That Great Business Show

E244 That Great Business Show with Conall O MorainUCD Smurfit Business School 'Podcast of the Year'Jason McLaughlin. TPS Plastics. Based in Drumcollegher, Limerick, TPS is one of those fascinating companies we love to feature. Hidden in plain sight, they are producing high-precision components for the medical, automotive, and aerospace sectors AND they’re pioneering digital twin technologies – something you need to know about. They're also working on plastic that eats itself! Sam Moorhead and Mikey Fleming as Co-Creative DirectorsWe love a good ad. Like they had in the 'good old days', Ones like radio ads, run at breakfast time, for Nilverm, 10/10/20 and Cheno Unction ‘a quare name, but great stuff, mostly chemicals for the agricultural sector, many of which are either banned or heavily reformulated since then. And of course the tractor ads, like 'Zetor, that’s better’ - nothing but quality all the way. And a sign of how dependent the Irish economy was on ag 'back then'. We like to think that ads should be part of the entertainment of radio and TV but the view at Business Show HQ is that nowadays too many ads are spelt C. R. A. P. That's why we've asked in two top advertising heavyweights, Sam Moorehead and Mikey Fleming, Co-Creative Directors at Connelly Partners, to see if we can fix that problem.With thanks to De Facto Shaving Shaving Oil. Don't forget to bring the 25ml bottle on holidays with you. Made to get through airport security.

E243 That Great Business ShowThe role of delivery in the food business - "I like horses but I'm not going to ride a horse to work every day" - that's Sean Murray, founder of Hosted Kitchens, explaining that he loves food, but he doesn't love cooking for himself. He says his 'dark kitchen' business is only going one way - up, up and up. When he has conquered Dublin he's then heading to Galway, Limerick and Cork as well as Belfast and Derry, so if you're dreaming of having a food business in any of those locations, keep listening. And, it's not just about cooking. He's big in delivery too - which is his original business.Hosted Kitchens can reach 250,000 people from their new 8,000 sq. ft. Glasnevin premises.He already has Allbar Chicken ("best chicken wings in Dublin") and he's very keen to attract Chick-Fil-A (already in Northern Ireland) to work from his kitchens.He's a big believer in drone deliveries - they serve him dinner regularly.They have already funded, with a seed round of €1.25 and an A round of €2.4 and they'll be going again.There are over 1,000 'dark kitchens' in London, so that's not a target. He's sticking with Ireland for the next 3-5 years.His 'hire in a heartbeat', Rory McIlroy, for his resilience. (Sean advises to keep thinking of the 'good days' during the 'bad days')ECO Powered CabinetsDarren Forde, CEO, a design engineer with Mayo Co. Council, has a side business designing, creating and placing medical cabinets to save lives in remote places. They're on top of Croagh Patrick, they'll be on the side of the road on motorways, the first one has been placed in an Applegreen M4 motorway service station. There are 10 units in Australia that hold snake bite medicine. He has his cabinets patented. He needs a Dragon's backing (Peter Jones or Debra Meaden) from the Dragon's Den. Timmy Mallett, the UK TV personality, has been in touch and he has been posting about it to 500,000 followers.His 'hire in a heartbeat', Sean Canny TD for his contacts.With thanks to De Facto Shave dot com.

E242 That Great Business ShowWe bring you the 'Absolute Truth', as Florida HQ'd Partsol announce they've moved their operational HQ to Ireland. John Callahan, CTO Partsol has just landed in Ireland with a very, very interesting twist on AI - they search for information in a very different way, hoping to expunge mistakes (some error rates with other AI systems can be as high as 25% according to John). Their product is aimed particularly at sectors that really, really need absolutely accuracy in its information (banks, insurance companies, government). They've had interest from Hollywood. And, even the simplest businesses can benefit from Partsol knowledge as well, like bread making. He explains. And, they're looking for businesses to partner with. Partsol has already raised $17.5 million already and they're going again to raise up to $50 million to make a land grab. He's hiring and just four days in Ireland he has already hired his first hire. They need up to maybe 100 more people...and that's just in Ireland. They'll be hiring across Europe.His 'hire in a heartbeat' is Chris Baker, a rollercoaster thinker.Mark John, founder of Tramshed Tech. Thanks to the Welsh Government office at the British Embassy in Ireland, we will be running a series of chats highlighting the opportunities for Irish businesses using Wales as a stepping stone to the UK market, that is six times the size of the Irish market. They have many incentives to entice companies to base themselves in Wales, including introductory offers on office space, they have a couple of investment funds (you need to register as a UK company to benefit), as well as family offices etc, and a networking system not unlike Ireland. The Welsh know every other Welsh person, anywhere. The creative sector is very strong and Mark says there are many opportunities for Irish creative companies, including access to the UK broadcast market.His 'hire in a heartbeat' David Stevens, of The Admiral Group

Episode 241 That Great Business Show with Conall Ó Móráin featuring Alan Browne, CEO of Soarvo, a company born from nerd rage!Too much juicy 3D data, not enough ways to actually use it? Soarvo has fixed that. Think less head-scratching, more wow-factor maps.KOREC Group’s New BFF, they've teamed up to spread their geospatial gospel across the #UK and #Ireland.Construction? Check. Agriculture? Yup. Telecoms? Absolutely. You can check every motorway for wear and tear from the comfort of your laptop...it means the end of the little man, with is measuring wheel, dicing with death on the hard shoulder of motorways.And you'll be amazed what needs mapping, like (sshhh, we're not allowed to mention) Formula 1 tracks (safety first, no debris), horse racing tracks (which has a knock on to Paddy Power betting, for example) - they can even tell you if your house roof needs fixing...the applications are near endless. Alan's 'hire in a heartbeat', Michael O'Leary, 'possibly Ireland's best CEO ever!'With thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil - NOT a beard oil, the all natural oil for anyone who shaves.

Episode 239 That Great Business ShowLaurent Germain, CEO, Egis WorldwideSteven Preece, CEO, Egis Ireland.Egis, the engineering company, the largest engineering company in Ireland, and they gave you The Port Tunnel, the Jack Lynch Tunnel, the Limerick Tunnel...and so, so much more. They're also making sure the Adare bypass happens before the Ryder Cup comes to Limerick.We have two bosses in studio with us, the Irish boss and the Big Big boss, of a company employing 20,000 people worldwide. They have €1billion to double the size of the company...and they're looking for acquisitions in Ireland as well as worldwide.They tell us why Cork, Limerick or Galway won’t be having a high speed train anytime soon. Why the government should follow the French model and hire the best engineers to project manage big infrastructure projects to keep them somewhere near budget. (In an earlier 13-year long career Laurent worked at the top end of government in France)And why Ireland needs another 6,000 engineers – right now. (Egis is hiring too).Their 'hires in a heartbeat'The French boss opted for French star, Antoine DupontThe English born, Irish boss, opted for Ireland and Lions coach, Englishman Andy Farrell

E238 That Great Business ShowThanks to De Facto Shaving OilLithuanians William and Anthony explain how they ended up in Longford, set up a business called Tolvita together, importing and selling coated steel cladding that is ideal for home construction. Originally they came to 'collect a few bob' but a chat with MicroFinance Ireland led them to the Longford LEO who helped them create their enterprise. They're now looking for others in the domestic construction business to use their products that they (naturally) say is better than the rest. They have big ambitions to break into the Northern Ireland and British markets. There's a business opportunity here.Their 'hire in heartbeat'? Richard Branson and Elon Musk (added reluctantly)Michael Mi-Xuan borrowed time from C&D Petfoods when he worked their as a general operative to research his business. He had been into break dancing and ballet and had a yearning for bodybuilding. He knew nothing about the gym business, but that did not hold this born entrepreneur back. He borrowed money for 'his wedding' from Ulster Bank to set up his gym business in Longford. He then bought 2nd hand equipment from N. Ireland. But disaster. He had nowhere to put the equipment. A local businessman stepped in and Michael now has a thriving gym business, with ambitions to keep growing beyond Longford. And as an Irish body building champion he also has world ambitions win big internationally. This is a fun interview with business insights that include his views on nutrition. Spoiler alert. Don't eat junk near him!His 'hire in a heartbeat'? International business coach Dan Pena - the one trillion man.

E237 That Great Business ShowUCD Smurfit School, 'Podcast of the Year'With thanks to De Facto Shaving Oil, the world's best shaving oil.Alex Harris, co-founder, CogniStreamTurning market research on its head, using AI bots that sound more human than humans, creating campaigns in hours not weeks or months, cutting the cost by 90%, affordable for businesses of all sizes that are launching a number of products or services every year - and soon available in multi-languages.Her 'hire in a heartbeat', Dr. Deirdre Robertson. They want her brains to make sense of what CogniStream is finding out.Avril Power, co-founder, GiystAnother AI plus marketing driven company that can take hundreds of hours of video, chop it, dice it and make it into something that people might actually watch. Your annual conference, shrunk to minutes. Your two hour webinar, delivered to you in a two minutes, salient points added. And all done in almost instantly. They've got patents. The may have a world business. They just need to raise €250k. Well worth a listen. Her 'hire in a heartbeat'? Canva founder Melanie Perkins and Sonru founder (and seller) Ed Hendrick

E236 That Great Business ShowUCD Smurfit Business School 'Podcast of the Year'Jacqueline and Bernie Ffrench Investing in employee wellness isn’t just a trend—it’s a business advantage. A healthier, more engaged workforce drives productivity, innovation, and success. Here’s why:When employees feel physically and mentally well, they bring higher energy levels, sharper focus, and better problem-solving skills to work. Studies show that companies with strong wellness programs see a 20%+ boost in productivity.Workplace wellness initiatives lower stress, prevent burnout, and reduce sick leave. Businesses that prioritise wellness report fewer absences and lower long-term healthcare expenses, benefiting both employees and employers.Employees value workplaces that care about their well-being. A well-designed wellness program boosts job satisfaction, engagement, and loyalty, helping businesses attract and retain top talent.Wellness isn’t just a perk—it’s a strategy for success.#WorkplaceWellness #BusinessGrowth #HealthyEmployees #CorporateCulture #EmployeeEngagement #Leadership #WellbeingAtWork #MentalHealthMatters #FutureOfWork