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The IT industry is thriving but there is a sizeable shortage of talent in the workforce. Photo: 123RF

Finding technical talent is currently the single biggest challenge for Irish software technology companies, according to Enterprise Ireland.

Strongly focused on exports, with a 19% increase in 2012, the industry is thriving and one of Ireland's fastest growing sectors, but there is a sizeable shortage of talent in the workforce.

Conscious of this looming barrier to growth a number of Irish software companies came together in 2012, with the support of Enterprise Ireland, to address the problem. The group identified a real need to brand and differentiate the indigenous Irish software technology sector in order to attract the right kind of talent whose personalities, skills and ambitions match their companies' cultures and needs. This lead to the creation of a shared brand, IT's Happening Here, which aims to raise awareness of the largely unrecognised capability and global achievements of the industry and differentiate it as a vibrant, buzzy place to build an exciting career.

IT's Happening Here is centred around a jobs board (www.itshappeninghere.ie) with an international marketing campaign focussed on attracting the right candidates - bright, creative, motivated professionals who are looking for a fast paced, challenging environment and the opportunity to play a part in the growth of Ireland's core technology industry. Over 60pc of the posted vacancies are in core software development but also include IT project management, deployment and product management roles.

Karl Flannery, CEO of Storm Technology Ltd. describes the merits: "Access to top talent and having an industry focussed portal through which we can connect with prospective employees is of critical importance to Storm. The IT's Happening Here portal has provided us with a very cost effective and efficient tool to promote our job vacancies to a local and international talent pool."

Hosting and participating in careers fairs both in Ireland and overseas is also a key element of the IT's Happening Here initiative. Five careers fairs have been held in Spain and Portugal to date and IT's Happening Here will be a major part of Career Zoo for the third time in February 2014 where the indigenous sector will form a TechTown.

John Paul O'Keeffe, Senior Marketing Specialist, with the IT Alliance Group, who recently announced 75 new jobs, summarises the initiative: "The IT's Happening Here initiative has become a formal part of our candidate-attraction marketing plan. We have complimented our presence on the dedicated website through active participation in IHH initiatives, both local and international. As a result we have sourced highly-skilled IT professionals in a very cost-effective way."

The 55 companies participating in the initiative, with an combined turnover of over €600m and employing over 3,500 staff in Ireland are a who's who of the Irish software and IT development industries and include global players like CR2, Ezetop, Fineos, IT Alliance, Ocuco, Openet, Realex, Storm Technologies, The Now Factory, and Version 1.

Source: businessworld.ie

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