A worldwide technology leader, Cisco is this month celebrating ten years in Co. Galway.
The establishment of the Oranmore site in 2006 was the brainchild of former Senior Vice President Barry O’Sullivan, star of Dragon’s Den.
Galway was recognised as posing a “big opportunity” for Cisco due to the fantastic skillset of workers in the region and the support of the IDA, according to R&D Site Leader Pat Hession.
Beginning with just four employees, the company has grown to employ just under 200 people today. Now a major innovation hub and R&D site for Cisco’s Global Collaboration business, the site is home to leading innovations that remove barriers to accessing and using technology for work-based activities.
“We’re doing very high-end research and development here which is a very positive thing for the region. It says a lot for the skillset and the people we have,” says Mr Hession.
The US global leading technical company had a very busy week last week, winning ‘Best Workplace’ in Ireland for medium sized businesses at a ceremony in Dublin, and celebrating its ten year anniversary on Friday.
Speaking at the celebrations, IDA Chief Executive Martin Shanahan said, “Over the past ten years Cisco has thrived in Galway and the company brand has since become synonymous with innovation. Cisco has contributed significantly to the local economy and enhanced the reputation of the county as a prominent tech hub.”
The company employs a mix of staff from high-end software developers, graphic designers, user-experience developers to marketers and sales representatives. “We’ve a fantastic location, building and internally, we’ve got great culture with different types of jobs and facilities,” says Mr Hession.
In the last 3 years, the company has placed a major focus on cloud computing including voice and video communications, new technology areas which are strategically important for the future of the business and which are now centrally developed in the Galway site under the brand name of Cisco Spark.
At the Galway site, the company also places a major focus on “family and team culture” and has fully embraced socially responsible community and charity engagement.
“We have estimated that over the ten years we’ve probably raised close to €300,000 on the site for various local and national charities,” says Mr Hession. A charity is chosen each quarter, with the company currently fundraising for Pieta House.
“It has really bonded us as a team and it makes way for some fantastic experiences and fun opportunities,” he says. The company also has a sports and social club and provides employees with five paid days for volunteering purposes annually. Last Christmas, 70 employees helped COPE Galway with hamper packing and delivery over three days.
Cisco is a major sponsor and presence at the annual Galway Science and Technology Festival and members of Cisco staff were instrumental in the establishment of the Atlantec conference. Cisco also help to support IT skills for all ages, including ‘Age Action’ complimentary computer classes for elderly members of the local community, provided by staff, supporting ‘Girls in Tech’ programmes with local secondary schools and engagement with university students across multiple initiatives.
Its recent birthday celebrations also included a ‘Bring Your Kids To Work’ event, attended by nearly 100 children.
The company and Cisco Galway site are “in a great position moving forward”, but Mr Hession stressed that there is a need to prioritise broadband services in rural areas, to enable more people to work from home.
“We build technology that allows people to work from anywhere and as part of that, we need to continue to improve our broadband especially in the more rural areas.”
When it comes to challenges for the future, Mr Hession is confident about the position of the American company in the current political climate.
Mr Hession and other senior leaders at the Galway site lead teams from across the globe, from the west coast of the US to India, and working from Ireland helps to “engage across all of those time zones almost in one day, that’s something that’s very difficult to do from the US”.
“Being connected to Europe is important. Companies still need a presence in Europe if they want to sell into Europe,” he says, recognising that being part of the EU is an advantage. “The reasons why Cisco invested here: people; advanced software R&D skills; and location still remain 100% the same.”
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