Business News

COVER STORY PAGE 20

“When our members come through the door, we want them to feel that it’s a home away from home. “

Emma Kennedy, Founder and CEO, Grafter: Luxury Grafter: Luxury Flexible Workspaces

Minister Niall Collins with John Fitzgibbon, Johnson & Johnson Vision in Ireland and Mary Buckley, IDA Ireland

Integrity360 makes UK acquisition

Irish-headquartered cybersecurity specialist Integrity360 is acquiring UK cybersecurity services provider Caretower. Following the acquisition, Integrity360 expects to achieve revenues of over €85m in 2022. The two organisations share many of the same partnerships with the world’s leading cybersecurity equipment and software manufacturers and have 1,500 customers between them. “With over 300 employees, including 200 cybersecurity engineers, analysts, consultants and specialists, the enhanced group provides a one-stop shop for business organisations for all their cybersecurity needs,” said Ian Brown, Executive Chairman at Integrity360. “In a world where security threats to businesses are increasing daily, having a trusted cybersecurity partner has become a critical boardroom issue.”

Ian Brown, Executive Chairman, Integrity360

AMERICAN APPROVAL

More than 95% of US multinationals have a positive view of Ireland as an investment location, according to a survey of American Chamber of Commerce Ireland members.

Manufacturing boost for Limerick

Johnson & Johnson Vision is to invest €35m in its facility in Limerick, with the potential to create up to 200 new jobs over the next three years, including in construction. Currently employing 1,600 people, the site in Limerick is one of the organisation’s largest manufacturing operations for its contact lens business. “Nearly 2.2 billion people around the world face impaired vision and around 200 million people worldwide su er vision impairment or blindness caused by cataract or uncorrected refractive error,” said John Fitzgibbon, Operations Director, Johnson & Johnson Vision in Ireland. “With the growth of our manufacturing operations in Limerick we are committed to changing these statistics, helping to solve a lifetime of eye health needs with our intraocular lenses.”

Digital drive at BofI up a gear

Bank of Ireland is looking to hire 100 technology professionals to further accelerate the delivery of its digital agenda. “Banking is changing fast. Last year alone, our mobile app log-ins grew 63% compared with 2020. We processed 244 million contactless transactions, up 43%. And 94% of our everyday product applications are now digitised,” said Eimear Harty, HR Director, Group Technology & Customer Solutions. “These new roles will further support our progress and momentum as we build a world-class, diverse technology team.” Applicants can be based anywhere on the island of Ireland, working from a combination of home and central o ice locations, and with access to 11 remote working hubs.

CARBON NEUTRALITY

A DataSolutions survey reveals that while 78% of tech companies have plans to achieve carbon neutrality, 65% have not yet measured their carbon footprint.

PICTURE THIS

Guinness is undertaking an ambitious regenerative agriculture pilot focused on highlighting opportunities for reducing the carbon emissions of barley production. Pictured are Grainne Wafer, Guinness Global Brand Director, Diageo Ireland and Walter Furlong, Cooney Furlong Grain, Co Wexford.

FEMALE FOUNDERS

Last year funding into female-founded start-ups surged 120% to reach a record €230m, according to a TechIreland report published to coincide with International Women’s Day.

FIBRE BROADBAND

New data published by Comreg has revealed that fibre-to-the-premises technology in the Irish market is now on a par with cable broadband subscribers for the first time.

Maeve Dorman, Senior Vice President, PayPal

SHIFT TOWARDS IRISH E-COMMERCE

Irish consumers increased their average spend on websites based in Ireland by 41% to €503 in 2021 – more than the average spend on international sites, which was €329, according to PayPal’s Retail Trends & Spends Study. The study highlighted the increasing appetite for online shopping, with 62% of Irish people revealing they plan to shop online more this year. “It’s great to see how Irish people are prioritising their online spending on Irish businesses,” said Maeve Dorman, Senior Vice President at PayPal. “Regardless of where we buy from though, it’s clear that online shopping has become a critical convenience for Irish people, not only during the pandemic but as part of our regular, busy lives.”

ONUS ON BUSINESS TO IMPROVE SOCIETY

The 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer Ireland survey has revealed that the general population views employers and the Government as the most believable information sources, with 65% of respondents believing information from employers after seeing it twice or less. However, 72% of those surveyed feel government and business should work closely to solve social issues. “The findings show by a huge margin that there is an expectation for business to engage more, not less, to address societal challenges such as climate change. Trust served us well during the pandemic, but it requires constant renewal if it is to serve us well post-crisis,” said Joe Carmody, CEO, Edelman Ireland.

HaloCare Group appoints new CEO

Carlow-headquartered start-up HaloCare Group has announced changes to its senior management team as it looks to expand in Ireland and internationally. Current CEO and Co-Founder David Walsh, one of Ireland’s most prominent entrepreneurs, is to become the company’s first Chairman while Sarah-Jane O’Dwyer has been appointed CEO. “In the 12 months since our foundation, we have crystalised our offering and have no doubt that HaloCare’s eldercare assistive technologies will transform the delivery of safe, patient-centred care to senior people,” said Walsh. “Sarah-Jane is bringing over 20 years’ experience in leading and advising international private and public health care organisations across Europe and the Middle East to the group.”

AVAILABILITY OF FLEXIBLE WORK ROLES ON THE RISE

IDA’s recently published Labour Market Pulse in partnership with Microsoft and LinkedIn has revealed that nearly one-fifth of Irish job postings on LinkedIn in December offered the option of remote work, up from one in seven postings the previous quarter. This represents a 118% increase year-on-year, placing Ireland second highest for the availability of flexible work roles across eight markets monitored by LinkedIn. “It is very much a jobseeker’s market. In order to continue to attract the best talent, employers need to continue to offer the same level of flexibility that people have become accustomed to over the past two years,” said Sharon McCooey, Head of LinkedIn Ireland.

Andrew Edwards, Managing Director, Go-Ahead Ireland, Lorraine Gibney, Go-Ahead Ireland and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan David Walsh, Chairman, and Sarah-Jane O’Dwyer, CEO, HaloCare Group

GREEN LIGHT FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Go-Ahead Ireland is seeking to recruit 180 staff in line with its ongoing expansion and to meet the requirements of the implementation of the new BusConnects network redesign in Dublin. Appointed by the National Transport Authority in 2018, the public transport provider’s total workforce in Ireland will be close to 800 people across all functions once the new hires are made. It currently operates 25 Outer Dublin Metropolitan Area routes, and five Dublin commuter routes, with a fleet of over 200 buses. The company also operates services on the recently launched ‘C-Spine’ BusConnects network. “This is an important milestone for Go-Ahead Ireland. Since entering the market, we have steadily increased our presence,” said Managing Director Andrew Edwards.