300 NEW JOBS PROMISED AT NOVAUCD - UCD says this morning that it expects 300 jobs will be created by campus companies over the next two years. This is 150% increase on the numbers working at the university in a private sector capacity. 37 companies are based on the campus, either commercialising UCD research or choosing to locate at UCD to access the university's research capabilities.
Professor Peter Clinch is Vice-president for Innovation at UCD. He says that while it is not realistic to say that all the new jobs in UCD will be filled from Leaving Cert ranks, they should attract a high level of attention from post-graduates, both at home and abroad. Two companies - Wattics and RendezVu - plan to create 30 jobs between them. Wattics provides energy management solutions and smart meters and is currently fund raising. RendezVu provides online language learning skills.
The Professor says the jobs are high quality with good salaries of about €40,000+. He says that NovaUCD brings together a community of entrepreneurs as well as a network of expertise including legal advice, marketing services, banking and other business support services.
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MORNING BRIEFS - Aer Lingus has said that its passenger numbers for January rose by 5.8% to 563,000 from 532,000 the same time last year. The airline said its short-haul numbers were up 6.2% to 514,000 while its long-haul figures increased by 2.1% 49,000. The numbers carried on its regional operations rose by over 26% to 53,000.
*** Cancer was behind 44% of all deaths covered by life assurance and two thirds of all claims for serious illness in 2011 according to new figures published today by Irish Life. The figures are based on an analysis of almost 2,000 claims paid out last year by the company which involved the payment of €117m to customers and their dependants.
*** Cemex, which already owns 60% of stock market listed cement maker Readymix, has increased its offer for the remainder of the company from 22 cent per share to 25 cent per share. Cemex made an approach in January for the company and an independent committee of two board members was established to assess its merits.
That committee is recommending the acceptance of the increased offer, calling it ''fair and reasonable''. The offer is still subject to pre-conditions, in particular the support of certain shareholders.
*** The Small Firms Association says labour costs and employee flexibility remain the most ''significant problems'' facing small businesses. The Association surveyed its members on their priorities for 2012 and reports that while the marketplace has stabilised, they are focused on reducing costs and improving productivity as well as finding new markets.
*** The monthly Bord Gáis Energy Index read 1% higher in January compared to December because of more expensive oil prices. Those increases were on the back of worries that Iran's response to EU sanctions may lead to a blockade of the Straits of Hormuz, which is important for shipping oil. The higher reading comes despite falls in the wholesale price of electricity, gas and coal driven in part by the unseasonably mild weather. The index stands 8% higher than in January last year.
*** English retail guru Mary Portis, who recently completed a report for the UK government with recommendations for the future of the British high street, wrote up her visit to Avoca on Dublin's Suffolk Street which she gave a 9/10 rating. She said the shop window "utterly sophisticated"; she bought the "biggest apple tart" she'd ever seen; and was served by a stylish bubbly sales assistant who told her the story of the brand and encouraged her to try a €99 dress. She noted the shop was really busy and meant that someone passionate about people as well as product is at the helm.
***On the currency markets, the euro is worth $1.3084 and 82.96 pence sterling.
