Local jobs saved in time for Christmas

As a member of the Fingal County Enterprise Board I have seen plenty of good news stories in 2011. Fingal is buzzing with lots of new start-up companies rising from the ashes of the Celtic Tiger. 

The FCEB provides a range of supports to help anyone establishing a new business and owner/managers of existing small businesses who wish to grow their enterprise. The supports include an initial 'First Stop Shop' service for business information, management skills training, business advice, networking opportunities and financial supports.   

One of the FCEB successes is reported on below by Jack Gleeson in the Northside People.

Darragh Richardson, Managing Director of Agile Networks Ltd pictured with Oisin Geoghegan, CEO, Fingal County Enterprise Board 

SIX local jobs which were under threat in Dublin 15 have been secured just in time for the festive season. 

Start-up company Agile Networks in Blanchardstown, which specialises in network integration, was formed following a management buy-out of the Irish operations of Telindus just last month and the jobs were guaranteed last week following approval of a substantial enterprise grant. 

The Business Priming Grant from Fingal County Enterprise Board is worth up to €80,000 and it ensures that six high value jobs are retained permanently.

The grant-aid will also help create another full-time job and two long term contract posts, as the company plans to meet growing customer demand in 2012.

In August 2011, the Irish-based operations of Telindus was served with closure notice, which would have led to the loss of the six jobs. Following discussions between the management buy-out (MBO) team and its parent company in the UK, Fingal County Enterprise Board was able to support the fledgling venture, ensuring that the assets, liabilities and customers of Telindus in Ireland was transferred over to Agile Networks. 

The MBO team was led by the former country manager for Telindus, Darragh Richardson, who has now taken up the post of managing director for Agile Networks.

“These jobs are centred on the design, implementation and support of complex networks and related services to major enterprise and public sector customers,” he said.

“All staff members have significant expertise in networking, working for major enterprises like Siemens Networks, eircom, Damovo, 3Com and Smart Telecom.”

Oisin Geoghegan, CEO of Fingal County Enterprise Board, presented the company with an enterprise grant at their Ballycoolin offices last week.

“Due to the successful efforts of the MBO team, combined with the support of the Fingal County Enterprise Board, six high value jobs, which had been under threat, have now been secured,” he said.

“We are pleased to see that the company is predicting future job growth for 2012 and that we have been able to support the new company in a practical and impactful way.”

The Fingal-based company provides professional services to large public sector bodies, multinationals, and export-oriented Irish companies. The company also offers a networking portfolio including well-known manufacturers, such as Juniper Networks and Extreme Networks.

Following the MBO, Agile Networks and Telindus have signed mutual services agreements, to ensure continuity of service. Telindus will provide Agile Networks with support for their international customers, with an affiliate network reaching 60 countries.

In addition, Agile Networks will support Telindus’ legacy customers within Ireland.