Why Businesses Are Choosing Cork

Ireland's Rising Hub for Talent, Innovation and Growth

 

Glandore’s City Quarter workspace on Lapp’s Quay, overlooking the River Lee, opened its doors in November 2018 and has been a thriving workspace ever since. It’s no surprise Cork has become the first choice for international companies looking to grow and scale in Ireland. Recently named the number one small European city for business friendliness, Cork has a long standing reputation for welcoming both people and businesses. This vibrant city has built a reputation as a dynamic business hub, with a strong economy, a highly skilled workforce and a quality of life that’s hard to match. 

More global organisations are choosing to base their European and international headquarters in Cork as it offers the best of both worlds, with access to talent, strong infrastructure and a more balanced way of living compared to larger cities such as Dublin, London and Amsterdam. 

Another benefit of setting up a business in Cork is the ease of commuting. Around 60% of workers travel to and from work in 30 minutes or less, helping employees achieve a better work-life balance while reducing travel related stress. Public transport services in Cork City are among the most efficient in the country and Irish Rail services link Cork with the rest of Ireland. 

With such a compact city centre, getting around is easy and most places are within walking distance, without the need to take public transport. The city also has an international airport, with direct routes throughout Europe and to the US, making it well connected for both business and leisure travel. 

Companies who believe Cork is the future

Cork is home to a growing number of global brands, with companies such as Pfizer, Apple, Amazon and PepsiCo establishing significant operations in the region. In February 2025, Apple officially opened its new HQ building in Cork, a purpose-built space designed to accommodate 1,300 employees. Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD said: “I’m delighted to open this state-of-the-art new facility in Hollyhill today and to see firsthand the major investment that Apple is making here. The contribution Apple has made in Cork and Ireland over the last 45 years cannot be overstated – creating thousands of highly-skilled roles and continually investing in their Irish operations.”

The growing presence of multinational companies in Cork is a testament to the city’s ability to attract international investment and top-tier talent. Businesses continue to choose Cork as a strategic base for growth, innovation and expansion. One recent example is Qumulo, a leading provider of cloud data management solutions. Glandore recently welcomed Qumulo to Cork, as the company launched its European Software Research and Development Hub at City Quarter. Working in partnership with IDA Ireland, we marked this significant investment by bringing together clients, partners and business leaders, alongside Minister of State Jerry Buttimer and IDA Ireland’s Anne Marie Tierney Le Roux, to celebrate Cork’s continued growth as a centre for innovation and international business.

Foreign direct investment has driven growth across a wide range of sectors, including ICT, pharmaceuticals, cyber security, renewable energy, financial and professional services, as well as maritime and agri-food clusters, further strengthening Cork’s reputation as a key alternative business hub in Ireland.

Talented Workforce

Cork’s talented workforce continues to be one of the biggest attractions for multinationals looking to expand into Ireland. The city has a young workforce, and has also become increasingly multicultural over the years. It also benefits from a strong pipeline of talent, with more than 13,000 graduates from both University College Cork and Munster Technological University. UCC is listed in the top 1.1% of universities in the world, and MTU is Ireland’s highest ranked technological university. (Ref. https://www.connectingcork.ie/). 

Office Space in Cork That Supports Growth

Cork’s reputation as a hub for talent and innovation extends beyond the companies based here. Its collaborative business ecosystem encourages the exchange of ideas, helping entrepreneurs, leaders and teams turn conversations into opportunities and innovation into action. 

As more companies choose Cork, the demand for premium, community led spaces continues to grow and at Glandore we provide flexible workspaces designed to support businesses at every stage of growth.

Our workspaces are designed to offer:

• Flexibility, we grow with your business when the time is right.
• A hospitality first approach, where we put our members at the heart of everything we do.
• Access to a connected and collaborative business community across an all Ireland network.

Cork’s Future as a Business Destination

Whether you are landing into Ireland to start your next stage of growth or expanding an existing team, Cork City offers a unique blend of plentiful talent, excellent infrastructure and a fantastic work-life balance. 

Michael Kelly, Managing Director of Glandore explains that “There is great energy, passion and collaboration in Cork at present which is evident by the recent launch of the “We are Cork” initiative. This collaborative and can-do approach to business is very much consistent with Glandore’s values and we look forward to working with the local business community to showcase Cork as a great place to live, work, invest, study and visit”.

Business Support

Cork now accounts for more than half of all FDI supported jobs in the southern region, reinforcing its position as a key driver of Ireland’s economic growth  As organisations such as Cork City Council, Cork Chamber and Cork Business Association, continue to offer support to SMEs. It’s easy to see why the city was voted number one for business friendliness and has developed into a powerful centre for international business.

Find out more about Glandore at City Quarter, Cork here: https://glandore.co/cork/