Taxi app giant Uber, which is creating 300 new jobs at its new Centre of Excellence in Limerick city, has so far invested €4m in the city and has hired 100 people.
Uber today opened the doors of its first Centre of Excellence outside the US, with the company aiming for it to become one of its largest customer service hubs in the world.
The hub will support millions of customers and tens of thousands of drivers in 30 cities in 10 countries.
In an investment supported by IDA Ireland, Uber said it has already spent €4m in the city.
World-class experience
The news that Uber was locating in Limerick first broke in July last year.
“We are proud to be opening the first Centre of Excellence outside the US in Ireland,” said Uber Ireland general manager Kieran Harte.
“The centre is dedicated to delivering a world-class support experience and we have been focused on hiring only the highest calibre of people.
“The majority of our employees are local, which speaks to the wealth of talent in the greater Limerick area. We look forward to the centre growing in Limerick as Uber’s business grows across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and throughout Ireland.”
Uber has signed a 10-year lease on a site on Thomas Street, which underwent a major redesign and refit.
The centre opens its doors with 100 employees who were recruited since August.
When fully operational, the centre will house more than 300 full-time staff.
Keep that motor running
Uber has in just a few short years become a ubiquitous app and the company has grown to an unparalleled valuation just shy of $50bn. It is estimated that Uber will generate $10bn in revenues by the end of 2015.
“The establishment of Uber’s Centre of Excellence is another fantastic announcement for Limerick City,” said Finance Minister Michael Noonan TD.
“When the centre is fully operational there will be 300 people working in the heart of the city. 2015 was a record year for creating jobs, with Limerick benefiting from an influx of foreign direct investment. The establishment of this Centre of Excellence is a great start to 2016 and I wish Uber well with this exciting project.”
As well as establishing jobs in Limerick, Uber is already up and running in Dublin, where passengers have the option of taking an UberTAXI or paying for a premium class UberBLACK . All drivers on the Uber platform in Ireland are licensed by the local authority and have met the local licensing requirements.
“Having got off to a strong start in Limerick since arriving here mid-year in 2015, with these new premises for its Centre of Excellence, Uber is now poised to develop further, growing its workforce considerably and consolidating its EMEA support structure,” IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan said.
“The availability of a strong talent pool in Limerick has been an important element of the company’s success to date and will be of future benefit. This investment by Uber is a huge endorsement of Limerick and the region.”
Limerick image via Shutterstock
