Weekly Digest: Irish people who worked in UK warned not to miss out on pension top-up; and the Thirty under 30 Irish business trailblazers revealed

Catch up on the business news you may have missed this week. ?

?? Irish people who worked in UK warned not to miss out on ‘insanely generous’ pension top-up

Irish people who worked in the UK have been warned that they are running out of time to benefit from a “an insanely generous” concession to top up their pension from that country.

More than 250,000 Irish people who worked in Britain may be due to benefit from the pension top-up.

???? Thirty under 30: The Sunday Independent's young business trailblazers to look out for in 2025

From creating socks that grip, to using coffee grounds in beauty products, Ireland’s youngest trailblazers are not short of ideas. This year's list was revealed this weekend.

?? Hotel firm of Mount Everest climber John Burke reports record revenues of over €13m

The west of Ireland hotel business operated by Mount Everest climber John Burke scaled new heights last year, as it enjoyed record revenues and profitability. Mr Burke operates the Armada Hotel that overlooks Spanish Point in west Clare. New accounts for Armada Hotel Holdings Ltd show that operating profits increased by 18pc to €2m in 2023.

??? Property firm’s €13m concrete claim due in court this week

A multi-million euro case taken by a property development firm against a Meath-based quarry and concrete company is up for mention again this week in the High Court.

?? This Working Life: ‘If you look at my handbag you’ll find a measuring tape. I get that from my dad’

'I benefited from grants and scholarships, and I feel the emphasis on education in Ireland – no matter where you come from – has stood to us. It is part of the Irish success story that is behind a lot of the foreign direct investment.'

Caitriona Walsh, country president and managing director of Novartis Ireland, chats with Mary McCarthy about her passions for everything from clinical trials to cheese fondue, afternoon tea and swimming in the sea.

?? Bombay Pantry chain to close amid ‘challenging market conditions’

The popular Indian fast food group Bombay Pantry has closed citing “challenging market conditions” that have hampered the hospitality sector. A liquidator is expected to be appointed to the company behind the business next week.

?? UK pubs face Guinness rationing ahead of Christmas after celebs and younger drinkers fuel surge in demand

An unprecedented surge in demand for Guinness in the UK in recent weeks has led its brewer to boost supply amid reports of pub groups rationing the Irish stout to venues as the festive season ramps up.

?? Crypto surge – why has the price of bitcoin hit $100,000 and what happens next?

The price of bitcoin this week topped $100,000 (€94,650) for the first time after surging on the back of the election of Donald Trump as US president and his elevation of crypto enthusiasts like Elon Musk into influential roles. What happens now?

?? ‘A takeaway is charging me a deposit fee for drink cans that cannot be recycled. Is this legal?’

A reader got in touch to ask what he should do about a business that's charging him the 15c deposit, but then giving him cans without the Re-turn logo. Our consumer expert says it's disappointing - and illegal.

#LISTEN

?? The Big Tech Show: Bitcoin breaks $100k, the Hawk Tuah scam, Apple’s Vision Pro flop and Ireland’s NDRC debacle

Will Bitcoin continue to soar? Is Apple’s Vision Pro a flop? And should we take meme coins seriously? Producer, JJ Clarke, joined Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show to discuss the latest tech news.

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Sf7usiMRELQsc79pIBcA8

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-big-tech-show/id1325667441

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