SSE, now Ireland’s second largest energy provider, has invested the equivalent of €1million every day for the last five years, bringing its total investment in Ireland to over €2 billion since 2008.
This investment establishes SSE, owner of energy supplier Airtricity, as Ireland’s second largest energy provider employing over 1500 people. Today the company celebrates its 5th Birthday with the acquisition of its new landmark corporate headquarters for Ireland in South County Dublin.
Ian Marchant, SSE plc’s outgoing chief executive and architect of SSE’s significant Irish success over the last five years was joined this morning by Pat Rabbitte TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, at an event to mark SSE’s investment and job creation in Ireland and to celebrate the acquisition of its new corporate headquarters.
Red Oak, a five-storey 8,500 sq mt building at South County Business Park in Leopardstown, Co.Dublin, has been acquired by SSE as the new corporate home for up to 650 of its Irish staff. Including its office locations, energy generation sites, street lighting and energy services depots, SSE operates out of 40 locations across Ireland.
Pat Rabbitte TD, Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, said:“I am pleased to be here today to celebrate the acquisition of SSE’s new corporate headquarters in Ireland. I would like to acknowledge the company’s continued commitment to and confidence in the Irish economy. I welcome the fact that SSE now has over 1500 people in employment on the island.”
Mr Marchant, SSE Chief Executive, said:“From small beginnings in 2008 when we acquired the renewable energy business Airtricity, SSE’s activities in Ireland have expanded rapidly to offer our customers a broad range of high quality customer services. Five years on our growth translates to €2bn invested in Ireland or just over €1m every day since 2008. From just 160 employees in 2008, SSE now employs over 1500 people in Ireland across its range of energy businesses including energy generation, supply and services; thermal and renewable development; and public lighting and electrical contracting.
“Over 400 of these 1500 roles are currently working on the construction of Ireland’s newest 460MW gas-fired electricity generation unit at Great Island, Co. Wexford due to be commissioned in spring 2014, and a further 200 deployed in the development of the company’s wind farms.”