Tag: enterprise ireland

Ireland Opens Markets at the London Stock Exchange

Ireland’s Minister for Financial Services Robert Troy, today became the first Irish government minister to open markets at the London Stock Exchange (LSE), marking Ireland Day and the growing innovation partnership between the UK and Ireland’s financial services sectors.

Hosted by Enterprise Ireland – the Irish government’s trade and innovation agency and Europe’s third-most active VC investor in fintech – the event highlighted record investment, expansion and landmark acquisitions by Irish financial services and fintech firms in the UK, including Ireland’s Fexco Group’s acquisition of Sainsbury’s Travel money this year. The acquisition marks a major expansion for Fexco in the UK’s retail foreign exchange market. The deal announced during the summer, increases Fexco’s UK retail footprint to more than 460 locations, as well as introducing over 18 million Nectar members to Fexco’s travel money services.

Minister Robert Troy commented: “Ireland and the UK are indispensable partners in today’s financial services ecosystem. Sustained investment in Irish fintech and their growth and expansion in the UK, has played a pivotal role in shaping excellence across the City and the wider UK market. Today’s announcements demonstrate how Irish firms are not only investing at home but are also creating jobs and establishing a permanent presence in the UK, benefiting both the UK and Irish economies.”

Supported by nearly €1 billion in VC funding over the past five years, Enterprise Ireland-backed fintech companies are tackling critical industry challenges in compliance, data analytics, cybersecurity, risk management and digital transformation across the UK and global markets.

More than 200 Enterprise Ireland financial services and fintech clients are now active in the UK, investing, scaling and partnering with the country’s leading financial institutions. Today’s ceremony coincided with significant announcements from four Irish firms addressing pressing UK market needs:

•    Version 1, Ireland’s largest home-grown technology company, will mark its 30th anniversary in 2026 and continues to deliver on its major announcement of 1,000 UK AI-related jobs and a £40 million investment programme. Recently its collaboration with NatWest to embed responsible AI governance across the organisation won “Best Data Governance with AI Initiative” at the DataIQ awards.

•    Fenergo, the global leader in client lifecycle management, currently employ 35 people in the UK and will 10-15 new UK roles over the next year.

•    CWSI, a leading Irish cyber security provider today announced a strategic partnership with Bristol based Changing Social, an AI Workplace Transformation consultancy. The collaboration is expected to generate revenues in excess of $40m in the next 24 months across Licencing, Consultancy and Associated Services. Together, the two Microsoft partners will help organisations unlock the productivity and innovation potential of Microsoft Copilot and other AI-driven technologies without compromising on security, compliance, or control.

•    Clear Strategy, a leading Irish data and AI consultancy, is expanding from 34 to 50 specialists in the coming quarter as it grows its UK presence and launches ‘Tempo’, its reference data management solution, into the UK market.

•    ID-Pal, the global leader in AI-powered identity verification, has unveiled the latest enhancements to its fraud detection feature, ID-Detect. Fresh off winning Biometric Authentication Innovation of the Year at the 2025 Payments Awards, ID-Detect’s authentication engine identifies signs of digital manipulation and the markers of AI-driven document fraud. Recent results include preventing fraud valued at +£3m for car-financing platform Finset.

Kevin Sherry, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, added: “The UK is Ireland’s largest country export market and a strategic priority for Irish tech, financial services and fintech companies. We are laser-focused on forging high-value business connections and supporting Irish firms to enter, scale and invest in the UK.

“The global financial industry faces a number of mounting pressures – regulatory complexity, escalating cyber and fraud risks, green compliance, data silos and AI bias. Irish firms are building world class customer solutions that are agile, scalable, and secure. They’re helping UK institutions navigate regulatory complexity, unlock new efficiencies, and stay competitive in a fast-moving landscape.”

Hosting the Irish delegation at the London Stock Exchange today, Dame Julia Hoggett, CEO of the London Stock Exchange said: “Today has been a historic day. We are delighted to have welcomed Minister Robert Troy, the first Irish government Minister to open our markets, alongside Enterprise Ireland and some of Ireland’s most innovative companies. This celebration reflects the long-standing and important ties between the financial services industries of the UK and Ireland.”

The UK market is the largest country export market for Enterprise Ireland backed client companies. In 2024, 29% of total client exports, valued at €10.52bn, went to the UK and representing a 4% increase on 2023. Tech, financial services and business services exports to the UK accounted for €1.2 billion in 2024, with tech increasing by 12% and fintech increasing by 5% on the previous year.

Ireland Day at the London Stock Exchange will conclude with a dinner reception at the Irish Embassy in London, hosted by the Ambassador to Great Britain, Martin Fraser, attended by close to 100 senior leaders from across the UK and Ireland’s financial services industry.

Irish companies participating in Ireland Day at the London Stock Exchange, included: Binarii Labs, Clear Strategy, CWSI, Daon, Fenergo, Fexco, Fund Recs, ID Pal, and Tines.

Saros announces 50 jobs €8M investment in global expansion

Saros Consulting, a global leader in IT consulting and strategic project management, today announces global expansion plans, which include the creation of 50 new jobs and a €8M investment. In addition to the new jobs, the investment covers a new HQ in Dublin and the establishment of a global delivery hub in Cape Town, South Africa.

Headquartered and founded in Dublin, Saros provides IT consulting services covering areas including digital transformation, cybersecurity and mergers and acquisitions. The company currently has a presence in the UK, Switzerland and the US.

Over a two-year period, the next wave of Saros’s expansion will see the company strengthen its presence in existing markets, while entering South Africa – supported by Enterprise Ireland – as a new market. The jobs – split across all of Saros’s key markets – and investment will accelerate the company’s growth in its core sectors of life sciences, financial services and retail, while enabling it to scale its global resourcing business.

As part of the investment, Saros has opened a new HQ in Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin, which is designed with collaboration spaces and break-out rooms to support the company’s expanding workforce. The Cape Town team will support Saros’s growth across Europe and Africa, providing fully remote solutions to businesses across both continents.

The new roles will be in the areas of project management, IT consulting and business development, supporting Saros’s mission to provide high-quality, scalable resourcing solutions to multinational clients.

Ray Armstrong, co-founder and CEO, Saros Consulting, said: “Today’s announcement marks a major milestone in our journey to becoming a truly global player. With this investment, we are not only creating new jobs in Ireland and South Africa, but also strengthening our ability to deliver flexible, remote-first services to enterprises across multiple regions. The investment represents our confidence in the future of distributed work and our commitment to building a truly borderless consulting practice.”

 Justin van der Spuy, co-founder and CEO, Saros Consulting, said: “South Africa offers a strong talent pool and a strategic gateway to global markets. The quality of technical talent emerging from South African universities, coupled with the country’s mature IT services sector, make it an ideal location for our first African hub.”

Fenergo creates 300 new jobs in Ireland with €100 million investment

Leading Irish Software as a Service (SaaS) financial technology solutions provider Fenergo, has today announced 300 new jobs at its global HQ in Dublin. This is part of a €100 million Research, Development & Innovation (RD&I) expansion plan supported by Enterprise Ireland. In addition to the new roles in Ireland, which will double the domestic headcount, Fenergo is creating new jobs across its international markets to meet increasing demand for its AI-powered solutions. A total of 500 new positions will be filled by the company globally within the next three years.  

With support from Enterprise Ireland, Fenergo has also invested in a new RD&I Centre of Excellence at its Dublin HQ where the new Irish roles will be based, supporting Fenergo’s innovation strategy. The new roles will enable Fenergo to further deliver on its mission to support financial institutions in fighting financial crime and creating a safer world. Fenergo will continue to build out its intelligent, AI-powered solutions for client lifecycle management (CLM), anti-money laundering (AML) and Know your Customer (KYC). This suite of solutions forms Fenergo’s FinCrime Operating System, which addresses all anti-financial crime events and operations, transforming compliance from a burden into a strategic competitive advantage. 

Recruitment for the new roles is now underway, with candidates being sought for a wide range of mid-level engineering and R&D positions. Fenergo is also rolling out a graduate programme with the intention to appoint up to 30 university graduates. Interested candidates can find more information about the new jobs and submit applications via: Let’s Grow Together | Fenergo. 

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD welcomed the jobs announcement: “The government and Enterprise Ireland are committed to supporting and accelerating the scaling of ambitious, innovation-led Irish companies. Fenergo is a clear example of ambition in action – a company that has expanded at pace since it first launched in 2009, and one which today represents a standout financial technology solutions provider both globally and domestically. Today’s announcement not only represents significant job creation within the Irish market and excellent opportunities for our homegrown talent, but it also reinforces our position as one of the largest and most important tech hubs in Europe. I would like to commend Fenergo on this milestone expansion and their continued investment in Ireland, which I’m confident will underpin further growth for the company while supporting our economy.”  

Marc Murphy, CEO and Founder of Fenergo, said: “I am delighted to announce Fenergo’s significant expansion in Ireland with the creation of 300 jobs at our new RD&I Centre of Excellence, which was made possible with the considerable support and investment we have received from Enterprise Ireland. This investment and growth of our Irish operations reflect our confidence in the excellent talent pool we have in this country, and a market where innovative thinking, entrepreneurship and evolving technology will propel Fenergo to new heights. With AI at the core of our RD&I strategy, we are committed to delivering future-proof solutions for financial institutions in Ireland, across Europe, the UK, America, Middle-East and Asia – supporting them during times of intensifying geopolitical tension and regulatory uncertainty.  

“We are actively recruiting for the new roles already, and I would strongly encourage prospective candidates to consider applying and join our world-class team of change-makers at Fenergo – shaping the future of financial services operations through innovation and AI.” 

Kevin Sherry, Interim CEO, Enterprise Ireland said, “Ambitious companies like Fenergo embody Enterprise Ireland’s mission that Irish owned, globally focused companies will be the primary driver of our economy. Fenergo, announcing 500 new jobs today, is a great example of an innovative Irish company growing customers, adding RD&I to drive forward AI powered solutions and creating an impact in global markets. I’d like to congratulate Marc and the team on this expansion and we look forward to working with them.” 

Due to the continued strength of Fenergo’s export activity, along with a growing portfolio of financial services clients in the Irish market over the past two years, Fenergo delivered a substantial profit in FY25 and is tracking well to deliver strong EBITDA profitability in this financial year, FY26.  Fenergo’s investment in its Irish and international expansion is expected to further bolster its ability to serve international markets while also growing its domestic business. 97% of Fenergo’s revenue in the year ending March 2025 was generated from exported business. 

Enterprise Ireland Export Results 

This expansion announcement was made in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland’s client company export results for 2024. Enterprise Ireland today announced that its clients have achieved record exports of €36.75bn in 2024, up 7% on 2023, with all territories and major sectors recording increases, surpassing the 2022 – 2024 strategy target of €30bn exports.  

Exports to Europe, grew by 8% to €10.63bn representing 29% of total exports. This is the first time that exports to this region have surpassed the UK, making Europe now the largest export territory for Enterprise Ireland’s client base. 

·       Within Europe, the Eurozone, which represents 26% of total exports, continued to perform. Exports increased by 9.6% to €9.42bn in 2024 with growth across the majority of countries, including Germany, the Netherlands and France. 

·       The UK, now the second largest export territory for clients achieved €10.52bn exports in 2024, up 4% on 2023 and surpassing the €10bn mark for the first time.  

·       North America also delivered growth, with exports of €7.30bn in 2024, up 8% on 2023. USA, the main export market had exports of €6.66bn, up 8% on 2023. 

 

All sectors showed strong export growth. The Food and Sustainability sector reached €16.25bn, up 5% on 2023. Non-food exports surpassed this, achieving €20.5bn, up 8%, with the Industrial and Lifesciences sector recording €11.46bn exports, up 9%. Of this, High Tech Construction exports increased by 20% to €4.66bn. 

The Technology and Services sector also grew, with exports of €9.05bn achieved in 2024, up 7% on 2023. Of this, Digital Tech exports reached €3.16bn in 2024, up 9% on 2023. Fintech, Financial & Business Services also saw an increase, up 5% to €2.90bn in 2024.  

Enterprise Ireland client companies spent €42.65bn in the Irish economy in 2024, including €13bn on payroll.  

 

Welcoming Enterprise Ireland’s export results, Minister Burke said: “The strength of Ireland’s exporting base of companies is reflected in Enterprise Ireland’s strong 2024 export performance results. Despite a more challenging international environment, Irish exporters have made significant gains and continue to grow their influence internationally. These companies are a critical part of the Irish economy, and the government through Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting this sector to scale further, while preparing for and mitigating against disruption in global trade tariffs.” 

 

Announcing Enterprise Ireland’s export results today, Kevin Sherry Interim CEO of Enterprise Ireland said: “Despite ongoing challenges in recent years, such as economic headwinds and rising costs our client companies continue to show their agility and resilience as they scale internationally, achieving yet another year of record export growth with €36.75bn in exports in 2024. This robust performance by clients like Fenergo, reflects a strong and resilient exporting base which fuels our economy, delivering sustainable prosperity nationwide.” 

 

“Our results show that for the first time Europe has surpassed the UK as the number one export territory. This demonstrates that while our client base continues to grow exports in the UK, there is less reliance and dependency on this one market with many clients broadening their base and winning business in other markets. Amid future geopolitical instability, Irish businesses proven ability to diversify across markets will stand to them when facing challenging and uncertain times. Enterprise Ireland remains committed to supporting companies as they explore potential mitigation and market diversifications strategies to navigate the challenges of export tariffs.” added Kevin Sherry.

The Giant to Launch U.S. Tour in Las Vegas

The Giant Attractions Company Limited today announced the highly anticipated U.S. debut of The Touring Giant, a breathtaking fusion of art, engineering, and immersive storytelling. The seven-storey tall moving statue, covered in next-generation video LEDs, will premiere this autumn in Las Vegas, kicking off a multi-city tour of the United States.

Simultaneously, plans are advancing for The Giant in Dublin, following the completion of a feasibility study conducted by PwC and co-founded by Dublin City Council and Enterprise Ireland.

The Touring Giant stands on a custom-built stage, flanked by massive LED video walls and connected to one of the world’s most advanced scanning and content systems. Throughout the day and evening, visitors experience a spectacular fusion of light, motion, and sound, featuring digital storytelling, iconic cultural moments, and real-time activations. The attraction is set within an immersive, festival-style environment complete with themed food and beverage offerings, retail, AR/XR games, artistic installations, and unforgettable interactive features.

”The Giant is unlike anything the world has seen,” said Paddy Dunning, CEO of The Giant Company. “It speaks, sings, recites poetry, and transforms into historical figures and celebrities. It is a magnet drawing people back into the city, an attraction, a show, a civic landmark, and a global branding platform. Most of all, it’s a celebration of human creativity built to inspire, promote the advancement of human potential and positive messaging. We are thrilled to bring The Touring Giant to the U.S., and proud that Dublin will soon host a Giant as well.”

Each visitor pays an admission fee to enter The Giant. The standard ticket includes The Giant Experience, an immersive walkthrough exploring giants from legend and mythology to local heroes, and global gamechangers, followed by The Giant Show – a 30-minute digital spectacular – created by award winning U2 video director, Richie Smith, where the Giant and artistic magic come to life through next-generation animation, motion graphics, dynamic storytelling, and interactive features.

Guests can upgrade for The Selfie Experience, where they are scanned and mapped onto The Giant’s face and surrounding screens resulting in the world’s most awe-inspiring selfie.

“We are entering a new era where public art, storytelling, and technology converge to create living monuments,” said Eric Fraad, Director of Development. “The Giant is not just seen, it is experienced. Every show is a cultural dialogue, powered by AI, human imagination, and groundbreaking engineering. It redefines what is possible in civic engagement, interactive entertainment and brand celebration.”

The Giant brings a bold new dimension to brand storytelling, offering unmatched opportunities for immersive activations. Sponsors can align with deeply emotional, visually stunning content on a platform capable of real-time customisation, interactivity, and social sharing at a scale that exceeds even the most ambitious experiential venues.

The U.S. tour will include multiple high-profile stops following the Las Vegas premiere aligning with major sporting and entertainment events and national celebrations including, the Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup, FI and the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Meanwhile, The Giant Company Attractions Limited is rolling out three formats of the attraction globally:

  • The Permanent Giant : A 40–60-meter-tall, fixed installation. Visitors enter The Giant Experience Immersive Production to ascend and explore a panoramic viewing tower on the Giant’s shoulders.
  • The Touring Giant:  A 20–40-meter-tall modular version with immersive infrastructure, traveling to cities for temporary residencies and festivals.
  • The Indoor Giant:  A 15–20-meter-tall Giant installed in large indoor public venues with full scanning and visitor experience zones.

With intellectual property rights secured in the U.S., Europe, and key global markets including China, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, The Giant is positioned to become one of the most recognisable and admired visitor attractions worldwide.

 

Allbound and Channel Mechanics Unite Under a Single Brand: Channelscaler, creating 50 new high-tech jobs

Channel Mechanics + Allbound, two established leaders in the Partner Relationship Management (PRM) and Channel Program Automation space, has announced the successful completion of their merger. The unified entity will now operate under the new brand, Channelscaler.

Welcoming the company’s announcement to create an additional 50 highly skilled positions to support market demand for its platform, Galway based Minister Hildegarde Naughton said “Galway’s reputation for a highly trained and skilled workforce continues to attract significant investment, as evidenced by Channelscaler’s job announcement today. Having witnessed the company’s incredible journey and seeing their ambitious growth plans I have no doubt they will continue to put Galway on the map as the global leader in channel automation software.”

This strategic rebrand marks a significant milestone, combining the strengths and expertise of both companies. Channelscaler represents a shared vision for the future of partner program execution: intelligent, integrated, and built to scale.

“Today marks a significant milestone as we go to market under a unified brand uniting two incredible companies,” said Kenneth Fox, CEO, Channelscaler. This isn’t just a name change, it’s a statement of intent. We’re combining intuitive partner engagement with enterprise-grade automation to deliver what channel leaders need most: the platform, data, and insights to scale partner revenue – with confidence and clarity.

Speaking at the announcement, Anne Lanigan, Divisional Manager for Technology & Services at Enterprise Ireland, said, “Enterprise Ireland has worked closely with Channelscaler since 2011 and we warmly welcome today’s expansion and rebrand announcement. Channelscaler’s success and growth in the space of channel sales highlights Ireland’s position as an international hub for innovation. As part of our new five-year strategy, Enterprise Ireland’s ambition is to accelerate sustainable Irish business with globally focused businesses like Channelscaler becoming the primary driver of the economy. Enterprise Ireland looks forward to working with the team to continue to support their growth ambitions as they expand their customer base internationally whilst continuing to create jobs here in Galway.”

In 2024, global trade reached an all-time high of $33 trillion, with indirect revenue accounting for greater than 70% of all purchases according to Canalys. Recognizing this immense and growing opportunity, Channelscaler, backed by Invictus Growth Partners, is dedicated to empowering companies that sell to, through, and with partners to take advantage of this opportunity. Creating a frictionless channel and streamlining partner program delivery enables businesses to thrive in this ecosystem driven economy.

“This is a better-together combination, creating a robust partner management platform that scales from small SaaS companies to Fortune 100 global powerhouses.  With US$7.46 billion in channel software revenue in 2024, and a projected US$13.48 billion by 2028, this growth highlights the crucial role of automation and data-driven decision-making in partnership success.” – Jay McBain, Chief Analyst – Channels, Partnerships & Ecosystems, Canalys

Channelscaler creates competitive advantage for its customers across every stage of the partner lifecycle. It delivers measurable ROI by simplifying partner operations, accelerating indirect revenue and reducing cost of channel sales.

“We drove the consolidation of Allbound and Channel Mechanics because we saw immense potential in their combined strengths to set the standard for excellence in channel sales software. This strategic rebrand to Channelscaler aligns with the company’s mission to power partnerships and deliver ROI for our customers” said John DeLoche, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Invictus Growth Partners.

Ends

For more information about Channelscaler, the most comprehensive platform for PRM and partner program automation on the market, visit https://channelscaler.com/.

Google-led initiative to support Irish businesses returns

Google is today calling for entries to the third annual You’re the Business Competition. Delivered in partnership with Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) , You’re the Business is an online platform offering digital training and tools to businesses in Ireland free of charge. The competition element will reward businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to digital at different stages of their journey with those selected set to receive a Google digital support package, one-to-one mentoring and the chance to win a bespoke, AI-powered advertising campaign.

The competition is open to businesses across Ireland. Entrants must submit a written entry no longer than 200 words telling their story around how they’ve utilised or enhanced digital skills in order to help their business grow or succeed online.

The judging panel, comprising representatives from Google, EI, and the LEO’s with You’re the Business alumni and past winner Sarah Timony of ADAPTAFASHION will assess the entries based on their response to the prompt ‘Tell us why you’re the business’. A PDF must be uploaded to the competition submission box on the You’re the Business website by 21 March 2025.

This year’s initiative takes on a new AI-focus. The You’re the Business online platform has access to new training modules where users can explore AI tools and learn how AI can help them prepare for the future. Selected businesses will receive a digital support package from Google which includes a one-year Google Workspace Business Standard subscription with access to AI-powered tools like Gemini Advanced and NotebookLM and a one-to-one consultation from Google experts on how to get the best out of Google Workspace. Winners will also receive a You’re the Business trophy and digital assets and will be invited to attend a dedicated Winners event in Google’s EMEA HQ in Dublin.

New this year, the company or founder that has demonstrated the most creative or effective use of digital skills to grow or enhance their business will receive a one-of-a-kind prize; a bespoke AI-powered advertising campaign, created by Google AI with a team of experts in partnership with the winner.

Cera Ward, Managing Director at Google Ireland  said:

“We are so excited to launch the third-annual You’re the Business competition and look forward to learning more about these companies, their challenges, and digital ambitions. We know that AI has the power to revolutionise the way we do business which is why we have made it a key focus of this year’s initiative. Google wants to support these companies as they take the next steps on their AI journey.”

 

Carol Gibbons, Divisional Manager. Entrepreneurship, Regions & Local Enterprise at Enterprise Ireland:

“Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices are committed to empowering Irish businesses to succeed online. Our collaboration with Google on initiatives like this competition is a key part of that commitment. We are thrilled to partner with Google on this exciting opportunity and look forward to discovering the innovative ways businesses are approaching their digital growth. We’re here to support them every step of the way on their digital journey.”

John Magee, Chair of the Local Enterprise Office Network said:

“We are committed to helping Irish businesses thrive in a digital world, and this initiative, delivered in partnership with Google, is just one of the many ways we continue to support our clients on their digital journey.”

Speaking at the launch announcement, past winner and judge for the 2025 competition Sarah Timony [pictured], CEO and Founder, ADAPTAFASHION:

“Participating in the You’re the Business competition was a fantastic experience. The programme provided me with invaluable support and resources that directly contributed to the growth and success of ADAPTAFASHION. I’m so grateful for the opportunity and would encourage fellow founders to participate in this year’s initiative to see how far digital can bring you on your growth journey.”

Entries are open now with further information on the You’re the Business competition available at: g.co/yourethebusiness

Grant assistance announced for businesses with Cybersecurity

Enterprise Ireland and the National Cyber Security Centre today launched the Cyber Security Review Grant which will assist SMEs to take steps to review and update their online security measures to mitigate against the risk of cyber-attacks.

The grant will be administered by Enterprise Ireland, in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre.  It will provide Enterprise Ireland clients with access to cyber security experts who will conduct an initial independent review of the company’s cyber security status, identify vulnerabilities, and develop a clear roadmap for the business to enhance their security measures.

The Cyber Security Review Grant is being made available from €85 million in funds that have been allocated to the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment through the European Union’s NextGenerationEU funding instrument for supporting the digital transformation of enterprise as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. This funding is being channelled into:

•    The Digital Transition Fund for the establishment of a digital portal and to provide for direct to company supports.

•    Four European Digital Innovation Hubs with the aim of helping companies (notably SMEs) access research infrastructure, technical expertise and experimentation in order that these organisations can ‘test before invest’.

A suite of digital supports for enterprise is already available under the Digital Transition Fund through Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Cyber Security Review Grant launched today expands on the digital supports available from Enterprise Ireland to its clients under this Fund.

Businesses that avail of the Cyber Security Review will receive consultancy from a qualified, external cyber security expert who will investigate current company practices and review the technical implementation of both on-site and cloud software. A detailed report in line with National Cyber Security Centre’s best practise will then be delivered, outlining actionable steps to improve the company’s cyber security position.

Speaking at the launch Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Dara Calleary TD said: “Irish businesses are increasingly using AI and advanced digital tools to achieve success in international markets. Ensuring the security of the data used in these tools is a crucial foundation for this success. This new cyber security grant will ensure that Irish businesses who embrace digitalisation to strengthen and grow their business can do so with total confidence in their online security.”

Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Emer Higgins TD said: “Irish businesses are leading the way and setting the standard for digital transformation across all sectors. They understand the value of enhancing their digital security. I am delighted that the Cyber Security Grant will provide support with the essential first steps towards achieving international best practices in cyber security, an increasingly important factor when competing for business on a global stage.”

Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy Ossian Smyth TD said: “DECC’s Statement of Strategy, Le Chéile 25, sets an ambitious objective to realise a vibrant and expert cyber security industry in Ireland. The collaboration of the NCSC with Enterprise Ireland to deliver this first-of-its-kind grant scheme represents a key milestone in Le Chéile 25 and in the National Cyber Security Strategy 2019-2024.”

Anne Lanigan, Divisional Manager, Technology Services, Enterprise Ireland said: “Leveraging digital tools can significantly enhance your company’s capabilities. However, it is crucial to invest in protecting sensitive information and mitigating the risk of cyber-attacks. This is especially important as recent advancements in AI have made smaller businesses more attractive targets for malicious actors. The Cyber Security Review aims to help business examine any pitfalls which may leave their systems open and vulnerable to compromise and allows them to put the appropriate measures in place. As we enter into International Cyber Awareness month I would encourage EI clients to avail of the support to help them remain one step ahead in an increasingly heightened cyber threat environment.”

Speaking at the launch, the Director of the NCSC, Richard Browne noted: “I’m delighted that we were in a position to partner with Enterprise Ireland in designing the Cyber Security Review Grant. Not only will this enhance the cyber resilience of our Irish businesses, but it supports indigenous Irish enterprises to build up our industrial capacity in cybersecurity.”

The support is available to Enterprise Ireland clients with 80% of the fixed project cost covered to the value of €3,000, encompassing all project expenses, including consultant time and other related costs.

To learn more and apply online visit www.enterprise-ireland.com/cybersecurityreview.

Enterprise Ireland launch the Founder of the Year Award 2024

Enterprise Ireland today launched the High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) Founder of Year Award 2024. The overall winner will be announced at an awards ceremony which will take place on Thursday, 17 October 2024 at the Gibson Hotel, Dublin 1.

This year 67 High Potential Start-ups are eligible for the award which will be whittled down to nine finalists.  Pictured from among the eligible companies are Heidi Davis, co-founder of Peri and Darren O’Reilly, co-founder of Whole Supp.  On the 17th October, a peer nominated group of the nine companies will present to the judging panel, who will decide the final winner.

The Founder of the Year award forms an important element of the Enterprise Ireland HPSU Founders Forum. Now in its ninth year the HPSU Founders Forum, which is delivered in partnership with Select Strategies continues to grow with over 450 founders having participated to date from a variety of sectors including digital technologies, medical devices, fintech, food, engineering and construction. The objective of the Forum is to provide a platform for founders to help founders succeed internationally and scale faster.

Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, “The Founder of the Year Awards promotes Ireland’s ecosystem of entrepreneurs who have displayed the potential and commitment to building their businesses and realising their global ambition. We are delighted to build on the success of the Awards which is now in its sixth year, and the Founders Forum which acknowledges and celebrates high-performance, innovative Irish start-ups. I wish all the nominees the best of luck in the run-up to the awards night in October.”

Integrity360 invests €8M in new Security Operations Centre in Dublin and creates 200 jobs

Integrity360, one of the leading pan-European cyber security specialists today announces that it has invested €8 million in its new Security Operations Centre (SOC) facility in Dublin.

As part of its growth plans, the company is also set to create approximately 200 jobs across the group over the next three years, with 50 of those based in Ireland. The majority of these roles will be for cyber security consultants, analysts and architects. Currently, Integrity360 employs circa 100 people in Ireland and approximately 500 across the wider group.

Based in the high-tech, fully secure Termini building in Sandyford, the new facility spans 16,000 square feet. It comprises the SOC and seven customer suites, as well as a training and innovation centre. It is also equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and infrastructure, along with modern collaboration areas, workspaces and meeting rooms.

The purpose-built facility will expand the company’s pan-European network of SOCs and will enable it to drive further business growth and client success in both Ireland and further afield through cutting-edge solutions and services – including Managed Detection and Response (MDR), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Extended Detection and Response (XDR) solutions, all of which provide for the monitoring and management of customer IT networks on a 24/7 basis for potential cyber attacks and threats.

Furthermore, the Sandyford facility will be the group’s largest SOC utilising the latest technology and secure biometrics systems. The organisation has three other SOCs located in Sofia, Stockholm and Naples. As one of Europe’s leading cyber security specialists, Integrity360 has offices in the UK, Bulgaria, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Lithuania, and Ukraine and serves approximately 2,000 customers across the continent.

This investment follows a number of acquisitions by Integrity360 in recent years. Back in June 2021, Integrity360 received a major strategic investment from leading London-based private equity firm August Equity, operating in partnership with IT and cyber industry veteran Ian Brown who serves as the CEO and Chairman of the group.  Since then, it has acquired Caretower in the UK, Netsecure in Sweden, and Advantio which operates across continental Europe.

Through the rapid expansion of the organisation’s operations across the UK, the Nordics and continental Europe, group revenue is expected to exceed €115 million in 2023. Founded in Dublin in 2005, Integrity360 has built up an impressive customer base over the years which consists of both mid-market and enterprise companies across a wide range of sectors including financial services, insurance, government, healthcare, retail, telecoms and utilities.

The Integrity360 group specialises in and provides a comprehensive range of professional, support and managed cyber security services that identify and assess, protect and prevent, detect and analyse and respond and recover cyber risks and threats. These include incident response, penetration testing, consulting and compliance, cyber infrastructure design and project management.

Speaking at the opening, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney welcomed the announcement: “I am delighted to join the Integrity360 team in their highly impressive new Security Operations Centre. Integrity360 is an Irish indigenous company that has grown and developed to compete on a global scale and the announcement today of 200 new jobs globally with 50 based here in Dublin shows that Ireland is to the forefront of development and innovation in the cyber security space. The Government through Enterprise Ireland looks forward to continued engagement with Integrity360 to support their business development.” 

Ian Brown, Chief Executive and Chairman of Integrity360, said: “We are delighted to have made a further significant investment in Ireland with the opening of our new state of the art facility in Sandyford, which includes our largest SOC. The investment is another significant step in our growth plans as we look to expand our team, and enhance our service offering to help our customers stay ahead of the merging threat landscape. It will allow us to further strengthen our position across Europe and the UK as a leading cyber security specialist.”

Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said: “Enterprise Ireland has been working with Integrity360 since 2012 and seen first-hand how this innovative company has gone from strength-to-strength, growing a strong customer base internationally and continuing to recruit here in Ireland. It is a testament to the vision and hard work of the team that this Irish company has grown to be a significant international player in the growing cyber security sector working with global brands. Supporting Irish companies with the ambition to scale globally is a key priority for Enterprise Ireland and we look forward to working closely with Integrity360 to optimise their full international growth potential, creating and sustaining jobs in Ireland.”