Australian consumer network One Big Switch is to create 20 jobs in IT, PR, customer service, administration, media and campaign management by 2016 with the establishment of European headquarters in Dublin city centre.
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland is supporting the investment.
Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food Simon Coveney, TD, met with One Big Switch’s co-founder Lachlan Harris in Sydney yesterday.
“One Big Switch is a highly innovative consumer-driven company,” Coveney said. “I am delighted to announce the company’s decision to locate its European HQ in Dublin. This is a strategically important development for the company and Ireland will play a pivotal role in its international expansion.”
Harris said the company chose Ireland for its expansion into Europe because of the country’s similarities with Australian law, the language and cultural connection, the assistance of IDA Ireland, and the location of Ireland as a gateway to Europe.
One Big Switch is a consumer network that negotiates group discounted offers on household utilities on behalf of customers.
The work of One Big Switch
The company also runs media campaigns that elicit interest from consumers in saving money on utilities and banking charges. Consumers then sign up on to OneBigSwitch.ie. The company then negotiates an exclusive group discounted deal with the provider and offers it to its customers.
One Big Switch has run a number of successful campaigns in Australia, where it has more than 500,000 subscribers.
Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland, said IDA Ireland’s Growth Markets Division is actively targeting a number of companies in Australia and that this investment will help IDA’s marketing efforts.
One Big Switch launched in Ireland last month with the Big Energy Switch, a campaign to attract group discounted gas and electricity. More than 30,000 people have signed up to the initial campaign.
Welcome to Dublin sign via Shutterstock
