IT recruitment company’s expansion creates 56 jobs

A global IT recruitment firm plans to begin work within weeks on an office expansion that will see employee numbers almost doubled.

The approval of Cork City Council for the extension of the leased premises at Penrose Quay paves the way for Oxford International’s proposed investment. An additional 56 jobs are planned for the firm which helps match IT and engineering personnel to its clients around the world from its Cork offices.

“We’re delighted that Cork City Council has granted planning permission for our office expansion. We plan to commence the work early next month and are looking to complete by the end of the year,” said John Murray, Oxford’s vice-president for European Operations.

Cork is the European headquarters of the US firm, which is a division of On Assignment, and will also be the parent firm’s largest European office. The new jobs are mostly recruiters, account managers and administrative positions at the office which primarily serves markets in western and central Europe, Scandinavia and eastern Europe.

“We’re delighted this expansion is taking place in Cork and that’s due to the incredible work and commitment of our local team here, as well as the continued support we receive from our US head office and senior management,” said Mr Murray.

The planning application was lodged at the end of May by Kevin O’Leary, the company’s landlord on the site at Penrose Quay. Its city centre location was cited by the firm as an ideal place to help attract prospective employees, given the proximity of the bus and railway stations and also the various link roads from all directions into the city.

The IDA Ireland-supported firm increased employee numbers in 2011 from 40 to 68, followed by an extension of office space at the Cork base, where the company first located in 1998. It is hoped to have employee numbers rise to 130 by the middle of 2016, with sales staff rising from 58 to 116.