance and reminds that unless you continue to believe and work hard you goals probably wont happen.

Connect Consulting Project – Cawley Nea/TBWA wins Award

Connect Consulting a contributor with HKR Architects, came  Highly Commended in the 2009 IDI Awards for the Cawley Nea/TBWA Project.

Cawley Nea/TBWA Highly Commended Award

Cawley Nea\TBWA is one of Ireland’s leading Advertising and Media Agencies. They are part of Omnicom group the world’s second largest advertising agency holding companies.

Connect Consulting was appointed to project manage and cost control the refurbishment of 14,000sqft of offices in Rathmines, Dublin.

The brief was to provide Cawley Nea\TBWA with space that would inspire creativity and instead of “home sweet home” had the feeling of “work sweet work”.

Connect Consulting was able to deliver a project that met the tight demands of the budget without losing any of the quality in finish. It is a particularly good time to begin a fit out or refurbishment project as the value in the market is exceptional.

Connect Consulting has taken advantage of this in providing  clients with significant savings.

The project was delivered on a fast track basis. As one floor was being completed the other was occupied.  This meant that careful co-ordination and planning was required so to have as little disturbance as possible.

Connect Consulting Contact Details

Contact Details

Rob Brennan – r.brennan@consultant.com

24 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2, Ireland

Connect Consulting completes Vizeum Fitout

Connect Consulting completes a fitout for Vizeum part of the Aegis Group Plc.  Their new offices are now based in Block 3 of the Harcourt Centre in Dublin 2.

They took space on the 1st floor which was previously occupied by Murex, a financial services company. Vizeum were able to reuse most of the exisitng fitout. With some reconfirguration they were able to create a working space that met with all their requirements.

Connect Consulting had a week to complete the works but through focused procurement they delivered on time and on budget.

Vizeum used a decal on the glazed partitions representing their corporate colours. The detail in it is incredible as you can see from the picutres below.

For more information on Fitout and Project Consultancy contact r.brennan@consultant.com

Vizeum Offices - Dublin 2

Vizeum Vinyl Decal - Detail

 

Grand Theft Nama?? Or Guerilla Marketing!

John Reynolds owner of the famed nightclub the “POD” in Dublin has chosen an interesting way of venting his anger at the recent NAMA legislation

A massive banner has been draped over the POD nightclub and at a brief look it looks like a big ad banner for the latest Grand Theft Auto game that has been recently released. On closer inspection you can see its really an anti NAMA banner with reference to a website www.enoughisenough.ie which has an interesting video interview with Peter Mathews.

Apparently Rockstar games gave permission to use its graphics leading me to believe that maybe this is part of a Guerilla Marekting campaign.  Very clever in my opinion.

Grand Theft Nama???