DERRY firm GoWalkTalk which develops management software for healthcare workers has set up an office in Boston.

It represented one success of an economic link between Massachusetts and the north-west of Ireland.

Donegal firm Gartan Technologies also formed a partnership with US company Adashi Systems.

GoWalkTalk’s new Boston office was announced by the city’s mayor Martin Walsh at the recent Golden Bridges conference.

He said the investment provided evidence of a positive partnership arrangement with Massachusetts and the north-west region of Ireland.

The Ireland North West delegation, the first of its kind to travel to Massachusetts, was led by the Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Mayor Hilary McClintock and the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Terence Slowey among other officials, colleges and 17 businesses.

Derry and Strabane Council chief executive John Kelpie said: “We told delegates about our unique offering and the fact that Ireland North West, that includes the fourth largest city on the island of Ireland, is a very attractive location for international business partnerships because of its hugely talented skills base, competitive operating costs, advanced telecommunications infrastructure and excellent education and business linkages.

“A key selling point for us was our unique location and our close connectivity to Europe, our very youthful and talented population, and excellent skills base.

“We were very forthright about our ambitious plans for the future and told them about how we are investing multi-millions of pounds in our road, rail and air infrastructure and connectivity over the next five to 10 years, that will see the expansion of our university, the development of a graduate medical school and major redevelopment of the city sites including investment in housing, office and retail space and leisure service provision.”

Source: Irish News

Economy Minister Simon Hamilton MLA has hosted a special event in Londonderry to acknowledge the growth and investment of businesses in the North West. Ten businesses, two of which are new investors, are creating 100 new jobs and investing over £5.6million in the local economy.

With the support of Invest Northern Ireland, Mechanical Installations & MaintenanceMeritcomPrecision GroupRetail Systems Technology LimitedJunk KoutureClick Energy, Gradon Architecture and FAST Technologies have each been working on growth projects.

Two GB-based software businesses, Launch Pad and Peoplesafe, are also establishing offices in the city and plan to create a total of 16 new jobs over the next 12 months. Speaking at Invest Northern Ireland’s Timber Quay offices, the Minister said: “This multi million investment by indigenous businesses and UK investors is positive news for Londonderry.

“The 100 new jobs being created span a range of roles and industries including software development, engineering, marketing and finance, and once in place will contribute over £2.5million in additional salaries to the local economy. “Invest Northern Ireland has offered £578,400 to support the growth of these businesses who by doing so are committing to both their future and the sustained economic growth of the local area.”

Economy Minister Simon Hamilton has announced ten businesses, two of which are new investors are to create 100 new jobs in the North West an investment of over £5.6million in the local economy. Speaking at Invest Northern Ireland’s Timber Quay offices the Minister said: “This multi million investment by indigenous businesses and UK investors is positive news for Londonderry. The 100 new jobs being created span a range of roles and industries including software development, engineering, marketing and finance, and once in place will contribute over £2.5million in additional salaries to the local economy.” Pictured with the Minister are Des Gartland, Invest NI North West Regional Manager, Conleth Doherty from Factory Automation Systems Technologies Ltd and John Deery from Mechanical Installations & Maintenance both of who announced they would be recruiting as part of their investment plans. Photo by Simon Graham/Harrison Photography

Economy Minister Simon Hamilton has announced ten businesses, two of which are new investors are to create 100 new jobs in the North West an investment of over £5.6million in the local economy. Speaking at Invest Northern Ireland’s Timber Quay offices the Minister said: “This multi million investment by indigenous businesses and UK investors is positive news for Londonderry. The 100 new jobs being created span a range of roles and industries including software development, engineering, marketing and finance, and once in place will contribute over £2.5million in additional salaries to the local economy.” Pictured with the Minister are Des Gartland, Invest NI North West Regional Manager, Conleth Doherty from Factory Automation Systems Technologies Ltd and John Deery from Mechanical Installations & Maintenance both of who announced they would be recruiting as part of their investment plans. Photo by Simon Graham/Harrison Photography

 

 

The Minister added: “Every business plays a role in our economic success and strengthening and growing Northern Ireland’s private sector requires all stakeholders to work in partnership towards the achievement of a common goal. I welcome the joined-up approach to economic development in the North West and the contribution the Council and local stakeholders such as the Chamber the Council are making, alongside Invest Northern Ireland, to rebuild and rebalance our economy.

Source: Invest NI News

LaunchPad and Peoplesafe, two highly successful software companies that were founded in England, are establishing new offices in Derry and plan to create a total of 16 new jobs in the city over the next 12 months.

LaunchPad, a London-headquartered startup that develops video recruitment software, is establishing a European centre in Derry and will be recruiting ten new team members to fill customer service and software development vacancies. LaunchPad creates data and video interviewing and screening technologies that help recruitment and HR professionals make smarter and more objective hiring decisions.

Peoplesafe, a Sheffield-headquartered tech firm that develops digital devices, smartphone apps and online platforms designed to ensure the safety of lone workers, is planning to establish offices in Derry and recruit software developers for 6 new software development vacancies. Founded in 2004, Peoplesafe has now developed a full portfolio of safety solutions for lone workers across a range of sectors.

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The news of the inward investment came as part of a wider announcement by Invest NI of 100 new jobs created in the Derry area. Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister, Simon Hamilton MLA, said: “The 100 new jobs being created span a range of roles and industries including software development, engineering, marketing and finance, and once in place will contribute over £2.5million in additional salaries to the local economy.”

Source: SyncNI

The announcement of the establishment of a Boston office for Derry firm GoWalkTalk and a joint partnership between Gartan Technologies from Donegal and US firm Adashi Systems, and the ongoing commitment to strengthen economic development links between Massachusetts and the North West region were some of the early successes of the Ireland North West delegation who travelled to the United States last week as part of a trade visit.

Making the announcement of the new Boston office for GoWalkTalk, the Mayor of Boston, Martin Walsh, speaking at the Golden Bridges Conference, said the investment by the Derry based healthcare management applications and solution’s company was evidence of the ongoing positive partnership arrangement with Massachusetts and the North West region of Ireland.

The Ireland North West delegation, the first of its kind to travel to Massachusetts, was cross border and cross agency led by the Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Mayor Alderman Hilary McClintock and the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Terence Slowey, with the Chief Executives of both Councils John Kelpie and , Seamus Neely, Council officials, representatives from Udaras na Gaeltachta, Ulster University, Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the North West Regional College, and 17 local businesses, all travelling to promote the region for investment and build and develop strong links and relationships between both regions.

An inspiring “Gateway for Growth” promotional video and brochure was officially launched during the visit and businesses and officials in Worcester, Springfield and Boston about the unique opportunities that existed for investment in Ireland North West.

John Kelpie, Chief Executive with Derry City and Strabane District Council said: “We told delegates about our unique offering and the fact that Ireland North West, that includes the fourth largest city on the island of Ireland, is a very attractive location for international business partnerships because of its hugely talented skills base, competitive operating costs, advanced telecommunications infrastructure and excellent education and business linkages. A key selling point for us was our unique location and our close connectivity to Europe, our very youthful and talented population, and excellent skills base.

“We were very forthright about our ambitious plans for the future and told them about how we are investing multi-millions of pounds in our road, rail and air infrastructure and connectivity over the next five to 10 years, that will see the expansion of our university, the development of a graduate medical school and major redevelopment of the city sites including investment in housing, office and retail space and leisure service provision. We outlined our strong commitment to building on our existing strengths in terms of our youthful and well educated population, our talent and creativity and skills base to promote ourselves as a city and region that is willing and able to do business.”

Seamus Neely, Chief Executive with Donegal County Council said that the potential US investors were very interested to hear that Ireland North West is ranked in the top 10 economies in the world for ease of doing business and starting a business, and to hear about our strong and diverse SME base and real spirit of entrepreneurship.

“What was very evident from our visit was how the US businesses were interested in our location and our closeness to Europe. We went out there with a very clear message that our unique location is our strength and how we provide the only region that has a land border between the UK and the rest of the EU.”

“Our young, well educated population with their strong worth ethic, and the fact that 31% of our school leavers are educated to degree level and have right skills for employment were very much of interest to the businesses we spoke to.”

Another top selling point for the delegation was the region’s extremely cost competitiveness for prime office rent space compared to Boston or Dublin and the attractive financial support packages and ongoing aftercare support for potential investors that are on offer, in addition to our universities and institutions that are driving our technology and knowledge industries.

 

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John Kelpie said these impressive selling points make Ireland North West a highly attractive and competitive location to do business and he is confident some real linkages and connections were made.

Mayor Alderman Hilary McClintock said the visit was very significant not only in terms of forging links and relationships but in giving the companies that travelled as part of the delegation a real insight into the US market and the opportunities that exist for development and expansion.

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Terence Slowey said feedback on what Ireland North West has to offer has been very positive and that people in the US were genuinely very excited about what the region has to offer.

For the 17 companies that travelled as part of the delegation there is a lot of follow up work to do with the connections and links made during the visit.  Eleanor Hanna from Donegal based Hanna Hats felt that the trip was very beneficial for her business and said that “we have made some great contacts with high end fashion stores in the US and we are planning to meet up with them in the New Year to pursue these opportunities further”.

While Orla Ward from O’Neill’s, Ireland’s largest sportswear manufacturing company, said the visit was really worthwhile and she is following up on a number of very positive leads with colleges and universities in Boston who are interested in their quality performance playing kits.

Source: Derry City & Strabane District Council News

Civic leaders, businesses and officials from the North West will be embarking on their largest ever delegation to Boston, Massachusetts later this month.

The delegation, which is being jointly led by the Mayor of Derry, Cllr. Hilary McClintock, and Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Terence Slowey, will see 17 businesses from across the North West region participate in the overseas trade mission with a view to expanding or further expanding their business in the US market.

The mission will comprise of a week long programme of events and meetings culminating with attendance at the Golden Bridges conference on the 18 November.

Along with both Councils, other participating organisations include Udaras na nGaeltachta, Invest NI, Enterprise Ireland, Ulster University, Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the North West Regional College.

A new video showcasing the region as a prime location for business has been commissioned especially for this mission and this will be launched along with a new brochure to promote all aspects of the region.

John Kelpie, chief executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council, said the North West region had a “compelling and attractive proposition for investors.”

He added: “We have a strong and diverse SME sector with a global outlook and our location on the island of Ireland means that we are the gateway to one of the world’s largest markets.

This promotional material will help us tell our story and share with our counterparts in Massachusetts all that our region has to offer.”

 

The delegation will include the following businesses:

  • GoWalkTalk
  • Gartan Technologies
  • Irish Gap Year
  • Irish Fish Canners
  • Qubizm
  • SLM Connect
  • Consilium Education
  • Oideas Gael
  • Hanna Hats
  • Sendmode
  • Kelsius
  • Kinnegar Brewing
  • Modern Democracy
  • Studio Donegal
  • O’Donnells Bakery
  • Randox
  • Donegal Socks
  • O’Neills Sportswear

The delegation will include representatives from the following organisations:

  • Donegal County Council
  • Derry City and Strabane District Council
  • Letterkenny Institute of Technology
  • Ulster University
  • Udaras na nGaeltachta
  • North West Regional College

Source: Derry Now