Global sports technology firm STATSports to create over 200 new jobs in Newry

STATSports is planning to create over 237 new jobs over the next three years as part of aggressive growth plans to build on its global success.

As well as job creation, the Newry-headquartered business is making the multi-million-pound investment in R&D and staff training with the support of Invest Northern Ireland.

STATSports is the world-leading provider of wearable player tracking devices and analysis software with offices also in Ireland, London, Chicago and Florida. It has recently launched its Apex Athlete Series, which expands the company’s reach into the consumer fitness tracker market.

Speaking about the investment Alan Clarke, CEO and Co-Founder of STATSports, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for us at STATSports as we embark on the next stage of our journey. We have already established our performance monitoring technology with some of the biggest and most well-known sporting organisations in the world and this investment will allow us to expand our reach even further in both the elite and everyday field sports sector.

“Our staff are highly skilled and incredibly knowledgeable about the sports performance monitoring industry and we will be replicating that with the additional hires. The R&D assistance will also allow us to keep evolving our cutting-edge technology.”

Welcoming the announcement, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley MP said: “STATSports is an award-winning indigenous business, whose reputation across the globe is fast becoming synonymous with world class sport technology.

“The 211 new jobs to be created in Newry by 2021 will, once in place, generate over £7million annually in additional salaries. STATSports’ £5.5m R&D investment in its Apex Athlete and Elite product ranges will also leverage the creation of 26 additional R&D roles in the business.”

Invest NI Chief Executive, Alastair Hamilton added: “This significant expansion to its workforce is an aggressive move to break into new markets and increase sales in Europe, the US, Asia and South America. Invest NI is proud and delighted to be supporting such an innovative and fast moving company to scale so significantly, securing this major investment in the Newry & Mourne District Council area.”

Invest NI has offered STATSports almost £4million towards its investments in job creation, R&D and staff training. Recruitment is well underway in Newry with 93 of the new roles already in place. The jobs include a range of roles in HR, Sports Science, Sales, R&D, Finance and marketing.

Alan Clarke said: “I would like to thank Invest Northern Ireland for their invaluable support in helping propel our business to the next stage of its development. Their willingness to understand the company and align their support with our plans has been crucial to our growth and will enable us to expand the business here in Newry.”

Invest NI’s R&D support is part funded by ERDF under the EU Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014-2020.