As we mark International Women’s Day (March 8), we speak to Marketing Manager Claire Brennan about growing her career at Kirby, a dedication to young people in sport, and growing representation in STEM.
Having been with Kirby for four years, Claire has seen Kirby’s growth first hand as she worked to promote and mark the company’s landmark moments, whether that was new office openings, press announcements, or rolling out the company’s values strategy.
Having cut her teeth in the automotive industry, Claire joined Kirby in 2019 as a Marketing Executive and Event Coordinator. At that point Kirby turned over €200m. Now with offices in Ireland, the UK, mainland Europe and South Africa, Kirby is delivering projects across established and growing sectors, with an annual revenue of over €600m. Claire like Kirby has grown into her new role and looks to grow her team as Kirby continues to partner with its clients in this growing market.
“Kirby is a well-known, trusted brand. Everyone wearing a Kirby jacket or working on a Kirby site knows what our brand and values stand for, and that recognition and brand association is something that I am hugely proud to have been a part of creating.”
Claire takes on her current role as, after 12 years with Kirby, Giedre Visockaite moves to the role of QEHS & Sustainability Director from Associate Director – Strategy and Marketing.
“Giedre has paved the way for many women in the company. To have a female representative at director level is hugely important. Young women identify with her as a leader like them. She has shown that the doors are open to women looking to grow their careers in engineering and STEM,” adds Claire.
Progression planning, training and development are at the core of Kirby’s people-focused culture. Something that Claire has embraced, “I am currently on a leadership course with others from across Kirby. With a culture of training, we are always encouraging people to realise their potential.”
Realising potential is a key driver for Claire, both at work and home. She works extensively with youth Gaelic sports programmes in her spare time. In her own words, “I am never at home. I have two young girls and we are always out, playing sport or at community events.”
Her passion for sport and wellbeing, have seen her take on the mantel of working as part of a Kirby collective to organise the annual Kirby Way Cycle event raising almost €500k over the two years.
“We have a lot of initiatives across our offices and sites to encourage people to be active. We all know that health and fitness are crucial to our wellbeing, especially across our operations teams. We are at the leading edge of engineering, working on complex mechanical and electrical projects, and with that comes pressure. We work with teams across the world, and we host wellbeing seminars, keep fit challenges and keynote speaker presentations.”
As she talks, Claire is keen to explore the company’s purpose and the role that plays in our brand strategy and our people’s health and wellbeing at work.
Claire says, “We have a clear vision and purpose, one that is rooted in the solution of some of the biggest challenges facing the planet. Our people know the role they play in connecting people with information, through our data centre projects, their role in energy security through our work in power and renewables, and the creation of revolutionary medicines through our life sciences schemes.
“And through that work, we are able to support many great charities and initiatives. Initiatives like DIY SOS, and Darkness into Light.
“All these things come together to create our brand, our purpose and our vision. And that is why I think our people are so proud to wear Kirby on their sleeve.
“I carry that pride, and this International Women’s Day, I’d encourage young women to think about how they want to shape the world. The doors to careers in engineering and construction are wide open. A career is STEM is rewarding, it gives you purpose and an opportunity to enable change and create a better world for tomorrow.”
