Business Commons^™

Growing Niche Business Through Innovation: A Family Run Open Farm In Ireland, Trudie Murray, Fred Creedon, Aisling Conwaylenihan

Conference Papers

This case study presents an analysis of Leahy’s Open Farm, a family business that has continuously reinvented itself, since its launch in 1996. The open-farm industry in Ireland is a niche that faces many regulatory, organisational and economic challenges. This case study presents an overview of the challenges and potential for this growing market. Challenges include; rising insurance costs (33% increase) and dealing with (50% reduction in revenue in 2020) and recovering from the economic impact of COVID-19 restrictions. Leahy’s have been able to develop the business by adding new revenue streams, nurturing employee skills, harnessing their competency base and …

Firms’ Awareness And Opportunities Of An Ageing Population, Helen Mcguirk, Aisling Conwaylenihan, Niamh Lenihan

Conference Papers

Europe’s population is getting older; dependency ratios are set to double by 2060 and almost a fifth of the total population living in Europe are aged over 65. Such transformations and demographic change pose major challenges and potential benefits for the economy. Addressing the call in the literature for further research into the supply side of the silver economy, this research contributes to our understanding of firms’ awareness of this growing market and its economic potential. This research employs primary qualitative and quantitative data from eight regions in Europe to study how aware businesses are of the silver economy. In …

An Exploration Of Higher Education Engagement With Small And Medium Enterprise In Ireland, Irene Sheridan, Margaret Linehan

Conference Papers

Higher education institutions are increasingly expected to support regional economic development through knowledge generation and exchange in collaboration with enterprise and industry. In many geographies small and medium industries form the backbone of regional economies and present best opportunities for employment and export growth. While it is understood that working with higher education learning and research expertise can contribute to competitiveness and success for small enterprises, the reality is that many enterprises experience barriers to these partnerships (Collier, Grey, & Ahn, 2011). Barriers relating to cultural differences, inaccessibility, resources and funding availabilities have been reported. Dadameah & Costello (2011) report …

Facilitating External Engagement And Developing Industry-Focused Programmes In Cork Institute Of Technology, Irene Sheridan, Deirdre Goggin, Daithí Fallon

Conference Papers

As organisations focus on economic indicators and return on investment their approaches to learning and development opportunities are transformed. In a challenging, competitive climate there is a need to ensure that long and short term benefits are maximised. While engagement is often presented as a third mission of universities, encompassing the full range of external interactions with enterprises, individuals and communities, separate and distinct from the first two missions of teaching and research, is only effective if it is closely interlinked with them.

Vorley and Nelles (2008) describe the third mission as a ‘thread that has the capacity to weave …

Partnerships For Progress, Higher Education Institutions And External Engagement Conference Proceedings 2010, Roadmap For Employment - Academic Partnerships, Margaret Linehan, Irene Sheridan

Conference Papers

This publication is derived from the presentations and discussions at the Partnerships for Progress Conference on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and External Engagement organised by the Roadmap for Employment-Academic Partnership (REAP) project in Farmleigh House, 23 September 2010. The Conference aimed to explore the potential scope for external engagement activity and the motivation for partnership as well as how that activity can be supported and managed and how success can be measured and rewarded. The REAP project is funded through the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Strategic Innovation Fund Cycle 2. The Project is led by Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) …