REMOTE working and other changes prompted by the pandemic have provided a business boost for a Lahinch-based tech company who is to double the size of its workforce.
HRLocker, a specialist in the use of human resource (HR) solutions, is to create 50 new jobs such is the rise in demand for its services. The new roles, many of which will be in Sales and Marketing, are said to be a direct result of the huge shift to remote working prompted by Covid-19.
The company automates the administrative elements of HR, such as performance management, absence management, continuous professional development and timesheets and also offers a range of tools to help manage remote teams. In response to demand from clients, over the course of 2020, HRLocker introduced a number of new features to support remote and blended working. These include geolocation logins, contactless clock-ins, employee self-service and digital noticeboards.
Adam Coleman, CEO of HRLocker, said employers are now actively looking for technologies that minimise disruption and ease the transition to new ways of working.
“In 2020, we saw a huge rise in HRLocker platform users and early figures indicate that trend is going to continue,” he said. “The expansion of our team will enable us to continue delivering great software solutions, that connect businesses and their people, at scale. We are expanding our sales and marketing team to bring more support to new and existing customers, while our investment in product development and customer support will allow us to continue innovating and configuring our platform to meet the unique HR needs of the market going forward.”
Mr Coleman himself is a strong advocate of flexible working and work/life balance, having moved from the UK to Ireland in the mid-2000s. As an avid surfer, he found himself drawn to the coastal town of Lahinch, considered many to be the surf capital of Ireland. Choosing to put lifestyle first, Adam set up his own HR Consultancy in 2005. Since then, the company has flourished from having just two employees to over 15. However, it wasn’t until 2011 the company was approached by Assembly Point, a software development firm in Cork City, and became involved in the development of what would become HRLocker. Adam decided to buy HRLocker completely in 2013 and pivoted from being a HR Consultancy to a tech start-up.
A work/life balance is strongly encouraged within HRLocker and members of the team are encouraged to take up to two hours of ‘surf time’ per week.