Business

Newry-based STATSports to take on 237 staff in multi-million pound global expansion

STATSports founders Alan Clark, left, and Sean O'Connor, right, are pictured with Jeremy Fitch, Invest NI and Secretary of State Karen Bradley. The Newry-based has announced multi-million pound expansion, which is to create 237 jobs
STATSports founders Alan Clark, left, and Sean O'Connor, right, are pictured with Jeremy Fitch, Invest NI and Secretary of State Karen Bradley. The Newry-based has announced multi-million pound expansion, which is to create 237 jobs STATSports founders Alan Clark, left, and Sean O'Connor, right, are pictured with Jeremy Fitch, Invest NI and Secretary of State Karen Bradley. The Newry-based has announced multi-million pound expansion, which is to create 237 jobs

A NEWRY-based sports analytics company, which counts the likes of Manchester United, the Irish rugby team and NFL franchises as clients, is creating 237 jobs as part of a multi-million pound expansion.

STATSports, a world-leading provider of wearable player tracking devices and analysis software has announced a major recruitment drive over the next three years as part of aggressive growth plans to build on its global success. The innovative firm, which has further offices in the Republic of Ireland, London, Chicago and Florida, has also announced a £5.5 million investment in R&D.

The 237 roles, 92 of which are already in place, will generate an additional £7 million in salaries annually and include a mix of roles in HR, sports science, sales, R&D, finance and marketing.

CEO and co-founder of STATSports, Alan Clarke said the investment will allow the company to grow its expanding international client base.

“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 best 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," he said.

“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.”

Invest NI has offered STATSports almost £4m in support towards job creation, R&D and staff training.

Invest NI’s executive director of business and sector development, Jeremy Fitch said they are proud to supporting the growing company.

“This significant expansion to STATSports workforce is an aggressive move to break into new markets and increase sales in Europe, the US, Asia and South America."

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley, who attended yesterday's announcement described the investment as "brilliant news for Newry and Northern Ireland as a whole".

"Once again, local businesses are making a huge impact on a global scale, with exceptional talent and world-class innovation," she added.

STATSports has enjoyed an unprecedented level of success already this year, with the sports analytics company securing a lucrative £1bn deal with the US Soccer Federation, which will result in the world’s largest player data monitoring programme, as well as announcing a tie-up with the Brazil Football Confederation.

Just last month the company launched its APEX Athlete performance monitoring device for the consumer market, making its pioneering wearable technology, worn by the likes of soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, available to amateur athletes for the first time.

Founded in 2008 by Alan Clarke and Sean O’Connor, STATSports has changed the way sport is analysed, coached and viewed by combining cutting edge technology and sports science. The Newry firm now supplies clubs in the English Premier League, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur and the Brazil, Germany, Portugal, Belgium and England football associations. The GAA,IRFU, NFL, NHL and NBA also use the company’s APEX units to help drive improved performance.