Irish agency set up in Far East

BERKLEY has become the first Irish recruitment firm to establish a base in Singapore as part of a big investment that could eventually create up to 60 jobs.

The company, which is based in Cork, is also planning on opening other offices as a subsidiary of its Singapore base over the coming years in locations such as China and Taiwan.

Berkley specialises in information technology, pharmaceutical, life sciences and sales and marketing in Ireland, Britain and Australia.

The company will hire local recruitment specialists in Singapore and offer services to Irish companies looking to set up in Asia.

Director at Berkley Fergal Brosnan said there have been plans to take the business international for a while. He said the firm is realistic about current market conditions but said it is taking a long term approach in Asia.

“The world is not going to stop and as in Ireland our approach to business is simple; do a quality job, go the extra mile, and ensure your business is staffed by experts backed up by world class systems and flexible management and you will prosper.

“We are not going to Asia to be an ex-pat recruiter, which is why our start up team is indigenous, but to combine our contacts and associations to the benefit of the local business.”

Berkley is privately owned by Mr Brosnan and Steve Greenwood but the directors said they would not rule out the possibility of third party investment or merger or acquisition prospects.

“Singaporean and Asian business in general is slow to move to Europe, often for business cultural reasons, but Berkley will ideally be placed to facilitate feasibility for ventures into Ireland as a gateway for both Europe and the USA,” he added.

Berkley is the 66th Irish firm to open in Singapore.