Category: Irish Tech News

Final call from Microsoft & Belfast Metropolitan to participate in Microsoft Assured Skills Academy

Microsoft and Belfast Metropolitan College have once again joined forces to launch the fourth Microsoft Assured Skills Academy this time focused on preparing participants for the role of a Modern Work Support Engineer.

The 12-week intensive Microsoft 365 Cloud Academy, will be delivered by Belfast Metropolitan College in partnership with the Microsoft Assured Skills Academy and made possible through funding provided by the Department for the Economy.

If selected for the Academy, participants will receive practical, real-world training in programmes and functionalities ranging from Cloud Concepts and Networking Fundamentals through to Cyber Security, Microsoft 365 Security Administration, Cloud Computing and presentation skills.
The 12-week course is free to the participants with each candidate also receiving £155 per week training allowance while undertaking the course.

Upon successful completion of the training, candidates will obtain industry-recognised modern work qualifications while also getting the opportunity to interview for one of a number of roles being made available by Microsoft within the newly established Microsoft Customer Service & Support team located in Belfast. If successful at this stage candidates will have the opportunity to work from Belfast as part of Microsoft’s world-wide customer support operations working with customers to help them take advantage of new technologies to enable them to achieve more and accelerate their digital transformation journeys.

Commenting on the launch of this year’s Academy, Anne Sheehan, Microsoft Ireland General Manager said: “We’re thrilled to be launching the fourth Microsoft Assured Skills Academy in partnership with Belfast Metropolitan College and the Department for the Economy, offering graduates from all backgrounds the opportunity to take their first steps in preparing for the role of a Modern Work Support Engineer.

“At Microsoft, we believe in empowering people to achieve their full potential and, through the launch of this latest offering from the Microsoft Assured Skills Academy, we want to ensure that we’re providing opportunities for people to equip themselves with the skills they need to access exciting new job opportunities and prepare for the future of work. This course is particularly exciting as we seek to grow our Microsoft Customer Service and Support team located here in Belfast. It’s a great opportunity for anyone looking to pursue a career in a dynamic and fast-moving industry and we hope that through the course we’re able to find the right talent to support our continued growth of this team right here in Belfast.”

Susan McCambridge, Economic Development Manager, Belfast Metropolitan College commented: “We are delighted to be delivering our fourth Academy with Microsoft which will focus on preparing participants for the role of a Modern Work Support Engineer. Learners will gain the most up-to-date industry relevant training, giving them what we hope will be life-changing opportunities and the skills they need to participate in the growth of Northern Ireland’s digital economy. With the deadline for applications in the coming days we’d encourage anyone interested to register their interest before the deadline this Friday.”

Candidates can apply online at Microsoft 365 Cloud Academy by noon on Friday 27 May 2022. To secure a place on the programme candidates will be invited to participate in an interview which will be held between 20th and 22nd June and if successful in this phase will move forward to the training part which will take place from 15th August to 4th November.

Those applying must be aged 18 years and above and eligible to work full-time in the UK. Candidates do not need have any experience working within the technology industry but must have a university degree classification 2.2 in any discipline or a Level 5 qualification in an IT related subject.

Datapac digitally transforms Sheil Kinnear’s 130-year business

Datapac, Ireland’s leading technology solutions and services provider, today announces that it has delivered a complete digital transformation solution to Sheil Kinnear, one of the longest-established accountancy practices in the country.

Founded in 1893, Sheil Kinnear provides accountancy and auditing services to companies of all sizes around the country from its head office in Drinagh, Wexford, and locations in Enniscorthy and Arklow.

Following Sheil Kinnear’s recent merger with a second accountancy practice, Datapac was awarded the contract to digitally transform the business by integrating both IT systems and securely migrating all company devices, software packages and data to a cloud platform.

The solution supports effective remote and hybrid working and has improved collaboration for Sheil Kinnear’s 30 employees. In turn, the upgraded system enables Sheil Kinnear to better serve its customers with improved workflows. The solution is flexible and will scale to meet the company’s needs as it continues to grow.

All employee desktops now run in the cloud using Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop, and are securely accessed through thin clients. These small and portable cloud-based devices offer the same Windows desktop experience and can run from anywhere, enabling secure access to data, even on client site. This digital transformation of Sheil Kinnear’s business has resulted in significant cost savings for the company as the need for hardware upgrades and maintenance has been reduced.

Datapac also refreshed Sheil Kinnear’s security posture with cloud-based and on-premise firewalls, and has secured company data with cloud-based backups to prevent information loss and ensure business continuity for the company. The Datapac solution also backs up data on Microsoft Office 365 including Mail, Teams, and Sharepoint.

Additionally, employee onboarding and training has been made simpler with all information available from a single cloud source.

David O’Connor, Director, Sheil Kinnear: “As a customer of Datapac for over 30 years, we knew we could trust them to deliver on this new and exciting chapter at Sheil Kinnear. All of the development and background work was done off-site without interruption to our day-to-day business. The project was ongoing throughout an extremely busy time in our office and there was no disruption of service, with backup of data from our servers to the cloud carried out at evenings and weekends.

“The system ensures we have access to the most up-to-date servers running in the cloud and capacity will automatically expand to meet our needs. We have full, secure access to company information in the cloud, with the added confidence that all data is fully backed up. Most importantly, the Datapac solution has helped us to ride out the unprecedented disruption to business imposed by various Covid lockdowns. Datapac streamlined our infrastructure to maximise performance and scalability into the future, while enabling us to digitally transform our business.”

Kevin Hall, Senior Systems Engineer, Datapac: “It’s fantastic to see a company with such a rich business heritage like Sheil Kinnear truly embrace modern ways of working and move to an entirely cloud-based system. They needed a complete overhaul of their IT infrastructure, and as the company’s trusted technology partner, Datapac delivered a scalable solution which will future proof their systems for their evolving requirements.

“Sheil Kinnear’s decision to migrate to the cloud has enabled secure remote and hybrid working for staff and accelerated the transition of its workplace to a cloud-based, paperless environment.”

BearingPoint leads Leinster Rugby on their Journey into the Metaverse

BearingPoint, the official innovation partner of Leinster Rugby, has today hosted a milestone event showcasing the capabilities of metaverse technology for the Leinster Rugby sporting community. In a multi-location demonstration of BearingPoint’s virtual reality (VR) and innovation capabilities, they have unveiled their shared ambition with Leinster Rugby. The metaverse is a digital environment where you can work, collaborate, meet friends and have fun, and Leinster Rugby is looking to lead the way for the future of sport in this digital world.

Business partners, media and sporting stars were in attendance through virtual reality technology in four locations across Europe including the BearingPoint offices in Dublin, London, and Paris as well as the Leinster Rugby Club facilities in University College Dublin. Showcasing the convergence between the physical and digital worlds through cutting-edge technology, guests at the event entered the metaverse and went on a journey from the BearingPoint offices in Paris and finished with a pitchside experience and presentation in a VR built Aviva Stadium developed by the BearingPoint team.

BearingPoint is planning to play a central role in leveraging its VR expertise to enable Leinster Rugby to further engage its fans through immersive experiences and to explore the wider commercial possibilities and potential this technology has in the sporting world.

Speaking at the launch, Gillian O’Sullivan, Country Leader for BearingPoint Ireland said: “Today we unveiled our plans to lead Leinster Rugby into the metaverse. It is a very exciting day for us as their innovation partner and we are committed to leading them on this journey. The power of virtual reality is enormous, and we wanted to show how this technology can expand businesses and experiences.  What better way to do it than by bringing Leinster Rugby into the metaverse.

BearingPoint’s vision and commitment to leading Leinster Rugby on this journey were set out by their immersive experience expert, Eric Chevallet at the event. Speaking at the launch, Eric Chevallet, Head of Immersive Labs at BearingPoint said, “At BearingPoint, we are an innovative company that is ahead of the curve with regard to metaverse technology and more broadly with virtual reality technology. The potential for businesses in the metaverse is endless, and we are delighted to be working with Ireland’s leading sports franchise making this first move today.”

Kevin Quinn, Head of Commercial and Marketing at Leinster Rugby who attended the event said, “At Leinster Rugby, we’re always striving to improve, to nurture and drive the pursuit of excellence in everything we do both on and off the pitch. This exciting initiative is a significant and strategic business and brand building opportunity for us at Leinster Rugby.”

He added: “By entering the metaverse with BearingPoint’s support, we are broadening our horizons to identify new digital commercial opportunities and working to develop immersive rugby experiences that provide our community with new ways to experience rugby, follow their teams and interact with our brand.”

“We have a passionate, engaged and growing supporter base and we’re excited to work with our innovation partner, BearingPoint, to explore new ways to improve how we communicate and engage with them.”

The event provided valuable learning opportunities for attendees to experience first-hand the benefits and potential of the metaverse. Interest in the metaverse has grown exponentially in the past year which is causing businesses to rethink and change how they can engage more effectively with users online.

Blockchain Ireland Week 2022 – Building a Web3 future

Blockchain is described as one of the most significant technological breakthroughs of the twenty first century.

The market for blockchain is projected to grow to $67.4 billion by 2026, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 66%. The value of the crypto market is now worth in excess of $2 trillion. These technologies are reshaping businesses across the globe, and the associated innovation is outpacing existing business models, ecosystems, policy and legislation.

Blockchain Ireland Week 2022, from 30 May, will explore the developing role of blockchain, crypto, and Web3 in Ireland and globally, examining their value, understanding their impact, and asking how Ireland can take full advantage. By 2030, blockchain is expected to be a foundational technology for 30% of customers globally, according to a Gartner report*. As the business world moves towards holding and trading more digital assets, Deloitte reports intent to adopt among more than three quarters (76%) of executives within the decade. Blockchain, crypto, and Web3 are predicted to become a critical enabling technology layer, not just for enterprise, but for organisations of all shapes and sizes, in sectors such as in finance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, government, and beyond.

The EU’s European Blockchain Service Infrastructure is also expected to become the backbone for public and private cross-border services for companies and citizens alike. Similarly, China has developed its Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN), for state and commercial use.

Opening the free programme of events for Blockchain Ireland Week 2022 will be Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, at the Alex Hotel, Dublin, on Monday 30 May from 09:00. Joining the Minister will be a range of speakers and panellists from public services, academia, enterprise, media, and the start-up community, such as Government CIO Barry Lowry, head of payments EMEA with Stripe, Sean Mullaney, and from the world of arts and media, music legend Mick Flannery, actor Peter Coonan, and artist Maser. 

The programme will explore not just the current opportunities around blockchain, crypto, and Web3 but also look towards future developments. Panel themes include getting a job in crypto, building a talent pipeline, and developing legal and regulatory frameworks to enable Ireland to become a global hub for blockchain, crypto, and Web3. 

Another hot topic for discussion is the buzz around non-fungible tokens (NFT), and their impact in areas such as the arts and high fashion. 

The event week is a mix of a formal programme and curated events from around the country, as the whole blockchain and crypto technology community from across the island join in. 

There will be an evening social featuring awards for the sector and an NFT competition with cash prizes for the best entries. 

Blockchain Ireland Week is run by Blockchain Ireland, the industry innovation network that promotes the understanding and adoption of blockchain, crypto, and Web3 in Ireland. With more than 1,400 active members and 6,000 social media followers, the network caters to various communities through its working groups around enterprise, start-ups, developers, education, skills and innovation, and legal and regulatory topics. 

For more information, see www.blockchainireland.ie. Follow on Twitter @Blockchain_IRL, or see LinkedIn.com/company/blockchain-ireland/

MWi appoints account manager to lead client services in Ireland

Dublin-based digital agency MWi, which is part of one of the UK and Ireland’s largest independent digital marketing agencies, has appointed Jane Daly as account manager.

Jane joins MWi with extensive knowledge in the finance sector from her time at the Irish League of Credit Unions, the largest trade and representative body for credit unions across Ireland.

During that time, she headed up the social media team, was responsible for day-to-day content creation, the national social media strategy and the promotion of the Credit Union brand online.

MWi launched in October as part of North East UK-based Mediaworks Group with clients including Gigable, Netwatch System, Team Hope and the Rel Group Engineering Ltd.

Jane said: “I’m thrilled to be joining MWi at such an exciting time. Coming from a client-side role, I’m looking forward to offering some unique insight on what clients really want and turn that into a valuable offering from MWi.

“I’m really looking forward to growing MWi with the team here in Dublin, by offering Irish businesses and organisations the chance to own their future, through innovative, digital best practice. Our aim is to produce measurable, tangible results for our clients, to help them take their business to the next level.” 

Declan Kelly, MWi managing partner said ‘We are delighted to have Jane join us. Her unique skill set of expertise in social media and the world of finance will be of huge benefit to our clients as they aim to develop winning social media strategies and manage their Digital footprint.

“As part of the wider Mediaworks group, we have an enviable track record in delivering in the finance, digital finance and fintech environments, and Jane’s experience will help add a new layer of understanding and insight. We’re growing fast here at MWi and look forward to adding more significant hires in the near future.”

Mediaworks Group, which counts the likes of Puma, Gap, Cath Kidston and Metro Bank among its client base, delivers a range of services across SEO, PPC, web dev, brand, content and digital PR. The rapidly growing agency currently has 190 staff across its six offices in Newcastle, Leeds, Edinburgh, Manchester, London and as MWi in Dublin.

VC funding to Irish tech firms grew by 52% to almost €380m in 1st qr

Venture capital funding into Irish technology firms increased by 52% to €379.7m in the first quarter of this year, compared to €249.4m in same period last year, according to the Irish Venture Capital Association VenturePulse survey published today in association with William Fry.

But chairperson of the Irish Venture Capital Association, Nicola McClafferty, said that the headline figure concealed a “potentially worrying fall” of 30%-50% across all categories under €10m, including seed funding. The number of deals overall fell by almost a third to 50 from 74 in the same period last year.

“All the growth came from eight deals worth over €10m each, including three over €30m. While the momentum carried over from last year has continued for more established companies raising large rounds, some of that impetus seems to have stalled for earlier stage companies.” 

She added, “The venture industry worldwide saw a slowdown in the first quarter as a result of an uncertain global economic outlook and the war in Ukraine. While challenging market conditions may continue, we also know that many great companies are started and built in times of downturn, so we await with interest the data in the coming quarters.” 

The value of deals between €5-€10m fell by 51% to €11m.  Deals in the €1-€5m also halved to €34.5m from €70.3m in the same period last year. Deals under €1m dropped by 31% to €8.9m.

 

Sarah-Jane Larkin, director general, IVCA said that 79% of funding came from international sources in the first quarter. “While this is to be welcomed and emphasises the quality of Irish tech firms and their appeal to international investors, we have expressed concern before about where any shortfall would be made up if the global economy contracts.” 

She pointed out that seed funding in the first quarter had fallen by nearly 40% to €22.3m from €36.5m in the previous year. “So the Government’s announcement in February of a new €90 million Irish Innovation Seed Fund Programme for Irish start-ups is particularly timely.” 

Top deals in the first quarter were two Irish unicorns, fintech company Wayflyer which raised €134m, and digital food ordering platform Flipdish (€94m). Envirotech company Exergyn raised €32.7m.

Waystone to create up to 100 new roles in Co. Tipperary as its expansion continues

Waystone, the leading provider of institutional governance, risk, administration and compliance services to the asset management industry, announced today that it is to substantially increase its Ireland-based workforce by creating up to 100 additional new roles in Cashel, Co. Tipperary, following its recent growth.

The newly created Cashel-based roles will span global operations and support functions with services including KYC & MLRO, Regulatory Reporting, Tax Reporting, Fund Registration, Corporate Secretarial, People & Development, Finance, Operational Risk, Compliance Services, Fund Administration, Relationship Management, Project Management, Client Onboarding and Corporate Solutions. The Cashel operation is central to the evolution of the Waystone Group and will continue to grow and deliver operational scale while continually attracting and developing talent from across the region. This announcement reflects Waystone’s significant growth over the past year and the broadening of its service offering including the launch of Waystone Compliance Solutions and its recent agreements with KB Associates and Centaur Fund Services, both of whom are headquartered in Ireland.

This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Welcoming Waystone’s announcement, Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy TD, said: “I am delighted that Waystone plans to create up to 100 new roles at its Cashel site over the next 18 months. These additional jobs will be a welcome boost to Co. Tipperary and will increase the Cashel headcount to nearly 200 employees. The successful growth that Waystone has experienced in recent years is reflective of the wealth of highly skilled and talented people that the Mid-West region and Ireland more broadly has to offer. I wish the team every continued success in this new chapter.”

Minister of State at the Department of Finance Sean Fleming TD said: “I am delighted to welcome this expansion by Waystone which is an important endorsement for growing regional international financial services operations, which is a priority of our Ireland for Finance strategy. I wish the firm well in the next stage of their development plans and I hope their success in Cashel will encourage further investment in the regions by international financial services firms.”

Waystone recently re-opened its operation in Cashel following an extensive refurbishment and expansion project with the addition of 4,500 sq ft of space, bringing its total floor space to 11,000 sq ft. The project included a significant upgrade of facilities and branding throughout and is designed to accommodate its growing staff numbers with a view to the job creation announced today. Over the next 18 months the new roles will bring Waystone’s headcount in Cashel to approaching 200.

Nick Wheeler, Global Head of Centralisation at Waystone, comments, “Ireland has a strong and globally-recognised international funds and financial services industry with a wealth of highly-skilled professionals and we are delighted to be able to continue our expansion in Tipperary with the announcement of up to 100 new roles covering a wide array of financial services disciplines.  Waystone’s Cashel-based operation is central to the Group’s international growth strategy and the quality of people we have employed has made our commitment and growth in Tipperary a very easy decision. Our Cashel operation reopened last month following a 4,500 sq ft expansion and refurbishment providing us with significant room for future growth.  The facility now provides our growing workforce with a high-grade, flexible workspace and feedback from staff has been extremely positive.”

Earlier this month, Waystone announced that its Dublin headquarters would be moving to a new flagship location in Dublin 4 later this year, where it will occupy four floors and 52,000 sq ft of space in the prestigious 35 Shelbourne Road development.  Waystone now has a presence in three locations in Ireland; its headquarters in Dublin, a Centre of Excellence in Cashel and more recently, Maynooth, following its agreement to come together with Centaur Fund Services.

CEO of IDA Ireland Martin Shanahan said: “Today’s announcement by Waystone for its Cashel expansion – its second site in Ireland – is very welcome news.  Cashel is an excellent location to scale a financial services company and Waystone’s presence strengthens an already well-established IFS cluster Mid-West.  I wish to congratulate Waystone on this terrific announcement and wish them every success with this expansion.”

Dublin based Magic Kite calls on VDC as it gears up for biggest summer yet

Magic Kite, one of Ireland’s leading production companies calls on VDC for extensive projects as it gears up for its biggest summer yet.

Based in Dublin, Magic Kite has grown over the years to become one of the largest audio suppliers on the island.  Along with sister company, Just Lite, it is becoming known in the business as the one stop shop for all technical aspects of a production including lighting, screens and professional audio equipment.  It now delivers productions for international touring artists, festivals and stadium concerts of all sizes – from intimate pub gigs to 50,000-head events.

As technology and customer needs evolve, Magic Kite constantly upgrades its equipment to suit the many levels and specifications that are now expected in the events world.  VDC has been instrumental in equipping Magic Kite with the kit required to ensure every installation is first rate.

Recent provision includes a fully custom designed 48-channel line system, including a 48ch split, upstage looms, satellite boxes, a variety of 24 and 12 pair Veam to Veams, upstage socapex looms, 16a and 32a cables for mains distribution, and panel work.

VDC has also helped Magic Kite carry out a complete overhaul of its on-stage monitoring cabling and sub boxes completing the transition to a standardised system for all its on-stage monitors and loudspeakers.

Steven Montgomery, senior project manager and system designer at Magic Kite Productions, commented: “Since I was introduced to Adam and Herpreet at VDC several years ago, they have been my first port of call for any cable or panel work projects.  They always go above and beyond to understand the end goal of the project, providing valuable experienced input and keep in touch every step of the way.  The quality of products from VDC really are second to none – surviving years of rigorous use and 1000s of connections with a near zero fail rate, giving us confidence and peace of mind on all our events.”

Adam Jafrabadi, VDC’s export director, said: “Steven and his team at Magic Kite pride themselves for their total commitment to the client no matter how small or large the event is – and some of the artists they support are big household names.  Their experience means they understand the market and their client expectation perfectly, which makes them very easy to work with from our perspective.  It’s a pleasure being involved in supplying audio packages to Ireland’s key events via Magic Kite.”

Leading researchers come together at Dell Technologies Limerick to highlight role of new technologies in delivering better health

Leading healthcare researchers and technology experts from across the island of Ireland gathered at the Dell Technologies Innovation Lab in Limerick recently for a series of events and workshops to investigate how new technologies and the power of data can help deliver better healthcare into the future.

Professor Mark Lawler and his team of researchers from the Global Innovation Institute at Queen’s University Belfast are some of those who joined the team of experts at Dell Innovation Lab last week. Queen’s University Belfast is recognised as a global leader in cancer research and is home to the Centre for Secure Information Technologies.

By tapping into the power of High-Performance Computing and other advancements in technology, researchers at the university can help to break down data silos, increase clinical understanding of disease and use Big Data to improve the health and wellbeing of people on the island of Ireland and around the world.

Dell Limerick also hosted 190 members of the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI) for a unique hybrid event. The team at Dell have been looking at ways in which they can overcome challenges in harnessing the benefits of Big Data and other breakthrough technologies to speed up innovation and advance their research efforts. Using new data-driven insights, Professor Aedin Culhane and her fellow AICRI members can accelerate their work to uncover better diagnostics and treatments for patients with cancer.

The Innovation Lab located at Dell Limerick is a cutting-edge facility where organisations and businesses can experience real-life examples of how AI, 5G and the Internet of Things bring business value in advancing connected healthcare as well as developing digital cities, Industry 4.0 and connected transport.