Microsoft first opened its doors in Ireland in 1985 with a small manufacturing facility employing just over 100 people.
Since then, Microsoft Ireland has grown to encompass four distinct operations at its campus in Sandyford in Dublin. The company now employs more than 1,200 full-time employees and 700 full-time contract staff.
Microsoft Ireland encompasses three separate divisions: Microsoft EMEA Operations Centre (EOC), Microsoft European Development Centre (EDC) and the Microsoft Sales, Marketing & Services Group (SMSG), which supports Microsoft’s business across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The divisions cover a broad range of functions, including R&D, engineering, localisation, finance, billing, logistics, supply chain management, as well as local sales and marketing.
In late 2007, Microsoft announced its intention to locate the company’s first Windows Live EMEA Data Centre in Dublin, with an investment of US$500m. The data centre, which is under construction, will be located at Grange Castle Business Park, Co Dublin.
Microsoft Ireland prides itself on its ‘entrepreneurial culture’, encouraging employees to generate and exchange ideas. This emphasis on developing a trusting workplace culture ensured Microsoft Ireland was the overall winner in the Best Workplaces in Ireland 2009.
As well as this, Microsoft Ireland has always participated in the local community, running initiatives such as Imagine Cup and the School of the Future programme under its Unlimited Potential programme. As well as this, it is a member of Business in the Community Ireland (BITC), and has participated in BITC’s Schools mentoring programme since 2005.
