Agile Networks announces major expansion

Trade

Agile Networks MD Darragh Richardson, right, with Minister Pat Rabbitte who officially opened the company's new offices in Ballycoolin, along with the announcement of 16 new jobs over the next 18 months.

The networks and services company Agile Networks is to double its workforce over the next 18 months, with the addition of 16 staff.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD,who opened the company’s new offices in Ballycoolin, welcomed the announcement saying that young companies such as Agile Networks were examples of how Irish companies are becoming world class providers of specialist IT services.

Minister Rabbitte went on to acknowledge the importance of foreign direct investment, but said that the Irish recovery would be sustained by smaller, indigenous companies.

“I have no doubt that it is innovative, energetic and imaginative companies like Agile Networks that will drive the recovery,” said the Minister.

The new positions will be primarily in the areas of engineering and technical services, but also across sales and administration.

Agile managing director Darragh Richardson said that the company had achieved success through offering a different service model, despite being founded in difficult economic times.

“Since the beginning, we have set out to become a specialised network integrator, offering a unique ‘focal engineer’ model. We have seen a significant move away from the traditional break/fix model of support to a much more proactive managed service,” said Richardson.

The company has had further reason to celebrate of late, as it scooped a 2014 award for ‘Emerging New Business’ from the Small Firms Association (SFA). Richardson acknowledged the help and support of various groups in contributing to the company’s success, such as the SFA, the Plato Programme Dublin, the Fingal County Enterprise Board, Dublin Chamber and Enterprise Ireland.

Speaking to TechPro, Richardson said that certain key areas would be of importance to the company and the industry in the near future.

The area of software defined networking (SDN) in particular has gone beyond the hype cycle and Richardson said that Agile is now seeing customers looking for information and expertise to implement these technologies. However, on the Internet of Things, Richardson said that it is still a little too early to tell how it will stabilise for businesses, but it was still something to be aware of on the horizon.

TechCentral Reporters

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