HCS was acquired by Centric360 in late 2024 with plans for a service and staff expansion.

Waterford-based HCS has announced 125 jobs as part of a €13.2m investment into the business. The two-year investment plan is expected to drive the company’s annual revenue to €30m by the end of 2028.

Recruitment for the new roles spanning cybersecurity, risk, compliance, digital services, enterprise sales and pre-sales has already begun, HCS said in a statement. The hiring round will end by 2028, resulting in a new headcount of 175 across its Cork, Dublin and Waterford offices.

The company is also opening a new 4,500 sq ft office in Dublin’s Blanchardstown to support expansion across cybersecurity, cloud and digital transformation sectors.

HCS provides IT managed services to more than 350 businesses with expertise across financial services, healthcare, hospitality, pharmaceutical and manufacturing. The company was acquired by Centric360 in late 2024 with plans for a service and staff expansion.

HCS ties much of the growth to AI adoption, with customers increasingly employing AI to automate processes. “Much of the forecasted growth is expected to come from digital services including AI-driven managed services,” a statement from the company read.

“This investment reflects our confidence that we are ideally positioned to capitalise on high-growth areas such as AI and cybersecurity,” said HCS managing director Pamela Farrell. Farrell founded Centric360 alongside Brian Larkin.

“This move marks a significant acceleration in our growth plans as we look to expand our teams and bolster our presence across the country,” she added. Since the acquisition, HCS made a “very strong start” with an estimated 50pc revenue jump in the company’s first year under the new parent.

“Opening a new Dublin office is a huge milestone for us. The city is home to some of Ireland’s most dynamic businesses, and having an enhanced base there, along with our existing Waterford and Cork offices, puts us in a stronger position to serve that market and attract talent.”

Prior to the acquisition, HCS grew its turnover from €3.5m in 2020 to €8m the year it was purchased. In early 2024, the company announced a €1.1m investment to launch a dedicated telecoms business. In 2023, HCS bought business telephone supplier Fixaphone.

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