Ground Control to create 150 new roles as part of €5 million investment in Irish market launch

UK-headquartered external maintenance and biodiversity experts, Ground Control today announced 150 Irish-based roles as part of a €5 million expansion into the Irish market.

Founded in 1973, the company specialises in driving environmentally sustainable solutions for the commercial and public sector markets. It currently employs 1,100 across its UK operations and has annual revenues of €228m (£195 million) per annum.

Ambitions for the Irish market

Ground Control delivers a range of external maintenance and energy solutions services including grounds maintenance, winter gritting, arboriculture, solar, and electric vehicle charging point installation, amongst other products and services. In doing so, the company utilises its technology-enabled approach to guide clients on their path to carbon reduction and biodiversity gains.

Its agile business model allows it to partner with local field-based companies to deliver expert-led, tech-enabled solutions for clients, whilst enhancing and protecting local ecosystems.

As part of its Irish market expansion, its ambition is to become the number one net zero, biodiversity-gain-led grounds maintenance, energy, and decarbonisation company in the country.

Its new Irish operations will be headquartered in Dublin, with a second office in Belfast. In addition, it will be recruiting for new roles and field team partnerships across the island of Ireland in 2024.

The company has an all-island presence and has already secured more than €2 million in Irish-based contracts in the year to date.

A sustainability-led business model

Central to Ground Control’s business offering is its commitment to nurturing the physical environment via greater biodiversity and decarbonisation. The company is B-Corporation certified and is committed to being carbon net zero by 2038.

As part of this commitment, the company seeks to enable public and private- sector organisations to decarbonise, optimise energy consumption, and utilise renewable energy sources, including accelerating the journey to e-mobility.

Collaboration with field-based teams

The 150 new roles will include a blend of employees and local field-based teams across the island of Ireland. The company will look to collaborate with local companies and micro-businesses to deliver a sustainability-led product offering and one that supports public- and private-sector clients on their decarbonization journeys. In doing so, local partners will benefit from Ground Control’s in-house expertise, technology infrastructure, brand assets, and training resources to support their business growth.

Delivering expertise, innovation, and scale

According to Ground Control’s country director for Ireland, Declan O’Gorman:

Ground Control is a leading external maintenance, energy and biodiversity expert, committed to enhancing and improving the physical environment.

Our decision to launch the business in Ireland is an informed and strategic one, supported by the renewed commitment to sustainability on the part of both the Irish public and private sector. Irish organisations, ranging from local councils to major retailers, large manufacturing companies, and property and facility management companies, are actively seeking partners who share their dedication to delivering upon their sustainability targets through an evidence-based approach.

Our unique and agile-led business model involves close collaboration with local field-based companies, leveraging our extensive expertise, scale, and experience to support our operations, secure new contracts, enhance our overall sustainability expertise, and accelerate local business growth. To this end, we are eager to commence our recruitment efforts and engagement with local Irish businesses as part of our commitment to growing our local footprint and empowering new talent from across the Island as we embark on this exciting journey.

An opportune time to expand into Ireland

According to Ground Control Managing Director, Jason Knights:

We are confident that Declan will bring his considerable experience in the markets to support us to continue our expansion across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. I look forward to working closely with him to deliver our services across these markets. We are excited about the possibility this brings us towards our ambition of operating in other international markets in the future.

As Country Director for Ireland, the first six months will focus on the company's brand and profile and creating growth in service lines most relevant to the market.

Ground Control currently offers grounds and winter maintenance, pothole repair services and arboricultural services across Ireland in both the public and private sectors, and looks to offer the full portfolio of our services from energy management solutions and electric vehicle charging provision to biodiversity assessments and enhancements.

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