Sligo Going from Strength to Strength as the MedTech Industry Continues to Grow

A recent article in the UK newspaper The Times described Sligo as “one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets”. This is an increasingly popular viewpoint by those looking for a place to live and work as well as for businesses looking for a new base of operations.

There are lots of reasons that people have this viewpoint. Quality of life is one that is often talked about. An example of this is getting to work. After all, the average commute to work in Sligo is about 22 minutes, leaving more time for leisure activities and spending time with family and friends.

The cost of living in Sligo and the natural environment are also often cited. Importantly, all this is underpinned by a strong and growing economy.

Strong Jobs Growth

To illustrate this, we can look at some key figures. For example, Sligo was key to the almost 26,000 jobs announced by IDA client companies in the western region of Ireland in 2018. Many of the biggest announcements were for jobs in Sligo.

Also, the number of people recorded as jobless in County Sligo dropped by 13 percent in July 2019 compared to the previous year. This is according to figures from the Central Statistics Office.

The Government pointed to its focus on creating jobs in Ireland’s regions as well as key infrastructure projects as being among the drivers in this reduction in the number of people without a job.

Those infrastructure projects include:

• The upgrading of a section of the N4 where work is ongoing to turn it into a dual carriageway
• The construction of Phase 2 of the Sligo Western Distributor Road which started in March 2019
• The upgrade of O’Connell Street in the centre of Sligo

These projects benefit businesses as they more efficiently filter commercial traffic into and around Sligo and the main industrial/business areas. The major infrastructure projects that are ongoing and are due to start soon will also further improve what is already a thriving and busy town centre.

Success Story

All the above bodes well for the business community and for those looking to relocate for work. Both are interconnected, of course, as businesses need a supply of workers with the right skills while employees need career and employment options so they can, for example, change jobs if the fit isn’t right without having to relocate to a different area again.

In Sligo, employees have multiple options when looking for jobs, particularly in MedTech and technology-related industries.

Furthermore, businesses in Sligo have access to some of the best talent in the country, although with the pace of growth currently occurring in Sligo, the region needs more people to choose to build their career, raise a family, and enjoy the quality of life that Sligo has to offer.

The Future

This message – the “secret” that The Times newspaper talked about – is starting to get out there as more and more people choose to move back to Sligo after being away. Many are also choosing to move here for the first time.

Each member of the Atlantic MedTech Cluster strongly promotes Sligo as a place to live and work as well as a place that businesses will benefit from investing in. This includes medical device companies as well as businesses in a wide range of other industries.

The MedTech industry here is one of the most important success stories but the growing economy is creating many more.

Find out more about the members of the Atlantic MedTech Cluster and the job opportunities they currently have available:

Verus Metrology

Ward Automation

SL Controls

ATS

Arrotek

iNBLEX

Tool & Gauge

Pharmaceutical Stainless Supplies