Skibb's Spearline is named Chamber's SME of the Year

SKIBBEREEN-based Spearline was awarded SME of the Year at the recent Cork Chamber Awards.

The awards are designed to recongise the region’s business success, with the overall prize going to Boston Scientific. 

Founded in 2003 by university friends Kevin Buckley and Matthew Lawlor, Spearline has become a global leader in toll and toll-free number testing. 

It has a 50-strong workforce, and has successfully acquired the old St Fachtna’s De La Salle School in Skibbereen, which is to be its new base of operations as soon as renovations are complete. The awards are run in association with Vodafone Ireland, and involve a four-month judging process with an experienced mix of business professionals from across the business community.

Cork Chamber president Bill O’Connell noted the remarkably high standard of entrants and how becoming a finalist in these awards is an achievement in itself, given the rigour of the judging process. He said the awards provide a wonderful platform for businesses in Cork to reflect on their success and the deserving winners will now join the 20 year network of previous respected winners. 

Spearline is currently gearing up to launch a new software tool, designed to help companies meet upcoming EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements.  

Ciara Lucy of Spearline’s risk and compliance section said: ‘This is a completely new area for us, but one which builds on our software expertise. 

‘Spearline Data Protection will help companies navigate step-by-step through compliance,’ she added.