GROWTH Decentralisation
Penny Bryant, Director of Penny Bryant, Director of Communications and Communications and CSR at Fidelity CSR at Fidelity
Yvonne McArdle, HR Director at SAP
“It has also given employees a choice. We had several members of staff based in Dublin who were from the West. With the Galway site, we were able to retain those staff that wanted to relocate back home.” Liam Ryan, Managing Director SAP Labs Ireland
location. A site in Galway followed, opening up a whole new talent pool for the company. “Having hubs in Galway and Dublin has allowed us to offer roles on either side of the country and it has also given us access to a much broader talent pool. On the practical side, it’s only two hours between Dublin and Galway so it’s easy to stay connected,” said Penny Bryant, Director of Communications and CSR at Fidelity. Employing approximately 1300 people in Ireland across its two sites, Fidelity has made a concerted effort to ensure there’s no trade-off between rural and regional locations. “As a leading fintech, we have the technology to facilitate that. Video conferencing has always been a way for us to connect and with everyone working from home now, I think in some ways we feel more connected than ever.” The company has also worked hard on its CSR strategy to ensure it reflects the company’s core values. “Part of that was ramping up our community work around education and employment readiness. Covid has forced
us to adapt the ways in which we service our community and our staff have been fantastic in helping us innovate and digitise online. We’ve also provided refurbished laptops to local schools in Galway and Dublin to help kids study from home.” Integration into local communities across both sites has also been a priority at SAP. “We hold various fundraising events throughout the year and we also organise a number of volunteering events to help our chosen charities. During Code Week, our employees visit local primary and secondary schools to teach coding from scratch. It’s a great way to get involved in the local schools and make them aware of SAP. We return each year so we’re teaching the same kids in the next class so they’re continually learning,” said Yvonne McArdle, HR Director at SAP Ireland. Through their multiple sites Fidelity, SAP and Boston Scientific have cemented their positions across the country and have shown the rest of the world that Ireland is a great place to do business. By extending
their reach across the country, the three global firms have strengthened their brands and will, undoubtedly, continue to do so over the coming years. Right now, wellbeing in the workplace is a hot topic but at Fidelity, it’s taken very seriously. “We have a motto here – find your fidelity – which is all about finding the greater meaning in your job and figuring out how it improves the lives of others. Wellbeing may have different meanings for different people and at Fidelity, we offer a range of benefits from financial to health to community. It’s also not just about what we offer as a package but the benefits of working for a company that has a strong focus on inclusivity and community.” Throughout the pandemic, associates have been given time off to cope with the added pressures of life during Covid. At SAP, a culture of inclusion and a focus on health and wellbeing is helping to ensure that everyone – regardless of background – feels included and can operate at their best. “We’re very active when it comes to promoting diversity, inclusion and social justice. A good example is our Autism at Work programme, where he hire people from the autistic spectrum. For some autistic people, noise might be an issue so eating lunch in the canteen mightn’t be an option. We ensure quiet meeting rooms are provided for those who want them,” said Yvonne McArdle, HR Director at SAP Ireland.
“Having hubs in Galway and Dublin has allowed us to offer roles on either side of the country and it has also given us access to a much broader talent pool. On the practical side, it’s only two hours between Dublin and Galway so it’s easy to stay connected,” Penny Bryant, Director of Communications and CSR at Fidelity
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