by Hollie Hastings | Mar 8, 2018 | biopharma, Career, Industry, Irish Market, Jobs in Ireland, Medical Technology, Science, Medical and Pharma
The attractiveness of the Midwest as a region to set up a world class manufacturing operation and source top talent across a range of roles was further endorsed this week with the announcement from Edwards Lifesciences to set up a European manufacturing site in Shannon with the creation of 60 jobs initially and further ramping up to 600 employees by 2020. Director of Collins McNicholas, Michelle Murphy, commented, “This is indeed a truly exciting announcement for the region and for the country overall as it puts Ireland firmly on the world stage in attracting foreign direct investment so when a global leader in patient-focused innovations announces such an investment in the country, and in particular in the Midwestern region, we have a lot to be proud about. This comes just weeks after the announcement by Jaguar Land Rover that they too are investing in the region to create a development centre to be based in Shannon and construction is very much underway at present.” Collins McNicholas’ team in Limerick are delighted to partner with Edwards Lifesciences on this exciting new development and are looking forward to working closely with them as they grow their presence in Ireland. For information on opportunities and vacancies please contact one of our specialist recruitment consultants on 061 512278 or follow the link below. Apply Now March 5, 2018 – Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, the global leader in patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring, today announced that the company, headquartered in Irvine, California, USA, has chosen the Mid-West of Ireland for the location of a new plant to manufacture delivery components for its transcatheter heart valve therapies. This new addition to Edwards’ global supply network, which includes a similar existing facility in the United States, will initially be configured to support the manufacturing of therapies that enable minimally invasive procedures on patients’ aortic, mitral and tricuspid valves, where open heart surgery would previously have been the norm. “Today is a wonderful day as we mark this very significant regional investment. The arrival of Edwards Lifesciences is a vote of confidence in the Mid-West region as a destination for high-end medical technology manufacturers,” said Minister Heather Humphreys. “It will provide even more opportunities for local residents and communities to grow and thrive. My department, through the IDA, is committed to supporting Edwards as it establishes operations in Ireland and as the company continues to develop its innovative heart valve technologies.” Added Pat Breen, Minister of State and TD for Clare, “On behalf of everyone in the Mid-West, I would like warmly welcome Edwards Lifesciences to the region. Their presence here serves to highlight the attractiveness of the region as a destination for progressive, innovation-driven companies. I would like to wish Edwards well in their future operations and assure them of our ongoing support.” Edwards is planning to hire approximately 60 people this year in various functions, such as production staff, engineering and professional management, to work at its initial site located in the Shannon Free Zone. The company plans to complete a new, purpose-built manufacturing facility in the Mid-West of Ireland in 2020. Once the facility is fully operational, the company expects it will employ approximately 600 people. Edwards’ investment in the project is expected to amount to approximately €80 million. “The addition of a manufacturing location in Ireland is an element of Edwards’ global supply strategy to support future growth and reliability of supply, and continues the growth in employment Edwards has experienced both in the United States and around the world,” said Joe Nuzzolese, Edwards’ corporate vice president, global supply chain. “Choosing this location included many considerations, but an important one is a talented workforce with experience in medical technology. We look forward to becoming an integral part of the local community through engagement and philanthropic support, and providing educational and professional opportunities for our employees. We are excited to welcome these new associates into Edwards, with the shared goal of serving more patients around the world by delivering high quality life-saving technologies.” The company expects to begin hiring new employees in Shannon by June. People interested in applying for a position can find out more information and submit applications at www.edwards.com/irelandjobs. “This announcement by Edwards Lifesciences that it is establishing a new manufacturing facility in the Mid-West is terrific news for the region and for Ireland,” said Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland. “The company’s arrival further enhances Ireland’s reputation as a preferred location for leading companies in the lifesciences sector. Winning investment for regional locations is a key focus for IDA Ireland and this project is an excellent one to secure for this region.” This project is supported by the government through IDA Ireland. About Edwards Lifesciences Edwards Lifesciences, based in Irvine, Calif., is the global leader in patient-focused medical innovations for structural heart disease, as well as critical care and surgical monitoring. Driven by a passion to help patients, the company collaborates with the world’s leading clinicians and researchers to address unmet healthcare needs, working to improve patient outcomes and enhance lives. Apply...Read More
by admin | Sep 6, 2017 | Guest Blog, Irish Market, Jobs in Ireland, MidWest Relocation Blog Series
LAST May, I was boarding my transatlantic flight at Shannon Airport. It was a busy morning, three of the metal detectors were open, and two people in front of me as we arrived at security. We each had a metal detector! And woosh I was through security – This sums up the “mid-west experience”. Welcome to Limerick, my adopted home! Not everyone is looking to “move back” to limerick and the surrounding area. Some of us, the “blow-ins”, have moved here purely for better opportunities, socially and financially, and so far, we are thriving! I left Donegal in 1995. I came down here to go to University. I completed my Physics degree and ultimately my Doctorate. I thought that I would move onto other things and other places, but as opportunity lead to opportunity, I’ve chosen to stay and avail of those opportunities. I have seen the city undergo a huge, yet silent, transformation. You would expect me to be working in a multinational, but I don’t. I’m working for one of the many smaller high technology companies that cluster around Limerick. We float under the radar. We don’t make the headlines, but we punch above our weight. Many of “us” work with some of the leading fortune 500 companies. There’s a whole community here of companies, big and small, and we exchange ideas, tips and coffees. We meet each other on flights to the US, Europe and beyond. From this part of the world we can support Asia in the mornings, straight through to California in evenings. And, more important, I don’t dread the eight-minute commute home if...Read More
by Niall Murray | Jul 31, 2017 | Irish Market, Jobs in Ireland, Recruitment, Team, Work Life
Collins McNicholas recently had its annual company day in Limerick city. Every year the entire company gets together to have some fun, meet the newest members of our team and catch up on what is happening in the company. We choose a different location each summer, last year it was Killaloe, and everyone was delighted to find out we would be going to Limerick this year. Limerick has tonnes of interesting things to see and do, great accommodation options and the people are terrific. Our day started bright and early when we took part in the launch of the Mid-West Relocation Survey, along with our partners in the Limerick Chamber of Commerce, Limerick City & County Council and IDA Ireland. The survey was a remarkable success. It highlights the vibrancy of the local communities, not just in Limerick but throughout the Mid-West region. Lots of people are relocating to take advantage of the many job opportunities that have appeared because of the regions rapid growth in the last few years. IDA Ireland sited it as the fastest growing region for FDI in the country. Multinational companies are recognising the many advantages of setting up a facility in Limerick, with its large pool of graduates from the University of Limerick, and the overall cost-competitiveness of the region. Recent investments include Regeneron, Element Six, Northern Trust, and Uber, to name a few. That afternoon, following the success of the survey launch, we had a beautiful lunch at the Strand Hotel, where we also stayed that night, before proceeding to the Milk Market for a series of games organised by Get West....Read More
by Niall Murray | Apr 4, 2017 | Economy, General Interest, Industry, Irish Market, Jobs in Ireland
Collins McNicholas has seen a 9% growth in registered job vacancies in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the first quarter of 2016. The number of candidates registering with Collins McNicholas has increased by 1% in the same period. The unemployment rate for February 2017 was 6.6%, down from 6.7% in January 2017 and down from 8.4% in February 2016. As the unemployment rate declines, we are seeing a tightening in the labour market and increased demand for certain types of skills. The biopharma, medtech and software sectors continue to grow and there is increased demand for engineering, science, data analytics and software development skills within these sectors. It is encouraging to see the growth of the Coder Dojo movement and the increased applications in the STEM subjects at third level, positioning Ireland to take advantage of the expected growth in these sectors globally where the competitive advantage is centred on access to talent. The short to medium term outlook for the Irish economy is good. The ESRI forecasts GDP growth of 3.8% in 2017 and 3.6% in 2018, with a corresponding fall in the unemployment rate to 6.4% by the end of 2017 and 5.6% by the end of 2018. Although Brexit will likely have some negative impact on trade, the economic outlook for Ireland’s principal trading partners looks positive in the short to medium term. Domestic factors are playing a more important role in economic growth with a resurgent construction sector expected to be a significant driver of this growth as the housing shortage is addressed. Ireland continues to attract international investment and this year has...Read More
by admin | Dec 7, 2016 | Event, General Interest, Industry, Irish Market, Jobs in Ireland
It won’t be long now until we start reading articles in the national newspapers about Irish people returning home from abroad for Christmas. The emotional scenes are well documented every year as emigrants and their families reunite at airports. For some, it’s been a couple of years since they last saw each other in person. It’s hard to read about, and even harder for those it affects. The emigrant doesn’t always get to call the shots. Distance, cost, having a family, and work commitments decide for most people when they get that chance to visit home. But for every joyous return we’ll read about in the coming weeks, there will be as many tearful farewells by the end of December when people return to their lives aboard. It’s the cruel twist in their Christmas stories. Perhaps you are one of those emigrants? At Collins McNicholas, we understand that taking it a step further and making the decision to move home permanently to Ireland is huge. It’s potentially a life changing decision for you. There will be a lot of ‘what if’ factors to be considered. And often it will be a case of ‘you won’t know until you try’. But one thing that you can do to mitigate how you eventually return home is to get good advice on job opportunities in Ireland. The new life and career you built for yourself abroad doesn’t need to end once you move home. The context might change in some cases, the weather definitely will! But the skills and experience you gained while abroad will more than help you to fit into...Read More
by Niall Murray | Apr 14, 2016 | Industry, Irish Market, Medical Technology
Medical device companies are dispersed across Ireland. The presence of these companies throughout the country means that there is a steady supply of talent in every region, allowing medical device companies to easily set up a facility anywhere they choose. In part 1 of our regional overview of the medical technology industry in Ireland we take a look at the West of Ireland – encompassing the Midwest, West, and North West regions. West Galway is the most important medtech cluster in the country. It accounts for approximately 31% of all medical device employment. Galway has significant expertise in vascular technologies, which are dominated by Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Boston Scientific is the largest medical device employer in Ireland with a staff of more than 4,500 across 3 sites located in Clonmel, Cork, and Galway. Boston Scientific employs around 3,000 people in Galway. Medtronic has roughly 2,000 staff working at its Galway facility, including over 100 employees working in R&D. Other notable companies in Galway include Merit Medical, Creganna, Crospon, and Zimmer, Aerogen, Creganna (800 staff) Mayo has several large multinational medtech companies with manufacturing operations, including Baxter and Hollister. They produce renal dialysis equipment, and ostomy/continence care products respectively. Hollister has invested €80 million in its Ballina plant, which currently employs over 600 people. North West The North West is home to several large medtech companies. Abbott has a number of facilities in the region including Abbott Diabetes in Donegal, Abbott Diagnostics and Abbott Nutrition in Sligo, and Abbott Medical Optics in Mayo. with Irish owned Arrotek and Inblex Plastics based in Sligo. Multinationals B. Braun, Hospira, Amcor Flexibles, and...Read More
