Business First Issue2 Vol5 CH11:Layout 1 23/10/2009 15:54 Page 76
News
Skills – the mountain to climb
Vodafone announces
Vodafone 360 
Vodafone 360 is a brand new set of internet
services for the mobile and PC which gathers all of a
customer's friends, communities, entertainment and
personal favourites (like music, games, photos and
video) in one place.
At its heart Vodafone 360 has the most personal
address book available, bringing together all of the
contacts from the mobile phone, social networks
and other internet accounts. It works across a range
of mobile phones, including the new, exclusive
Vodafone 360 phones, and synchs automatically
with the PC.
All of a customer's contacts, status updates and
Sir Reg Empey, minister Department for Education and Learning and Bill McGinnis,
messaging services are brought together in one
Northern
Ireland Adviser on Employment and Skills
place enhancing the customer's experience and use
B
of social media. Customers will have integrated
ill McGinnis, a former chamber president, 744,000 individuals. contacts, music, photos and mapping services and
hosted a major UK skills conference in Economic forecasts for the UK and NI have can share their favourite music choices and even
Belfast. Mr McGinnis, the Northern Ireland become somewhat more optimistic in that their physical location, how and when they choose,
Adviser on Employment and Skills, played a many are projecting the worst of the with their chosen groups of friends.
central role in Ambition 20:20 conference in economic downturn is behind us. However,
The service is automatically backed up and
Belfast, part of the campaign by UK many are still predicting that the
synchronised, regularly and wirelessly, between the
Commission on Employment and Skills, to unemployment rate has not bottomed.
mobile and PC or Mac. All contacts updates, emails,
highlight the need for companies, both large Projections for Northern Ireland suggest that a
photos and conversation history or settings changes
and small, to invest in training and skills further 28,000 will become unemployed by the
made either at home or when on the move are
development. end of 2010.
saved, keeping all the content up-to-date.
Ambition 2020 is the UK Commission’s first Against this background we face a number
"Vodafone 360 is the first service of its kind to offer
annual assessment of progress the UK has of significant problems in relation to our
customers the benefits of a truly integrated mobile
made towards becoming a world leader in economy:
internet experience that gathers all their contacts
employment and skills by 2020.
-the proportion of our workforce with no and content, all around them, in one place," said
The report monitors the UK’s progress
qualifications is high at 40 per cent; Pieter Knook, director of Internet Services at
against our principal international competitors
- our working age economic inactivity rate is
Vodafone Group.
and the aims and priorities of each of the
devolved administrations.
the highest of all UK regions at 30 per cent,
"The beauty of Vodafone 360 is that all the services
The report also sets a baseline from which to
which is significantly higher that the average
work together and they are easy to use. Vodafone
assess future progress and provides a sound
UK rate (21%);
360 enables customers' digital lives. Customers can
evidence base for advice to government on
- our current employment rate is the lowest
stay in touch and share experiences through social
strategies, polices and measures needed to
of all UK regions at 66 per cent;
networks, instant messaging, email, apps, maps,
increase skills, employment and productivity.
- our contribution to total UK GVA is only
music and buying digital content on their mobile
Speaking at the conference, Mr McGinnis
two per cent, the lowest of all UK regions;
bill, with the personalised address book at its heart."
said: “The economy continues to contract,
- our productivity rate is significantly below
Vodafone 360 is a substantiator of Vodafone's new
unemployment continues to rise, and business
the UK average; and
brand expression - 'power to you' - which is focused
on putting the customer in control and enabling
and consumer confidence remains low. Latest
-the evidence suggests we have some
simple and easy-to-manage communications, both
figures show that the Northern Ireland
20,000 managers and 30,000 professionals
mobile and fixed.
unemployment rate is 6.7 per cent and our
short of what level could be expected if
employment rate has fallen by 44,000 to
Northern Ireland had the same managerial and
professional concentrations as the UK overall
Essentials for Business package –
just the medicine for Feeny Pharmacy
T
he businesses supported by Bank of Ireland’s business by opening a business bank account. In the next 12-18 months Declan’s aim is to
Essentials for Business package come in all Declan explains why he choose to bank with grow the business, take on more employees and
shapes and sizes. Declan Bateson, for Bank of Ireland. ultimately meet the needs of the local
instance, has opened a new Pharmacy in Feeny,
“The key reasons were fee free banking and
community.
County Derry, which will provide a valuable
business online. This means I can stay on top of
Declan adds “As part of the Essentials for
service for the local community.
my finances even though I was working in a rural
Business package I was able to use some of the
The pharmacy, located in Main Street, Feeny, as village 6 days a week. The service is excellent and exclusive offers from partner privileges to set up a
well as dispensing over-the-counter and my business manager is very helpful.” website and accounts system.”
prescription-only-medicine, the pharmacy will
For her part, Briege Walsh says that it’s a prime
This Derry business is just one over 2000 start
also offer range of products and services that will
example of the sort of business that Bank of
up and established small businesses to take
help the local community take charge of their
Ireland is keen to work with. The Pharmacy sector
advantage of the Bank’s Essentials for Business
health.
remains one of the fastest growing areas of
package which was launched in April 2008.
Following initial discussions with Briege Walsh, healthcare in the UK and Bank of Ireland is well It offers fee free current account banking for
Bank of Ireland commercial manager in Derry, placed to take advantage. Their experience and two years and up to £50,000 unsecured lending
Declan’s first reaction was that Bank of Ireland knowledge of the sector ensures customers get plus discounted advice or services in areas critical
seemed genuinely interested in his business. He the appropriate finance structure along with the to small businesses such as employment law,
developed a proposal which Briege was delighted right products and services to make their business website development, telecommunications,
to take forward enabling Declan to start a new a success. accounting software and insurance.
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