County Galway focus for LookWest.ie Enterprise Campaign |
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The Galway business featuring in the advertising is JFC Manufacturing, a company established by John Concannon in Tuam, and now employing 250 people at centres in Tuam, the UK, Poland and Holland. JFC Manufacturing designs and manufactures moulded plastic components and products using pioneering recycled plastics technology. A large part of their operation at the Tuam Headquarters involves Research and Development of new products and technologies. The overall LookWest.ie campaign, which will focus on a different local authority area over a seven-week period, was launched by Éamon Ó Cuív TD, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Gillian Buckley, CEO of the WDC. Ms Buckley said, “The focus of the LookWest.ie campaign this year is on enterprise and entrepreneurs by highlighting some of the many successful companies who have decided to locate in the region, attracted by the availability of a highly skilled workforce and a truly attractive business environment. Martina Maloney, County Manager at Galway County Council said, “We are delighted to work with the Western Development Commission to promote the county as a business location as we believe that we have everything a modern business could wish for here in County Galway. We have low levels of traffic congestion in most parts of the county and are at the crossroads of further transport development of the National Atlantic and the East West Transport Corridors. The entire connectivity of the county is currently being overhauled through large scale investments in rail, road and air transport and communications infrastructure to provide us with world-class systems. Already we have Fibre Based Broadband Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) in the main towns around the county and wireless broadband in rural areas.” Ms. Maloney continued “There is a vibrant, well-educated workforce available which continues to grow each year with qualified graduates from our third level institutes. We also have three world-class research facilities at NUI Galway, GMIT and the Marine Instutute. For enterprises looking for business space, County Galway has an ample supply of zoned and industrial space and the IDA is currently developing a regional strategic zone. In fact, no matter what size of business is involved, there is a wide range of agencies to support their development including the County Enterprise Board, Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, Údarás na Gaeltachta and our own progressive Local Authority which works to facilitate business in Galway.” “All this is available in a county with great social, sporting and recreational facilities and a network of vibrant towns and great communities, all offering a great quality of life. County Galway has a strong tradition of welcome and we look forward to welcoming new and expanding members of the business community as a result of this campaign,” she concluded. According to Ian Brannigan, Development Manager at the WDC, one of the real drivers for this year’s LookWest.ie 2008 campaign has been the increasing evidence that people are more than ever valuing quality of life as a determinant for where they live and work. “Our research shows that the Western region has this in spades; 67% of businesses surveyed stated that the Western Region had a better work life balance.” He added, “This week the focus is on County Galway and we will showcase a different area each week for the duration of the campaign. The types of highly skilled sustainable businesses showcased typify the innate dynamism of the West and demonstrate how the region is adapting to global demands.” |
