By Business & Finance 
Business & Finance brings you the day’s Irish business news in brief.
Enterprise Ireland companies exceed target with 45,000 new jobs Enterprise Ireland reported that over the period of its 2014-2016 strategy, 45,592 new full-time jobs were created by client companies. A total of 19,244 new jobs (full and part-time) in Enterprise Ireland supported businesses were created in 2016. Almost two-thirds of these new jobs were outside Dublin, and all regions recorded increases in employment. Enterprise Ireland chief executive Julie Sinnamon said: “We aim to build on this success and ensure that Irish enterprise is well positioned to continue to succeed globally particularly in the context of Brexit.” STEM event aimed at females sells out ahead of events in February I WISH 2017, initiative encouraging young women to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), has sold out ahead of the events in February. The initiative, which is supported by Science Foundation Ireland, branched out nationwide this year with events in Cork City Hall on February 9th and 10th 2017, and in the RDS Dublin on February 13th and 14th 2017. Set up in 2014 by three Cork businesswomen: Gillian Keating, partner at Ronan Daly Jermyn; Ruth Buckley, head of ICT and Business Services at Cork City Council; and Caroline O’Driscoll, partner at KPMG. 
60% of Irish people believe Ireland will become cashless
Over 60% of all Irish people believe that Ireland will become cashless in the future with a quarter of ‘Generation Z’ believing this will happen in the next 15 years, according to new research from Core Media.
The nationwide study found high levels of expectation of a cashless future as well as an awareness of and a willingness to use new payment technologies, even before they are available here in Ireland.
It is thought the ‘digital natives’ of Generation Z, those currently aged between 16 and 21, will help push these new payment options and a tipping point will be reached when they come of age, start jobs, and see their need for banking and finance coincide with their fluency in emerging technologies.
As more transactions are becoming digital through ecommerce, online banking and apps, such as taxi, take-away and shopping apps, there is a gradual blurring of the concepts of ‘money’ and ‘data’ in people’s minds.
Most of those surveyed say they would trust major tech brands to manage transactions in the future – with over three quarters (77%) saying they would trust brands such as Facebook, Google and Apple to provide payment and financial services.
Digital Skills Academy announces expansion to 25 countries
Digital Skills Academy, the Irish company that pioneered online degrees in digital skills, has expanded its reach to 25 countries in six continents across the globe.
Over 300 people have participated in Digital Skills Academy’s international degree programmes since October 2015.
Founded by entrepreneur and educator Paul Dunne in 2008, Digital Skills Academy has its headquarters in Dublin’s Digital Hub, with a satellite office in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The company is planning further expansion of its international office network during 2017.
Participants in Digital Skills Academy’s courses gain expertise and extensive experience working in international cross-functional virtual teams, which work together to deliver projects. The teams are made up of coders, project managers, digital product managers and marketers.
Lectures are delivered online, and Digital Skills Academy’s coaches and expert mentors provide weekly support to the online meetings of these international teams.
To read more, click here.
Petrofac awarded Oman gas project in a deal worth $600m
Petrofac has signed a contract worth close to $600m with Salalah LPG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oman Oil Facilities Development Company, to undertake the engineering, procurement and construction of its Salalah LPG extraction project in the southern part of Oman.
Marwan Chedid, Petrofac Group CEO, commented: “This contract is our 11th in the sultanate and reinforces our commitment to Oman where we have been present since 1988.
“This project will further support our commitment to increase in-country value. We will continue to maintain strong focus on this aspect of our delivery, particularly by engaging the local supply chain and recruiting local resources. We are very much looking forward to growing and strengthening our team working alongside OOFDC to deliver this project.”
17 new jobs at new Top Oil forecourt service station in Cork
Top Oil has officially opened its latest company operated forecourt, Junction 3 at Cobh’s Cross, in Cobh Cross, Co. Cork.
The new forecourt station will employ 17 people from the surrounding Glounthaune and Carrigtwohill areas, and aims to bring a significant boost to the local economy.
Junction 3 at Cobh’s Cross marks the first in a series of planned investments by Top Oil in County Cork and across Ireland which will take place in 2017.
Speaking at the launch, chief executive Gerard Boylan said: “This is an exciting time for Top Oil and we are committed to investing in key locations across Ireland such as Cobh Cross, and providing a high-quality service to our retail and trade customers. This forecourt investment demonstrates our continued growth and commitment as a leading Irish fuel and home heating oil provider.”
