Type
Business expansion
Country
United Kingdom
Region
Scotland; South Western Scotland; Glasgow City
Location of affected unit(s)
Glasgow
Sector
Information / Communication
Information Communication Services
Telecommunications
61 - Telecommunications

100 jobs
Number of planned job creations
Job creation
Announcement Date
6 November 2006
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date

Description

KeyPoint Technologies, a Glasgow firm that plans to set a global standard for next generation of text messaging, is to create 100 high-skilled jobs in Glasgow. The announcement coincided with a visit to the company's Hillington site by First Minister Jack McConnell. Mr McConnell hailed the new jobs as more evidence of a 'reverse brain drain attracting thousands to Scotland'. Mr McConnell said: 'This announcement of the creation of more high-technology jobs here in Scotland is an indication of how we have moved on from the days of reliance of large-scale inward investors who shifted to cheaper locations.'

The firm has expanded from two employees a year ago to thirty today. Firm founder Sanjay Patel created texting software that the firm claims will transform the way texts, emails and documents are written on phones and other mobile communication devices. The software learns vocabulary and context, and is claimed to be able to cut down keystrokes by up to 60%. Thirteen phone companies and PC makers are said to be in talks about the software. The firm has been awarded a 1.3 million GBP government grant to help fund the expansion, and said it had immediate vacancies for software developers, engineers and programmers.

John Falconer, director and co-founder of the company, said: 'These are high value positions that will shape the development of a growing global market in which Scotland has a major presence.'


Sources

  • 6 November 2006: BBC News

Citation

Eurofound (2006), KeyPoint Technologies, Business expansion in United Kingdom, factsheet number 64413, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/64413.