Irish transport intelligence provider CitySwift accelerates expansion with first UK office opening.
CitySwift has revealed plans to create 50 new jobs and has opened its first office in the UK.
Last month CitySwift revealed it has raised €7m in a funding round led by Gresham House Ventures. The round also included all existing investors following including Irelandia Investments, the Western Development Commission and ACT Venture Capital with the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).
“We are eager to drive on and focus on expanding CitySwift’s offering across the UK, and to continue growing our exceptional team”
The new UK office, overlooking Paddington Station in London marks a new chapter in CitySwift’s journey, as the Galway-founded company looks to create 50 jobs in its offices both in the UK and Ireland over the next two years.
These jobs will include roles in Data, Product, Engineering, Customer Success and Account Management.
Driving the future
In addition to the opening of this new office, CitySwift has also announced its latest partnership with Transport North East (TNE), covering bus journeys across the North East region, including Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and County Durham.
“This is the latest milestone in our journey at CitySwift, with our new office and partnership with Transport North East, we aim to reaffirm our continued dedication to delivering real value to our customers,” said CitySwift CEO Brian O’Rourke.
“We’ve seen incredible growth in the last year, having closed our latest funding round a few weeks ago and we are eager to drive on and focus on expanding CitySwift’s offering across the UK, and to continue growing our exceptional team.”
Founded by Alan Farrelly and Brian O’Rourke in 2016, CitySwift works with public sector transport authorities and private bus operators to break down the barriers to accessing and interpreting transport data.
CitySwift’s platform aggregates, cleans and enriches data from hundreds of sources, providing both operators and authorities with an accurate single source of truth. Rapid access to accurate data across the entire network fuels this collaboration, enabling both parties to take a more dynamic, data-driven approach to move passengers away from private modes of transport to more sustainable, climate-friendly public transportation.
“CitySwift is a great example of a company whose success can be directly attributed to a dedication to solve customer problems and deliver tangible benefits straight away,” said Deirdre McPartlin, regional director for UK and Nordics in Enterprise Ireland.
“By demonstrating their ongoing commitment to their customers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland over a number of years, the leadership team have built enormous credibility across the whole market. The opening of this office in London is a critical next step in their ongoing growth in the UK. In Enterprise Ireland we are delighted to have been part of CitySwift’s success through our start-up, innovation and in-market support.”
The latest UK partnership with Transport North East will support delivery of the objectives laid out in the North East Bus Service Improvement Plan, with CitySwift’s platform being leveraged to improve bus punctuality and increase passenger satisfaction.
Additionally, CitySwift will work with TNE to monitor bus priority investment impact, examining congestion, passenger delays, and network pinch points.
“CitySwift’s platform offers Transport North East an exciting opportunity to use data to revolutionise bus services and enhance the overall passenger experience,” said Heather Jones, head of Enhanced Partnerships with TNE.
“Partnering with CitySwift aligns with the objectives of the North East Bus Service Improvement Plan, enabling us to address congestion, reduce passenger delays, and identify network pinch points more effectively. This collaboration will play a crucial role in delivering more efficient, sustainable, and customer-focused public transport to the communities we serve.”
This recent partnership marks a 150% increase in CitySwift’s customer base last year, which now includes transport networks in all major UK cities, including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, and the entire country of Wales. Notable clients in addition to Transport North East include National Express, Go-Ahead Group, Transport for Wales, Metroline, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Translink, and Blackpool Transport.
Main image at top: CitySwift founders Alan Farrelly and Brian O’Rourke
