Retail Trends 2017 Retail is Ireland’s largest industry and largest private sector employer, with a presence in every city, town and village – right across the country. Did you know? There are 37,400 retail and wholesale businesses operating in Ireland. The Irish retail sector employs almost 285,000 people. Retail is the biggest contributor to the Irish exchequer. Over the past three years, tax revenue from retail has grown to over €7bn. The Irish retail industry is primarily made up of small, family owned, indigenous companies. Across the regions, retail accounts for 12% to 15.5% of employment. Retail Sales Seasonally adjusted, the volume of retail sales decreased by 4.8% in June 2017, with an annual increase of 4.1%, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The sectors with the largest monthly volume decreases were Hardware, Paints & Glass (-5.9%), Motor Trades (-3.9%) and Other Retail Sales (-3.2%). The sectors with the largest month on month volume increases were Books, Newspapers and Stationery (3.5%), Non-Specialised Stores, excluding Department Stores (2.5%) and Electrical Goods (2.1%). SuperValu Remains Top Supermarket in Ireland: Kantar Worldpanel Irish retailer SuperValu is ranked as the top supermarket in the country, according to the latest Kantar Worldpanel report. The statistics for the 12 weeks ending July 16, 2017 also show that the Irish market is growing, despite worsening price deflation. SuperValu has retained its position as the country’s leading supermarket for the eighth consecutive period, although its market share dipped to 22.1%. Tesco sits in second-place position with 21.9% market share and a 2% increase in value sales, followed by Dunnes Stores. Meanwhile, the discount retailers experienced strong growth during this period, with sales at Lidl and Aldi growing by 3.8% and 3.7%, respectively. The value of the grocery sector in Ireland was €2.34 billion during this period, which represents 2% growth, when compared to 2016. Supermarket Trends in 2017 Some of the key trends affecting the supermarket industry this year include technology, food safety, and sustainability. According to Euromonitor, the top consumer trends for 2017 are as follows: The Longevity economy In 2017, nearly 25% of the world’s population will be aged 50 plus. Increasingly referred to as the “Longevity economy”, this group of consumers will demand more from retailers. Children, Convenience, and Consumption There’s an increasing demand for convenience from consumers who are struggling with work/life balance. Time-poor parents are reaching for paid-for convenience and as a result, children are being introduced to consumption at an earlier stage, according to the Bord Bia Consumer lifestyle trends report. Other factors contributing to this trend include more time spent online and adult children residing at home, often into their 20’s and beyond. Quick Buys As technology and online shopping continues to evolve, consumers expect fast service and immediate access and communication with brands. The Pursuit of Authenticity Authenticity will be a key driver in 2017, adopted by everyone from supermarkets to celebrities. Wellness as a status symbol There has been increased emphasis on health and wellness over the past year. According to the Bord Bia Consumer Life Style trends report about Health and Wellbeing, “achieving balance is increasingly top of consumers’ agendas.” General Retail Trends 2017 Cost pressures, rising inflation and slowing wage growth are affecting consumer confidence and dampening demand in the Irish retail sector in 2017. Retailers are also seeking to invest in digital technology that will increase efficiency and add value for their customers. Prepare for the future of shopping According to Vend’s 2017 Retail Trends and Predictions Report, “retailers who promote product quality, transparency, and sustainability will flourish.” The report states that there are a number of contributing factors in this trend including a worldwide shift toward sustainability, consumer desire to be more ethically conscious in purchase decisions, and a keen interest in supporting brands with a “strong sense of identity.” Over half of consumers are more likely to shop at a retailer in store or online that recognises them by name, according to an Accenture Interactive study. In 2017, retailers around the globe are pushing their omnichannel strategies further than ever before in the pursuit of truly seamless shopping experiences. E-commerce E-commerce is continuing to grow and this growth is affecting traditional retailers. Mobile payments Retailers who haven’t already adopted mobile payments will make efforts to do so. Store Experience The retail store experience will focus on transaction, fulfilment and convenience. Voice-user interfaces (VUI) Voice user interfaces (VUI) and connected devices in the home and car will have a profound impact on how we shop. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Robotic technology will play a more visible role in retail as AI becomes more powerful. Agile at scale More retailers will implement agile across their business as scale as they try to respond to structural change in the marketplace. Email Call Request a Call Back From Our Team #2017 #BusinessinIreland #Retail

Some of the Big Business News Stories From the Last Few Days Dyson Aims to Create More Female Entrepreneurs Entrepreneur James Dyson plans to boost the number of women attending his privately funded university in an effort to increase the number of female engineers in the UK. According to figures from Mr Dyson’s company, women account for just 16pc of students studying engineering at undergraduate level in the UK. In addition, less than 10pc of practising engineers in the UK are women. Read the full article: independent.ie Irish Start-Up HouseMyDog Breaks Crowdfunding Record Irish start-up HouseMyDog has broken a crowdfunding record, hitting its initial target of €200,000 in 36 hours. This is the fastest funds have ever been raise by an Irish company on one of the UK’s leading crowdfunding platforms. Read the full article: independent.ie Economy Sees Quarterly Growth of 1.4%, up 5.8% on Annual Basis Overall economic output or GDP rose by 1.4% between April and June compared to the first quarter, new figures show today. Figures published by the Central Statistics Office show the economy grew by 5.8% in the second quarter of this year compared to the same time last year. The Quarterly National Accounts figures also show that GNP, which factors out profits from multinationals, fell by 4.6% in the second quarter. Read the full article: rte.ie Read Our Budget 2018 Predictions 125 Jobs to Be Created By Graebel in Dundalk Up to 125 new jobs are set to be created in Dundalk over the next three years by Graebel Companies. The announcement of the new jobs was made at the opening of the company’s new EMEA financial shared services and operations centre at the Finnabair Business PArk on Thursday. Read the full article here: talkofthetown.ie Sterling soars to highest since Brexit on Bank of England rate-hike bet Sterling hit its highest level since the result of the Brexit vote on Friday as investors doubled down on bets the Bank of England would raise interest rates soon. The UK currency was heading for its best week in almost nine years against a currency basket. Read the full article: rte.ie Read more on our blog Email Call Request a Call Back From Our Team #2017 #LatestTopics

Looking Ahead to Budget 2018 Budget 2018 is due to be announced on Tuesday, October 10 by the new Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe. Here’s what we know so far: Budget 2018 not expected to be a generous budget, but it is expected to concentrate on low and middle income earners, with the aim of reducing their tax burden. An educated guess: Here are a few predictions for Budget 2018. USC reductions There may be a reworking or amalgamating of the USC and pay-related social insurance (PRSI), leading to more people paying PRSI but, on the other hand, less paying USC. This amalgamation could also lead to an extension to the existing dental, optical and paternity leave benefits. The current reduced rate of USC for people aged over 70 years of age may be extended past its current end date of 2017. Income Tax The 20% rate band may be increased, pulling more income into the lower rate band, and reducing the amount taxed at 40%. Alternatively, the 20% income tax rate itself could be reduced by a percentage to 19%. The Earned Income Tax Credit is expected to be increased to bring the credit available for self-employed people and company directors more in line with the credit given to PAYE workers. On the other hand, the PAYE Tax Credit could be increased for lower paid workers, but abolished for those earning above a certain threshold. Landlords It is possible that the current restriction to 75% to the amount allowed as an expense for loan interest could be increased to 85%, with the aim of allowing full deductibility for landlords within the next three or four years. A decision on whether Local Property Tax is a deductible expense would also be welcome. Pensions & Benefits Small increases of approximately €5 per week are expected. Mortgage Interest Relief It’s expected this will be extended beyond the previously stated 2017 end date. Tax on Investment & Savings Income It is probable that DIRT (tax on savings) will be cut to 37%, with an aim to hit 33% by 2020. Corporation Tax No changes expected to the current 12.5% rate. Local Property Tax Property prices have dramatically increased since this tax was introduced in 2013, but the tax itself has not changed since then. An increase or a new approach in how this is levied is believed to be afoot. Inheritance Tax The Government has given a commitment to increasing the Parent to Child CAT threshold, and it is believed that an extension to €350,000 may take place in this budget. The Small Gift Exemption, currently allowing a tax free gift of €3,000 per annum, may be altered, with some predicting an increase to a possible €3,750 and others a reduction to €2,500. If you have any tax queries, contact one of our Tax Managers today! Jane Jackson, Dundalk Office janejackson@fdw.ie +353 42 933 9955 Mairead Rooney, Balbriggan Office maireadrooney@fdw.ie +353 1 849 1633 Email Call Request a Call Back From Our Team #2017 #Budget #Budget2018

IAESB Deadline Extension Stakeholders have been granted an extension to submit comments on the International Accounting Education Standards Board’s (IAESB) proposed revision of International Education Standard (IES) 7, Continuing Professional Development. “Input is instrumental in improving the quality of setting accounting education standards and we welcome stakeholders’ views on the proposed revision of IES 7,” said IAESB Chair, Chris Austin. “This proposed standard embraces innovation and changes in learning by enhancing existing requirements and focusing recommended measurement approaches on learning while emphasising the range of available approaches.” The deadline to comment on the proposed revision has been extended to September 19, 2017. Stakeholders can submit comments on its proposal via the IAESB’s website www.iaesb.org. Source: International Accounting Education Standards Board . Email Call Request a Call Back From Our Team #2017 #Events

Next up in our ‘5 minutes with…’ series is another of our Directors, Thomas McDonagh Thomas McDonagh is Compliance Director at Dundalk-based UHY Farrelly Dawe White. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants and manages a large portfolio of SME clients across many industries. Thomas is also responsible for ensuring adherence to best practice across all non-audit engagements in the practice, with a particular focus on new developments in financial reporting standards. Recently married, Thomas lives just outside Dundalk with his wife, Siobhan. Tell us about your career path to date. I attended De La Salle secondary school in Dundalk where I had a keen interest in physics, economics, accounting, and applied maths. Initially, I considered civil engineering as a career but by the end of 6th year I decided to focus on accountancy. I completed a BA in Accounting & Finance at Dundalk Institute of Technology and joined UHY FDW as a trainee accountant in 2003. I qualified as a Certified Public Accountant in 2006. I then decided to go travelling where I visited Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. I spent the bulk of my trip in Australia, backpacking for the first few months, before settling in Sydney for around nine months. As I was on a work-holiday visa, it allowed me to work in a number of different companies, my first being a temporary role in the finance department of Time magazine. I then moved to AMP where I worked as a tax accountant. Following this I worked in Macquarie Bank, who at the time were the largest investment bank in Australia. Macquarie Bank was a fantastic learning experience where I developed a skillset that has greatly benefited me in my career including my love for all things Excel. In October 2007, I returned to Ireland and UHY FDW as an Audit Senior. Shortly after re-joining, I played a key role in implementing a number of new IT systems – accounts production, document management, and time management systems – and managing these transitions. In 2011, I relocated to Dublin for a short time where I worked as an Audit Senior in one of the top ten practices. While there, an opening then came up to return to Dundalk and I joined Kirk & Associates as Audit Manager. I remained in this role for four years. I learned a lot as I was exposed to a number of different industries that I hadn’t previously encountered. The role also allowed me to develop my management skillset. In June 2015, I returned to UHY FDW. It was exciting time to re-join the company as the accounting industry was on the cusp of a substantial change with the commencement of the Companies Act 2014 on June 1, 2015. This is one of the largest pieces of legislation ever passed in the country. We also had the impending transition to FRS102. I was heavily involved in a number of projects on the back of these changes. Are you where you expected to be in your career? Yes. When I began my career in accountancy, my aim was to become a financial controller in industry or director/ partner in practice. While taking on a variety of roles and challenges – in addition to the experience and opportunities provided to me – I have achieved my goal; and I’m happy to have achieved it in the practice where I started my career in 2003. Earlier this year I was awarded CPA fellowship and got my practising certificate with audit qualification. I’m also a member of the CPA Financial Reporting Sub Committee. As a member of this committee I review and comment on proposed changes to accounting regulations. What’s the best career advice you received? The best advice I received was to be proactive and not to put things off. When I was a trainee accountant I was advised by Eamonn White, a former partner in UHY FDW, to sit four of my professional exams in one sitting rather than over two years. Don’t always look for the easy way out. Based on your own experience, what are your top career tips? Ask questions, be inquisitive. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Keep up-to-date with regulatory changes in the industry. Read newspapers. It’s important to know what’s going on in the world outside accountancy. I’d also advise people not to jump into things. Always do your research. Finally, don’t burn your bridges. How would you define your work style, and how has this evolved over the years? I always try to remain calm and level-headed. It’s also important to stay positive and provide solutions to problems as they arise. I try to avoid getting stressed, especially if issues are beyond my control. I feel I am quite methodical in my approach and technically sound. Over the years I’ve learned to plan effectively, prioritise, and learn from my mistakes. A lot of this comes with experience. In terms of managing teams and individuals, what are your insights? I aim to be open, approachable, and friendly. I try to encourage people to do their best. I feel it’s important to be available to every member of the team. You need to get to know them, their strengths, and their weaknesses, to ensure that you allocate the right work to the right people. It’s important to give feedback, especially with newer members of the team. People can’t grow and develop in their own careers if you don’t provide adequate feedback on their performance. What about communication and negotiating the typical ups and downs of working life? It’s hard to beat face-to-face communication or a telephone call. It’s nearly always easier to get something resolved face-to-face. Email is a great tool, but can be overused and sometimes misconstrued. Has networking played an important part in your career? Formal networking hasn’t played an important role in my career to date. However, I can see this changing into the future, especially in my current role. Informal networking, my social network, and work colleagues – past and present – have played a huge role in my career, development and the decisions I’ve made that led me to where I am today. As I said previously, don’t burn your bridges. If you had to choose another career tomorrow, what would it be and why? I enjoy a number of different activities outside work. I do Pilates every week; I find it great for clearing my head and relaxing. As my wife and I just finished building our new home – and recently moved into it – I’m spending an ever increasing amount of time gardening. However, if I was to change careers I’d like to do something academic in the field of economics. I enjoy reading a number of commentators such as Stephen Kinsella and David McWilliams and I attend Kilkenomics, an economics and comedy festival in Kilkenny every year. Alternatively, I would like to have worked as a tour guide, as I enjoy the outdoors and I like traveling. In 2009, my brother and I organised a road trip in the United States. The following year, I organised a month-long tour of Australia with my parents and brothers. I also recently went to South Africa on honeymoon. Contact Thomas McDonagh Email Call Thomas McDonagh Request a Call Back From Our Team #2017 #5MinutesWithourTeam #UHYFDWTeam

In our Autumn 2017 issue: Our Autumn issue contains various interesting tax articles including: Roll up, Roll up! Tax-Free Childcare Registration Opens Private Residence Relief: Another Disappointed Taxpayer! Penalties: HMRC Get It Wrong Again! Declaring The Sale Of Your Property Claiming Your Re-mortgaging Fees Choose Your Corporation Tax Payment Date Read the Autumn Newsletter #2017 #UKNI

Retail Ireland warn retail sales figures act as a timely reminder not to take continued growth in the sector for granted Retail Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the sector, warned that the retail sales figures for July, released by the CSO on Monday , act as a timely reminder not to take continued growth in the sector for granted. Core retail sales in July decreased by 0.6% when compared with June, indicating a mid-summer dip in performance. However, the group said that broader retail trends remain positive, with sales increasing by 3.5% in the year to date. Retail Ireland Director Thomas Burke stated: “Despite a return to growth in retail sales values, core retail sales, excluding motor trades and bar sales, remain volatile. While there may be a perception that all is well again in the retail sector, much of the current growth is being driven by deep discounting in shops and ongoing sales activity. Such prolonged discounting, while necessary in the current uncertain consumer market, is undoubtedly draining profits for retailers. “This environment makes it difficult for retailers to take positive business investment decisions, and with continuing uncertainty likely over the coming months due to Brexit and currency fluctuations, there is now a real fear that retailers and consumers will adopt a wait and see approach to major spending decisions for the remainder of 2017 and beyond. Despite the dark clouds on the horizon, retailers remain hopeful that the current back to school period can inject some positivity into the market and enable a strong performance in the second half of the year.” Source: RetailIreland.ie UHY FDW and the Retail Sector UHY FDW and Brexit Request a Call Back From Our Team #2017 #BusinessinIreland #Retail

Tax Relief For Third-Level Fees Are you aware that you can claim tax relief on third-level fees for yourself or those on whose behalf you pay fees? You may be able to claim tax relief on tuition fees paid for approved: Undergraduate courses Postgraduate courses Information technology (IT) Foreign language courses Lists of courses and colleges approved for relief each year are published on the Revenue website. You can claim tax relief as long as you have actually paid the fees, either on your own behalf or on behalf of another person. You cannot claim tax relief on: Examination or administration fees Any part of the tuition fees that is met directly or indirectly by a grant, a scholarship or otherwise, e.g. where fees are reimbursed by an employer. Visit Citizensinformation.ie for more about tuition fees and the Student Contribution. Payments that qualify for tax relief The maximum amount of fees (including the Student Contribution) that can qualify for tax relief is €7,000 per person per course. Full-time student: There is no tax relief on the first €3,000 spent on tuition fees (including the Student Contribution) for the 2017/2018 academic year. Part-time student: There is no tax relief on the first €1,500 spent on tuition fees (including the Student Contribution) for the 2017/2018 academic year. More than one student: If you are claiming for more than one student, you will get full tax relief on tuition fees (including the Student Contribution) for the second or subsequent students. You can find examples of how the tuition fees tax relief works on the Revenue website. Courses that qualify for tax relief Undergraduate courses Tax relief is available for tuition fees paid for: Approved full-time and part-time undergraduate courses in both private and publicly funded third-level colleges in the State Approved full-time and part-time undergraduate courses in both private and publicly funded third-level colleges in any EU member state. This includes courses in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and teacher training. Full-time and part-time undergraduate courses operated by colleges in any EU member state providing distance education in the State. Conditions for granting tax relief for undergraduate courses Courses must be for at least two years’ duration Colleges and courses within the State must be approved by the Department of Education and Skills Postgraduate courses Tax relief is available for tuition fees paid for: Approved postgraduate courses in private and publicly funded colleges in the State Postgraduate courses in a university or publicly funded college in another EU member state, including such colleges that provide distance education in the State Postgraduate courses in a university or publicly funded third-level college in non-EU countries. Conditions for granting tax relief for postgraduate courses Courses must be for at least one academic year but not more than four academic years in duration and must lead to a postgraduate award based on either a thesis or an examination. The person taking the course must already have a primary degree or an equivalent qualification. Information technology and foreign language courses Tax relief is available in respect of fees paid for training courses in information technology and foreign languages (other than postgraduate courses) if certain conditions are met: The course involved must be less than two years’ duration It must result in the awarding of a certificate of competence (and not just a certificate of attendance) The course must be approved by SOLAS. Details of schemes Revenue publishes detailed information about tax relief for tuition fees, covering tax relief for undergraduate and postgraduate courses and tax relief for information technology and foreign language courses. Rates of tax relief Tax relief is given at the standard rate of 20%. There is no limit on the number of individuals for whom you can claim. Paying fees in instalments If you pay fees in instalments and at least one instalment is paid in the tax year following the year your course started, then the relief for fees relating to that academic year may be granted either: in the tax year the course started, or the tax year in which the instalment was paid. However, relief will only be granted in respect of amounts actually paid and subject to the maximum relief available in that academic year. Undergraduate and postgraduate courses: The maximum amount of fees (including the Student Contribution) that can qualify for tax relief is €7,000 per person per course. Information technology and foreign language courses: The course fees paid must not be less than €315 and not more than €1,270 (these refer to the course fee and are not simply an amount per annum). Source: Citizensinformation.ie Careers with UHY FDW Request a Call Back From Our Team #2017 #Student #TAX

Next up in our ‘5 minutes with…’ series is one of our Audit Managers, Pauline McKevitt Pauline McKevitt is Audit Manager at UHY Farrelly Dawe White. She lives in Newry with her husband, Robbie, and their three sons: Shea, aged seven; and four-year-old twins Matthew and Dylan. Tell us about your career path to date. I attended the Sacred Heart Grammar School in Newry, where I achieved top grades in Maths, Physics and Accounting, and was presented with an award for achieving highest marks in the school in the Accounting exam. As my father is an accountant I grew up listening to him talking about his work, and it seemed so interesting and diverse. I enjoy working with figures and applying my mathematical and problem solving abilities to real-world scenarios which led me initially to pursue a career in engineering. I completed a BEng in Mechanical Engineering at Queens University, Belfast. I realised before I finished my Degree that Accounting was for me as having secured a summer job between second and third year at university in an accountancy firm in Newry, Fitzpatrick & Kearney, coincidentally this is also the firm where Alan Farrelly trained, I realised this was where my passion lay. I graduated from Queens in 2001 and was offered a training contract with the firm so I started working there full-time and qualified as a chartered accountant in 2006 and quickly rose to manager the following year. In July 2015 to develop my career further I was delighted to move to UHY FDW to take up a role as audit senior and within a year I was appointed Audit manager. My career path was winding but accountancy was without doubt the right choice for me. Are you where you expected to be in your career? Yes, as I had progressed to the highest rank in Fitzpatrick and Kearney, I felt the best way forward was to make the move to a larger more globally focused firm. I feel that as my children are now at school, I can now focus on developing my career further and look forward to the challenges ahead. What’s the best career advice you received? My parents always advised me to work hard and to strike a good work/life balance. If it gets to the stage where you’re not enjoying work and feeling a sense of achievement then it’s time to make a change. Based on your own experience, what are your top career tips? Work hard; listen to advice from others; learn something new every day; and try to stay ahead as accounting standards and legislation are continually changing. Experience counts for a lot. Always keep an open mind and be enthusiastic and willing to learn. How would you define your work style, and how has this evolved over the years? My work style is to be reliable and dependable in meeting objectives and to put 100% effort into any task set. Over the years my work style has evolved to adapt to technological advances. There is much more reliance on electronic communication now than when I initially started working, clients can email in books and records and we can get instant access to them, this has had the effect of creating a fast paced environment where a faster turnaround time is expected. In terms of managing teams and individuals, what are your insights? When managing a team it is important to delegate tasks to the team member with the appropriate level of training and skill set. By monitoring the team I can see particular areas where an individual may be struggling and need additional help and can focus attention on developing their knowledge and understanding in that area. Constructive criticism can be used as a motivational tool. Sometimes the best way to learn is to be thrown in at the deep end. Give feedback to team members on work produced, encouragement and praise where praise is due can have such a positive impact on the team. What about communication and negotiating the typical ups and downs of working life? Communication is extremely important. Everything runs more smoothly when everyone is on the same page. Keep lines of communication open, encourage questions and be prepared to listen to other opinions. Has networking played an important part in your career? To date networking hasn’t played a big role as I was in my previous job for 14 years and moved to UHY FDW two years ago. When I was looking for a new job, I applied through a recruitment agency. I hadn’t considered working in Dundalk as my training was Northern Ireland-based but it has turned out to be a very good move in progressing and moving forward in my career. What do you like most about your career? I enjoy the challenges and the variety of working every day in an accountancy office, the range of clients is so diverse, you could be working on a sole traders accounts one day and then working on the large audit of a group of companies the next. If you had to choose another career tomorrow, what would it be and why? I really enjoy keeping fit and running, I find it a great stress reliever, so if I had to choose another career I would like to be a personal trainer. I ran a half marathon in Newry in May and I’m doing the Belfast one in September. I also do various 5km and 10km races throughout the year. Contact Pauline McKevitt Email Call Pauline McKevitt Request a Call Back From Our Team #2017 #5MinutesWithourTeam #UHYFDWTeam

Could you be Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur? Young entrepreneurs have just five weeks left to try and win a share of a €2m investment fund and business supports. If you have a business or business idea you can apply for Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) Competition 2018 until September 29. Successful entrants must be able to demonstrate real commercial potential for their business or business idea. The IBYE Competition 2018 could be the first step on the way to commercialise your business idea or expand your existing business. If you are aged between 18 and 35 enter IBYE today for your chance to win a share of the €50,000 county investment fund through your Local Enterprise Office (LEO). There is a €100,000 investment fund available for the overall national category winners. Applications can be made online; it’s free to enter; and you could also win a place at a Business Bootcamp. Last year, more than 180 young entrepreneurs won investment funding of between €3,000 and €15,000 each for their business through IBYE. A 26-year-old physiotherapist from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown who developed an app that is transforming the lives of thousands of people with Parkinson’s disease all over the world is Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) 2017. Ciara Clancy of Beats Medical won a €45,000 investment fund through the Local Enterprise Offices after winning the title at this year’s IBYE national final. For more information and to apply online click here Careers with UHY FDW Request a Call Back From Our Team #2017 #Events #Student

What to do now you have received your CAO offer? Today Leaving Cert students around Ireland found out if they received a CAO offer for the course of their choice. Applicants have been able to view their offers since 6am this morning (21 August). What is the next step? If you received a CAO offer in Round 1 for your first choice, congratulations! If you didn’t get your first-choice offer, but you did receive an offer, congratulations! You must accept or decline your offer by 5.15pm on 28 August. Remember, if you do not accept this offer, it will lapse. Once your offer is accepted, it is time to start planning your next educational adventure. Connect with the student’s union of your new college through social media, as these channels can be great sources of information on accommodation, student welfare, student finance, etc. If you feel disappointed and think you deserved a better result, you may have a case to get one or more Leaving Certificate papers rechecked. Should I accept my CAO offer? If you didn’t get your first preference and you’re unsure whether to accept your second choice or lower offer, you have some time before you make your final decision. You can find out more in this article from Silicon Republic. Visit the Irish Times for some great advice and resources on their helpdesk Also, see below this useful infographic from CAO. There are also other routes you can take to further your education. CPA – School Leavers School leavers can bypass college and the CAO points system and go directly to study CPA and begin their career as a professional accountant. Students can work and train simultaneously, allowing them to earn money and complete their training while they pursue their qualification. Many students complete their Leaving Certificate and go on to do a degree in Accounting and Finance or Business Studies in college and then study for their professional accountancy qualification. However as CPA Ireland recognises that college is not a viable option for everyone, they provide a professional accountancy qualification that is open to school leavers once they complete their Leaving Certificate, subject to meeting course entry requirements. Find out more Careers with UHY FDW Request a Call Back From Our Team #2017 #Student

NIFX stock finance lending solution gives you flexible credit to finance international and domestic purchases, so you never miss an opportunity to grow your business. Not only do NIFX source the finance directly, they can also send your supplier the payment, quickly and securely, in their local currency. Benefits: Flexible Lending Pay As You Go Ease Of Use Enhanced Supplier Relationships No Upfront Fees Up to 150 Days Repayment Direct Supplier Payments NIFX offer Stock Finance to assist businesses in the following situations: To bridge a cash flow shortfall Growing businesses Businesses with high stock levels To avail of early settlement discounts Economies of scale benefits Contingency funding NIFX stock finance lending solution has no fees to set up or maintain, and no unnecessary admin charges. You can borrow for up to 150 days and repay in full at any point during the fixed term of the agreement, with no early repayment fees. You only pay interest on the amount of finance you use, when you use it. Download their brochure here Contact NIFX using code FDW17 to avail of priority processing. For further information and to apply for finance, please contact: Stephen O’Hare NIFX Ltd 8 Ballynahinch St Hillsborough Co. Down BT26 6LB +44 (0)28 9268 3036 stephen@nifx.co.uk Have you seen the full UHY FDW Service Suite Audit & Assurance Tax Advice & Compliance Insolvency Business Advisory Payroll Services Corporate Compliance Corporate Finance Forensic Accounting Request a Call Back From Our Team #2017 #Finance