Gorey County Wexford March 28, 2019 – GrandPad, the first tablet-based solution designed exclusively for older people, is now available in Ireland and the UK. The high-tech, high-touch company whose mission is to improve the lives of millions of older people, as well as their family and friends, is celebrating its European launch with the opening of its headquarters in Gorey, Co Wexford, Ireland. On Thursday, March 28 at 3 pm, GrandPad will come together with IDA Ireland to announce its long term plan of bringing unique jobs to Ireland, as well as improving the lives of older people. IDA Ireland has been instrumental in the opening of GrandPad’s Ireland office.
Focused on reducing loneliness and improving connectivity among those over the age of 75, GrandPad is complete with apps designed for older adults that use large, clearly labeled icons for video and voice calls, photos, email, music, games, news, weather, and search. According to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, an estimated 400,000 people in Ireland are lonely. Technology can play an important role in helping older adults reduce loneliness and isolation by allowing them to stay connected with loved ones and live independently at home.
“Ireland is a great choice for our European headquarters and we are grateful to our partners at IDA Ireland for endorsing our mission to improve the lives of older people,” says Scott Lien, CEO, and co-founder of GrandPad. “Our product combines high-tech with high-touch and we’re excited to bring more unique jobs to Ireland while offering a new, innovative solution to help improve the lives of elderly people across Europe.”
GrandPad’s unique employment approach could also mean significant growth for small-town economies all across Ireland. In the next five years, GrandPad is projecting to employ more than 75 employees in Ireland. GrandPad’s approach is to hire outstanding employees in rural communities and enable them to work from their home and avoid long commutes. “We have a proven model for providing outstanding customer care,” says Lien, “We’ve found caring, family-oriented, and talented people who we equip with specialized training and advanced tools so they can provide world-class customer care for older people and their families.“
Attending today’s launch event, Michael D’Arcy TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the Department Of Public Expenditure and Reform, said: “I am delighted to welcome GrandPad to Gorey. This is a significant win for County Wexford and the South East Region. It highlights the potential and attractiveness of Co Wexford to global companies as an eminently suitable location in which to establish and grow their business. I wish Scott, Edwina and the GrandPad team every success and will follow their progress with interest."
Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence, Paul Kehoe, welcomed the announcement, saying: “This is a huge vote of confidence in County Wexford from a company that has so much to offer. The investment shows how the South East is an attractive place for potential employers and long may this continue. I look forward to working with GrandPad into the future.”
IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan said “The European launch of this project is significant for Gorey, Co. Wexford, where GrandPad’s headquarters are being located, and for the whole South East Region. The 75 jobs being created, using the remote working model, will spread the benefit in regions. GrandPad’s arrival in Ireland adds to the growing cluster of technology companies in the South East and will act as an excellent reference client for IDA in promoting the region. I wish Scott, Edwina and their team every success in establishing and scaling up their operations here.”
28/03/2019
Ireland