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Niall Quinn to kick off Irish IT recruitment campaign Niall Quinn to kick off Irish IT recruitment campaign
(7 months later)
The former Arsenal and Sunderland striker Niall Quinn has been enlisted in a campaign to help fill 1,500 vacancies in the Irish-owned software sector.The former Arsenal and Sunderland striker Niall Quinn has been enlisted in a campaign to help fill 1,500 vacancies in the Irish-owned software sector.
The Republic's unemployment rate remains at over 14% of the overall workforce, with more than 450,000 people on the dole. But the Irish IT sector needs to recruit more highly skilled staff, showing that Ireland is still a significant international hub for computer and hi-tech industries.The Republic's unemployment rate remains at over 14% of the overall workforce, with more than 450,000 people on the dole. But the Irish IT sector needs to recruit more highly skilled staff, showing that Ireland is still a significant international hub for computer and hi-tech industries.
Quinn, who has branched out into the IT business, joined the state-owned Enterprise Ireland body on Wednesday to encourage software professionals from the Republic to come forward, and those from overseas to come to the country.Quinn, who has branched out into the IT business, joined the state-owned Enterprise Ireland body on Wednesday to encourage software professionals from the Republic to come forward, and those from overseas to come to the country.
The campaign is centred on the new IT's Happening Here website, where Irish-owned software companies can post their jobs. An aggressive marketing campaign, across social media in particular, is now under way to drive potential applicants to this site and help fill the 1,500 vacancies in these companies.The campaign is centred on the new IT's Happening Here website, where Irish-owned software companies can post their jobs. An aggressive marketing campaign, across social media in particular, is now under way to drive potential applicants to this site and help fill the 1,500 vacancies in these companies.
IT's Happening Here is an industry-led initiative of the Irish-owned software industry, supported by Enterprise Ireland. It will be represented at the Career Zoo recruitment event, on 22 September, with a selected 16 of the 600 Irish-owned software companies participating on the IT's Happening Here stand at the convention centre, in Dublin.IT's Happening Here is an industry-led initiative of the Irish-owned software industry, supported by Enterprise Ireland. It will be represented at the Career Zoo recruitment event, on 22 September, with a selected 16 of the 600 Irish-owned software companies participating on the IT's Happening Here stand at the convention centre, in Dublin.
Quinn's company, Q Sat, will soon be searching for technically gifted professionals. He said: "The Irish have always been a creative people, and our IT industry is a demonstration of this creativity. The Irish-owned software industry is leading-edge, innovative and dynamic, and contributes significantly to both our economy and our culture. We are looking to attract the very best talent, from graduate to director level, to keep us at the top of our game."Quinn's company, Q Sat, will soon be searching for technically gifted professionals. He said: "The Irish have always been a creative people, and our IT industry is a demonstration of this creativity. The Irish-owned software industry is leading-edge, innovative and dynamic, and contributes significantly to both our economy and our culture. We are looking to attract the very best talent, from graduate to director level, to keep us at the top of our game."
Jarlath Dooley, chair of the industry working group behind IT's Happening Here, added: "There are currently 1,500 open vacancies in this industry. These roles offer exciting opportunities to really contribute, have your voice heard and your ideas implemented. To paraphrase George Bernard Shaw: 'We dream things that never were and ask, why not?'"Jarlath Dooley, chair of the industry working group behind IT's Happening Here, added: "There are currently 1,500 open vacancies in this industry. These roles offer exciting opportunities to really contribute, have your voice heard and your ideas implemented. To paraphrase George Bernard Shaw: 'We dream things that never were and ask, why not?'"
Welcoming the initiative, Jennifer Condon, manager of the software division at Enterprise Ireland, said: "Finding IT talent is currently the single biggest challenge for our software companies. Strongly focused on exports, the Irish-owned software industry is one of our fastest growing indigenous industries, delivering double-digit growth in exports every year. It is crucial that we attract talent to the industry to ensure continued growth at this level."Welcoming the initiative, Jennifer Condon, manager of the software division at Enterprise Ireland, said: "Finding IT talent is currently the single biggest challenge for our software companies. Strongly focused on exports, the Irish-owned software industry is one of our fastest growing indigenous industries, delivering double-digit growth in exports every year. It is crucial that we attract talent to the industry to ensure continued growth at this level."
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