Clearhill, which provides leisure vending machines and gift cards to shopping centres across Ireland and the UK, is investing £750,000 to enhance its Banbridge headquarters.
And it also has plans to grow its team from 36 people to 50 by 2027, and is currently recruiting a variety of roles including a marketing manager, customer success manager, customer service agent, and talent & culture manager.
The expansion, due for completion by December, will introduce a new open plan office space, a workshop for preparing and refurbishing products, bathroom facilities for staff including a shower room, meeting spaces for training and meetings, a fully equipped canteen, kitchen and social area and a passenger lift to ensure accessibility.
Also included in the project is an investment in bespoke Microsoft Dynamics management systems to enhance the customer experience including a new customer service platform and a client portal.
Operating since 1992, Clearhill (www.clearhill.com) provides a range of entertainment solutions from kiddie rides to claw machines via its FunHub brand, and Gift Card solutions via its Cleargift Brand, to 400 prominent retail locations across Ireland and in Britain.
It recently marked one year since the launch of its FunHub app, which provides a unique platform for engagement and interaction to loyal customers.
Clearhill director John McAreavey said: “The expansion of our headquarters marks a significant step in our journey. As a brand, we are at the forefront of retail and leisure options and as a leader in the industry, we are committed to providing the best solutions for our customers. We are working collaboratively with our excellent team and the project managers to ensure there is no disruption to our services during this work.
“The project will increase the space available to our team that are behind preparing our FunHub products, such as our top-class engineers and technicians.
“Beyond the customer-associated facilities, the investment is in our people as we are providing a comfortable, modern workplace and environment that caters to their wider needs, that they look forward to working in.”
Director Brian McAreavey added: “The team here is what makes Clearhill so great, and we want to thank our staff for their hard work and dedication. In addition to operational functions, the new expansion will offer us more space for hosting training and development workshops for our employees.
“We have plans to increase our workforce across the next three years and the new space is part of this three-year plan.
“As the retail and leisure industry continues to evolve, so must we and the introduction of bespoke management systems will enhance our ability as a business to serve our clients and customers better and align with our strategy of continuous improvement. This project is a significant step in our journey as a business and as an employer.”