Category: Irish Tech News

IDEATE IRELAND Empowering The Next Generation Of Irish Entrepreneurs

IDEATE Ireland (formerly The Ireland Fund’s Business Plan Competition) is an exciting new initiative to uncover and empower Ireland’s next generation of entrepreneurs, helping to turn their brilliant ideas into thriving international businesses.

IDEATE Ireland is now seeking applications for its 2022 competition, where candidates will have the opportunity to develop their business ideas through mentoring and workshops, apply for start-up support and pitch for cash funding. Applications open on Tuesday, 08 March and will be accepted until midnight on Thursday, 07 April 2022.

As great ideas can come from anyone and anywhere, IDEATE Ireland is open to undergraduate, postgraduate or research students from any academic institution or research centres on the island of Ireland. The best ten best submissions will be invited to participate in an 8-week mentoring and support programme and compete for a €27k prize fund. 

The initiative aims to build on the Ireland Funds Business Plan Competition (BPC) which helped develop entrepreneurial skills and innovative ideas among early-stage, student entrepreneurs. Since its founding in 2011 by The Ireland Funds Board Director Bill McKiernan, 276 people from academic institutions throughout the island of Ireland have participated in the programme. 60% of participating teams have formed viable businesses, creating 300+ jobs.

Co- founded by Helen Fullen, IDEATE Ireland is more than a simple rebranding of the former Business Plan Competition; it is a reimagining and reinvigoration, where established local entrepreneurs and business leaders give freely of their time to help nurture the ideas and mentor the business skills of Ireland’s next generation of entrepreneurs.  

“I have seen first-hand the lasting contribution The Ireland Fund’s Business Plan Competition has made, that’s why I was determined that we build on the legacy and continue to inspire future business leaders through IDEATE Ireland. We believe ideas have the power to change the world; that’s why we’re just as excited and ambitious about our entrepreneur’s projects as they are.” Helen said.

Helen Fullen is joined in the IDEATE Ireland initiative by Co-Founders David Moffitt, Danny Moore, Options Technology, Cian O’Flaherty, Safecility and Bill McKiernan, WSM Capital. With extensive entrepreneurial backgrounds, all are firm believers in the importance of risk-taking and the ability of business ideas to bring about positive change. 

“We’re looking forward to writing the next chapter of Ireland’s leading third-level start-up competition with IDEATE Ireland” David Moffitt said. “The success of the competition to date highlights the importance of continuing to provide entrepreneurs across the island of Ireland with education, mentorship, and a robust business network. Our mission is to capture the imagination of Ireland’s brightest minds, enabling and empowering them to make a lasting contribution to the global economy, employment, and society. We have a deep bench of alumni who are ready and willing to engage with the next generation of Irish entrepreneurs, offering them support and feedback. We’re determined to sustain and grow this network to ensure IDEATE Ireland continues to be the best kick-start entrepreneurs can get on the island of Ireland.”

Website: www.ideateireland.ie

Pictured above  (l-r – back row) are Cian O’Flaherty, CEO, Safecility, David Moffit, CEO, Kayfoam Woolfson and Eamonn Sayers, Manager, The Guinness Enterprise Centre. Pictured front (l-r) are Terry Hughes, SVP Marketing, Options and Helen Fullen, CEO, Alinea.

Dublin Tech Summit will showcase the women shaking up the tech sector. #DTS2022 #InternationalWomensDay

Dublin Tech Summit will showcase the women shaking up the tech sector, The 2022 event will feature a stellar line-up of female speakers who are changing the world of tech and paving the way for future generations of women in business.

Dublin Tech Summit  (DTS) has today announced the addition of 11 more female speakers for this year’s event. To date, 33 headlining women from across the globe have been confirmed, with many more due to be added in the coming weeks. Returning in a physical capacity this year, DTS will take place at the RDS Dublin on June 15th and 16th, 2022, and the organisers are particularly keen to showcase the outstanding female talent leading the way in the tech sector.

One of stand-out female speakers being announced today is 23-year-old Zaria Parvez, Social Media Manager at Duolingo. Zaria was the brains behind Duolingo’s recent insatiable success on social media platform TikTok, where she grew the account to over two-million followers in record time. Creating viral content on the platform, Zaria landed this impressive cohort of new followers and certainly proved her worth, without the company having to spend a fortune to achieve results. Zaria will be taking to the mainstage at DTS in June, where she will be discussing the benefits of allowing Gen Z team members to follow their innovative instincts to market to their own demographic.

Company founders, CEOs, CTOs, innovators and leaders are among the female speakers already on the list, with some more really exciting names added to coincide with International Women’s Day. At least 20 more are expected to be added in the coming weeks. Today’s full list of new female speakers is as follows:

  • Jumoke Adekunle – Global Brand Marketing Lead, Depop

  • Joan Donovan – Research Director, Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy

  • Zaria Parvez – Social Media Manager, Duolingo

  • Sinéad McSweeney – VP, Global Public Policy and Philanthropy, Twitter

  • Áine Kerr – Co-Founder and COO, Kinzen

  • Guro Bakkeng Bergan – General Manager, EMEA Fivetran

  • Yi Liu – Director of Product Management, Etsy

  • Nikki Lasley – Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Amplitude

  • Eileen O’Meara – Head of EMEA Revenue & Growth, Stripe

  • Fiona Brady – Head of Operations and Public Affairs, FREE NOW

Among some of the other female speakers announced, to date, are Cassie Kozyrkov, Chief Scientist and Founder of Decision Intelligence at Google; Michele Romanow, Serial Entrepreneur, President and Co-Founder of Clearco, and Dragon on Canada’s Dragons’ Den; and Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau, CEO and Publisher, MIT Technology.

Celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, International Women’s Day aims to bring awareness for women’s equality. As part of this year’s DTS, a stellar line-up of inspirational women will pave the way for future generations of women in business and STEM industries. All across the world, International Women’s Day sparks important conversation and raises awareness of the need for equality, with DTS committed to creating a space where equality is prevalent.

According to a recent Deloitte Global study, global technology firms look set to reach nearly 33% overall female representation in their workforces during 2022. While this is a steady increase from previous years, DTS hopes that by giving women in tech a platform to share their professional stories and experiences, it will help to further accelerate this figure. The team at DTS and its speakers hope to encourage even more women to not just work in tech, but become leaders and founders.

Now in its 5th year, DTS 2022 will take place at the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, on June 15th and 16th. With over 8,000 registered attendees, 200 speakers, and 65 partners representing 50 countries, the event, which has taken place virtually over the past two years due to COVID, promises to be bigger and better than ever before. It will bring together the brightest tech innovators, influencers and entrepreneurs globally, highlighting the capabilities and creativity which form part of a wider tech ecosystem.

Speaking ahead of Dublin Tech Summit, Zaria Parves, Social Media Manager at Duolingo, said:

”It is an honour to be speaking this year at Dublin Tech Summit and to be given the opportunity to help pave the way for more people of colour, and indeed women in tech. A key part of my early success was simply being trusted and empowered by my employer to experiment and test new, innovative ideas. My hope is that my contribution to the conversations at this event will make more companies give junior talent a seat at the table.”

Full list of female speakers announced, to date, for Dublin Tech Summit:

  • Jumoke Adekunle – Global Brand Marketing Lead, Depop

  • Joan Donovan – Research Director, Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy

  • Zaria Parvez – Social Media Manager, Duolingo

  • Sinéad McSweeney – VP, Global Public Policy and Philanthropy, Twitter

  • Áine Kerr – Co-Founder and COO, Kinzen

  • Guro Bakkeng Bergan – General Manager EMEA, Fivetran

  • Yi Liu – Director of Product Management, Etsy

  • Riya Mehta – Researcher and Activist

  • Cassie Kozyrkov – Chief Decision Scientist, Google

  • Michele Romanow – Co-Founder and President, Clearco, and Dragon, CBC Dragons’ Den

  • Tatyana Mamut – SVP of New Products, Pendo

  • Tala Al Jabri – Managing Director, SRMG

  • Erin Platts – Head of EMEA and President of the UK Branch, Silicon Valley Bank

  • Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau – CEO and Publisher, MIT Technology

  • Jillian Godsil – Co-Founder, Blockleaders.io

  • Rashmi Gopinath – General Partner, BCapital

  • Neivia Justa – Culture, Inclusion and Diversity Senior Leader, UnitedHealth Group

  • Sara Brooks – VP of Sales, Pleo

  • Olivia Nottebohm – CRO, Notion

  • Nayaki Nayyar – President and Chief Product Officer, Ivanti

  • Michelle You – CEO and Co-Founder, Supercritical

  • Christine Bejerasco – CTO, F-Secure

  • Janet Adams – COO, SingularityNET

  • Alisha Arora – Youth Change Maker

  • Joëlle Barthel –  Director of Brand Marketing, Flo Health Inc

  • Dorothy Creaven – VP, Managing Director and site lead, Rent the Runway

  • Dr. Michelle He – COO and Co-Founder, Fintern

  • Elise Zelechowski – Global Head of DEI, Sustainability and Social Change, Thoughtworks

  • Nikki Lasley – Head of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Amplitude

  • Eileen O’Meara – Head of EMEA Revenue & Growth, Stripe

  • Nikki Lasley – Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Amplitude

  • Eileen O’Meara – Head of EMEA Revenue & Growth, Stripe

  • Fiona Brady – Head of Operations and Public Affairs, FREE NOW

Over half of Irish businesses say IT skills shortages are negatively impacting plans

Expleo, a global engineering, technology and consulting service provider, today announces the results of new research, which found that IT skills shortages are negatively impacting the business plans of more than half (56%) of Irish enterprises. The research is published in Expleo’s Business Transformation Index 2022 Ireland report, which is launched today.

The global research, which included a survey of 111 business and IT leaders in Ireland, found that 77% of respondents report that talent shortages are a top barrier to digital transformation. In fact, more than two-thirds (67%) say they lack the internal skills and experience to manage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, augmented reality and virtual reality. Many believe this will have a far-reaching impact, with the same proportion (67%) of respondents saying that skills shortages are hindering Ireland’s ability to build its digital economy.

The survey also revealed the roles that enterprises in Ireland find the most difficult to fill and retain. Expleo’s research found that the most challenging, cited by some 82% of businesses, are development roles, followed closely by IT leadership and management positions (81%). A significant proportion (63%) of business leaders believe that development and DevOps talent is in critically short supply.

To solve their tech skills shortages in the short-term, half of Irish enterprises will outsource more functions and roles to third parties or consultants, while 44% will invest in staff training and 43% plan to avail of temporary or contract workers. Despite these efforts, some 65% of business leaders believe that organisations have underinvested in the skills base of employees.

In response to continued staffing issues and the greater demand from employees for flexible working, 54% of businesses in Ireland have now formalised a ‘hybrid working’ approach. Almost half (48%), meanwhile, have introduced a flexible location policy – allowing employees to work from anywhere. However, 33% of leaders stated that maintaining employee motivation and camaraderie has become more difficult due to remote working. And just 22% of business and IT leaders see hiring people from more diverse backgrounds as a long-term solution to skills shortages – compared to an average of 33% in other markets surveyed.

Phil Codd, Managing Director, Expleo Ireland, said: “We are delighted to share the findings of our Business Transformation Index 2022, which will provide valuable insights into the digital evolution of the Irish businesses landscape over the last year.

 “Although there has been a significant acceleration in digital transformation due to the pandemic, ongoing skills shortages are hindering many organisations in embracing new digital technologies. At a time when Ireland should be displaying its digital leadership, our business leaders and innovators are saying that the skills shortages have gotten so bad that it is negatively impacting our digital economy. It is crucial that businesses invest in both their internal and external teams to overcome this challenge. Many enterprises are now outsourcing certain roles in order to get quick and convenient access to a wider skills and knowledge base. As the battle for the best customer experience escalates across all sectors, we expect this trend to continue throughout 2022.

 “The competitive recruitment market has pushed employers to formalise flexible working arrangements and think about how they can create a working culture that will attract the best talent. Organisations that don’t see diversity as part of the solution will find that they lack the diversity of thought that their competitors benefit from, as well as the inclusive environment that will make people stay with them long-term.

“We are seeing that instead of taking the focus away from workforces, the rise of digital is in fact putting greater emphasis on the humans who make it work.”

Burn out and pressures of family life cause 40% of Irish women to consider quitting their job – Indeed research

More than a third of women (40%) have considered quitting their job in the last 12 months, citing burn out and the pressures of family life as the reasons for thinking about leaving the workforce. These are findings in research conducted in Ireland by jobs site Indeed, published on the eve of International Women’s Day on 8th March.

Feeling burnt out was the most common reason (33%) cited for considering leaving a job, particularly for women in older age cohorts – 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 years old – where 55% felt they needed a break. The second highest reason cited (22%) was that it had become too hard to balance work and home responsibilities. The work/life balance issue was particularly felt by the cohort of women most likely to have young children – aged 35-44 – with 37% of this group finding juggling career and family responsibilities too difficult.

The majority of both men (79%) and women (68%) felt that there was equal pay in their workplace, regardless of gender. However a significant proportion of female respondents (30%) felt men were generally paid more at their company, compared to just 17% of male respondents. Irish employers will soon be obliged to publish information showing the gender pay gap in their business, following the passing of the Gender Pay Gap Information Act last year.

The majority of women (56%) also believe that their employer should be doing more to help them in their career, compared to 38% of men. The most important forms of allyship to help women in the workplace that women cited were: calling out discrimination (24%); providing education on the challenges women face in the workplace (20%); and being an advocate for female career development (18%).

On a positive note, women were more optimistic than men about their future earnings, with 82% of women surveyed saying they expect to be earning more in five years’ time, a view shared by 71% of men surveyed.

Glenda Kirby is vice president of client success at Indeed and heads up Women at Indeed, the company’s internal platform for female inclusion. Commenting on the research she said:

“The findings are a reminder of the specific challenges women still face in the workplace. Particularly striking are the high numbers of women considering leaving the workforce due to lack of support, which emphasises how vital it is for employers to do more to create a working environment that is supportive. The research highlights how important it is for women to hear their employer advocating for female career development and making sure discrimination is called out and addressed. Having a seat at the table isn’t enough if workers don’t feel like they belong there.”

Jack Kennedy, Economist at Indeed added:

“In addition to being the right thing to do, in a tight labour market it is companies that demonstrate they are taking a lead on diversity issues who will stand out in attracting new talent. With the acceptance of working from home and more flexible working arrangements employers should seize the opportunity to showcase that they are genuinely committed to creating an environment that is supportive of women and prioritises a proper work/life balance.”

 

Ultra Clean Holdings announce about 100 new jobs in Cavan with new Advanced Technology Cleaning Centre

Ultra Clean Holdings Inc.today announced that it is establishing an Advanced Technology Cleaning Centre (ATCC) in Cavan, Ireland.

This investment represents a key milestone in UCT’s global expansion plans supporting surging demand in the semiconductor industry. The Ireland ATCC will be part of UCT’s Services division, which provides ultra-high purity tool chamber parts cleaning and coating, as well as micro-contamination analytical services to chip makers and equipment providers. Cavan, Ireland will be UCT’s 15th Services site and will primarily support Intel Corporation and other European-based customers.

The project, which will create approximately 100 jobs when fully operational, is supported by the Irish Government through Ireland’s inward investment agency, IDA Ireland.

Welcoming the announcement, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Leo Varadkar TD noted: “I’m delighted to welcome Ultra Clean Holdings to Cavan, where the company will have a rich talent pool to choose from to fill these 100 new jobs. Semiconductor chips have become essential to our everyday lives and that dependence is only going to grow. This Advanced Technology Cleaning Centre is a really welcome addition to the thriving semiconductor industry here – an industry which we are keen to expand further. I wish the team all the very best.”

“As a worldwide leader in ultra-clean parts cleaning and analytics, we are proud to partner with IDA Ireland to expand our global footprint and advance our leading-edge technology,” said Bill Bentinck, President UCT Services. “This state-of-the-art facility will enable us to better serve and deliver value to our European customer base and capitalize on longer-term growth opportunities.”

IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan added: “This is a most welcome investment for Ireland, for Cavan and the North East region. UCT’s manufacturing and analytical capabilities will add to the level of expertise within the semiconductor sector here and positions the region to capture further such investment. IDA Ireland’s strong focus and commitment to winning investments for regional locations continues. I wish UCT every success here.”

“UCT has a long-standing commitment to sustainability and continually strives to minimize its impact on the environment,” said Shay Torton, UCT’s VP Operations, EMEA. “The new site will be constructed with sustainable solutions where possible, and we are committed to enhancing the Cavan economy and community by being an active partner and good neighbor.” Read more about UCT’s ESG Initiatives.”

Construction is advancing at the 57,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility located on the IDA Ireland Business & Technology Park at Killgarry, Cavan and is expected to be completed in Q3 this year. Roles at the new facility will include engineering, manufacturing, facilities, on-site shipping and receiving, quality control, sales, and customer service positions. The site is expected to be operational in Q3 2022. Please visit UCT’s European Careers page for related job openings as they are posted.

Okta continues European expansion with creation of up to 200 jobs in new Dublin

Okta, Inc., the leading independent provider of identity, today announced that it will be opening a new office in Dublin’s Docklands, Ireland, where it intends to create 200 new jobs by 2024. Okta‘s identity and access management solutions help connect people and organisations by providing seamless and secure access. This new office opening is part of Okta’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) growth plans. Today, more than 15,000 organisations, including DCC, Engie, ITV, Renault, Siemens, Plan International, Pret a Manger trust Okta to help protect the identities of their workforces and customers.

Opening in April, 2022, Okta’s Dublin office will serve as an international hub and initially focus on hiring new talent in customer-facing roles in sales and marketing. Over the next two years, the Dublin-based team will also open up to roles in research & development and other business critical roles, including accounting, recruitment and HR.

The investment is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. For further information about Okta’s Dublin office and to explore career opportunities, please go visit Okta Ireland.

“The success of our customers and partners is Okta’s highest priority. The continued expansion across EMEA cements Okta’s commitment to strengthen its engagement in the region”, commented Susan St. Ledger, President of Worldwide Field Operations for Okta. “This new office gives us an exciting opportunity to serve our regional customers and leverage Ireland’s diverse and unique talent pool to accelerate our vision of enabling everyone to safely use any technology.”

Welcoming the announcement Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD said “I’m really pleased to welcome Okta to Dublin, where the company will create 200 new jobs by 2024. Okta has worked with some of the world’s most influential firms from a variety of sectors and I’ve no doubt Dublin’s rich talent pool will allow Okta to continue its rapid growth. I wish the team every success with this expansion.”

“I am thrilled to join Okta during this critical phase of its growth globally”, commented Jimmy Kehoe, Vice President of EMEA Sales Development and Ireland GM. ”I am honoured to spearhead Okta’s first international hub office, and help build a world-class team in the heart of Dublin’s vibrant Docklands. As companies across Europe embrace and further develop their digital transformation strategies, we are excited to become a closer, trusted partner and help them be more successful and secure with identity.”

“As a global leader in the growing identity and access management industry, Okta is a welcome addition to Ireland’s technology ecosystem,” said Martin Shanahan, CEO IDA Ireland.  “Ireland has a proven track record of being an attractive location to technology companies looking to access a well-established talent pool to serve a growing client base in the EMEA region.”

The strategic opening of Okta’s Ireland hub follows the company’s 13th anniversary and acquisition of leading identity platform Auth0 for $6.5 billion in May 2021. Together, Okta and Auth0 will accelerate growth in the $80 billion identity market by providing modern Workforce and Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) solutions needed to seamlessly manage the digital complexities of security, agility, and user experience. In November 2021, both companies were recognised as a Leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Access Management, marking the fifth consecutive year in which Okta has been named Leader.

As Okta expands its global presence and embraces Dynamic Work, a flexible, personalised, hybrid work experience approach introduced before the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take long-term action on climate change. In September 2021, Okta reached 100 percent renewable energy for its global offices and employees’ work-from-home consumption in FY22, and launched the Dynamic Work Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Study, a study designed to measure the environmental impact of today’s hybrid workforce.

The Dublin office will bring Okta to 23 offices globally, including in London, Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Paris. Dublin will be the first hub of this type for Okta and will support the company’s operations across all of Europe, with a focus on the UK, France, Germany, Benelux, the Nordics, Spain, and Italy.

 

Compu b rebrands as Select in Ireland & the UK and launches new Discovery Hub service for customers

Compu b, the Apple Premium Reseller and leading technology sales and repair service provider for the consumer, business and education sectors in Ireland is rebranding to Select. The move will bring the company’s 6 stores in Ireland, and its 23 Stormfront stores across the UK under the same brand identity delivering an elevated experience and providing a complete Apple solution for consumer retail, business and education customers locally.

Select has also invested over €1 million in its online offering with the launch of its new website, selectonline.com for the Irish and UK markets, ensuring that customers can access technical support and training as well as retail services and repair services at any time.

The Irish-owned company employs over 330 highly trained Apple experts across Ireland and the UK, supporting over 4 million customers per year and managing over 120,000 repairs annually across its customer base. Select is a trusted Apple supplier to financial institutions, primary and second-level schools, third-level institutions, airline groups, healthcare companies, semi-state bodies, the public sector, technology companies and FMCG organisations, supporting businesses of all sizes and sectors, from start-ups to enterprise companies.

Central to Select’s enhanced offering will be the Discovery Hubs service, which is now available to all customers in their local stores. Select’s Discovery Hubs are a one-stop service for businesses, education customers and consumers.  A dedicated slot or slots can be booked for groups of employees at a Discovery Hub with a Select expert who can provide full onboarding, troubleshooting, technical and training support to help them get the most out of their Apple products.

Customers and employers can continue to avail of this service any time they require it and will be of particular benefit for businesses implementing a hybrid working model with employees working from home and requiring local support.

“We have invested over €3 million in delivering our in-store Discovery Hubs service. Select is a trusted partner for all our customers, giving them peace of mind that they are in the hands of Apple Experts and importantly providing this expertise locally. In addition to this investment, we recently opened our new two-storey flagship store on South King Street, in the heart of Dublin’s main shopping district.” said Ciaran McCormack, Managing Director. 

“Group sales this year will be over €130+ million as we continue to invest in providing market differentiating services for our customers across our portfolio of offerings, keeping easy, local access to expertise for our customers at the core of our business model”, Ciaran continued. 

Select is now one of the largest Apple Authorised Service Providers across Ireland & the UK and offers technical expertise which is market leading. As an Apple Premium Reseller, Select provides both instore and online access to the full suite of Apple products and accessories, including iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and Beats, along with other leading premium brands such as Native Union, Therabody, Sony, Urbanista, Joby, Eufy, Incipo, and Click & Grow.

Select has Ireland’s only team of dedicated Apple Education Specialists (AAES). The company has 25 years of experience in delivering teaching and training solutions, led by a dedicated team of Apple Professional Learning Specialists, offering a suite of digital technology to unlock student potential and foster their creativity. Working in partnership with primary and second-level schools and leading educational institutions in Ireland (such as Trinity College Dublin, Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh and The Law Society of Ireland) Select introduce the latest Apple technologies into the teaching and learning arena, integrating devices into the syllabus and supporting the teachers and lecturers and professionals through bespoke training and learning.

ROOM Teams Up with Zoom and HP to launch Purpose-Built Video Conferencing Room for Zoom in Ireland

ROOM is launching ‘Room for Zoom’ in Ireland with Zoom Video Communications, Inc and HP Inc. This turnkey video collaboration suite for modern offices and workplaces will support businesses to better connect remote employees with those who have returned to the office.

Room for Zoom provides a tailored space for one of the most popular collaboration software, and at the same time bridges the gap between in-person and remote working for the new hybrid workplace that puts people’s needs first.

As workers in Ireland get ready to readjust to life back in the office, demand for integrated workspace designed for Zoom’s video communications platform will increase. Room for Zoom is a soundproof, modular architecture solution that’s fitted with built-in VC lighting, a monitor, webcam, skylights, connected power sources, ventilation and more to offer the ultimate video conferencing room.

In a time when the workspace is at stake, it needs a complete overhaul In a recent survey carried out by Ireland Thinks, 71% of workers said that if they can work remotely, they should have the right to do so. Earlier this month, the IBEC said
that workplaces in Ireland must be facilitated in their attempts to manage requests for remote working in a flexible and collaborative manner which is suitable for their business.

The CIPD — the body representing HR professionals also published a survey in late 2021 on hybrid working. Its figures suggest that 40% of surveyed employers expect that more than half of their staff will work from home after the pandemic has ended. Most employees expect to work part of the time in a central or local office.

It’s clear that in a post-pandemic Ireland, people will demand flexible, hybrid work arrangements — neither working entirely from home, nor entirely from an office.

“The return to office working is a much-debated topic among businesses and workers globally, but one thing that everyone agrees on is video communications are very much here to stay. We’ve teamed up with Zoom and HP to create a solution that allows employees in the workplace to seamlessly connect with their remote-based colleagues” said ROOM Co-Founder, Morten Meisner-Jensen. “Our aim is not just about changing spaces – we want to rethink and redesign our relationship with work. Improving life for employees at work is now on the radar of CEOs and CFOs globally. This is why we have designed a space in which employee-centric software and modular architecture complement each other. Modular architecture makes workspace design affordable and flexible because it can grow with a company.

It’s something that’s right for today but can also be reconfigured to evolve with the changing needs of a business tomorrow” added Meisner-Jensen. Room for Zoom: Modular architecture that meets the needs of a hybrid world Room for Zoom, like all of ROOM’s modular products, includes sustainable soundproofing made from recycled plastic bottles, which is engineered to reduce noise by 27dB. The Room also features a custom accessory rail for personal belongings, and a whiteboard provides users with a comfortable, clutter-free workspace and ample natural light.

ROOM’s innovative, adaptive, modular office furniture provides dedicated environments for both individual or collaborative work. ROOM’s products are pre-fabricated, sustainably sourced, and flat-packed, offering both quick assembly and continued flexibility to accommodate the changing needs of companies navigating the post-pandemic return to physical offices.

To combat the uncertainty of flexible lease terms and hybrid work models, ROOM helps to inform customers’ spatial planning across workspaces with Room Sense. This is the company’s proprietary analytics dashboard that provides companies with real-time data on product utilization and office density.

Room for Zoom combines ROOM’s modular Focus Room with an HP Collaboration G6 27-inch All-in-One touchscreen, paired with a Logitech Brio Ultra HD PRO Business Webcam, pre-installed with Zoom Rooms software for seamless communication and collaboration in ROOM’s modular solution.

Room for Zoom also features two custom-built LED light strips with remote dimming that create the perfect, shadow-free video conference experience. Room for Zoom is available in two different colour pallets, light and dark, and costs €16,495. More information on Room for Zoom is available here.

As with ROOM’s modular Focus Room, Room for Zoom will also feature:

● Adjustable desk heights, providing comfort for all seating positions
● Built-in power sources, so employees never run out of battery
● Silent fans and fresh air ventilation to ensure the working environment comfortable, regardless of the season
● Optional HEPA filtration for clean, filtered, fresh air

“Architecture and location can be a source of stress during video calls: lighting, background noise and the chance someone could walk into the room during a conversation. ROOM worked with us to put together a product that removes those pain points while helping people in workplaces in Ireland work more closely together, regardless of their location,” adds Phil Perry, Head of UK & Ireland at Zoom. “We’re excited by this collaboration, and we’re looking forward to seeing Room for Zoom roll out across Ireland in the coming months.”

For more information on ROOM’s workplace solutions visit room.com.

Employee engagement is the biggest challenge facing business leaders in 2022

Employee engagement is the top challenge for business leaders in 2022, according to a survey of senior managers by Fastnet Executive Search, one of Ireland’s leading executive recruitment and search firms. Of those surveyed, 88% cited employee engagement as the most critical challenge over other issues such as digitalisation, supply chain disruption and sustainability.

When asked what the key priorities are for developing employee engagement, responders — of which 80% are in the life sciences sector — listed the following in order of importance: connection to the organisation’s purpose (77%); autonomy and trust (67%); continuous learning (58%); and flexible working (57%).

Éimhín O’Driscoll, Managing Partner of Fastnet Executive Search, has been partnering with major employers in the life sciences sector for over 20 years, said: “In today’s dynamic environment, business leaders are facing unprecedented volatility in recruitment and retention, and we are not surprised that employee engagement is arising as the stand-out challenge. Jobs are more complex, organisations are transforming, and new talent models are emerging based on purpose and meaning.”

Éimhín added: “People want to work in organisations that are creative, empowering, purposeful, and passionate. In our experience, having the right leaders in place is crucial for the development and growth of high performing teams, elevating organisations from good to great. The right leaders create environments where learning is a priority, where ideas and feedback are shared authentically, and people feel a meaningful connection to the value they create during their workday.

“While job scope and reward packages continue to be key drivers for candidates making significant career choices, candidates are focusing more on the purpose and values of prospective employers and adopting a more thorough approach to understanding company culture from the earliest stages.”

The survey also found that 40% of respondents had worked in a different industry in their last role, highlighting a change in how companies value adaptable skills and culture fit over industry specific experience when hiring leaders.

“When conducting business critical searches for senior executives, our clients are increasingly seeing the benefits of attracting leaders from diverse backgrounds in improving employee engagement and trust and ensuring new perspectives and innovative thinking on their leadership teams.

Éimhín added it is widely accepted that the Workplace of the Future will be very different from what we have known, presenting both opportunities and challenges. “We have come through a period that has facilitated an exceptional chance for deep reflection and reassessment,” she said. “Rather than succumbing to the temptation of a ‘return to normal’, I feel it is an opportune time to be brave, innovative, and creative in defining our future way of working.”