What you need to know about the Design & Crafts Council Ireland Academy (DCCIA)
In what is excellent news for the many talented Irish makers on our isle, a new programme designed to support the growth of design and craft businesses in Ireland has been announced: the Design & Crafts Council Ireland Academy (DCCIA)
Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment made the announcement at Showcase – Ireland’s International Creative Expo® after a successful three-day event. One of the country’s largest international trade fairs, Showcase welcomed over 380 exhibitors and more than 4,000 buyers from Ireland and overseas. Upwards of €20 million in business was expected to be transacted across the three days.
With this new academy, Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) is taking the knowledge and skills from the past 52 years and marrying it with emerging technologies to deliver and serve the design and craft community of the future. Training as part of the academy will be delivered online and in-person, including DCCIA at Castle Yard (Kilkenny), DCCIA at Sessions House (Thomastown, Co Kilkenny) and other locations nationwide due to be announced in 2023. The academy will initially focus on Start-Up, Growth, eCommerce, Innovation and business training in its first year.
Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, said: “In 2021, DCCI celebrated its 50th anniversary supporting the craft and design makers and creators across the island of Ireland. As we move into the next 50 years, we continue to build on the unique legacy of Irish design and craft by future proofing craft skills excellence. DCCI recognises the critical role that education, training and apprenticeships play in the future of Irish craft and design and in the preservation of our cultural heritage. We are incredibly delighted to launch the DCCIA short course prospectus. I would like to give my thanks to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for its support.”
Honoured to have @simoncoveney TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment with us this afternoon at #ShowcaseIreland. pic.twitter.com/iRJJgQnlPg
— Showcase Ireland (@showcaseireland) January 24, 2023
Winners of the annual Showcase Awards were announced on the opening day of Showcase. Exhibitors selected for the Showcase Best Product Awards 2023 were chosen by a panel of industry experts from exhibitors spanning Home & Gift, Fashion, Jewellery, and Wellness.
This year’s winner of Overall Best Product was Iron St. Brigid’s Cross by Tom King of An Gobha Iron Works and Experience. An Gobha offers immersive and interactive experiences of traditional iron age metal forging delivered with theatre, stories, myths, and legends in Bohermeen, Co Meath. An award for International Buyers Choice was presented today to Mucros Weavers, based in Killarney, Co. Kerry.
In other Irish business news, Guaranteed Irish has revealed the finalists of the Guaranteed Irish Business Awards 2023, after noting a record number of entries.
The awards, sponsored by Permanent TSB, will take place on Tuesday March 14th at The Shelbourne Hotel and will celebrate Ireland’s leading businesses that support jobs, are committed to local communities, and contribute to Ireland, its people, and its economy. To read the full list of nominees, click here.
Plus, The 15th cycle of Going for Growth, the award-winning programme for ambitious female entrepreneurs determined to grow their businesses, got underway in Dublin last week, with 70 female entrepreneurs selected for the programme.
Between them, these entrepreneurs already have annual sales of almost €82 million. Nearly half of them are already exporters, and they currently employ 1,024 people, with over 600 of these working full time.
A further 16 entrepreneurs, who are members of the Going for Growth Community, have been selected to continue their growth journey through participation on Continuing the Momentum round tables. Between them, these entrepreneurs currently have annual sales of €101 million, two-thirds are exporters and between them they employ over 2,433 people, with further growth planned.
The Going for Growth programme is designed to support these entrepreneurs to achieve their growth ambitions, helping create new jobs and grow their sales. Going for Growth is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland and KPMG. The latest cycle will run for six months; find out more on goingforgrowth.com.
There’s also still time to apply for the Grow With Aldi scheme, with applicants welcome to put their name in the hat until January 30th. Click here to apply.
