Over 400 jobs were announced this week, with Leitrim the main beneficiary after VistaMed’s creation of a 163-strong facility at Carrick-on-Shannon.
Leitrim, Limerick, Lisburn, Galway, Mayo and Dublin all benefitted from a raft of new jobs announcements this week, with Fitbit and VistaMed delivering the more eye-catching developments.
A €10m investment in a new 45,000sq ft state-of-the-art R&D facility in Leitrim will see VistaMed, already the largest employer in the county, add another 163 to its workforce by 2018. Some 37 positions have already been filled and, once this latest recruitment drive has completed, the company will bring its total number of employees to 525.
We want more
The company has said that the funding comes following an increased demand from the global medical device market for its products, with a new cleanroom necessary to satisfy demand in its primary catheter product line.
Over in Dublin, wearable giant Fitbit is establishing its EMEA HQ on Baggot St with the promise of 50 jobs by year’s end. In 2017, that figure will double, as the office hosts senior management roles, sales, marketing, operations, finance and customer support staff.
“We’ve seen Dublin become a strategic hub for the technology industry and as a centre for innovation and sourcing top talent in the region, and we look forward to building a strong team here to complement our offices around the world,” said Fitbit CEO and co-founder James Park.
Insurance for all
Elsewhere, Se2 – a third-party technology administrator for the insurance industry – will be growing its Waterford workforce from 70 to 135, with the jobs rolled out over the next three to four years. RouteMatch, Ripplecom and Coca-Cola made moves, too.
We heard from Kelly Hoey, investor at Laconia Capital, who discussed her three top tips for people looking to forge a new career. Building expertise, networks and bank balances are key.
“Networking is actually just human relationships and people,” she said. “It’s not a platform, it’s not an app. Relationships are what drive economies, ideas, and create possibilities.”
Rather than the antiquated logic of ‘keeping your head down, working hard and making it up the corporate ladder’, Hoey instead said today’s world works differently.
Back to work
Elsewhere VMWare announced its ISA Software Skillnet-backed 12-week back-to-work initiative, designed for those who have been out of the industry for more than two years.
This could include people who were stay-at-home parents or were out of work for a period of time, but now wish to return to the workforce.
And pizza has positioned itself top of the motivation charts, following a study at Intel. Faced with the option of a bit of extra cash, a pat on the back or some pizza, productivity rose among those who plumped for the latter.
1. 65 tech jobs for Waterford as Se2 officially opens new facility
Se2 – a third-party technology administrator for the insurance industry – will be growing its Waterford workforce from 70 to 135, with the jobs rolled out over the next three to four years.
2. New Leitrim VistaMed facility to create 163 jobs by 2018
Leitrim has received a significant jobs boost with news that the medical devices manufacturer VistaMed is to create 163 jobs there following the opening of its new facility in Carrick-on-Shannon.
3. Wearable tech giant Fitbit plans to create up to 100 new jobs in Dublin
Health and fitness band maker Fitbit is to establish its EMEA headquarters in Dublin, with plans to employ 50 people this year and up to 100 employees by the end of 2017.
4. VMware to train and return former IT workers to the workforce
A new 12-week back-to-work initiative from VMware is open for ex-IT professionals looking to retrain and return to the workplace.
5. Pay us in pizza! How a few slices can motivate an entire team
What actually motivates your staff? A slice of pizza and a thank you, not some extra cash. That’s according to a novel piece of research.
6. Customer success – a new tech career path with a rosy future
For those just starting out in their career, the path to success can seem impassable. You know it’s possible, but getting there is the challenge.
7. The art of networking is personal, not digital
Kelly Hoey, investor at Laconia Capital, discusses her three top tips for people looking to forge a new career. Building expertise, networks and bank balances are key.
8. ‘Here are the four Cs that build a motivated workforce’
In a keynote talk at Inspirefest 2016, Monica Parker delivered her four Cs to create a motivated workforce. It sounds simple, but it’s not.
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Main jobs image via Shutterstock
