Calls for Engineers to ‘ think Irish’ when they sign up for new jobs
THINK Irish when you think Engineering. That’s the message from a local businessman whose engineering company is continuing to grow.
Seamus Farrell of SF Engineering has asked Engineers to think Irish when looking about jobs for the future.
Seamus is the driving force behind a global team of 130 people at SF Engineering, a global leader in the design and manufacture of food processing equipment, said that one of the biggest challenges facing indigenous Irish companies was constraint on talent.
“There are a lot of young Engineers graduating in Ireland and either going abroad to work and to gain experience or seeking work with foreign multi nationals based in Ireland.
“The indigenous Irish engineering sector is booming and our main constraint is getting new talent. It’s a real issue for companies like us and we are doing a lot to retain and grow talent as well as recruit the next generation of solution providers for SF head- quartered here in Grange,” he said.
While complimentary of the foreign direct investment sector in the North West Seamus warned that the results of the US election could have serious consequences for employment prospects here.
“If you look at comments from either of the candidates they are both on record as saying that they will “bring American jobs home.” That could have serious implications for employment in the North West given the reliance on the FDI sector in the region.” Passionate about his message to get further talent into the Engineering Sector in the North West, Seamus is taking to the road and speaking to the Sligo Business Network in London in November about the issue. “We face the uncertain prospect of Brexit — and we think it’s fair to say that not even the top figures in the EU and in the British Government know wexactly what effect that’s going to have on Irish employment near our internal border over the next few years.
“Meanwhile, given the effect the global economic crisis had on employment prospects with FDI companies in the region after 2008, this region might face similar challenges again if the global economy struggles over the next couple of years”. Seamus has also commissioned a recruitment video to highlight the great lifestyle on offer in the North West and enjoyed by staff at SF. “We are going to be pushing this video out across the world to target Engineers that want to come to the North West of Ireland and have a great way of life and great career prospects.
“As a company, we operate all over the world from Chile to Russia, from Germany and Poland to Dubai and the Far East. We get to see life all over the world, which is exciting and challenging in equal measure, but it also lets our staff see the benefits of the lifestyle we have here in the north west of Ireland. It’s time people who left Ireland to seek work, or those who have left the North West to work elsewhere realise that the opportunities on offer in this sector in the North West are as good as they will find anywhere in the world. The pace of life and the cost of living cannot be beaten and as an industry we need to be clear and vocal with potential staff, that there are amazing opportunities here, and now,” Seamus added.