Derry tech firm, Elemental Software is scaling up its workforce

, ,
Grainne McVeigh, Invest NI, is pictured with (L – R) Leeann Monk-Özgül and Jennifer Neff, Elemental Software.

Grainne McVeigh, Invest NI, is pictured with (L – R) Leeann Monk-Özgül and Jennifer Neff, Elemental Software.

Derry tech firm, Elemental Software is scaling up its workforce

Elemental Software, the ‘tech for good’ company operating within the health and wellbeing sector, is recruiting 10 additional jobs in Derry/Londonderry with support from Invest Northern Ireland. Elemental’s award winning Social Prescribing platform connects patients, health and social care professionals and community health and wellness providers.

Pilots of the platform garnered positive feedback from health and social care professionals, community providers and patients and resulted in Elemental Software securing its first contracts across the UK and private investment earlier this year. Now the firm’s founders, Leeann Monk-Özgül and Jennifer Neff, are expanding the team to help deliver a healthy pipeline of prospective customers and scale the business across the UK and Middle East.
Welcoming the investment during a visit to the company’s premises, Grainne McVeigh, Invest NI’s Director Life Sciences, said: “Elemental Software is a growing innovative digital health company at the forefront of Social Prescribing, an established model of integrated health and social care delivery. Its digital solution has vast growth potential globally and already its unique platform is rapidly being adopted across the UK and in Dubai.”
The platform makes it easier for any health and social care related professional to refer people with health risks to community based lifestyle interventions. Most importantly, it measures the impact of the referral so as to reduce demand in GP time and services and ultimately keep people out of hospital for longer.

“We have worked with this business from its inception. Elemental Software’s rapid progress is testament to the entrepreneurial flair and determination of the firm’s founders. Invest NI is pleased to support its investment in hiring 10 new key members of staff and implementing targeted market development. We believe this will enable Elemental Software to continue to scale and increase its market share,” added Grainne. Elemental Software’s founders have an ongoing relationship with Invest NI, participating in Propel as well as its Collaborative Growth Programme. The company has also benefited from Innovation Vouchers, research and development assistance to develop its digital platform, and trade support to undertake extensive market research. Discussing the company’s expansion plans, Co-Founders of Elemental Software, Leeann Monk-Özgül and Jennifer Neff, said: “Social Prescribing addresses one of the most pressing health and social care challenges of our generation and we have developed a solution that can support and empower lifestyle change for communities most at risk and those who play a key role in supporting these communities.

“We need to create a team which includes business and software development positions as well as marketing and communications and finance and administration roles to help take the business to the next level. Recruiting these key hires will give us the capacity to penetrate our target markets and enhance the functionality of the platform.

“Invest NI’s ongoing advice and support has been vital to progress to date. This support towards our planned recruitment and marketing investment will enable us to maintain the momentum being created as the ‘Go To’ platform for referrals into community based programmes and services that improve quality of life, establish a reputation in our target markets and secure new sales.”

Elemental Software is also the lead in a newly established Mental Health and Wellbeing network that will scope out the opportunities for NI companies in relation to developing skills, innovative solutions and services for preventative healthcare in mental health and wellbeing. Invest NI’s R&D support is part funded by ERDF under the EU Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014-2020.

/by

Lithe IT chooses Londonderry for new sales and marketing team

, ,

Des Gartland (left), Invest NI, is pictured with Brendan McNabb, Lithe IT.

Des Gartland (left), Invest NI, is pictured with Brendan McNabb, Lithe IT.


Lithe IT has set up a sales and marketing function in Londonderry to grow its business across Europe and North America.

Lithe IT provides a wide range of business process services and solutions targeted at improving a business’s effectiveness and efficiency. It specialises in providing process based software solutions aimed at addressing key business challenges across a number of industries. Customers include Transport for London and global businesses such as Canon, and Swiss Post Solutions. Its new Derry based team of four will include a Sales Director, Sales Executive, Marketing Executive, and a Software Engineer.

Welcoming the company to the city, Des Gartland, North West Regional Manager, Invest Northern Ireland said: “Lithe IT is growing its core Professional Services and Software Product businesses to meet the demand of its existing and new customers. The company considered a number of potential locations for its new sales and marketing team but chose Londonderry based on the availability of strong technical and industry specific sales skills. “They have moved very quickly to get the office up and running and have already recruited two people and will be looking to fill the remaining two roles by late autumn. The new roles have salaries in the £25k-£50k range and the company hopes to increase employment further in the future.”

Invest NI has offered Lithe IT £24,000 of support towards the new roles. Brendan McNabb, Chief Business Development Officer said: “This is an exciting time for Lithe IT in our ongoing global growth. We continue to invest in the business in response to the demand for our services and solutions primarily in the North America and EMEA regions.”Brendan McNabb is from the North West region and was a strong advocate for locating the project in Londonderry. “When we were considering where to place these new roles I was keen for Derry to be considered. As a local, I am very aware of the strong skill set here,” added Brendan. “We will be skilling up the team on new technologies and they will be working closely with me to identify new opportunities and provide support to our existing and new customers.”

/by

LacPatrick secures more than £1m in sales in the UAE

,

The international dairy co-operative, LacPatrick, has secured over £1m of sales of its LP spray dried whole milk and skimmed milk powder in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following participation at Gulfood in February 2017.

Steve Harper, Invest NI (right) is pictured with Enda Gallen, LacPatrick

Steve Harper, Invest NI (right) is pictured with Enda Gallen, LacPatrick

Welcoming the deals, Steve Harper, Invest Northern Ireland’s Executive Director of International Business said: “LacPatrick has used Invest NI support to make impressive strides in securing this new export business in the UAE. As well as exhibiting on the NI stand at this major food event, the company has worked with our in-market team for a number of years to help identify new trade opportunities.

“Our participation in events such as Gulfood reflects our strategic focus to assist companies to grasp the opportunities that are clearly available in international markets to achieve faster, more profitable and sustainable growth.“LacPatrick is one of several Northern Ireland companies who have had great success in the region, including Antrim Hills and White’s Oats.”

LacPatrick is one of Northern Ireland’s major manufacturing employers, employing over 300 staff across its Ballyrashane, Artigarvan and Monaghan sites. Enda Gallen, International Sales Manager for LacPatrick said: “The UAE is a very important market for our business and we are delighted with our progress to date.

“Relationships are a very important part of the Middle East culture and participating at Gulfood was an excellent opportunity to nurture existing relationships and meet with potential new customers. We had been working on an number of deals in the weeks leading up to Gulfood and being able to meet face to face with customers allowed us to get the deals successfully over the line. Invest NI’s support in facilitating and helping to set up these meetings was extremely beneficial.

“Securing new customers is a very important development for our business and has opened new avenues with which to sell our product ranges, particularly the high quality milk powders which are produced at our new state-of-the-art dairy technology centre in Artigarvan. We have also been able to secure significant further orders with existing customers, which is an excellent development and something we will continue to build on.”

/by