Belfast firm provides online solution to recruitment challenges for pharmacies

A Belfast software firm that offers an online locum scheme to pharmacoies across the UK is to expand creating 16 new jobs.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Aug 2017, 21:56 BST
Updated 12th Sep 2017, 11:55 BST
Moira Loughran from Invest NI pictured with Michael Budden, left, and Jonathan Clarke of Locum MatchMoira Loughran from Invest NI pictured with Michael Budden, left, and Jonathan Clarke of Locum Match
Moira Loughran from Invest NI pictured with Michael Budden, left, and Jonathan Clarke of Locum Match

Locum Match Ltd provides a website that helps pair hundreds of pharmacists around the UK with over 8,000 pharmacies and which has already secured business with the UK’s four largest pharmacy chains; Boots, Well, Rowlands and Lloyds.

As part of a three year growth strategy the company is creating new jobs and moving to a ‘fully online’ service through its mobile app and website.

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Commenting on the investment, Moira Loughran, Invest Northern Ireland’s Eastern Regional Manager said: “Locum Match has developed impressive software that is making it a key player in the UK’s medical recruitment market. In a commitment to growth it is working with Invest NI to support it to create new jobs, invest in R&D and undertake marketing activity to grow business in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.”

Invest NI has offered the company £200,418 of support towards creating 16 jobs, R&D and marketing. 11 of the new jobs are already in place.

“Locum Match sees innovation as crucial to the growth of its business. With Invest NI R&D support it is developing its business into a ‘fully online’ resource with improvements to its website and a mobile app,” added Moira.

“Our support is also helping the company exploit emerging opportunities in GB and ROI with marketing assistance to implement a customer acquisition strategy and develop the existing website.”

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Jonny Clarke from Locate a Locum, who runs the business with co-founder Michael Budden, said: “The idea for our software came from my experience as a locum pharmacist trying to source work when I left university. I developed a website to advertise myself as a locum, which has now grown into a business which offers pharmacists the opportunity to find work with some of the biggest pharmacy brands in the UK and Ireland.

“This week, we will launch an app version of our website. It is a simple in your pocket tool which we hope will appeal to busy pharmacists across the country.

“With Invest NI’s support for R&D we intend to take our website and mobile app to the next stage of development and create a more efficient and friendly user experience. We also plan to grow both our in-house technical team and management team which will enable us to concentrate on winning new business.

“Our aim over the next three years is to have the largest pool of locums in the UK registered on our website.”

Related topics:BelfastBoots