| Regional centre profile: Halifax, Shannon |
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| Since 2001, Halifax Insurance Ireland Ltd has grown from 55 to over 300 staff at the end of 2007. Good infrastructure in the region such as the airport; and grants and support from Shannon Development have resulted in the continued growth of Halifax’s Shannon office. |
Based in Shannon, Co. Clare, Halifax Insurance Ireland Ltd is a subsidiary of HBOS plc, one of the UK’s largest banks. It specialises in creditor insurance for HBOS customers.
Business functions located at Shannon include: underwriting, customer services, direct sales, product & market development, finance, HR, training and IT.
Since 2001, Halifax Insurance Ireland Ltd has grown from 55 colleagues to over 300 in 2007. The HBOS Group is one of the UK’s largest financial organisations with 33 of the biggest names in banking and finance coming under its umbrella.
‘Being part of a major multinational financial service group means we need to be able to work with our colleagues and service our customers across many sites – from Leeds to the Netherlands. With modern telecommunications infrastructure we have found we can be fully connected to global business from a regional location,’ said Cian Quilty, sales and service director.
‘In the financial services industry, people are at the centre of what we do – providing great customer service through great people. Our success in recruiting and retaining staff - from accountants to actuaries, insurance professionals to contact centre staff. We have also benefited greatly from the support and grants available from Shannon Development and operating from the Shannon Free Zone,’ said Peter Doyle, finance director.
Shannon International Airport allows Halifax Insurance Ireland Ltd to have easy access to our business partners in the UK. There was a very warm welcome from Shannon Development and other local businesses who offered extensive services and support.
Shannon can also avail of a highly educated workforce with Limerick Institute of Technology, University of Limerick and other educational institutions on its doorstep. Shannon was also able to offer Halifax Insurance Ireland Ltd a state of the art business premises that was capable of accommodating a growing workforce. HBOS have operations throughout Ireland, but expansion of Shannon will be through new products and service development.
Scott Taylor, performance manager, visiting the premises from Leeds, said, ‘I’m impressed by the set up here in Shannon. The office itself is modern and has excellent facilities. The location is fantastic; it certainly makes a change from working in the middle of a city.
I find the office really easy to access - it’s only 10 minutes from Shannon Airport and I’ve never encountered any traffic congestion when I’ve been over here so that makes travelling to and from the office a breeze.’ |
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| Article appeared in the April 2008 issue.
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