A Galway-headquartered business, Schools Websites, is in the running to win a TV3 competition ‘Every Job Counts’ and has also been featured on the Newstalk programme ‘Kick-start Your Business’.
This business specialises in developing website systems which are designed to meet the specific needs of school principals, teachers, parents and pupils alike, as well as reducing time spent on administration and organisation of school management activities through its student management system.
Business partners Jeremy Pagden and Paddy Tamplin, having worked together locally, could see a synergy between them to set up an enterprise together, and founded Schools Websites in 2009. They are now providing employment for 10 people, including themselves.
From basic beginnings of running operations from the spare bedroom with a mobile phone, laptop and broadband connection, Schools Websites soon needed to move to its Sean Mulvoy Road premises as the team grew.
The ‘Schools Websites’ brand was officially launched at the IPPN conference in January 2010. In April 2010, the company took on its first full-time employee — Sarah Anne Bennett, a graduate of environmental science.
As business quickly picked up, her role as telesales operator evolved into customer services and team leader. In May 2010, the part-time role of web developer was created; Mark Aherne soon went full time and is currently lead developer.
In September 2010, with assistance from the Galway City and County Enterprise Board, four more jobs were created, enabling Schools Websites to hire two field sales executives and two telesales representatives.
With a €50,000 prize attached, the ‘Every Job Counts’ campaign is being organised by TV3 to provide a source of encouragement and support to those business people both big and small, who believe the future is bright and there is a way forward.
The most inspiring stories will be selected by the programme producers every day during April and broadcast on air. The TV3 competition continues for the month of April, when a shortlist of four companies will be judged by an independent panel of Irish business people, including Paddy Power head of communications Mary McKenna and Amanda Pratt, creative director of Avoca.
Paddy Power is currently hiring, view the jobs available here.
