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Artificial intelligence is becoming a bigger part of working life in Ireland, but are employees getting the support they need to keep pace with change? According to PwC Ireland's latest Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey, AI adoption is rising, workplace transformation is accelerating and workers remain optimistic about their ability to learn new skills. Yet access to learning and development resources has fallen sharply, while cost-of-living pressures, burnout and growing workloads continue to weigh heavily on employees. Joining us today is Laoise Mullane, Director of Workforce Consulting and AI Adoption Lead at PwC Ireland. We'll discuss why a widening AI skills divide is emerging in workplaces, what differentiates employees who are thriving with AI from those struggling to keep up, and what employers need to do now to ensure technology investments deliver value for both businesses and their people. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

This week we come to you from Dingle, County Kerry, and the 19th edition of Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards. Every October, hundreds of producers gather here, from one-person kitchens to established brands, alongside the retail buyers, chefs and judges who decide which of them goes home with gold, silver or bronze. Bank of Ireland is a sponsor of the Backyard @ Blas speaker space. Over the next half hour you'll hear from a beekeeper, a baker, a forager, a sauce maker, a bakery ingredients supplier and a man who puts Irish food on aeroplanes. They talk about tight margins, rising costs and wars that close shipping lanes. They also talk, again and again, about each other. And at the end of the podcast, you'll meet the winner of this year's Best Startup award, a chef who started out a year ago with just two products in two shops. At Blas I interviewed: Grainne Keneally from Elderberry Farm ProduceIan Mernagh from All About NectarFlorrie Purcell from The SculleryJohn Graham from Andrews IngredientsGraham Herterich from The Bakery by the Cupcake BlokeMatt McCabe from Subu ConnectSunny Joy from GoMeal, winner of Best Startup award sponsored by Bank of Ireland, as well as Best in County for Mayo and Best in ConnaughtVisit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

In this episode of the ThinkBusiness Podcast, powered by Bank of Ireland. we speak with David Broderick, Director of the Small Firms Association, about the current trading environment for Ireland's small businesses, the priorities SMEs want to see addressed in Budget 2027, and the practical steps business owners can take to strengthen resilience and drive growth. We also explore how initiatives such as MentorsWork are helping entrepreneurs adapt, develop new skills and navigate an increasingly complex business landscape. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

At the recent National Ploughing Championships, Mark Glennon, Bank of Ireland’s agri development manager for the northern half of the country, describes how the year has gone, the demographic challenge facing Irish farming, what the Bank can do to ease succession, and how automation and AI can help farmers. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

In this episode of the ThinkBusiness Podcast, powered by Bank of Ireland, I speak with Dr Thomas Cryan, Medical Director at Thérapie Clinic, Europe's leading medical aesthetics group. Fresh from securing first place in the prestigious global Maurício de Maio Mentorship Programme, Dr Cryan joins us to discuss the importance of clinical excellence, continuous learning and patient safety in modern healthcare. We also explore Thérapie Clinic's remarkable growth from an Irish-founded business into an international leader with 86 clinics across Ireland, the UK and the US. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

Today we’re joined by Maxine Hyde, the second-generation leader of Ballymaloe Foods, one of Ireland’s best-known food brands. Built on the legacy of her grandmother Myrtle Allen and founded by her mother Yasmin Hyde in 1990, Ballymaloe Foods has grown from a single relish recipe into a thriving business employing 70 people and producing a wide range of sauces, relishes and condiments. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

From a family farm in County Monaghan to one of Ireland's most successful food exporters, Silver Hill Duck has built a reputation for quality that stretches far beyond our shores. In an industry facing rising costs, changing consumer tastes and increasing pressure to innovate, the company continues to invest, grow and compete on the global stage. " "My guest today is Barry Cullen of Silver Hill Duck. Just ahead of the 2026 Blas na hEireann in Dingle, we'll be talking about the company's latest expansion plans, the challenges and opportunities facing Irish food producers, the importance of sustainability and innovation, and what it takes to build an enduring family business in a rapidly changing world. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

How much is your company’s reputation really worth? In an age where trust can be won or lost in a matter of moments, reputation has become far more than a branding exercise. It is a critical business asset that impacts customer loyalty, talent attraction, investment decisions, resilience during crises and, ultimately, the bottom line. On this episode of the ThinkBusiness Podcast, we sit down with Alan Tyrrell, CEO of The Reputations Agency, to explore why reputation is now one of the most valuable metrics business leaders can track. We discuss what reputation data can reveal about a company's performance, how Irish businesses compare against their peers, the warning signs of reputational risk, and why employee sentiment is becoming an increasingly important measure of organisational health. We'll also delve into the Ireland Reputation Index, uncover what separates the country's most trusted businesses from the rest, and examine how reputation can become a powerful driver of growth in an increasingly competitive and AI-driven world. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

The latest ThinkBusiness Podcast explores what sustainability looks like when it moves beyond ambitious targets and becomes part of everyday business decision-making. It features Caroline Ashe Brady, Commercial Director at KORE Group, founder of KORE Retrofit, Chairperson of the Passive House Association of Ireland, and one of Ireland's leading voices in sustainable construction, and Colette Shirley, Director of Sustainability at Bank of Ireland. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

Today we speak with Jussi Lystimäki, the CEO of refurbished smartphone specialist Swappie, about how the business achieved its first full year of profitability, reaching €2.5 million in 2025 as well as his links with Ireland through the acquisition of Done Deal. We also examine why Irish consumers are Europe’s biggest smartphone hoarders, with 69% keeping unused devices at home, and what that means for the growing circular tech economy. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

Hello and welcome back to the latest ThinkBusiness Podcast, powered by Bank of Ireland. Today we speak with Maaike Terwindt, AI Specialist for Europe at Google, about how Gemini, Gems and AI agents are reshaping the way SMEs work. From boosting productivity and automating routine tasks to unlocking new growth opportunities, she explains how businesses can put practical AI to work today. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

Hello and welcome back to the latest ThinkBusiness Podcast, powered by Bank of Ireland. Today we're exploring one of the biggest challenges facing Irish family businesses: succession planning. Joining us is Deborah Kelly, Partner and Head of Corporate at Addleshaw Goddard Ireland, who shares practical advice on preparing for leadership transition, avoiding common pitfalls, and building a business that thrives for generations. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

Hello and welcome back to the latest ThinkBusiness Podcast, powered by Bank of Ireland. Today we speak with Fergal Brosnan, CEO of the RDI Hub in Kerry, about building a world-class innovation ecosystem in Ireland's south-west. We explore AI opportunities for entrepreneurs, the new AI Gateway initiative, developing regional talent, and how businesses can thrive in the AI age. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

We speak with Ciaran Marron, the founder of Activ8 Solar Energies, one of Ireland's leading solar and renewable energy companies. From launching a business before solar power became mainstream to helping thousands of homes and businesses cut costs and reduce emissions, our guest has witnessed first-hand the transformation of Ireland's energy landscape. We discuss the growth of the renewable energy sector, the challenges of scaling a business in a rapidly changing market, the role of technology and battery storage, and what Irish SMEs can do today to become more energy efficient, resilient and sustainable in the years ahead. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.

Today, we're joined by one of Ireland's most successful hospitality entrepreneurs, Lorraine Heskin, founder and CEO of Gourmet Food Parlour. What began as a 25-seater café in Dún Laoghaire in 2006 has grown into a business serving more than seven million customers, generating over €20 million in annual revenue, employing more than 320 people and operating 11 locations across Ireland. Along the way, Gourmet Food Parlour has become a major player in catering, events and sports nutrition. Lorraine joins us to discuss entrepreneurship, resilience, leadership, scaling a business over two decades, and what's next for one of Ireland's best-known hospitality brands. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.