Limerick-headquartered Kirby Group Engineering is opening a second Cape Town office, creating 50 new engineering positions in South Africa. The expansion brings Kirby's South African workforce to more than 110 people, spanning mechanical, electrical, structural and commissioning engineering disciplines.

Kirby established a presence in South Africa in 2023, opening its first office at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town. The company is now creating 50 further roles at a second Cape Town office, with recruitment open across Mechanical Engineers, Electrical Engineers (LV/MV & HV), MEP Detailers, Commissioning Engineers and Structural Engineers.

Founded in 1964 by brothers Tom and Michael Kirby in Limerick, Kirby Group Engineering recorded turnover of more than €454 million in 2022 and now employs more than 1,900 people across Ireland, the UK, mainland Europe, the Nordics and South Africa.

Executive Chairman Jimmy Kirby said: "In our three years here, the Cape Town operation has gone from strength to strength. This decision to expand to the northern suburbs is a statement of confidence in the team we have built and the long-term opportunities we envisage for the area."

Kirby added: "Our new office will allow us to expand capacity while remaining within the same talent hub, ensuring consistency, collaboration and continued access to the city's strong pool of skilled professionals."

The structural driver is sustained demand for specialist mechanical, electrical and structural engineering talent as Kirby scales its South African operations to support project delivery across the region. The company's Cape Town talent hub gives it continued access to a strong pool of skilled engineering professionals.

Kirby also works closely with third-level institutions in South Africa, including the University of Pretoria and University of Cape Town, to support the next generation of engineering talent through sponsorship, scholarships and graduate development opportunities.

Kirby said: "The success we have enjoyed in South Africa would not have been possible without the support of our employees and local stakeholders. We are also proud to play our part in the communities where we operate, ensuring our growth benefits not only our employees but also the wider community." For the sector, Kirby's expansion reflects sustained engineering workforce growth as Irish contractors scale specialist delivery capacity beyond Europe.

Source: irishbuildingmagazine.ie / rte.ie