Global life sciences company Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the launch of its 2022 Apprenticeship Programme. Seeking applicants from across the country, the four-year salaried programme at the contract pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at Currabinny, Carrigaline, Cork, is for anyone interested in an Electrical and Instrumentation Apprenticeship or Mechanical Apprenticeship where they can earn while they learn. Delivered in partnership with further education and training agency SOLAS, applications are open from March 1 to March 18, and a virtual open day for teachers and pupils will be held on March 2. Information on the open day and applications is available at https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/ireland-apprentice-programme.
Speaking on the launch of the exciting 2022 Apprenticeship Programme, Lead Craftsperson and Apprentice Programme Coordinator at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Declan Carroll said: “This programme is the perfect opportunity for people who want to kickstart a practical career in a dynamic industry. We are so aware that people take different directions in learning, and different options need to be available to them to access the life sciences industry. This programme will suit anyone interested in STEM subjects in school, is doing engineering, science and machinery subjects and is naturally curious.
“Our Electrical and Instrumentation Apprentices and Mechanical Apprentices are a vital part of our team maintaining the facilities and helping to design, install and test new equipment that keeps our site going. When they finish, they are fully qualified craftspeople ready to work in a growing industry that’s full of opportunity and, because they become such an integral part of our team, many of our apprentices stay with us after they qualify.”
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Cork facility is part of the company’s Pharma Services business and manufactures and supplies Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) to customers for use in clinical trials and approved medicines for commercial supply. This includes medicines to treat cancer, Parkinson’s disease, depression, HIV, congestive heart failure, diabetes and respiratory diseases, along with raw material for consumer healthcare products.
The apprentices’ time will be divided between the Cork site where they will complete on-the-job training and at training centres and third level institutes where they will complete the SOLAS curriculum modules. Successful apprentices will be awarded an internationally recognised apprenticeship (Level 6 Advanced Certificate) at the end of the programme and be eligible for consideration for entry into a related Level 7 and 8 Degree programmes provided by the Institutes of Technology.
Shane Brosnan, who is currently in the Electrical & Instrumentation apprenticeship programme, said: “I applied to Thermo Fisher Scientific’s apprenticeship programme because I wanted a practical start to my career where I could learn and earn at the same time.
“I’ve always loved problem-solving and understanding how things work and, as an apprentice, I get to see engineering in action every day. We are not only taught the theory, we get to put it straight into practice.”
Bolt, the largest scooter operator in Europe, and the Institute of Transport Economics, TOI, have shown that in-app encouragement will cause up to 60% of users to shift from ride-hailing to scooters for shorter trips. A shift in mobility habits was observed for long-term app usage as well. In Oslo and Lisbon, users performed additional scooter searches for similar trips after the initial encouragement was performed in-app.
Last year, Bolt ran a pilot program aiming to switch shorter ride-hailing trips to scooter trips. During this modal shift study, randomly selected groups of Bolt customers from 10 European cities have received in-app encouragement to switch from ride-hailing to a scooter for trips shorter than three kilometers. Groups actively encouraged were compared to groups that didn’t receive the encouragement, which allowed scientists to measure the shift in mobility habits.
The data resulting from the three waves of piloting was then independently analyzed by the Institute of Transport Economics, TØI, in Oslo, Norway. According to the final results, up to 60% of users on average shifted from a ride hail to a scooter for short trips if the scooter was 300 meters away or closer.
The implications of the findings are considerable. In Europe, most car trips are less than five kilometers long. Around 25% of Bolt car-hailing trips globally are shorter than three kilometers. This means that encouraging users to adapt their shared mobility option to their trip distance has a considerable impact on the environment. According to Bolt’s data, a scooter’s CO2 emissions are on average three times lower than a car’s CO2 emissions.
Martin Villig, Co-Founder of Bolt said: “Bolt is on a mission to advocate for better cities built around people. Encouraging customers to use scooters to replace personal vehicles and short car trips is part of that mission. We are constantly working with cities to make sure our scooters fit in the urban transportation ecosystem. The report we are launching today confirms that our app is the ideal tool to help build more sustainable commuting habits because customers can be encouraged to shift from cars to scooters, according to the distance they travel. This can significantly reduce pollution but also help manage urban congestion.”
The most successful findings come from cities where there is a high availability of shared scooters. In Lisbon, for example, in-app encouragement led to a 210% increase of users opting for a scooter instead of a shared car ride.
Significant results were also observed in the Scandinavian markets: Stockholm (up to 40% bigger chances of the customer opting for micromobility), Gothenburg (54%), Oslo (42%). In Krakow, the encouragement increased the probability of using a scooter up to 68% and in Madrid 41%.
Bjørn Gjerde Johansen, Chief Research Economist at the research area Economic Models at the Institute of Transport Economics, TØI said: “TØI carries out research aiming to advise authorities, the transport industry and the public at large. This report analyses data from an experiment in which Bolt`s app-users were encouraged to switch from ride hailing to e-scooters. We found the share of users choosing e-scooters to be higher in virtually all experiments and the results demonstrate that encouraging users through changing information in multimodal interfaces can be an effective way of switching users away from cars, at no cost to the user.”
Aisling Dunne, Head of Public Policy for Ireland, said: “This research is aimed at advising authorities, the transport industry and the public at large. It shows that multi-modal platforms have the power to nudge people towards more sustainable and appropriate modes of transport, depending on their needs. For short journeys, where there are alternatives, we now unequivocally see that users will make the switch. As local authorities across Ireland consider the best way to meet our ambitious Climate Action Plan targets, this research shows them the potential for shared mobility services to really shift users’ behaviour.”
Bolt and the Institute of Transport Economics will continue to work together on a modal shift program aimed at improving mobility habits for cities.
This project is aligned to the approach of the new European Urban Mobility Framework released in December 2021. The framework considers new mobility services as part of a multimodal, integrated approach to sustainable urban mobility, reinforcing public transport and substituting car use. By working to build a modal shift program, Bolt is contri
Stats Perform, the sports tech leader in data and AI, has announced it has established a Global Rugby Centre of Excellence in Limerick City. Stats Perform operates across 25 countries, including Ireland.
The company is actively recruiting for a number of open positions and by year-end will celebrate the significant milestone of reaching 60 full-time and 280 part-time employees by year-end.
Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar TD said: “Congratulations to the Stats Perform team on this really significant milestone. Stats Perform is a leader in sports tech data and AI. The establishment of a new Global Rugby Centre of Excellence in staLimerick demonstrates the company’s continued dedication to the region and proves that Ireland remains an attractive location for industry leaders in all areas of business. I wish the team continued success in all of their operations.”
Gráinne Barry, SVP Global Operations at Stats Perform said: “In 2017 Limerick was chosen by Stats Perform as an EMEA base due to its lead location for the sports technology cluster in Ireland, and the availability of talent within the local region. Establishing a Rugby Centre of Excellence in Ireland was a natural next step for the company. Stats Perform is the world’s leading data provider (media and performance) to the world’s top rugby governing bodies and teams. Stats Perform will be providing global rugby and teams with media solutions, digital platforms and team performance analysis services. Stats Perform services every part of the rugby world, including the British and Irish Lions, the Six Nations, Premiership Rugby, The New Zealand All Blacks, Pro 14, France, Australia, along with working with World Rugby during their global competitions.”
The expansion of functions to create Stats Perform’s Global Rugby Centre of Excellence has created over 100 new full and part-time roles in Limerick over the past 12 months, in the areas of Rugby Union, Rugby League and Soccer, as well as supporting functions in video operations, data quality control and business intelligence.
Seamus Monaghan, Director of Business Operations at Stats Perform said: “Limerick is the ideal location for our Global Rugby Operations. The passion and knowledge for Rugby in Limerick, and the greater Mid- West region in general, is well known and has contributed heavily to our success in the sector. Access to Third Level Institutions and overall talent in the area has been a real partnership for Stats Perform and we are extremely positive about our future in the region.”
IDA Ireland’s Executive Director Mary Buckley said: “Stats Perform’s decision to designate the Limerick facility as its Global Rugby Centre of Excellence, demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to the Midwest region. This announcement exemplifies IDA Ireland’s track record in winning jobs and investment in regional locations. I want to congratulate Gráinne and Seamus at Stats Perform on reaching this significant milestone and wish the team every success with its operations in Limerick.”
Jabra has partnered with EVO, Ireland’s largest distributor of workplace supplies, to bring its high-quality audio and video products to customers across the nation.
EVO is now an official distributor of Jabra products for Ireland thanks to its unmatched supply chain connections and stock holding capability in the country. As a result, EVO’s wholesale partners and end customers will have access to next day delivery on Jabra’s entire range, including the Evolve2 series of professional headsets and PanaCast video conferencing cameras.
The global audio, video and collaboration solutions brand, Jabra, offers UC certified headsets, speakerphones and state-of-the art video conferencing solutions to businesses.
John Nesbitt, Territory Director, Ireland at Jabra, says, “EVO’s presence and expertise will help us to take our business to the next level in the region. With hybrid working on the rise, companies are looking at how to enable staff to be productive and to work from anywhere. We’re thrilled to be partnering with EVO and to be bringing Jabra’s audio and intelligent video conferencing solutions to even more customers in Ireland.”
Ashley Burke, EVO Ireland Managing Director, commented: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Jabra and to give this incredible brand access to new customers they wouldn’t have been able to reach otherwise.
This is why we’re the go-to channel partner in the UK and Ireland for global brands. EVO’s make up, with VOW as a wholesaler and Banner as a direct supplier, means we can offer a unique level of consolidated market access.”
Today, STATSports, the world’s leading company in GPS performance data, have launched their first ever Women’s GPS Sports Bra along with their new apparel wear.
The all-new seamless GPS quick dry bra is the industry’s first and will replace the standard unisex performance vest for women. STATSports were assisted in the development and testing of the product by Arsenal and Republic of Ireland star, Katie McCabe and England and Man City captain, Stephanie Houghton – both are ambassadors and investors of the brand.
The STATSports Apex pod, which measures athlete performance across 16 key metrics such as max speed, high speed running, high intensity distance, step balance, sprints, stress load and more, inserts into the bra without the need for the performance vest, reducing layers for female players.
The new design of the bra is longer in length which will provide extra security for females during training and matchdays. There are also removal cups for personal choice, adapting to cup size to ensure the right support is provided.
Katie McCabe, who sits top of the Women Super League this season, which has seen an increae of 5.9 million viewers in 2021, said: “It’s brilliant to have a new vest specifically for female players, as it’s another positive step for women’s football. STATSports has become essential to the way we train and play, so it’s vital that the kit to support the tech works for us.”
Stephanie Houghton, said: “I’ve been working closely with STATSports around the research and development of the new product, which is so important to feel comfortable when playing the sport. In particular, the soft quick dry yarn feels amazing next to the skin, acting as your base support layer. Football is all about marginal gains, and this product will help elevate players.”
Fellow STATSports ambassador and global soccer star, Megan Rapinoe added: “It is imperative for the brands that I work with to commit to improving women’s sports. Soccer is ever-evolving and it’s great to align with STATSports to develop the game. We are proud to introduce our first women’s product, which players like myself, Alex Morgan, Stephanie Houghton and Katie McCabe have already put to the test.”
“Katie and Stephanie have been instrumental in the development of the new STATSports Women’s sports bra and we’re delighted to have them on our team. We want to ensure all players feel comfortable in our products, and so we felt that it was imperative to create a female specific holding device for the technology.” says Sean O’Connor, STATSports Co-Founder and COO.
The new apparel range consists of a unisex performance vest, designed by Liverpool player, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, ¼ drill top, short and long sleeve performance tees and a women’s drill top – the perfect last minute Christmas gifts for the athletes in the family.
To purchase the new STATSports Women’s Sports Bra or the apparel range, please visit:statsports.com
Compass Ireland backs Foodservices Industry-First – Ireland’s first ever completely frictionless store, Market x Flutter, officially opened today, at Flutter Entertainment’s newly renovated global headquarters in Clonskeagh in Dublin 4.
The store, developed for Flutter by Compass Group Ireland, uses AI-powered computer vision technology from AiFi, allowing shoppers to purchase items in-store without having to wait in line or stop to scan or pay. The store stocks fresh meals including a selection of hot and chilled dishes to-go, as well as drinks and confectionery.
A truly friction-free shopping experience, customers ‘check in’ when entering and then freely wander through the store, selecting from the food offering at their leisure; no scanning and no queuing. They leave with their purchases and a receipt is delivered to their phone moments later.
Ireland’s food sector and retail expertise is fuelled by constant innovation, local Minister for Dublin- Rathdown, Josepha Madigan, Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, said at the opening event attended by Flutter and Compass Ireland employees today.
“I am delighted to be here in Clonskeagh to mark the launch of Market x Flutter, which represents an exciting innovation in retail and customer service. It is a new, user-friendly experience for customers and is a reflection of the creativity and dynamism of the food service industry in Ireland. Flutter is an important investor in Ireland and its newly renovated global headquarters in Clonskeagh represents this ongoing commitment. I would like to commend everyone involved in the establishment of this new store and wish everyone at Flutter well into the future.”
The new store uses frictionless technology from leading global AI experts, AiFi. Facial recognition is not needed with this technology, so there is complete anonymity. Once inside, computer vision cameras anonymously track the shopper, adding selected items to the virtual shopping cart. No facial recognition or biometrics are used, ensuring privacy.
Welcoming the convenience and ease of the new retail system, Padraig Ó Ríordáin, Chief Legal Officer & Group Commercial Director of Flutter, and the Executive Lead for the Dublin office, said the frictionless store was among many innovative features available to Flutter staff at their newly renovated global headquarters.
Flutter App
“Our new-look global headquarters in Dublin encapsulates Flutter’s vision for the future of work. We have made a significant investment in this modern, agile and flexible workspace, and are excited for our colleagues based here to experience all it has to offer. The frictionless store is just one example of its many unique features and is indicative of the kind of innovative work that our talented team, based here, delivers every day. It is a great addition to the office space and we are grateful to Compass Group Ireland for making it a reality”.
The new contactless store will open Monday to Friday, between 8.00am and 6.00pm, and will be open to the general public, as well as Flutter employees, and marketed right across the South Dublin business park.
Deirdre O’Neill, Managing Director at the innovative catering company Compass Group Ireland, said that trials of the new foodservices solution at the Flutter workplace have been very successful.
“We’re incredibly excited by this new frictionless store technology, and are proud that our Irish operation is leading the way. We constantly look at how to offer the most convenient service to customers and tailor food solutions to their needs. Now, customers just pop into the store and pick up what they need, whenever they need it – it’s a great flexible solution for busy workers.”
Frictionless units will be established within other corporate clients’ offices in the coming year by Compass Ireland, as well as in the sports and leisure sectors.
The stores will be established where vending-only food solutions exist currently, or where the new contactless format can be part of a suite of solutions, including self-service and serviced meal options. Compass employees will be on-hand to provide support to customers on site.
Compass Ireland food solutions currently include the Feedr app ‘cloud canteen’ for handy ordering and desk delivery, full restaurant operations, café and coffee dock facilities, on-site food-trucks and bespoke catering services.
The Irish business serves 40,000 meals a day across 130 customer sites, including offices, industrial sites and education, leisure and hospitality facilities. The new food-to-go solution is the ultimate in seamless shopping and forms part of the company’s long-term digital transformation plans, Deirdre O’Neill says.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to add real value to the customer experience through technology, offering great quality food, around-the-clock, and a quick and frictionless purchase experience.”
Steve Gu, CEO & Founder of AiFi Inc., said his company looks forward to scaling the new foodservices experience, together with Compass, across many more client sites.
“AiFi is proud to partner with Compass Group to deploy our AI-powered frictionless shopping solution. Here in Ireland, Flutter employees can now enjoy the highest level of convenience and the very best locally sourced and prepared food from Compass Group.”
Dogpatch Labs and the Irish Tech Hub Network in partnership with leading multinational technology companies, today announced a major initiative to help Irish startups scale and expand internationally.
‘First Fridays’ for startups consists of monthly virtual events delivering curated expert workshops, advisory panels and fireside chats with globally successful startup founders. Central to the programme will be the opportunity for Irish startup founders to engage in 1-to-1 mentoring sessions with key employees and experts from the world’s leading multinationals.
RDI Hub is based in Killorglin County Kerry and will play a significant role in supporting local tech startups by helping to expand the vibrant community of start ups with access to a network of expertise to help and support the expansion of business both locally and further afield.
Liam Cronin, CEO of Kerry’s RDI Hub had this to say about the project: “RDI Hub is delighted to be involved in this important ecosystem initiative. Supporting founders to scale from the South West is core to what we do. First Friday for Startup leverages Ireland’s current strength around FDI to support the creation of Ireland’s next unicorns and is key to achieving our goal of making Irish globally great at entrepreneurship. We are very much looking forward to running these startup supports from RDI Hub”
This new, revised, All-Ireland version of the programme will see 1,000+ employees from global technology companies committing resources to support the indigenous start-up community via free monthly mentoring and other software support. The multinational founders of ‘First Friday’ for startups multinationals that have committed to supporting the Irish startup ecosystem include Google, HubSpot, Microsoft and Salesforce with further partners to be announced. Other multinationals are expected to make meaningful contributions in the coming months.
Every month the delivery of the events will rotate around the country across the network of startup and innovation hubs – RDI Hub (Kerry), Ludgate Hub (Skibbereen), Portershed (Galway), Republic of Work (Cork), Ormeau Baths (Belfast) and Dogpatch Labs (Dublin).
The initiative is a significant expansion of the successful programme run by Dogpatch Labs and Google in Dublin for the past five years, which has to date attracted over 7,000 attendees, 650 startups and delivered over 1,000 mentoring hours. The programme’s existing mentor network includes Google employees, entrepreneurs, and industry subject matter experts. With the additional multinational partners, the programme will further extend this mentor knowledge pool and reach all four corners of Ireland to support even more entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the launch today, Portershed CEO (Galway) and CEO of the Irish Tech Hub Network, Mary Rodgers, said: “This is a real boost for the regions, extending equal access to the wealth of multinational talent to founders across the island of Ireland. We hope to inspire founders and give Irish startups unrivalled access to global networks as they seek to go out beyond our shores and conquer the world.”
Recent years have seen record levels of investment and growth among indigenous Irish startups, with 6 unicorn companies showing what is possible for domestic innovators. Fenergo, Intercom, Workhuman, LetsGetChecked and most recently Flipdish and Wayflyer are all Irish-origin companies who have passed the $1bn valuation mark in the last few years. The First Fridays for startups initiative will work to foster innovation across Ireland, providing entrepreneurs with the skills and tools to build high-growth startups of their own.
The Citroën e-Dispatch / Opel Vivaro-e / Peugeot e-Expert, an electrified joint collaboration of the three companies, has been voted Continental Tyres Irish Van of the Year for 2022.
The award is voted upon by a jury of Ireland’s most experienced van journalists and was announced at the 2022 Irish Car and Van of the Year awards ceremony which took place at The Aviva Stadium on Friday February 11.
EVs were very much to the fore at the awards event as, in addition to electric models taking the main trophy in the Van of the Year contest, the full electric Kia EV6 won the top award in the Irish Car of the Year competition.
Pictured at the presentation of the award with the winning vans were (l to r): Colin Sheridan, MD of Citroën Ireland; James Brooks, MD of Opel Ireland; Tom Dennigan of awards sponsor Continental Tyres; Cathal Doyle and Anthony Conlon, Joint Chairmen of the Irish Car and Van of the Year Committee; and Stephen McGrath, Head of Product and Pricing with Peugeot and DS Automobiles.
HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, today announces a pair of resilient new Nokia G-series smartphones, the Nokia G11 and Nokia G21. Legacy Nokia phones were famed for their robust battery lives, and the new affordable Android smartphones are no exception with an impressive three-day battery life and new Super Battery Saver mode, as well as category-leading security updates.
Florian Seiche, CEO at HMD Global:“We continue to push boundaries in the mid-range segment providing affordable, secure and competitive technology for all. I am delighted to unveil two new heroes from our heartland G-series, the Nokia G11 and Nokia G21.The two devices epitomise the durability and long-lasting battery life qualities Nokia phones became famous for all those years ago. This combined with the best of Android software, and more security updates than the competition within this price category, cements our vision for 2022 and beyond – as we continue to build phones that last for longer.”
Unrivalled protection for mobile technology that lasts for longer
Twice as many security updates as competition to help keep important data protected – the Nokia G11 and Nokia G21 will work seamlessly in the background to protect you so that you can go about your day worry-free.
Introducing Mask mode to affordable smartphones – available on G-series for the first, it ensures the convenience of face unlock is never disrupted. Keep your data safe with or without a protective face mask.
Ready for Android 12, so you always have access to the latest features and have a smartphone that you can keep for longer.
Supported by industry-leading partners for best-in-class experiences, the Nokia G11 and Nokia G21 come pre-loaded with Spotify and ExpressVPN. Spotify also gives Nokia smartphone owners access to 70 million tracks and 3.2 million podcasts out of the box.[iii] For enhanced privacy and added peace of mind, ExpressVPN is now available on all new Nokia smartphones with a 30-day free trial.
Nokia G21
Long-lasting battery life so you can stay connected all-day
The impressive three-day battery life is perfect for those who want to go about their day without worrying about how much battery they have left. Whether its capturing memories with the family, or watching all your favourite shows, staying connected all day is made easy with the new Nokia G11 and Nokia G21.
Turn on the all-new Super Battery Saver mode to extend your battery life even further – you can even choose where exactly the energy savings are made, so you can still access key features that are needed. Nokia G11 and Nokia G21 also allow for this feature to be switched on at any time.
Fast response for increased productivity
Unlocking the power of 90Hz for the first time in G-series, the improved refresh rate makes scrolling and typing even more fluid, and photos look smoother.
Breath-taking photography with Nokia G21
The versatile triple-lens cameras will fully equip anyone to create professional-looking photography, delivering beautiful detail even in low light. On the front, AI smarts ensure your evening selfies will have just the right amount of light and clarity. Also, with AI Super Resolution, the new handsets elevate the zoom quality of your shots for a striking result.
New design, same Finnish durability
Introducing an all-new design, the Nokia G11 and Nokia G21 are thinner and more ergonomic. Made from tough polycarbonate, the new design honours the durability and Nordic excellence you’d expect from a Nokia phone whilst bringing a refreshed look to the range.
For extra peace of mind, the Clear Case is available for both phones, will show off your phone’s beauty. It’s made from recycled materials and can also be recycled after use.
Nokia G11
Plant 10 trees via Ecologi for every Nokia G21 or Nokia G11 purchased
Customers buying the Nokia G21 or Nokia G11 will be given the gift to plant 10 trees via Ecologi. As a first target milestone, HMD Global has committed to facilitating the planting of 1,000,000 trees. Amounting to 308,000 tonnes of carbon avoided over 25 years, the combined effort from customers will be equivalent to over 700 million miles driven in a car or 37,465,935,100 smartphones charged.
Elliot Coad, co-founder & CEO Ecologi: “We are excited to play a part in giving Nokia phone owners the power to plant a million trees. This unique redemption mechanism allows people to redeem and see their own trees, making climate action tangible and personal.”
Pricing and availability
Nokia G21 is available in Ireland starting today in Nordic Blue (navy) and Dusk (dark taupe) in 4/64 GB for €179.99
Nokia G11 is available in Ireland mid-March in Charcoal (dark grey/ black) and Ice (white/blue) in 3/32 GB for €139.99
The Nokia G21/G11 Clear Case is available on Nokia.com/phones for €29.99 (customers can get the case free for the first four weeks when they buy on https://www.nokia.com/phones/en_ie/nokia-g-21)
