The Weekly Roundup April 22 - 26

News from our Members

This week on the roundup: meetings, solutions sustainability, winners, skills, technology, resources, initiatives, spending, energy, dedication, transformation, visibility, ventures, commitments, articles, newsletters, launches, benefits, thanks, journies, invitations, inventory, and more while wishing a happy 50th anniversary to Portugal's democracy!

But first...

This week, we held the IPBN's Annual General Meeting at the Hotel Plaza Lisboa. It was a delight to catch up with our members as we reviewed the last year and discussed the future of the network, re-elected Geoffrey Graham as Chair, tapped Pedro Teixeira as Vice Chair, said our farewells and shared our gratitude to board members Aoife Healy, John Duggan, and Pedro Barata who will be stepping aside to make room for our newly elected board members Rachael Milne and Sharon Dehmel!

Also...

Frank Brennan, CEO of Republic of Work, who received the IPBN delegation in Cork last June, will be at the Lisboa Gaming Hub from 12h on Monday and would like to meet anyone in the network who is associated with eSports, Gaming, or Gaming Incubators. If interested, please email Frank at frank@republicofwork.com!

And now...

IPBN Executive partner Ardanis shared innovative solutions to streamline processes, automate tasks, and eliminate inefficiencies. "This leads to improved productivity, to achieve more with fewer resources, ultimately contributing to KPIs related to efficiency and productivity."

IPBN member Irishrelo was recently awarded the EcoVadis Silver Medal for Sustainability! Irishrelo provides moving/shipping services throughout Europe and Worldwide so we can help IPBN members moving to Portugal from anywhere Worldwide! For more information, please contact Paul Coy FCMA, Director at paul.coy@irishrelo.com and check out the video here!

IPBN partner Porto Catolica Business School shared that Maria Martins, a Master's student in Management at Católica Porto Business School, is one of the winners of the Porto Economy Prize 2024, an initiative of the Porto City Council, which distinguishes three academic dissertations that focus on a topic of relevance to the city's economy.

IPBN member HPA Health Group's Rehabilitation Team has acquired new skills that will allow them to correctly perform basic life support maneuvers in situations of cardiorespiratory arrest.

IPBN member Saltwater Consulting shared that "Digital transformation is a people strategy. And not a technology strategy. For years, we've acknowledged that digital transformation isn't just about technology, but about empowering people. Yet, McKinsey's data shows a stark reality: 70% of digital transformations fail. The pandemic, however, catalyzed a shift, compelling us to refocus on our teams."

IPBN member Hilton Vilamoura/Highgate Portugal marked World Earth Day, which was created to raise awareness and preserve natural resources, by sharing that Highgate Portugal today launches its sustainability podcast: ESG Forward. "In this first episode, we have the participation of Patrícia Araújo, CEO of BIOSPHERE Portugal, and Alexandre M Solleiro, CEO of Highgate Portugal. Now available on Spotify."

IPBN member Glandore's team is launching monthly initiatives across Dublin, Cork, and Belfast. Get involved with green events, challenges, and tips to create a more sustainable workplace.

IPBN member BRIDGE IN asked, "Can you live in Portugal on $3000 a month? Aspects you must weigh are where you live and your spending habits. According to Numbeo, this is the general cost of living in Portugal in 2024: A family of four's estimated monthly costs are €2,332.7 without rent. A single person's estimated monthly costs are €661.0 without rent. The cost of living in Portugal is, on average, 36% lower than in the US. Rent in Portugal is, on average, 42.5% lower than in the US.

IPBN member Algarve Solar Pool Heating Solutions hosted WakeUp Projects intern Adrian Valera for the past few weeks while he completed practical ‘hands-on work experience’ related to renewable energies with them!

IPBN member Robert Forbes shared, "We recently had the pleasure of hosting Rob Forbes from Forbes Boyle Property & Forbes Lettings for corporate portraits, capturing his professionalism and passion. Rob embodies dedication in tackling real estate challenges, standing out with his approachable demeanor and unwavering commitment."

IPBN member WEbrand Agency invites you to strengthen your online presence: "Master SEO and WordPress! Find out how to increase your brand's visibility online and how a well-designed website can be the key to your digital success. In this article, we explain the benefits of knowing how to create a website in WordPress and how you can optimize it to the maximum, using SEO techniques, so that it is at the top of search engines. Read here."

IPBN member Filipe Pereira was at Nova SBE this week, at the Lisbon Blockchain Conference pitch competition, presenting her new venture: Membrz.Club! "We have been having quite good levels of traction and usage with our early adopters, and it will be a great test and launchpad for the upcoming pre-seed round we'll be opening soon!"

IPBN member Lawler Sustainability shared that as part of their commitment to sustainability and transparency, they are gearing up to meet the new requirements set by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). This directive mandates a comprehensive framework for ESG reporting, affecting large companies and SMEs across the EU.

IPBN member Dr. Shane Farrelly invites you to  "Check the article on HealthNEXT that was published in Employee Benefits News about the 8 ways to help support workplace health and well-being. and you can relive the Master Class with Dr Farrelly and Elaine Godley on the IPBN Podcast." Dr. Shane Farrelly will be running our next Master Class on the subject with IPBN member Elaine Godley next Tuesday, April 30 from 10h via Zoom. You can still register here.

IPBN member Teresa Patricio & Associados's newsletter this week clarifies some aspects regarding visas and residency permits in Portugal. "A foreign citizen from a non-EU country who intends to move to Portugal should obtain information beforehand regarding the documents necessary to legally reside in Portugal. With respect to these documents, it is important to make a distinction between the Visa and the Residency Permit." Check out the article here!

IPBN member Carolyn McKeown & Tribulum Restaurant posted, "Shebang Events is delighted to launch this event for 2024. We are very conscious that there are so many deserving charities in the Algarve that need our support, not just in terms of money, but volunteers, behind the scenes and to host events to help support them. Therefore we are going to host the first Charity Pitch Deck Lunch on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 at Tribulum Restaurant, Almancil."

IPBN member Joao Marques Seguros helps you find the perfect policy to protect your car fleet, with specific benefits for companies and the provision of personalized support according to your needs. Discover the complementary coverages and protect not only the safety of others but also your vehicles. For more information call 289 828 273 or email them at geral@falcaomarques.pt

IPBN member Core Optimisation was thrilled to host a Digital Skills Session yesterday at the Digital Business Ireland offices! "Huge thanks to Digital Business Ireland for the opportunity and to everyone who joined us."

IPBN member Casas do Sotavento welcomes you to their store in Faro! "We are located in Jardim Doutor Amadeu Ferreira de Alemeida! We are open every day and ready to welcome you!"

IPBN member VMotions IT Solutions posted, "As proud Atlassian Gold Solutions Partner, VMotion had the pleasure of exhibiting at SITS24 in London last week, which is a highly sought after ITSM event. Our journey was nothing short of enlightening! Over the course of two dynamic days, we immersed ourselves in the pulse of the ITSM industry, gaining invaluable insights and exchanging innovative ideas with industry cohorts and fellow professionals."

IPBN member Gavin Mc Bride shared a special thank you to Abreu Advogados for the invitation to be a guest panelist at the recent event held by the AEEC - Associated European Energy Consultants event. "Many industry leaders attended this event, and it was a fantastic opportunity for industry expertise and legal expertise to collaborate and discuss the global offshore wind sector."

IPBN member GRID asked, "Are you preparing for a bustling summer season as an SME owner? Whether you're ramping up inventory, expanding, or exploring new ventures, our lending solutions are tailored for you. We've got your back at GRID Finance."