Page 47 - Our Wexford

Liam took up the position of Senior “The reason for choosing Ireland
Director of Wexford Operations at the time was based on the
in 2016 having moved through positive experience some of
the ranks of Waters since he joined the senior Waters Corporation
the company in 2004. “The fact executives had of working with
Waters is based in Wexford was previous Irish operations. They
hugely attractive to me; in 2004 I knew that there was excellent
was working in Kerry for a Japanese well-educated talent in Ireland
pharmaceutical company and, and that the people had a strong
originally hailing from Wexford entrepreneurial spirit. These
and having become a new father advantages still apply today; with
at the time, it was a location I very the plant having grown not only
much desired to live in and raise my organically but also through a
family. Wexford offers an unrivalled Institute of Technology Carlow number of technology transfers.
quality of life and it also affords an with their Wexford Campus and This growth and progression
excellent standard of living. can largely be attributed to the
also Waterford IT through our
“One of the attractions of Waters is Education Assistance Program capabilities of the site and the team
based here. More recently we have
that we continue to provide growth and we feel that a university for also expanded our operations to
opportunities for employees; my the southeast will provide more include research and development
own career progression through talent in the STEM (Science, of reagent kits in support of our
the company is a testament Technology, Engineering and customers requirements.”
to this commitment. I joined Maths) areas and create a cluster
Waters as Quality Manager; I was effect.” “We get an excellent return on
subsequently promoted to Director The improvements in what I call discretionary effort
of Quality Assurance and then infrastructure have made within the plant, our staff have
moved to a Senior Director of Wexford more accessible to a really positive can do attitude.
Quality Assurance role with global Waters executives and customers That culture is a little bit
responsibility for Ireland, the US, globally. Liam says, “We’ve seen infectious here.”
and the UK. In 2016 the Senior a large increase in the number Over the years Liam says that
Director of Wexford Operations of customers who now come to Wexford County Council and the
role came up. It is an excellent visit us in Ireland and this growth local agencies have also continued
fit for me and it is a role I am not only helps to promote Waters to facilitate the growth of the
relishing at the moment.”
business but also Ireland as a company. “We have gone through
According to Liam, Waters’ whole. Our global customers arrive three plant extensions here in
sustained commitment to and are very pleasantly surprised Wexford and Wexford County
investment in manufacturing by the calibre of our people, our Council have always been very
and job creation in Wexford is lean processes and also the modern pro-business and have facilitated
hugely significant. The Wexford facilities that we have to offer.” our discussions around planning
operation is a strategically The company progression in efficiently. We also work closely
important component of Ireland has been phenomenal; with Wexford Chamber, the
Waters Corporation’s global Liam says that the credit for the American Chamber of Commerce,
manufacturing footprint. the IDA, and IBEC through open
company deciding to locate in
“At Waters, we strive to create a Wexford some 20 years ago can days at the plant and site visits for ABOVE:
further potential FDI research
workplace culture that rewards largely be accredited to the IDA. trips. Liam Hore Senior
high performance and encourages “When Waters was looking to set Director of Wexford
and facilitates inclusion, up an Irish operation, the IDA had Waters has helped to advance Operations
participation, and respect.” readily available infrastructure and science in a wide range of fields,
this made it an easy decision for including life sciences, industrial
Liam says that the Wexford plant Waters Corporation. chemicals, environmental
enjoys excellent staff retention management, food safety, and
levels, “We have team members “As we know, when multinationals water quality. As it celebrates more
who started with us a junior level decide to open new operations in a than a half-century of growth and
and have progressed through country, they usually want to do so achievement, the company remains
the company to management within months rather than years. dedicated to supporting the next
level. Waters offer employees While it is great to have green-field generation of groundbreaking
an opportunity to work in a sites it was more important for analytical technology.
multinational within the science Waters to have a facility available –
and engineering sector. that was certainly a deciding factor
for the decision for Waters to open
“We work very closely with
the Wexford plant.

DOING BUSINESS 47