Errigal blazes a trail with first ever innovation award

The specialist construction firm has continued to diversify through the creation of a design group and the use of cutting-edge 4D tech to support its projects

Cormac McCloskey, managing director, Errigal: ‘We have taken the time to reset and reflect, which has allowed us to see what we are doing well and where we need to concentrate’. Picture: Simon Jacobs

Errigal, the specialist construction company, is on track to reach revenues in excess of £300 million within the next five years.

Headquartered in Monaghan, Errigal is in the process of redeveloping the 70-acre former Enkalon site in Antrim, with plans to create a £20 million centre of excellence for off-site construction.

Overseas, meanwhile, the firm is also in expansion mode with new permanent bases opening in Switzerland and Germany.

Specialising in partition systems, external façades, interior fit-out, ceilings, and other bespoke solutions, Errigal already has a dedicated manufacturing facility at its headquarters in Monaghan, a regional office in Derry and international bases in London, Zurich and Amsterdam.

“This is a really exciting time to be a leading company in our industry with developments in technology allowing for new approaches to the management, programming and delivery of construction projects,” said Cormac McCloskey, co-founder and director of Errigal Contracts.

“We have embraced this and believe these technologies will play a big part in our success over the years to come.”

McCloskey founded Errigal over 20 years ago with Damien Treanor, his business partner.

“Over the past couple of years, we have taken the time to reset and reflect, which has allowed us to see what we are doing well and where we need to concentrate over the coming months and years,” McCloskey said.

“We have diversified and acknowledge that change, no matter how small, is essential to the continued and future success of our business.”

The development of a strong design group within the company has brought new opportunities, allowing for creative collaboration with the architects and main contractors on projects, as well as their clients.

The design group not only provides solutions to Errigal and its clients, but will also soon begin partnering with design houses and clients to bring their visions to reality.

“We are investing heavily in digital construction methods like Building Information Modelling (BIM), which delivers a wide range of benefits,” McCloskey said.

“BIM enables the group to take building plans and transform them into 3D representations of how the finished project will look, as well as layering in 4D representations, to give detailed scheduling of the construction process.”

Over the past ten years, in partnership with its clients, Errigal has also developed a strong and experienced team in the delivery of data centres throughout Europe. Its successful strategy has helped to drive the company’s sustained growth over this period.

“We self-deliver on every project from start to finish and this has been a key factor in delivering quality time after time,” Treanor said.

“It gives us full control on a project, meaning that we can ensure all work is delivered to a high standard. This has been a significant benefit for our clients and is part of the reason for our continued growth in Europe.”

In all, Errigal employs 1,400 people including 300 in its data centre operation. “With our portfolio of work, we are rightfully considered a leading company in the delivery of data centres across mainland Europe, Ireland and the UK,” Treanor said.

With global demand for cloud services on the rise, Errigal is gearing up for continued growth in the years ahead. The company recently commenced work on its 50th data centre in Frankfurt.

“With over €180 million of contract works now completed, the expertise and relationships forged will allow our continued growth in this dynamic sector,” McCloskey said.

As it continues to grow in Ireland and overseas, Errigal’s progressive approach has now been recognised in Ireland’s Best Managed Companies awards programme.

The company has clinched the Best in Innovation Award, launched this year in association with Salesforce.

To support the selection of Errigal as the inaugural winner of the Best in Innovation Award, Deirdre Purcell, area vice president for Ireland at Salesforce, has joined the judging panel of Ireland’s Best Managed Companies awards programme.

"Errigal is a market-leading construction company, driving its business through digital construction methods,” Purcell said. “It invests heavily in technology and people, which positions it as a leader in bringing new technologies to the industry.”

As a trusted digital adviser to chief executives and companies in Ireland, Salesforce supports companies of all sizes in the acceleration of their digital transformation.

“We are proud to attend Ireland’s Best Managed Companies awards and sponsor the Best Innovation Award, and we recognise an incredible wave of ingenuity from businesses operating in an era of fast-paced digital transformation,” Purcell said.