Job skills website creates some of its own with 50 vacancies

AN Irish technology company which has developed a website enabling people with skills to connect with those who need them is increasing its own workforce.

Weedle, based in Blackrock, Dublin, already employs 19 people, and is to create 50 jobs in the development of next generation web applications over the next three years. Thousands of people from over 50 countries and all walks of life have used Weedle, a free service which has been online for just three months, to showcase their skill, expertise or talent. They can also head to Google, with the Weedle users’ skill pages turning up first on the search results.

Those who have joined Weedle include artists, accountants, architects, beauticians, carpenters, copywriters, doctors, designers, electricians, photographers and vets.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe, who announced the 50 jobs, pointed out that the project was supported by Enterprise Ireland.

“Weedle typifies the strong capacity of indigenous Irish firms to innovate in niche markets with high potential on line platforms that can spur the next generation of global internet brand leaders,” he said.

Mr O’Keeffe said internet giants such as Google, Facebook and eBay have concentrated their services in Ireland.

He said Weedle was an export-orientated firm that the Government was keen to support in moving Ireland up the value chain.

Weedle was founded by Iain MacDonald, former chief executive of broadband provider Perlico, and Michael Gallagher, who has worked in telecommunications and financial services in the US and Ireland. Mr MacDonald said they found a free large-scale way to match people with skills to those who need them.

“At Weedle, we are using the power of the internet and the trusted communities aspect of social media to make searching and connecting easier and to generate increased demand for skills and expertise worldwide,” said Mr MacDonald.

Enterprise Ireland’s head of high potential start-ups and scaling, Greg Treston, said “a key element of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy is to grow a strong base of innovative indigenous companies with the products, services and business development strategies that enable them to carve out their own place in global markets and drive jobs and export sales at home.”