MarketStar, the global leader in outsourced sales and B2B revenue acceleration, has secured a location for their EMEA headquarters in Dublin’s Central Park business district. The company plans to create up to 300 new jobs over the next 3 years, bringing its Dublin-based team to 500 people by 2025. The commitment to this larger presence in Dublin further strengthens MarketStar’s international capabilities and delivery model built for clients that are focused on growth and scaling globally.
Founded in 1988, MarketStar now employs more than 1,750 employees worldwide, with its global headquarters in Ogden, Utah U.S.A. In 2019, MarketStar acquired Product2Market, a leading Irish inside sales and sales development agency based in Dublin. The expansion of the European headquarters in Dublin, following the integration of Product2Market, has positioned MarketStar as a strong global leader in sales and revenue acceleration, and a business destination for Dublin’s talented workforce. At the time of the P2M acquisition, there were 100 employees in Dublin. Since that time, MarketStar has doubled the number of jobs and revenue based in Dublin. The company joins world-leading brands like SalesForce, Bank of America, Mastercard, and others in the Central Park community, which also includes apartments, retail space, dining, and lodging.
Welcoming the announcement Tánaiste and Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD said, “This is fantastic news from MarketStar, I am happy the company has found a home in Dublin’s Central Park for its new EMEA Headquarters and will be creating an incredible 300 new jobs over the next 3 years. It is a remarkable expansion that will bring the company’s total workforce here to 500 by 2025. MarketStar is a global leader in its field, and this new HQ will provide a great platform to highlight our highly skilled workforce to the world. I wish the team every success with their new Dublin office.”
“Establishing Dublin as our EMEA headquarters marks an exciting milestone in our overall growth strategy, solidifying our commitment to the European market and strengthening our global sales capabilities,” said Keith Titus, President, and CEO of MarketStar. “We will continue to thoughtfully expand our global footprint, and this new Central Park facility enables MarketStar to work from a position of strength in the European market to enable growth for our clients and employees.”
“There is no better expansion point for our global Operation than right here in Ireland,” said Jonathan Blythe, Vice President, Head of EMEA at MarketStar. “We have people representing 38 nationalities, speaking twenty different languages, and covering three regions. When you combine the level of talent available in Ireland with the vision and financial commitment provided by MarketStar, we see nothing but growth and expansion for our great workforce and the companies we do business with. It’s an exciting time to be with MarketStar in Dublin.”
MarketStar represents a wide range of clients across many verticals and industries, with vast breadth and depth in the technology and cloud software spaces. The outsourced solutions MarketStar provides include lead development and customer acquisition through direct selling programs, partner recruitment, enablement, and high-end partner support via indirect channel motions, and customer success solutions that include customer onboarding, renewals, and account management. Currently, the Dublin headquarters provides client coverage in Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia Pacific.
Commenting on the announcement, Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland said “Ireland has a proven track record of being an attractive location for global BPO companies looking to access a well-established talent pool to serve a growing client base in the EMEA region. I wish the team well in their new office building and offer the company the ongoing support of IDA Ireland.”
Today, Square unveils the next generation of Square Stand, the company’s iconic countertop device that turns an iPad into a powerful, robust point of sale system that sellers can use to run their entire business. Launching concurrently in all of Square’s eight global markets, Square Stand features integrated contactless and Chip and PIN payments technology, a sleek, professional design, and a new checkout flow that provides businesses and their customers with a more intuitive, transparent, and streamlined commerce experience.
The reimagined Square Stand offers businesses the most affordable, comprehensive, and easy-to-use device for conducting commerce. Square Stand combines Square’s point of sale software and hardware into one complete solution, enabling sellers to take in-person payments and manage ecommerce sales, deliveries, and buy online, pick-up in-store orders from a single place. Retaining the classic swivel design of its predecessor, the new Stand now integrates Square’s lightning-fast contactless and chip card readers into the display, helping sellers simplify their countertops and keep their lines moving while eliminating the need for additional payments hardware. In 2021, contactless and Chip and PIN payments made up 98% of global cashless hardware transactions on Square’s fully integrated payments devices*, meaning these new capabilities help sellers accept now-standard payments right out of the box.
The new Square Stand also transforms the buyer experience. New software for Square Stand creates a faster, more transparent checkout process that includes an order summary screen and illuminated payment icons on the face of the device to guide customer transactions and speed up purchases. These additions provide sellers and shoppers with the benefits of a customer display without the need for a second screen.
“Our experience with the new Square Stand has been excellent” said Dee Kelly, Founder of Gralinn – one of the first businesses to test the new product. “It offers us a clear, concise layout for our business. Our staff appreciate the intuitive checkout system while the customers have responded well to the clear user face on the screen when they come to make their purchase. The connectivity and navigation is also particularly fast and responsive which helps us to avoid queues and ensures we never miss a sale.”
“The way businesses and shoppers interact around the world has evolved exponentially in the time since we first launched our original Square Stand,” said Alyssa Henry, Head of Square. “The new Stand was built with the future of commerce in mind. Marrying elegant design with powerful software, Square Stand provides sellers of any size, from boutique retailers to multi-location restaurants, with a versatile command centre for their business. Square Stand offers sellers an integrated way to meet the purchasing preferences of today’s consumers.”
As Square’s innovative ecosystem of solutions has grown, so has Square Stand’s ability to serve sellers as a singular device to manage all of their operations. In addition to supporting Square’s vertical point of sale offerings, which include Square for Restaurants and Square for Retail, sellers can use Square Stand for all their employee management needs, including time tracking, shift scheduling, and tip management. Additional solutions like marketing, loyalty, inventory, and omnichannel commerce tools are also readily available from the Square Stand.
Introduced in 2013, the original Square Stand was a transformational iPad point of sale system, giving merchants a way to take payments and access business insights and analytics, all from one place. Square Stand remains popular amongst sellers of all sizes and serves as a common entry point for new businesses joining the Square ecosystem.
Beginning today, the new Square Stand will be available online at Square shop. Starting at €119 +VAT. Square Stand is compatible with the iPad (2021, 2020, 2019), iPad Air (2019), and iPad Pro 10.5”. Sellers pay one transparent rate for every contactless or Chip and PIN transaction, with no hidden fees or long-term contracts, and free access to the Square POS app. For more information, please visit https://squareup.com/ie/en/hardware/stand.
MGS’s ambitious expansion plans for its Leixlip plant in Kildare were announced today by Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar.
MGS Manufacturing’s plans are being driven by the company’s continued success and growth within the healthcare sector. Focusing on the manufacture of high precision medical device components has expedited the company’s growth over the past number of years.
The €7m investment will see a 20,000ft extension to the plant located on the Kildare Innovation Campus, housing ISO class 8 cleanrooms, new offices, injection moulding machines, precision measurement laboratory and warehousing space.
Established in Wisconsin, USA in 1982 initially as a small mould making shop, MGS MFG now spans 11 facilities around the world, employs more than 1200 people globally and completed the acquisition of Formteknik in Europe in early 2021. The Ireland plant, established in 2011, has continued to go from strength to strength over the last decade, employing 120 locally with plans to double this footprint to meet the new facility’s needs, further investing in the local community and infrastructure.
The Tánaiste said:“Congratulations to the entire team at MSG Manufacturing Ltd. on this further expansion of the company’s Irish operations, which will create 100 new jobs. This investment is a testament to the existing staff and a real vote of confidence in the local community. I wish the team all the very best with their ambitious plans.”
Speaking at MGS’ Leixlip facility, CEO Paul Manley said: ‘’As a company hitting our 40 year milestone this year, we’ve had an exceptional journey. MGS has adapted and grown exponentially to meet customer demand and expectations, and today has eleven strategically placed specialised manufacturing facilities around the world. With every step, we challenge, improve and diversify. We stay true to our values of teamwork, integrity, passion and safety – the cornerstones of our business and delivery mechanism to our clients. The Ireland plant has been on a pathway to success growing steadily since it opened in 2011. Our success in Ireland is due to the dedication and hard work of the best people in plastics, meaning today we’re able to announce a further jobs boost, which we’re very proud of. We look forward to further development within the healthcare sector, supporting both existing clients and potential new projects as the business continues to grow and harness our competitive advantage.’’
IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan said: “MGS Manufacturing Ltd. has grown and evolved its operations from the manufacture of printer cartridges for HP to injection moulding with 120 people currently employed. This announcement of a €7M investment in new cleanrooms, offices and equipment here on Kildare Innovation Campus, which will create a further 100 jobs, marks a significant milestone in their growth in Ireland. The benefit of this company’s presence in Kildare to the local economy and in terms of employment, is considerable. I wish them every success with their operations in this new location.”
MGS Ireland Site Lead Michael Finneran said: ‘’When we set up back in 2011, we had ambitions to grow the site into the future. Like every business, we were eager to establish ourselves and firmly make our mark in the sector. We started out supporting HP on site in the manufacturing of ink jet cartridges and as the business grew, we diversified into medical devices which is now the predominant sector we focus on. We’re extremely excited for this next phase of growth, to be able to bring more jobs to the sector and in so doing, support the local economy and infrastructure as well. Our journey doesn’t stop here, this is just one of what we hope to be the many stepping stones in our story of growth to come over the next decade and beyond.’’
The investment brings with it a number of new roles – multiple opportunities for professional growth across all busine
Are you looking for ways to save money on your business energy costs? If so, you’re in luck. There are a number of smart tips and tricks you can use to cut your business energy costs significantly. Here are just a few of the most effective.
Compare Different Rates to Get the Best Deal on Business Energy
One way to save on business energy costs is to compare different rates and providers. This will allow you to get the best deal on your energy costs, and save money in the process. According to the team behind www.compareyourbusinesscosts.co.uk, there are a few things to keep in mind when comparing rates. First, make sure that you are comparing apples to apples. This means that you should be comparing the same type of energy (electricity, gas, etc.) from different providers. Second, make sure that you are aware of any taxes or fees that may be associated with the energy provider you choose. Finally, make sure that you read the fine print before signing up for anything.
Educate Your Employees About Energy Conservation
Your employees are your front line when it comes to conserving energy and saving money for your business. Make sure they know how important it is to conserve energy and what simple steps they can take to make a difference. Educate your employees about the importance of conserving energy. Show them how much money your business can save by reducing energy consumption. Offer training on energy conservation techniques and make it fun and engaging. The more your employees know about conserving energy, the more they will be willing to do their part.
There are many ways to educate your employees about conserving energy. You can start by hanging posters around the office or placing stickers in strategic locations. You can also send out regular email reminders or set up a competition with prizes for the employees who save the most energy. Whatever method you choose, make sure your employees are aware of the importance of conserving energy and are given the tools they need to make a difference.
Take Advantage of Government Incentives
The government offers a number of incentives for businesses to save energy, which can help you cut your business costs significantly. Many of these incentives are tax breaks, so be sure to speak with your accountant to see if you qualify. One popular incentive is the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA), which allows businesses to claim 100% first-year tax relief on investments in energy-saving equipment. This can be a great way to save money on energy costs, as you can effectively get all of your money back in the first year.
There are also a number of grants and loans available to businesses that want to improve their energy efficiency. The Carbon Trust offers interest-free loans of up to £5 million for projects that reduce carbon emissions, while the Energy Efficiency Financing Scheme provides interest-free loans of up to £100,000 for energy efficiency measures. The government also offers a number of grants through its Energy Technology List (ETL), which can cover up to 30% of the cost of certain energy-saving technologies.
Switch to LED Lighting
One of the simplest and most effective ways to cut energy costs is to switch to LED lighting. LED lights use around 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last up to 50 times longer, so they can save you a lot of money in the long run. They also emit very little heat, so they can help to keep your premises cool in summer. If you’re not ready to switch to LED lighting yet, there are still some things you can do to cut costs. For example, you could use energy-efficient light bulbs These may cost more upfront, but they use less energy and last longer, so they’ll save you money in the long run.
Turn off lights when they’re not needed. This one seems obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Make sure all lights are turned off when they’re not needed, such as in unoccupied rooms or during daylight hours. Use timers and sensors. Timers and occupancy sensors are a great way to make sure lights are only turned on when needed. For example, you could use an occupancy sensor in a toilet so that the light is only turned on when someone enters the room. Use natural light. Where possible, make use of natural light instead of artificial light. This will help to cut costs and also boost employee morale as it has been proven to improve productivity.
There are many ways to cut business energy costs, but these are some of the most effective. Educating your employees about conserving energy, taking advantage of government incentives, switching to LED lighting, and making use of natural light are all great ways to save money. So take a look at your business energy costs and see where you can make some changes to save money.
The main unemployment rate was 5.5% in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, up from 5.2% in February but down from a level of 7.7% twelve months 7.7% ago. The seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed rose 11,200 in the month but fell 42,100 in the past 12 months.
Pawel Adrjan, economist at global job site Indeed, comments on the latest CSO data:
“Unemployment rose last month, reflecting what we expect to be another temporary pause in the long term downward trend we saw for much of last year. Forecasts over the longer term are for a continued decline, with an unemployment rate of 5% by 2024 forecast by the CBI in its latest quarterly bulletin1.”
Pawel Adrjan
Despite Covid-19 still being with us, from a labour market perspective we have moved into a post-pandemic phase, with the ending by the Government yesterday of any further Pandemic Unemployment Payments (PUP). Remaining recipients, if eligible, will now transition to jobseekers’ payments. They will do so in a jobs environment that looks broadly positive. Indeed’s data continues to show employers very actively hiring, with the level of Irish job postings on Indeed up 60% at 1 April 2022, compared to 1 February 2020 (Fig 1). However, the current geopolitical situation has created uncertainty, as noted in the CBI’s recent forecast which downgraded their economic growth and employment expectations.
Of particular concern is the increasing rate of inflation, driven by higher energy costs. With the cost-of-living rising employers are bracing themselves for growing wage demands. In 2021 average earnings growth was 4.8% and in a recent bulletin the ESRI warned that the increased growth in job vacancies is putting upward pressure on wages in 2022.2 It remains to be seen to what extent workers will look to be compensated for the rising cost of living.”
Gilead Sciences, a global biotechnology company, today announced the formal opening of its Dublin city centre office focused on developing new paediatric formulations for its portfolio of medicines. Development, clinical operations, legal / IP, medical affairs and regulatory teams will work together to create the company’s only Global Paediatric Centre of Excellence, based in the North Dock area of the city centre.
“Gilead’s therapies address some of the world’s most challenging viral diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis and COVID-19. Our Dublin teams play a critical role in adapting these therapies to treat children. In addition, as Gilead expands its work in oncology, our Irish teams could help to address the urgent challenge of childhood cancers,” said Daniel O’Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. “Ireland has long been a global hub for life sciences and Gilead is proud to have been part of that since 1999. The new Dublin facility is a further investment in our long-term presence.”
An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said: “I am delighted to join with Gilead Sciences to mark the opening of their new Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Drug Development in the Dublin Docklands and the creation of 33 new jobs – a very welcome and positive announcement for the city. Gilead Sciences is a great example of a business delivering on the global stage, supported by our accomplished and skilled workforce. After over 20 years here in Ireland, this will be Gilead’s fourth facility here, further underlining the leading role this country plays in the company’s operations in Europe. Gilead’s drive and commitment to innovation, and to the highest standards of pharmaceutical technology, is clear to see, and will, I’m sure, continue to bring the company considerable further success in the years ahead.”
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Leo Varadkar, said: “I’m really pleased Gilead Sciences has chosen Dublin as the location for its new Global Paediatric Drug Development Centre of Excellence, creating 33 new jobs. This announcement reinforces the importance of Ireland globally in the manufacturing of medicines and in particular, the development of paediatric medicines. Our highly skilled workforce continues to attract world renowned companies such as Gilead Sciences to grow their businesses here. After more than 20 years in our country, this new facility is another exciting expansion for Gilead, and I wish the team the very best with this new initiative.”
The Dublin Development office is responsible for coordinating paediatric clinical trials for seven products across 18 countries, with current trials investigating paediatric treatments for HIV, hepatitis B and COVID-19. The company plans to expand the responsibilities of the Dublin operations further, including supporting work on adult studies across its portfolio of approved and investigational medicines. Additionally, a new team to be recruited in the Dublin office will form a core part of a new Artificial Intelligence Centre within the Gilead Development organization.
Reggie Kelly, Vice President, Development, Gilead Sciences, and Dublin site lead said: “Development is a critical stage in the life cycle of a medicine and Ireland is a global life science hub. With the clinical, academic and regulatory expertise available – in addition to industry talent – Dublin was the obvious location. We chose this office carefully, for its location and it’s sustainability credentials, and I’m thrilled to be able to open it to our team and our external partners.”
IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan said: “IDA Ireland welcomes Gilead’s expansion of its Irish operations, establishing in Dublin this global biotechnology company’s first Global Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Clinical Trials outside of the US. It’s a strong vote of confidence in Ireland for investment of this kind and will be a welcome addition to the growing biotech ecosystem here.”
Gilead has been in Ireland for over two decades. Its Cork manufacturing facilities produce 22 different products and its Dublin distribution centre, separate from North Dock, is critical in its global supply chain. In total, Gilead has over 500 employees in the State, its largest operation in the European Union (EU).
A report launched today by Google confirms a substantial economic opportunity for Ireland exists if a meaningful investment in digital skills is made. The comprehensive study developed in partnership with Amárach provides detailed insights into the digital capability needs, ambitions, and plans of 1,000 SME leaders throughout Ireland. The research proposes that a significant investment into digital skills could contribute an extra €9.5 billion to Ireland’s GDP by 2025.
To help Irish businesses succeed online, it is important to first understand how they’re doing today and what their goals are. That is why Google commissioned Amárach to engage SME leaders on their lived experiences and expectations of their digital journey. Titled Bridging the Gap – A Report on Digital Capabilities in Irish SMEs, the study, one of the largest surveys of Irish SMEs in recent years, identified four key gaps in digital capabilities:
Performance – how far businesses are from realising their full potential
Competence – how businesses are struggling to use digital skills
Investment – the role of funding, time, and talent in expanding competence
Advisory – the absence of qualified advisors and suppliers to meet digital needs
The current situation
Most Irish SMEs are in the process of adopting, developing, and evolving their use of digital technologies. But some are further ahead in the process than others. When asked to rate their own progress, the majority (62%) of Irish SMEs are ‘less than halfway’ on their digital journey. Recruiting people with the necessary digital skillset is also a challenge for Irish SMEs with 41% of respondents agreeing that they do not have a person within the organisation who is tasked with developing digital skills. Only 26% of SMEs say their employees have all the skills needed in terms of basic digital capabilities.
Faced with multiple demands on their time and energy, the report indicates that business leaders believe that the digital skills gap can be closed, but the challenge is prioritising it over other short and medium-term tasks.
Digital tools
The report finds that only 11% of Ireland’s SMEs feel their employees have the skills needed to successfully adopt and use new technology, a statistic borne out in the data where only 53% of SMEs have (or use) social media and video platforms and just 18% make use of customer insights tools. When measuring the number of SMEs that have their own business website, Ireland at 55% ranks comparably lower than the EU average of 77%[1].
The research shows that Irish SMEs are ambitious when it comes to investing in digital capabilities but 50% say they lack basic knowledge about which skills to prioritise. The report indicates that policy makers, advisors, and suppliers to the SME sector need to help address the priority gaps that will deliver quick wins, spurring decision makers to go further.
Commenting, Alice Mansergh, Director for Small Business at Google said:
“The timing of this report could not be more important, the decisions that business leaders and policy stakeholders make about digital capabilities in the coming months and years will have profound implications for the long-term productivity and profitability of the SME sector, and for sustainable economic growth over the rest of the decade. For its part, Google will use these findings to help shape the courses we provide via the Grow with Google initiative helping to train people in key digital skills that will empower them to embrace new business and commercial opportunities.”
The opportunity
Irish SMEs are very confident (56%) that meeting their digital skills objectives could make a big difference to business performance, and not just on one or two metrics. SME leaders believe that improving digital capabilities would allow them to increase wages and salaries (28%) and over half of those surveyed (57%) say that meeting their objectives [in digital capabilities] would help them to grow faster and become more profitable.
Bridging the gap infographic
Fiscally, the study proposes that an increased investment in digital skills could grow Ireland’s GDP significantly, calculating an increase of €9.5 billion (to €544.2 billion) by 2025.
Spotlight on Gender
The report identifies several gender differences highlighted in the areas of digital content and social media. Female decision makers in SMEs are more likely to use social media platforms (55% vs 51% of men). Women are more likely than men to see the creation of digital content as a top priority for digital skills development (35% vs 28% of men), as well as using digital tools and channels for marketing (21% vs 17%).
Even though more female leaders than male are likely to adopt and leverage digital tools, female leaders and decision makers in Irish SMEs are less likely to say their organisation is over halfway in its digital journey (58%) than men (65%).
In order for Ireland to achieve its digital ambitions, it is vitally important that female entrepreneurs and SME business leaders are enabled to play their part.
Regional breakdown
Comparing SMEs across the regions we find several differences. 45% of firms in Dublin are likely to think they are more than halfway along their ‘digital journey’ significantly higher than regional firms based in the midlands (32%). When it comes to the adoption of digital tools, Dublin again maintains a distinct advantage with 62% of firms using a business website compared to only 47% in the border region. Firms in Dublin demonstrate a stronger appetite to upskill with nearly 70% of business leaders in the capital likely to undertake a course in the next 12 months vs 59% of Border firms.
These and other differences in the research point to the need for a strong regional focus in Ireland’s digital skills agenda to ensure an equitable and impactful benefit for all our communities.
A post-Covid world for SMEs
The Covid-19 crisis has amplified the power of digital in building business resilience. During the first few weeks of lockdown, Google saw a 300%[2] increase in the number of people taking digital training courses. Research has shown that 80% of European SMEs increased their use of digital tools during the pandemic and those SMEs that embraced digital tools had 60% better revenue results and hired 3 times more employees[3] during the pandemic. The report launched today finds that 64% of SMEs in Ireland say their experience of the Covid-19 pandemic has incentivised them to invest more in digital skills with 76% saying digital tools are more helpful to their business now than before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The report has shown how Irish SMEs are ready to invest in the digital capabilities that will propel their success in the post-Covid era.
Gerard O’Neill, Chair of Amárach Research added,
“This research is unique in that it provides information and insight directly from SME leaders themselves. The study is comprehensive, representing a cross-section of Irish SMEs and is nationally representative of regions, genders, industries and business models. While we see some subtle differences in the findings, two things are constant to almost all SMEs; first that they believe investing in digital capabilities will enhance their business and second that they are ready to do that now – but they need the right supports. This research allows decision makers, policy makers and industry personnel to have meaningful and informed dialogue that can affect real and positive change to Ireland’s digital landscape.”
Enterprise Ireland CEO Leo Clancy said,
“Small and medium enterprises remain the backbone of the Irish economy; accounting for 99% of active enterprises and 70% of employment. Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices are committed to supporting these businesses with their digitalisation journeys, investing in the capabilities that will help lead them to international success.
For successful businesses, digitalisation isn’t an option, it is a crucial advantage that allows them to compete and win. The report launched today provides invaluable insight and guidance that will inform debate and enhance decision making as we further invest in digital capabilities across Ireland.”
The cream of the crop of Ireland’s digital industry gathered at The Round Room in Dublin’s Mansion House this evening for the 25th annual Spiders Awards, hosted by Tracey Carney. Dubbed ‘The Oscars’ of Ireland’s digital industry, the Spiders is the longest running digital awards programme in Ireland. The ceremony celebrated the achievements of individuals and businesses that not only adapted, but excelled amidst a global pandemic. In all, 22 awards were presented on the night, with Dublin’s Tribe Digital named Large Agency of the Year, Belfast’s Part Three Digital taking the top prize in the Small Agency category, and Cork’s power couple, Dan and Linda Kiely, named Ireland’s Digital Heroes.
For the first time since 2019, the Spiders returned as an in-person ceremony this year, with the event sponsored by Dmac Media, Centre of Excellence in Universal Design, Skoda, Skillnet Ireland, DMG Media and Acast. The evening, which was hosted by Spiders Managing Director, Tracey Carney, also included a fundraising element, with the organisers partnering with UNICEF to support the work they are doing in Ukraine.
Over the past couple of years, the Spiders – like many other events, globally – had to adapt to a changing society. Tonight’s prestigious awards ceremony acknowledged the new world we are living in and the success made through the pandemic by brilliant remote teams and campaigns. The judging panel evaluated nominations across 20 categories on the theme of ‘Driving Digital, Emerging Stronger’ and they had no easy task on their hands, due to the volume and talent of this year’s nominees.
In addition to the regular line-up, two extra accolades were added this year, in the form of Best Remote Team and the Customer Continuity Award. These awards were introduced to celebrate companies or individuals who achieved great results and emerged stronger during the global pandemic. The National Council for the Blind was named the Best Remote Team, while Flipdish took home the Best Customer Continuity title.
Scooping the top prize at the ceremony, Tribe Digital was named Large Agency of the Year and was applauded for its digital strategy across a number of campaigns carried out within the last 12 months, with a major emphasis on creativity, development, delivery and client experience.
Belfast-based Part Three Digital Ltd won the Small Agency of the Year title. Spearheaded by Hannah Nelson and Jess Orr Downey, the company proved that digital businesses can not only survive, but thrive in challenging times, with the digital marketing agency experiencing exponential growth over the last couple of years.
The Digital Hero Award went to Cork’s husband and wife duo, Dan and Linda Kiely. The pair were recognised as leaders in their field, having created a path for others to follow. They were lauded for their innovation, imagination and determination to succeed – traits that have set them apart from the pack.
The way in which companies and individuals have had to digitally adapt business and work models during the COVID-19 pandemic was a focal point at the awards ceremony. The event recognised and celebrated the creativity and achievements of businesses nationally, particularly applauding those who prevailed triumphantly in spite of Covid-19.
The full list of award winners are as follows:
Best Remote Team – National Council for the Blind Drumcondra, Dublin
Best Customer Continuity – Flipdish Sandyford, Dublin
Best App – Revolut London
Best Use of Disruptive Technology – An Post Insurance Athlone, Westmeath
Best B2B Campaign – Squaredot Dublin
Emerging Stronger – Digital for Good Award / Not-for-Profit – GCN (Gay Community News) Dublin
Best in Social Media – Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Pluto Dublin
Small Agency of the Year – Part Three Digital Ltd Belfast, Antrim
Best Community Engagement by a Brand – Westport Chamber of Commerce Bold Craft Marketing Westport, Mayo
Best B2C Campaign – Londis Dublin
Best in Storytelling, delivered by remote team – SuperValu TBWA\Dublin Dublin
Diversity in Digital – Diageo – Guinness Omnicom Media Group Dublin
Best Podcast – The Good Glow Dublin
Digital Hero – Dan and Linda Kiely Cork
Large Agency of the Year – Tribe Digital Dublin
Best Integrated Media Campaign/ Strategy – Woodie’s Wolfgang Digital Dublin
Best in Universal Design – Monaghan Institute CDG Brand Monaghan/Dublin
Best Website – Fáilte Ireland – Discover Ireland All human Dublin
Best eCommerce website – Likha Aesthetic Clinic WONDR – A Digital Product Practice Dublin
Digital Transformation In Industry and Infrastructure – Sugar Rush Belfast, Antrim
Digital Transformation Enterprise – KBC Bank Ireland National
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Tracey Carney, Managing Director, Spiders Awards said:
“It is wonderful to be standing here before you all this evening, and returning to live events, after two years. It is even more special to be here in the Mansion House as we celebrate the Spiders’ 25th anniversary. Tonight we recognise excellence and the outstanding creativity of Ireland’s digital ecosystem. We applaud all of you who are the driving force behind it, and who have ensured we are emerging stronger than ever, from what has been the biggest digital transformation any of us have ever seen. The digital industry in Ireland has not only survived but thrived over the last two years. Tonight, we celebrate the best of the best in Ireland’s digital industry.”
Connector by Granite is the first Irish agency to join the Metaverse. The agency’s Metaverse office joins its other locations in Dublin, Cork, Galway.
The virtual facilities include a reception, 12 meeting rooms and an auditorium for events for up to 200 concurrent users.
Commenting on the launch, Strategy Director, Ivan Adriel, said: “Metaverse is a term first coined in Neal Stephenson’s 1992 novel Snow Crash, but in recent years it has taken the world by storm and is now used to describe a world in which the ‘digital and physical’ are blurred. Our new office is a space for experimentation and collaboration and invites our clients to discover what’s next.”
According to Global Web Index Europe, the knowledge of the Metaverse is split almost equally into three groups: 33% who understand the concept, 37% who have heard of it but aren’t sure what it means, and 30% who aren’t sure at all.
Over half of consumers say they are interested in participating in the Metaverse, with 1 in 3 of those who hadn’t heard of it before still saying they wanted to be involved.
Luciano Jacob, Creative Director, celebrates the possibilities the new space brings “The Metaverse allows us to push creativity to limitless frontiers, break the limits of geography to bring people together. We are delighted to launch our office in the metaverse and experiment with new possibilities.”
