By Business & Finance 
Gina Quin, CEO, Dublin Chamber of Commerce; Emer O’Riordan, Mazars; Tanaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton; Greg Clarke, president of Dublin Chamber of Commerce
More than half of Dublin business (53%) have grown staff numbers since last year, according to a survey by Dublin Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber’s Q2 Business Trends Survey of 350 business leaders found that sentiment among businesses in Dublin remains very high in terms of both current performance and future expectations. Encouragingly, this positivity is resulting in increased job creation with two out of five businesses planning to increase staff numbers over the next three months.
Further findings show that growth trends in Dublin are prompting two thirds (63%) of companies to re-visit their business plan in 2015. The next three most popular trends amongst respondents were: developing online/mobile sales channel (49%); fostering a culture of innovation (46%); and rebranding their business or product (40%).
The findings of the survey were announced this morning at Dublin Chamber’s Momentum Summit conference in Aviva Stadium. Momentum is a one day event featuring 15 top-level speakers from the worlds of business, marketing and sport aimed at SMEs. The Chamber president cited the increased optimism amongst Dublin firms was one of the key reasons for organising Momentum Summit.
Dublin Chamber president Greg Clarke said: “It is encouraging to see such strong levels of confidence from businesses in Dublin. The fact that there are 350 business owners and managers in the Aviva today to listen, learn and network is evidence of the desire of Dublin SMEs to improve and grow. It is particularly encouraging to hear that the strong activity and increased confidence is bearing fruit in terms of job creation.”
Among the speakers at the Momentum Summit are Formula One marketing expert Mark Gallagher, Joe.ie founder Niall McGarry, entrepreneur Brody Sweeney, Dublin footballer Bernard Brogan, former Kilkenny hurler Henry Shefflin and former Ireland rugby captain Fiona Coughlan.
According Clarke: “The idea behind Momentum Summit is to give business people the opportunity to network together and to learn from each other. As business owners, it is amazing how much we can learn from listening to our peers. People like Brody Sweeney have experienced every emotion when it comes to running a business and the advice they can offer is hugely important for other emerging and aspiring business owners and managers. As the economy continues to go from strength to strength, this is a fascinating and exciting time to be in business in Dublin. If every person leaves Momentum today with even one piece of valuable advice, it will hopefully allow them to better their business.”
