Dozens of Irish companies have registered with a new website that provides employers with direct access to hundreds of professionals offering their services free of charge.TalentTank.ie is the brainchild of two Galway-based businessmen, Tom Hayes and Nigel Murray, who believe the idea will help get Ireland’s struggling economy back on track. Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Hayes explained, “Individuals have the opportunity to network with potential employers while employers benefit from higher productivity without incurring the labour costs. This initiative will allow Irish businesses to become more competitive and begin to set the foundation for future growth. As these businesses grow, so too will the need for new employees.”
Among the professionals already registered with TalentTank.ie to provide services free of charge are Accountants, Engineers, Architects, Sales and Marketing Consultants, Graphic and Web Designers, IT Consultants, Electricians, and Hotel and Catering workers.
Commenting on the background to TalentTank.ie, Mr. Hayes said, “We identified a build up of talent and experience in the Irish labour market brought on by the current economic downturn and the corresponding desire among employers to cut costs and maintain existing business. By tapping into this vast pool of expertise, employers are enabled to have a direct influence on the speed in which they and the country recover from the recession.”
According to Mr. Hayes, “A large number of employers from a range of sectors have so far engaged the services of registered individuals since the website went live earlier this month. Employers have found that the service presents them with the opportunity to become more productive without incurring labour costs while the benefits for those carrying out the work are also evident.” He explained, “The idea is that by working for free, unemployed professionals can both keep themselves busy, and get a foot in the door for when employers have the funds to employ someone”. Mr. Hayes pointed out that TalentTank.ie was not a placement service but a platform for employers and service providers to engage with each other on their own terms.
