Techies gather for Sligo recruitment blitz called ‘Tech On the Wild Atlantic Way’ with hundreds of jobs up for grabs

Dublin is not the only option for those seeking fulfilling careers in tech, biopharma and medtech companies, attendees at the biggest-ever tech recruitment event ever held in the North West were told today.

The ‘Tech on the Wild Atlantic Way’ event hosted by Career Zoo at The Model in Sligo highlighted the benefits of working, living and learning in the North West, West, and Midlands.

With more people seeking a better work/life balance, employers are looking at new, more attractive options to make direct, high-value hires and access new talent pools.

Tech and biotech workers are increasingly finding themselves priced out of the housing market in Dublin and the east coast, with soaring rents and house prices gobbling up their disposable income and contributing to a poorer quality of life.

Centres outside of Dublin have enjoyed a string of new high-end jobs announcements in recent months. Just yesterday US tech firm Overstock announced 100 new research and development jobs at its Sligo base.

Companies attending the Sligo event today included Overstock, Boston Scientific, Abbvie, Ericsson, FRS, and Pramerica all offering roles to experienced candidates.

Other companies and organisations taking part in the Career Zoo event included Co Leitrim firm Cora Systems, Athlone-based PPD, Abbott, and Ireland, VistaMed, FIT, Lionbridge and LiveTiles.

IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland supported the event, attended by over 300 people.

Commenting, Philip Martin, managing director of Cora Systems, who also spoke at the event, said: “Today’s event was a great opportunity for tech companies in the North West to showcase our businesses and to highlight the many opportunities that exist in this area for high-tech jobs.”

Brian hOisin of Career Zoo said: “The turnout today shows clearly that Dublin is not the only option and has a serious fight on its hands in the war for talent. Places like Sligo and across the North West, West and Midlands offer an amazing quality of life that Dublin is struggling to match.”

Earlier, a team of hackers from Institute of Technology, Sligo, led a three-hour high-speed hackathon on a special ‘Tech on the Wild Atlantic Way Express’ from Dublin’s Connolly Station to the event in Sligo.

The hack team took on challenges including public transport accessibility for the mobility impaired, how to help disabled participate in surfing and reducing plastic waste along the Wild Atlantic Way.

The hackathon teams used STEAM; Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Maths for the challenges which will be further explored by IT Sligo researchers.

Career Zoo has been running recruitment networking events for experienced STEM professionals since 2010.