By Business & Finance 
Uber, an international transportation network company, and JRI America, business applications provider, have both announced new centres in the southwest of Ireland.
Uber’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Thomas Street, Limerick will become a major hub of Uber’s support organisation across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and is Uber’s first Centre of Excellence outside of the United States and will support tens of thousands of partner-drivers in more than 30 cities in 10 countries.
The company has invested over €4m in the city so far as it aims to make Limerick one of its growing network of customer service hubs across the world. The investment is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland.
Uber signed a 10-year lease on a site on Thomas Street, which underwent a major redesign and refit. Today, the Centre of Excellence will officially open with 100 employees, who have been recruited since August. The centre will house more than 300 full-time staff when fully operational.
Kieran Harte, general manager, Uber Ireland, said: “We are proud to be opening the first Centre of Excellence outside the US in Ireland. The centre is dedicated to delivering a world-class support experience and we have been focused on hiring only the highest calibre of people. The majority of our employees are local, which speaks to the wealth of talent in the greater Limerick area. We look forward to the Centre growing in Limerick as Uber’s business grows across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and throughout Ireland.”
JRI America, who established a software development operation in Tralee, Co. Kerry in 2011 are gearing up for the next phase of growth in Tralee with a move to new, larger premises at Kerry Technology Park in the town.
The Tralee operation supports the Group’s Western Hemisphere IT operations including US, Europe, Moscow, Dubai and other markets.
The team in Tralee has grown to almost 70 staff since the initial announcement in late 2011 with the staff employed there providing support for a broad range of functions including software development, quality assurance, network support, data centre support and technical customer service activities.
Michael O’Dea, president of JRI America, said: “JRI America, working together with the IDA, Kerry Technology Park, Shannon Development, Kerry County Council and a strong network of partners is very pleased to announce the expansion of our operations in Tralee. The new office space will allow us to continue to grow both our staff and the capabilities of the company to support Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s business in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa.”
CEO of IDA Ireland, Martin Shanahan said: “JRI has settled in very well in Tralee since establishing their Software Development Operation here four years ago. The move by JRI to new, larger premises demonstrates the company’s commitment to Tralee and the region. I wish them every success with their future operations in Kerry.”
He continued: “Having got off to a strong start in Limerick since arriving here in 2015, with these new premises for its Centre of Excellence Uber is now poised to develop further, growing its workforce considerably and consolidating its EMEA support structure. The availability of a strong talent pool in Limerick has been an important element of the company’s success to date and will be of future benefit. This investment by Uber is a huge endorsement of Limerick and the region.”
