8 Mar 2021 | Archive
Co-inciding with International Women’s Day, our SERI co-member and SEDF winner The Shona Project launches the Shine Festival.
One of the biggest gatherings of Irish Women ever!
This three-day, free-to-attend, online festival of empowerment features almost 100 speakers, 40,000 attendees and covers every possible topic that would interest or concern our attendees. It also includes a treasure hunt, spot prizes, performances, an opportunity to share your thoughts and a diverse speaker panel so every girl feels represented, seen and understood.
Check out the Shine Festival now at: https://shinefestival.ie/
The Shona Project
Shona.ie is a social enterprise that celebrates women from all over the world, those who succeed and those who overcome, those who lead and those who think, those who win and those who learn. We share our stories so that we don’t feel alone. We laugh, learn, try and cry together.
The Shona.ie website was built to share news that is relevant to young Irish women. We celebrate the achievements of powerful, successful and inspiring women from Ireland and all over the world. We ask experts for advice on common issues. Most importantly, we give young women a platform to share their own stories, in the hope of helping others and proving that none of us are alone. And sometimes, we’re just here for the craic.
26 Jan 2021 | Archive
The Social Enterprise Development Fund is offering cash grants and places on an accelerator programme to up to 16 Awardees in 2021.
The Fund invites applications from social enterprises that:
● Have a clear social mission that addresses a critical social issue
● Generate income from goods or services
● Are already up and running
● Reinvest any surplus into achieving their mission
● Have a not-for-profit legal form, e.g. companies limited guarantee
● Are separate from the Government and state agencies
● Have their main impact in the Republic of Ireland
● Have not already completed a multi-year fund with Rethink Ireland.
Full information can be found on the Rethink Ireland website at https://rethinkireland.ie/current_fund/social-enterprise-development-fund-2021/
The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 5th March 2021.
22 Dec 2020 | Archive
Thank you for helping us make it through 2020 and be ready for 2021!
Despite everything, we’ve remained open for business while providing commercial work experience opportunities to over 60 previously long term unemployed people in 2020. That’s some 1300 people since our foundation! As the year progressed, we were able to bring back any staff that had temporarily been furloughed.
Our Speedpak Contract Services & E-fulfilment division provided crucial warehousing, packing and supply chain services for commercial customers supplying personal protective equipment nationwide.
Staff in our Shamrock Rosettes division – hard hit by the cancellation of almost all events – demonstrated their flexibility in designing and manufacturing repurposed, washable, branded face coverings that we now sell.
This year has highlighted the importance for a business like ours, to remain focused, flexible and entrepreneurial, not only for commercial success but also to achieve social impact locally. In our case, that flexibility and focus enabled us to continue supporting a local community with employment opportunities.
We couldn’t have done it without your support, so a big thank you to…
Our Customers
for trusting us with their products, for buying ours and providing the work that enables us employ local unemployed people.
Our Government & State-funded Partners
The Government of Ireland, POBAL, The Dormant Accounts Fund, Northside Partnership and Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education for contracting our services.
Our Corporate & Philanthropic Investors
Rethink Ireland, The Ireland Funds & AbbVie for backing us and helping us deliver our mission.
Our Volunteer Companies
Afanite, Perigord-AS for lending their expertise free of charge.
Our Industry Partners
AbbVie, Bewleys, Butler’s Chocolates, IKEA and Realtime Technologies for supporting our Traineeship Programme.
We wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2021!
12 Oct 2020 | Archive
Job Title: General Operative
Reporting to: The Operations Manager/ Assistant Operations Manager
ABOUT SPEEDPAK
Speedpak CLG, trading as Speedpak Group, is a social enterprise providing work experience and training for people who are long term unemployed.
Our Speedpak Contract Services business specialises in providing customised contract packing and e-commerce fulfilment services to industry. Under our Shamrock Rosettes brand we manufacture a wide range of promotional products, including rosettes, sashes and badges. We are the largest manufacturer and distributor of these promotional products in the Republic of Ireland. The business operates an online shop and exports its products. We also supply embroidered sports clothing.
For more information see our websites: www.speedpakgroup.com, www.speedpak.ie and www.shamrockrosettes.com.
ROLE
The general operative role will work as part of the operations team in all Speedpak businesses, carrying out Manufacturing, Assembly, Packing, Printing and Distribution tasks.
KEY DUTIES
- Achieving set production targets and meeting all relevant quality standards
- Operating Plant and Equipment; Maintaining equipment as specified under Standard Operations Procedures
- Overseeing goods inwards and outwards as instructed by management
- Adhering to Health & Safety guidelines and regulations
- Following the principles of good manufacturing housekeeping
- Mentoring staff on the work experience and Labour Market programmes with Speedpak Group
DESIRABLE SKILLS/EXPERIENCE
- Experience in Manufacturing, Assembling and Packing
- Ability to works well in a team
- Excellent timekeeping and attendance
- An efficient and organised approach to work
- Commitment to good customer service and quality
ELIGIBILITY
This position is supported by POBAL under the Community Services Programme (CSP), and you must be eligible to apply. We particularly welcome applications from:
- Persons in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension or blind persons pension or other disability benefit;
- Travellers in receipt of jobseekers payment or one parent family benefit;
- Stabilised and recovering drug misusers;
- People with convictions who are in contact with the Probation Service;
- Persons in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit, jobseekers assistance or one parent family payment or the jobseeker transitional payment ;
- People employed from TÚS , Gateway, Community Employment and Job Initiative (JI) schemes;
- Former RSS workers who were previously Community Employment participants.
SALARY & CONDITIONS
- Hourly Rate : €12.65
- Hours of work: 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 4.00 Friday (39 hours)
- 30 minute unpaid lunch break
- 20 days annual leave
- Sick leave policy applies
- This is a fixed term contract for 1 year
- This post is subject to on-going Government funding under the Community Services Programme.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send a copy of your CV and covering letter either by post or email no later than 5.00pm on Friday 30 October 2020 with interviews taking place on Wednesday 11 November 2020
By post to:
Edel Moloney
Change & Development Manager
Speedpak Limited
Units 5-8 Clonshaugh Business & Technology Park
Dublin 17
By email to:
jobs@speedpak.ie
SELECTION PROCESS
Strict COVID -19 protocols will be put in place for interviews to ensure the safely of all attendees. Those invited for interview will be provide with clear instructions in advance on the hygiene procedures in Speedpak . Masks and hand sanitisers will be available.
Speedpak is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
5 Oct 2020 | Archive
PRESS RELEASE: A contemporary alternative to grinds, a social business employing ex-offenders, and a zero-waste organic food co-op are just three of 40 social enterprises to be awarded over €400,000 by Rethink Ireland today [4 October 2020].
Today Rethink Ireland announces the 40 Awardees of their Social Enterprise Development Fund; 16 enterprises will receive cash grants and business support, and a further 24 enterprises will receive strategic support to help expand their impact through a ‘Genesis Programme’.
The Social Enterprise Development Fund is a €3.2 million Fund being delivered from 2018 – 2022. The fund was created by Rethink Ireland in partnership with Local Authorities Ireland and funded by IPB Insurance and the Department of Rural and Community Development through the Dormant Accounts Fund.
Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Joe O’Brien TD, said: “Today’s recipients of funding and support from Rethink Ireland are doing vital work in their communities to promote social and economic wellbeing, and I wish to congratulate them on their achievements. Now, more than ever, we need innovative leaders to re-think the way we live and work at an individual, local and national level to create a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable society for everyone. These Awardees are excellent examples of the importance of social enterprises to Irish society and the economy.”
CEO of Rethink Ireland Deirdre Mortell, said: “Social enterprises are part of the fabric of communities across Ireland, using business skills and clever thinking to drive their mission supporting people and planet. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic we have all been reminded about the critical value of strong community. Therefore, the role Rethink Ireland and Local Authorities play in promoting community and social enterprise is now even more important. I would like to congratulate this year’s highly impressive and diverse range of Awardees.”
Amongst the Social Enterprise Development Fund 2020 Awardees are:
The Dublin Food Co-Op: The Dublin Food Co-op is a not-for-profit organisation that addresses the lack of accessible, affordable education on food sustainability and how co-operatives can be organised to sustain their local communities. Operating out of a shop in Kilmainham, it has almost 3,000 members and has created a co-operative environment in which to learn and share together.
jumpAgrade: jumpAgrade is making personalised teaching accessible to all students, addressing the growing educational inequality accelerated by the “grinds culture” in Ireland.Its online platform and research-backed methods enable them to support second-level students from less fortunate backgrounds and underrepresented groups, those who would not have been able to access exam preparation and coaching from qualified, expert teachers before.
EPIC (Enhancing Progress Inspiring Change): EPIC (Enhancing Progress Inspiring Change) is a social business project in Wexford that provides employment for people who want to reclaim their lives after problems with addiction and/or past criminality. The business produces printed promotional materials such as t-shirts, mugs, folders, pens and conference materials, with any profits reinvested into the enterprise.
Together Razem: Together Razem Centre supports those in the Polish and Eastern European migrant community facing problems related to marginalisation, exclusion and isolation in Ireland. The centre offers advocacy, social and legal advice, mental health support and educational programmes for children and adults, enabling the Polish community to be a more cohesive part of the Irish community.
Speaking on the ongoing partnership, George Jones, Chairman of IPB Insurance, commented “Supporting communities to achieve resilient and sustainable solutions to the problems they face has been part of our company’s DNA since our founding. That’s why we believe so strongly in the investment we are making through this fund, when you invest in a social enterprise you know that it’s a sustainable investment that will be used wisely to reach all those in society who need their help.”
Deirdre Mortell added: “I look forward to seeing the Awardees continue to make a positive social impact. The calibre of the Awardees is reflective of the strong social enterprise spirit that exists in Ireland. I would like to thank all our partners in creating this fund who enable Rethink Ireland to provide our financial and strategic support to enterprises delivering positive social change. I would encourage more enterprises to apply for the fund next year.”
For more information visit: https://rethinkireland.ie/current_fund/social-enterprise-development-fund-2020/
29 Sep 2020 | Archive
The Autumn 2020 edition of CCJ magazine by Seán Cooke can now be downloaded here for free.
Featuring articles on community finance, Brexit, beekeeping, the bioeconomy, Covid19, EU issues, the recent launch of SERI and a new social enterprise case study, this is a valuable update for social enterprise and urban and rural community regeneration projects in Ireland.
Note from CCJ:
“We are inviting our readers, project teams and organisations to submit articles with photos that inform our network on any aspect of social enterprise development. Any job creation project or voluntary community development that would be helpful to others. CCJ is a shared learning network dedicated to helping fellow organisations and projects realise their ambitions and objectives. Any information, idea, solution, contact of interest and value should be shared within our network.”
