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at CluneTech

CluneTech is celebrating a major milestone - 25 years since opening its first international office in Varna, Bulgaria, marking the beginning of its global journey.

What started as a small team in Varna in 2001 has grown into one of CluneTech’s largest and most important global hubs. Today, the company operates across 20 countries, continuing to expand its international footprint.

To mark the occasion, CluneTech hosted a special celebration in Varna, bringing colleagues together to recognise the local team and honour those who have been part of the journey since the very beginning.

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Reflecting on the milestone, CluneTech Founder and CEO Terry Clune said:

“The 26th April marks 25 years since we established our office in Varna, Bulgaria — an incredibly important milestone for CluneTech. That step marked the beginning of our international journey and played a key role in shaping the global business we are today. I want to sincerely thank everyone, past and present, who has been part of that journey. Your contribution has played a key part in building CluneTech and the success we have achieved together as one team.”

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Today, CluneTech employs nearly 800 people across Bulgaria, with more than 500 based in Varna. The team plays a critical role across the group, supporting the operations and software development of TransferMate, Fintua, Sprintax and Benamic, alongside key functions including finance, customer support, marketing and administration. The strength of the Bulgarian team is also reflected in its longevity, with more than 54% of employees having been with the company for over five years - well above industry averages.

Just days ahead of the anniversary, CluneTech reached another significant milestone, achieving its highest-ever ranking in Career Show’s Top 100 Best Employers in Bulgaria, placing 12th - up from 46th in 2023. The company was also recognised as “Best Employer in Fintech” for the third consecutive year.

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As CluneTech looks to the future, it remains committed to investing in its people, supporting employee wellbeing and development, and continuing to make a positive impact in the communities where it operates.

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Wednesday, 22 April 2026. CluneTech has reached a new milestone in Bulgaria, achieving its highest position to date in the Career Show Index. The company now ranks 12th in the Top 100 Best Employers in Bulgaria, reflecting its continued focus on building a strong and supportive workplace.

This latest recognition marks another step forward in CluneTech’s steady progression in recent years, moving from 46th place in 2023, to 26th in 2024, and 14th in 2025, before reaching its current position. The result follows a successful showing at the Career Show Awards in October 2025, where CluneTech received three gold awards, alongside two individual recognitions for Albena Pashova, Global Indirect Tax Recovery Manager and Nikolena Doncheva, Recruitment Specialist from our team.

CluneTech’s position in the Career Show Index is driven by multiple recognitions received over the past three years, including:

• Best Employer in Fintech for three consecutive years  

• Best Employee Recognition Strategy  

• Best Office Environment for the company’s renovated Lounge & Meeting Space in Bulgaria  

These awards reflect a continued investment in employee experience, workplace culture, and creating an environment where people can thrive - both professionally and personally.

About the Career Show Index

The Top 100 Best Employers in Bulgaria ranking is part of Career Show’s annual initiative, which also includes one of the country’s leading employer branding competitions and its largest career expo. The index evaluates companies based on awards received over a three-year period, recognising organisations that demonstrate consistent performance in areas such as talent development, employee engagement, and workplace environment.

A 25-Year Journey in Bulgaria and Beyond

This recognition comes as CluneTech marks 25 years since establishing its presence in Bulgaria, representing a quarter-century of continuous growth and innovation. Over that time, the company has become a well-established and trusted employer on the local market.

Founded in 1996 by entrepreneur Terry Clune, CluneTech is a suite of software technology companies, including TransferMate, Sprintax, Fintua, and Benamic. Today, the organisation employs over 800 professionals in Bulgaria and more than 1,200 globally, across finance, technology, marketing, and customer support roles, all contributing to the success of its international operations.

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At CluneTech, we have an extensive Milestone Recognition Program that rewards employees that choose to build along and successful career with us. As part of this programme, we love celebrating and sharing the stories of those reaching major milestones with the company.

This month we caught up with TransferMate's Philip Traynor, Senior Business Development Manager, who has been on our team for the last 5 years.
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What is your favorite thing about working in CluneTech / TransferMate

I know it’s a cliché and it’s been said before, but it’s 100% the people. I’ve met some awesome people here. Some have moved on and some are still here, but they most certainly make the role interesting, to say the least. You meet so many different types of characters in sales that it’s bound to make life more intriguing.

Also, the fact that we are very innovative. Some of the new products we’ve introduced over the last few years really help us stand apart from the competition.
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What has been your biggest achievement or highlight since joining CluneTech / TransferMate?

I’d say reaching the 5-year mark in Higher Ed is a highlight 😊 But probably being part of the signing of our largest client to date in Education, UBC.
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Who or what has inspired you the most during your time here?

I feel a lot of inspiration comes from within yourself, though I’ve also learned a lot from the people around me here. To be truly inspired, I feel you must discover what you want to achieve from a certain goal and then go and get it.
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What is the biggest change that you have witnessed in your time here?

The enormity of the company! 😊 From when I started 5 years ago until now – the number of clients we have brought on board, the new products brought to market, and the sheer volume of funds that we have seen growing and growing has been amazing.
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What is the greatest challenge that you have faced in your time here and how did you overcome it?

It was probably more of a personal challenge when my mother passed away. I had been working here less than a year when we got the bad news. What made it slightly easier was the fact that my Commercial Director and Team Lead at the time both arrived unexpectedly at the funeral, which in turn made my return to work a lot easier. That is something I will always remember.
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What has been your favourite project to work on?

My favourite and biggest has to be UBC – from the team of people working on this on both the TM side and the UBC side, to the learnings I had over that 3-year period, which will always stand me in good stead in the future.
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Do you have advice for someone who is just starting their career in CluneTech / TransferMate?

Just enjoy it – learn the product and believe in yourself. Work hard and your efforts will be recognised. It will be noticed and you will get to where you want to go within TransferMate if you follow those simple tips.

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At CluneTech, continuous learning is at the heart of our culture. In 2025, CluneTech’s subsidiary Fintua launched the Fintua Tax Academy, a comprehensive training programme designed to equip colleagues with deep knowledge of EU VAT, practical skills, and the confidence to tackle complex challenges in their daily work.

The goal of Fintua was to create an internal training series that goes beyond theory. While external courses exist, developing an in-house programme allows the content to be tailored to real-life scenarios and business-specific challenges, ensuring every session is directly relevant, practical, and immediately applicable.

“Our aim was to show that behind the Excel tables and daily routines, there is so much more to understand and appreciate. Participating in this type of training reshapes the way colleagues think about their work, the value they create, and how they collaborate across teams,” explains Péter Árpás, the main driver of the programme.

From April to October 2025, the Academy hosted seven sessions - two in-person and five online, covering the EU VAT system, legal background and EU Court decisions, and practical examples from advisory experience. The series concluded with a final exam in late November, consisting of more than 60 questions. Out of 70 participants from Bulgaria, Ireland, and Hungary, 40 successfully participated in and passed an exam, with 21 achieving results above 80%.

A graduation ceremony in Varna this February marked the successful completion of the exam, with top performers recognized for their exceptional achievement.

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Building on the success of the first year, Fintua is already preparing its 2026 programme. The next edition will be even more practical, featuring new lecturers and an open invitation for anyone who wants to participate, regardless of previous involvement.

Beyond its global reach and automated, highly integrated platform offering a full suite of indirect tax solutions, Fintua’s VAT Academy adds one more key advantage: the deep VAT expertise of its long-term professionals, handling complex VAT cases for clients such as Nestlé, Google, IBM, Mondelez, and many others.

The Fintua Tax Academy demonstrates CluneTech’s commitment to investing in our people. Beyond providing essential knowledge, it fosters professional curiosity, strengthens collaboration across teams, and empowers colleagues to step into advanced roles.

At CluneTech, growth is a team effort, and initiatives like the Fintua Tax Academy ensure that every colleague has the tools and confidence to progress their development.  

Fintua are currently hiring in various roles across our global teams in Tech and Finance. See their current vacancies at https://fintua.com/careers/.

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Friday, February 6th 2026. CluneTech was proud to celebrate the achievements of Kilkenny’s emerging young talent as it hosted the Kilkenny GAA and Camogie Academy Awards at its Kilkenny HQ on January 27th and 28^th. Held over two evenings, the awards recognised the dedication and commitment of theU16 Kilkenny GAA hurling and football squads, alongside the U15 Kilkenny Camogie Academy and Development squads.
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Over both evenings, a small number of players from hurling, football and camogie were also selected for the Driver of Excellence Awards, recognising individuals who demonstrated outstanding commitment, leadership and determination throughout the season, both on and off the pitch. Players were joined by their families, coaches and mentors to mark an important milestone in their development journey.
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Special guest speakers across the two nights included CluneTech’s Derek Lyng for hurling, Christy Walsh for football and Aoife Prendergast for camogie. Each shared valuable insights and encouragement with the young athletes as they continue their progression within the academy pathways.

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CluneTech has been the main sponsor of both the Kilkenny GAA Academy (Na Cait Óga) and the Kilkenny Camogie Academy since 2024, under a three-year partnership supporting more than 500 players across both pathways. The sponsorship helps fund essential operational and player-welfare costs, including transport, equipment, nutrition and medical supports, ensuring a high-performance environment can be sustained for young athletes across the county.
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Terry Clune, Founder and CEO of CluneTech, said:

“We were delighted to host the Kilkenny GAA and Camogie Academy Awards at our Kilkenny HQ and to celebrate the hard work and commitment shown by these young players throughout their academy journey. CluneTech is proud to support both academies and to play a role in developing the next generation of Kilkenny athletes. We would like to thank the coaches, mentors, parents and all involved for the dedication they continue to show year after year.”
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This sponsorship forms part of CluneTech’s award-winning CSR programme, CluneTech Cares. Established in 2007 and created by its people, for its people, the programme supports charities and causes worldwide while having a strong local impact in Kilkenny and in the communities where CluneTech operates.
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Speaking at the event, Sean Kelly, Kilkenny GAA Performance Lead, said:

“The Academy Awards are an important point in the development pathway, giving us an opportunity to recognise the work and commitment shown by our players throughout the year. For our U16 hurlers and footballers, this marks a key stage as they continue to progress within the Kilkenny system, building strong habits around preparation, discipline and performance.

Nights like this reflect the high standards being set across the academy and the collective effort of players, coaches and families in supporting long-term development both on and off the pitch.”
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Tommy Farrell, Kilkenny Camogie Development Officer, added:

“This was a really special evening for Kilkenny Camogie, bringing players, families and coaches together to celebrate the progress made by our U15 academy and development squads. It’s important to take time to acknowledge the enjoyment, confidence and personal growth that comes from being part of the academy journey.

The awards night captured the positive atmosphere around the programme and highlighted the strong sense of community that supports our young players as they continue to develop and enjoy the game.”
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PJ Kenny, Chairman of Kilkenny GAA, said:

“The Academy Awards are an important occasion in the underage calendar, giving young players the opportunity to be recognised for their commitment and effort throughout the year. It is a proud moment for players, families and coaches, and a reminder of the standards being developed within the Kilkenny academy pathway.”
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Theresa Aylward, Kilkenny Camogie Chairperson, added:

“Kilkenny Camogie is delighted with our partnership with CluneTech, as we share many common values, standards and a strong sense of identity. Their support allows us to continue developing and supporting our young camogie players, and occasions like the Academy Awards are an important opportunity to recognise their progress and encourage them as they work to reach their potential within Kilkenny’s high-performance environment.”

The two awards evenings reflected the strength of the partnership between CluneTech, Kilkenny GAA and Kilkenny Camogie, and a shared commitment to providing young players with a supportive and high-quality development environment. As the academy programmes continue to grow, the focus remains on nurturing talent, building character and ensuring that young athletes across the county are given every opportunity to reach their potential both on and off the pitch.
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For more information, please contact:

Lauren Cleere, CluneTech, lauren.cleere@clunetech.com  

Mary Morgan, Kilkenny GAA PRO, pro.kilkenny@gaa.ie

Aoife Lanigan, Kilkenny Camogie PRO, pro.kilkenny@camogie.ie

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At CluneTech, we have an extensive Milestone Recognition Program that rewards employees that choose to build a long and successful career with us. As part of this programme, we love celebrating and sharing the stories of those reaching major milestones with the company.

This month we caught up with Fintua's Chief Financial Officer Edward Furlong who has been a part of the team for the last 15 years.

What is your favourite thing about working in CluneTech / Fintua?

The people. In Fintua, we have a core of really good people that have been here a long time.

What has been your biggest achievement or highlight since joining CluneTech / Fintua?

My appointment as Chief Financial Officer.

Who or what has inspired you the most during your time here?

The dedication of our staff, in particular the Bulgarian based employees. The level of effort and automation they have brought into work practices over the past number of years has been remarkable.

What is the biggest change that you have witnessed in your time here?

The automation across lots of processes during my time here at Fintua.

I have also witnessed the growth in many of our businesses from the foundations of being mainly an income tax refunds business  which was very manual to being a key player in the Fintech space.

What is the greatest challenge that you have faced in your time here and how did you overcome it?

Covid completely changed the focus of our business. The majority of what we did prior to that was based around travel. This presented huge challenges from a budgeting and cashflow perspective.

In the same period Comply was also being developed.

What has been your favourite project to work on?

The rebrand project led by the marketing team was interesting to be involved in.

There are lots of elements of automation that we are working through at the moment so hard to choose a favourite.

If you had to swap roles with someone in the company for a week, who would it be and why?

Anywhere within the Sales function. I get lots of Sales phone calls so would be nice to be on the other side of the fence, for just a week!

Do you have advice for someone who is just starting their career in CluneTech / Fintua?

Don’t be afraid of change and embrace new ways of doing things.

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At CluneTech, we have an extensive Milestone Recognition Program that rewards employees that choose to build a long and successful career with us. As part of this programme, we love celebrating and sharing the stories of those reaching major milestones with the company.

This month we caught up with Tsvetelin Salutski, Database Programmer at Transfermate. He has been on our team for the last 15 years.

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What is your favourite thing about working in CluneTech?

Working with smart people. Being able to learn from them. Having the opportunity to grow and develop my skills and competences.

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What has been your biggest achievement or highlight since joining CluneTech?

Without a doubt, this is the Automatic Submission Validator (ASV) tool at Benamic. I played a key role in the design and development of this highly complex system. Its unique validation algorithm enabled Benamic to automatically process and validate hundreds of thousands of registrations at scale.

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What is the biggest change that you have witnessed in your time here?

From a technology standpoint, migrating our infrastructure from the Ireland data center to the cloud was one of the most significant milestones for the organization. It was very complex and high-risk transformation that required collaboration and resilience from everyone involved.

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What is the greatest challenge that you have faced in your time here and how did you overcome it?

13 years ago, I was handed a folder, “Tsveti, congratulations on your new role. These are the documents for your new project. On Wednesday, you’re flying to London to meet the client.” That was how my first project as a Business Analyst began. I had no idea what I was getting into, but despite the initial shock, I pushed through with hard work. It paid off with a successful delivery and recognition from the entire team. ‍

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What has been your favourite project to work on?

The projects where I learned something new and was genuinely challenged. In the end, the satisfaction of getting the job done was always what motivated me most.  Dopamine(Венозно)😊  ‍

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Do you have advice for someone who is just starting their career in CluneTech?

Always give 101% at work. Take ownership, make decisions, take responsibility, move on and get the job done! Don’t get used to seek validation for everything you do. Don’t be afraid to fail. Be curious and don’t run away from challenges—this is how real growth happens. When you consistently show commitment and deliver your best, recognition and success don’t need to be chased, they come naturally as a result of your continuous effort and attitude.  ‍

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Friday, February 6th 2026. CluneTech was proud to celebrate the achievements of Kilkenny’s emerging young talent as it hosted the Kilkenny GAA and Camogie Academy Awards at its Kilkenny HQ on January 27th and 28^th. Held over two evenings, the awards recognised the dedication and commitment of theU16 Kilkenny GAA hurling and football squads, alongside the U15 Kilkenny Camogie Academy and Development squads.
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Over both evenings, a small number of players from hurling, football and camogie were also selected for the Driver of Excellence Awards, recognising individuals who demonstrated outstanding commitment, leadership and determination throughout the season, both on and off the pitch. Players were joined by their families, coaches and mentors to mark an important milestone in their development journey.
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Special guest speakers across the two nights included CluneTech’s Derek Lyng for hurling, Christy Walsh for football and Aoife Prendergast for camogie. Each shared valuable insights and encouragement with the young athletes as they continue their progression within the academy pathways.

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CluneTech has been the main sponsor of both the Kilkenny GAA Academy (Na Cait Óga) and the Kilkenny Camogie Academy since 2024, under a three-year partnership supporting more than 500 players across both pathways. The sponsorship helps fund essential operational and player-welfare costs, including transport, equipment, nutrition and medical supports, ensuring a high-performance environment can be sustained for young athletes across the county.
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Terry Clune, Founder and CEO of CluneTech, said:

“We were delighted to host the Kilkenny GAA and Camogie Academy Awards at our Kilkenny HQ and to celebrate the hard work and commitment shown by these young players throughout their academy journey. CluneTech is proud to support both academies and to play a role in developing the next generation of Kilkenny athletes. We would like to thank the coaches, mentors, parents and all involved for the dedication they continue to show year after year.”
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This sponsorship forms part of CluneTech’s award-winning CSR programme, CluneTech Cares. Established in 2007 and created by its people, for its people, the programme supports charities and causes worldwide while having a strong local impact in Kilkenny and in the communities where CluneTech operates.
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Speaking at the event, Sean Kelly, Kilkenny GAA Performance Lead, said:

“The Academy Awards are an important point in the development pathway, giving us an opportunity to recognise the work and commitment shown by our players throughout the year. For our U16 hurlers and footballers, this marks a key stage as they continue to progress within the Kilkenny system, building strong habits around preparation, discipline and performance.

Nights like this reflect the high standards being set across the academy and the collective effort of players, coaches and families in supporting long-term development both on and off the pitch.”
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Tommy Farrell, Kilkenny Camogie Development Officer, added:

“This was a really special evening for Kilkenny Camogie, bringing players, families and coaches together to celebrate the progress made by our U15 academy and development squads. It’s important to take time to acknowledge the enjoyment, confidence and personal growth that comes from being part of the academy journey.

The awards night captured the positive atmosphere around the programme and highlighted the strong sense of community that supports our young players as they continue to develop and enjoy the game.”
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PJ Kenny, Chairman of Kilkenny GAA, said:

“The Academy Awards are an important occasion in the underage calendar, giving young players the opportunity to be recognised for their commitment and effort throughout the year. It is a proud moment for players, families and coaches, and a reminder of the standards being developed within the Kilkenny academy pathway.”
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Theresa Aylward, Kilkenny Camogie Chairperson, added:

“Kilkenny Camogie is delighted with our partnership with CluneTech, as we share many common values, standards and a strong sense of identity. Their support allows us to continue developing and supporting our young camogie players, and occasions like the Academy Awards are an important opportunity to recognise their progress and encourage them as they work to reach their potential within Kilkenny’s high-performance environment.”

The two awards evenings reflected the strength of the partnership between CluneTech, Kilkenny GAA and Kilkenny Camogie, and a shared commitment to providing young players with a supportive and high-quality development environment. As the academy programmes continue to grow, the focus remains on nurturing talent, building character and ensuring that young athletes across the county are given every opportunity to reach their potential both on and off the pitch.
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For more information, please contact:

Lauren Cleere, CluneTech, lauren.cleere@clunetech.com  

Mary Morgan, Kilkenny GAA PRO, pro.kilkenny@gaa.ie

Aoife Lanigan, Kilkenny Camogie PRO, pro.kilkenny@camogie.ie

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Thursday, 29th of January 2026. Today, CluneTech and Cois Nore announced a sponsorship supporting the development of a dedicated therapy wing at Cois Nore’s new Cancer Support Centre in Kilkenny, marking a significant milestone and an important investment in the future of cancer support services for the people of Kilkenny

CluneTech’s sponsorship will fund the refurbishment and fit-out of the therapy wing within the new Cois Nore House.

Every day in County Kilkenny, two families receive a cancer diagnosis, beginning a journey that affects not only the individual but also their families, friends, and communities. Since 2013, Cois Nore has been a safe haven for those living with cancer, providing free, professional, community-based support.

As demand has outgrown its Walkin Street premises, work is now underway on a new purpose-built centre on the Waterford Road. The new Cancer Support Centre is expected to open in March 2026 and will meet the growing needs of people affected by cancer across Kilkenny.

CluneTech’s sponsorship provides vital funding for a modern, purpose-designed therapy space that will support individuals and families throughout their cancer journey. Alongside community generosity, government support, and contributions from other supporters, this investment is helping to bring the new centre closer to completion and enables Cois Nore to continue delivering free, confidential support and professional and voluntary services to people of all ages.

The new Cois Nore House will include dedicated therapy rooms, safe spaces for children and teenagers, group support facilities, and activity areas designed to nurture recovery and dignity. It will provide a welcoming environment where individuals and families can access guidance, compassion, and community at a time when they need it most.

Terry Clune, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of CluneTech, said:

“Kilkenny is home for many of us at CluneTech, and we recognise the importance of standing with our community during difficult times. Cancer touches so many families, and Cois Nore has been a steadfast and compassionate support to the people of Kilkenny for over a decade. We are proud to support the development of the new Cois Nore therapy wing and the vital work that will continue there. We are in it together with Cois Nore and with the people of Kilkenny.”

Bill Cuddihy, Chairperson of Cois Nore, said:

“Cois Nore is very grateful for the support we have received from all sections of the community in Kilkenny. CluneTech’s sponsorship is a powerful statement of solidarity and shows a deep investment in the wellbeing of the community. Together, we are building a centre that protects dignity, nurtures recovery, and empowers hope.”

Mary Dolan, Manager of Cois Nore, said:

“The people of Kilkenny deserve a Cancer Support Centre with the space and resources to deliver a high-quality service. This partnership with CluneTech helps us take an important step towards that vision. Cois Nore has become like a second family for so many, and this new centre will allow us to welcome more people into a space that truly meets their needs.”

This sponsorship forms part of CluneTech Cares, CluneTech’s award-winning corporate social responsibility programme. Founded in 2007, the programme supports charities and causes worldwide and is driven by employee involvement. With a strong local impact in Kilkenny and the communities where CluneTech operates, this sponsorship brings the new centre and expanded cancer support services one step closer to reality.
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About Cois Nore

Founded in 2013, Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre provides free, professional, community-based services to patients, families, and carers in Kilkenny. Affiliated with the National Cancer Control Programme, Cois Nore offers counselling, touch therapies, children’s services, support groups, and wellness activities — all delivered locally with empathy and understanding.

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About CluneTech

CluneTech isa suite of software technology companies providing solutions that simplifyglobal business. Established in 1996, CluneTech is headquartered in Ireland,with more than 1,200 employees globally and operations in over 100 countries.CluneTech has been recognised as one of Ireland’s Best Workplaces for tenconsecutive years by Great Place to Work.

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For more information:

CluneTech
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Lauren Cleere, Marketing and Communications Manager
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lauren.cleere@clunetech.com

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Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre

Email: info@coisnore.ie

Phone: 056 775 2222
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‍Website:www.coisnore.ie

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Thursday, 5 June 2025 – Varna, Bulgaria

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CluneTech is proud to announce the continued success and growth of the award-winning educational initiative FAST Heroes 112, which has now expanded city-wide in Varna, Bulgaria. Endorsed by the World Stroke Organization and supported by CluneTech since 2022, the program currently reaches 26 kindergartens and more than 2,100 children, delivering life-saving health education to families across the region.

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What began as a pilot in just one school has grown into a vital community initiative, turning health education into a celebration and raising essential stroke awareness among nearly 13,000 people in the Varna municipality.

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In partnership with the Varna Municipality and the Heart to Heart Foundation Bulgaria, we remain committed to expanding the program’s impact even further.

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About FAST Heroes 112

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FAST Heroes 112 is an award-winning educational program, endorsed by the World Stroke Organization. It aims to raise awareness of stroke symptoms and emphasizes the importance of immediate action when these signs appear. The program harnesses children’s natural enthusiasm for learning and sharing to spread life-saving knowledge not only in kindergartens and primary schools but also within families at home.

Children aged 6 to 11 learn how to identify stroke symptoms through engaging, adventure-based lessons, and then share that knowledge with their families. On average, each child passes this information on to six adults, amplifying the program’s impact beyond the classroom walls.

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Why stroke prevention matters

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Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in Bulgaria and worldwide, and tragically, one of the main reasons children lose their grandparents. Many stroke patients miss out on life-saving treatment because they don’t recognize symptoms early enough and arrive at the hospital too late. However, if stroke victims receive swift and effective acute care, survival rates improve dramatically.

This is why increasing awareness of stroke symptoms and empowering people to seek emergency care immediately is crucial. FAST Heroes 112 contributes to building this awareness, helping families respond quickly when it matters most.

Varna, home to our largest Bulgarian office, is also one of the cities with the highest stroke rates in the country — making this partnership especially meaningful.

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Looking ahead to expand our reach

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This fall, FAST Heroes 112 will continue its vital work by reaching children and families in all primary and elementary schools across Varna. Stay tuned for updates on our ongoing journey to make Varna safer — one child, one family, and one community at a time.

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Our CSR Programme - CluneTech Cares, is a fantastic representation of what we are - a team of truly caring individuals giving our best to support and add value, not only to our customers, but also to the communities in which we operate. CluneTech Cares is employee-led and has three key pillars: Wellness, Culture & Community, and Sustainability. It has been a busy quarter so make sure to check out some of our latest activities below.

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October’s CSR Spotlight: Breast Cancer Awareness

For the month of October, we are traditionally raising funds for Race for the Cure which plays a crucial role in supporting breast cancer organizations and hospitals across Europe.

With a staggering 500,000 new diagnoses and 125,000 lives lost to breast cancer in Europe every year, the funds raised through events like this are of vital importance. They enable these organizations to continue their life-saving work, providing support, research, and awareness to combat this disease.

This October, more than 150 CluneTech colleagues took part in our fundraising events for breast cancer awareness and Race for the Cure across the globe. These events included group walks in Bulgaria and Ireland and a Breast Cancer Awareness talk at our Kilkenny HQ.

In addition, Presiyana Vitanova, Desislava Georgieva, Desislava Chervenkova and Ralitsa Hristova used their Volunteer Day to distribute flyers at the St. Marina Medical Center in Varna, Bulgaria, raising awareness about the importance of breast cancer screenings.

Thanks to our team's efforts, we donated €1,590 to this incredible cause.

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November’s CSR Spotlight: Movember

This November, we focused our CSR Spotlight on men’s health and the globally recognized Movember movement.

Since its inception in 2003, Movember has grown into a global movement, bringing together passionate Mo Bros and Mo Sisters – individuals dedicated to making a difference in mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. So far, the campaign has raised USD 1.4 billion, funding life-saving research and initiatives for men’s health.

Throughout November, CluneTech employees embraced the cause by growing their own moustaches and staying active for men’s mental health. For each moustache photo posted with the hashtag #Movember, CluneTech Cares generously donated €20. We also stuck to our monthly 5k challenge by donating €5 for every employee who posted a picture of their 5k into our internal communications platform.

At the close of Movember, CluneTech made a significant monetary contribution to Movember, supporting various men's health charities and organizations. A big thank you to all of our amazing colleagues for their dedication and participation.

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2024 Kilkenny GAA and Camogie Academy Awards, proudly supported by CluneTech

This quarter, CluneTech had the privilege of hosting the 2024 Kilkenny GAA and Camogie Academy Awards at our Kilkenny HQ. Over two unforgettable evenings, we celebrated the outstanding achievements of the U16 Kilkenny GAA Football and Hurling Teams, as well as the U15 Kilkenny Camogie Academy and Development Squads.

The event brought together players, families, coaches, and mentors, highlighting the dedication and passion that drive Kilkenny’s young athletes. We were honored to welcome special guest speakers Henry Shefflin, Miriam Walsh, and Richie Donnelly, who inspired attendees with their words of wisdom and shared their own journeys in sport.

CluneTech is proud to support Kilkenny GAA and Kilkenny Camogie, empowering the next generation of athletes and fostering a sense of teamwork and community. These awards nights were a true reflection of the hard work and commitment of everyone involved, and we’re delighted to have played a role in celebrating their success.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the coaches, mentors, and leaders, including Michael Fennelly, Performance Lead at Kilkenny GAA, and Tommy Farrell, Kilkenny Camogie Development Officer, for their vital contributions.

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December’s CSR Spotlight: Preventing Homelessness & Poverty

This December, our CSR Spotlight of the month shines on St. Vincent de Paul, a remarkable organization providing vital support to those experiencing poverty and homelessness—especially during the holidays.

SVP provides vital services such as housing assistance, food support, and education resources, making a meaningful difference in communities across Ireland—especially during the holiday season.

To help make a difference, we’re hosting a Christmas Jumper Day at our Kilkenny HQ on Wednesday, December 18th. For every festive jumper worn to the office, CluneTech will donate €5 to St. Vincent de Paul.

The jumper doesn’t need to be flashy—what truly matters is the kindness and generosity behind this initiative. Together, let’s help bring a little more joy and warmth to those in need this holiday season.

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Christmas Gifts for 176 children from the Center for Special Educational Support in Varna

This December, in response to a request from a teacher, CluneTech made a generous financial donation to the Center for Special Educational Support in Varna. The donation will be used to purchase Christmas gifts for nearly 200 students who rely on the center’s services to navigate their educational journey, as they were born with special needs.

Since its transformation in August 2017, the former Special Education School "Brothers Miladinovi" in Varna has become a Center for Special Educational Support, meeting modern standards for educating children with developmental disabilities. The center currently employs over 30 teachers and 10 therapists, who provide education and care to 176 children aged 6 to 18.

The center is equipped with nine classrooms and a dedicated ergonomic therapy space. The classrooms are designed to cater to the sensory integration needs of the children, with environments tailored to each age group. In preschool and primary school classrooms, a multisensory approach alternates between learning and physical activities, all designed to engage students through practical experience. For non-verbal children on the autism spectrum and those with limited mobility due to cerebral palsy, the center uses advanced tools like the Communicator5 eye-control device for communication and Tobii games for eye training and fun.

In addition to education, the center provides consulting, diagnostic, corrective-educational, and therapeutic services aimed at addressing and compensating for the students’ individual needs.

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Giving Back to Our Communities: From New York and Beyond

At CluneTech, our commitment to giving back is at the heart of everything we do. At the end of 2024, our US teams were honored to make annual donations to three exceptional organizations that tirelessly serve our communities: One to World, Coalition for the Homeless, and the Aisling Irish Community and Cultural Center.

One to World

One to World enriches the global community by fostering intercultural understanding and cooperation. Through education programs and cultural exchange initiatives, they connect international students and scholars with local communities, building bridges of understanding and collaboration. We are proud to support their mission to make the world a more inclusive and connected place.

One To World provides face-to-face experiences among local communities, international students, and Fulbright scholars. Our programs foster curiosity, respect, inclusion, and community for a better world. None of this work would be possible without donors like you. We couldn’t be more grateful for your generosity and your commitment to our mission.

Deepesh Dhingra, Executive Director of One to World.

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Coalition for the Homeless

The Coalition for the Homeless has been a beacon of hope for those experiencing homelessness in New York City. Offering food, shelter, and support services, they work tirelessly to help individuals and families regain stability and rebuild their lives. We are deeply inspired by their dedication and honored to contribute to their life-changing efforts.

Because of your invaluable support, the Coalition has been able to expand our services and advocacy to meet the growing need. We are committed to seeing no one go hungry, homeless, or without shelter in our city. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness and compassion – you are truly making a difference.

Dave Giffen, Executive Director of Coalition for the Homeless.

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The Aisling Irish Community and Cultural Center

Located in New York, the Aisling Irish Community and Cultural Centre is a lifeline for Irish immigrants and the broader community, offering mental health support, senior care, and cultural programs. Our donation to the Aisling Irish Community Centre will specifically support their mental health programs, which provide critical resources and support to those in need. Their commitment to fostering connection and well-being for all who walk through their doors is truly inspiring, and we are grateful to support their vital mission.

We provide support, programs and services to approximately 15,000 people during the year. We promote wellness, infuse culture, and offer empathy with every interaction as our mission is to care for the “whole person”. With 352 private social service sessions delivered so far this year we have worked with youth, families, and seniors to provide a range of supports, meeting their individual needs. We support the Irish because we have made a commitment to our funders to do so.  We do everything else, because we are Irish. Thank you for putting a spotlight on the need for food security, and the growing need for mental health support – and for helping us to do our part in providing that support. 

Sandra Feeney-Charles, Executive Director of the Aisling Irish Community and Cultural Center.

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We extend our sincerest thanks to these organizations for their tireless work to uplift and support those in need. Your efforts make a profound difference in the lives of so many, and we are proud to stand with you. Together, we can continue to build stronger, more inclusive communities and create a brighter future for all.

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The Taxback International Team Takes on the '12 Dips of December' Challenge

Our Taxback International team showed true courage by diving into the cold River Barrow—not once, but 12 times each — as part of the '12 Dips in December' challenge.

A huge thank you to our daring participants: Cora Phelan, Therese Hegarty, Éanna Brady, Nigel O'Donovan, Nicola Delaney, Joe Forristal, Eoin Dunphy, Brian Cooney, and Clare Farrell. All of which took the plunge to support three incredible causes, the Irish Heart Foundation, Pieta and Breast Cancer Ireland

We are so grateful for the generous donations and words of encouragement from everyone who supported our team. Your contributions will go a long way in helping these essential organizations continue their lifechanging work.

We’re beyond proud of our team for their dedication. By the end of their 12 Dips of December Challenge, our team raised over 3,000 euros in total. A massive well done to all involved.

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Volunteering at CluneTech

Introduced in 2021, our CSR Volunteer Day empowers each employee to give back to the charities and causes closest to them. Since the inception of Volunteer Day, 210+ CluneTech employees have contributed to causes which they find meaningful, and this number keeps growing. See what they had to share with us about their experience this quarter:

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Anita Ilieva and Denis Ibrqmov: A day of giving back in their local dog shelter

This November, Denis Ibrqmov and Anita Ilieva from the TransferMate Treasury Team spent a meaningful day at a local dog shelter in their hometown Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. Here's what they had to share about their experience:

“As animal lovers, this cause is something we truly hold close to our hearts, and we felt incredibly fortunate to be able to give back in a small but impactful way.

Our visit was filled with laughter, love, and a lot of wagging tails! We spent time playing with the adorable puppies, whose energy and joy were absolutely contagious. It was a heartwarming experience, and we couldn’t help but feel a deep connection with these wonderful animals who are waiting for their forever homes.

In addition to spending time with the dogs, we also rolled up our sleeves to help clean the cages, making sure the puppies and older dogs had a clean, safe space to rest. We also donated much-needed food to the shelter, knowing how essential it is to provide them with the best care possible.

This experience reminded us just how important it is to support causes that help those who can’t speak for themselves. It’s not just about giving material things, but also about showing kindness, compassion, and love to creatures who give us so much joy in return.

We encourage everyone to get involved in their communities and support causes that matter. Whether it’s through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading awareness, every little bit helps."

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Linda Mooney Supporting Young Athletes: A Day at the Primary School Cross Country

As part of our commitment to volunteering, Linda Mooney took a break from her customer service role to spend a day with primary school students participating in a cross-country event. This voluntary day provided her the opportunity to support young athletes and encourage their involvement in competitive running.

“I had the chance to take some time out from dealing with clients in Customer Service to spend the day with students aged 8/9 to 12 years thanks to CluneTech cares and our voluntary day. A lovely fresh Irish morning (ideal running conditions) had me walking 35 students from the school to the back field of beautiful Kilkenny Castle. We arrange them by age to get to the start line as they run them by age/class and whether boys or girls (over 800 participants so it crazy trying to not miss their start time). All the kids had great fun and we had 2nd place for 5th class girls and they got bronze for team event, 6th class boys missed out on bronze for the team but had 5th place individual. After it’s all over and few tired kids, we walk them back to the school. It’s great chance for students that are not part of Athletic club to have a chance to run and get a feel for competitive running and cross country. I had 2 of my own running in the 4th class girls and 6th class boys so was lovely to be their to cheer them on.”

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Our CSR Programme - CluneTech Cares, is a fantastic representation of what we are - a team of truly caring individuals giving our best to support and add value, not only to our customers, but also to the communities in which we operate. CluneTech Cares is employee-led and has three key pillars: Wellness, Culture & Community, and Sustainability. It has been a busy quarter so make sure to check out some of our latest activities below.

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July’s CSR Spotlight: The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and Karin Dom

Our CSR Spotlight of the Month initiative shines a light on a specific charity or cause for our teams to support. During this time, employees from around the world can join in a remote or in-person 5k walk, run, swim, or cycle.
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This July, we focused our efforts on supporting The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and Karin Dom, two organizations dedicated to improving children's health and well-being.
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The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation provides vital in-home nursing and end-of-life care for children with severe and life-limiting conditions throughout Ireland. The foundation offers families much-needed respite and support, ensuring that children receive compassionate care in the comfort of their homes.
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Karin Dom is a Bulgarian non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Ivan Stancioff. It serves as a therapeutic center for children with special needs, employing a team of skilled professionals, including physiotherapists, speech therapists, and social workers. Despite their impactful work, Karin Dom faces ongoing challenges due to increasing costs.
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Thanks to our team’s involvement throughout July, CluneTech donated over €350 on behalf of our staff to these dedicated charities, supporting their essential services for children and families in Ireland and Bulgaria.

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August CSR Spotlight: Supporting Animal Welfare

In celebration of International Dog Day, our August CSR Spotlight focused on supporting animal welfare organizations. Donations raised went towards the life-saving efforts of charities and groups working to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals in need.
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Our primary beneficiary during August was PAWS, an organization dedicated to rescuing abandoned and homeless animals, mainly dogs from high-kill shelters and owners who can no longer care for them. PAWS collaborates with volunteers, local vets, and adoption groups to rescue hundreds of animals each year, provide them with temporary care, and find them loving forever homes.
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A highlight of the month was the Lucky Hunt Project Charity Bazaar, which was organized in support of Lucky Hunt. Founded 13 years ago by Svetlana Hunt, Lucky Hunt operates two facilities: a rehabilitation farm for rescued animals and an open-concept shelter for stray dogs, where the animals are not kept in cages. Over the years, the Lucky Hunt Project has rescued and rehabilitated thousands of homeless animals, providing them with a safe environment and a chance at finding forever homes.
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The charity bazaar was a tremendous success, with contributions making a significant impact on the shelter’s ability to provide vital resources to animals in need. Employees had the opportunity to learn more about Lucky Hunt’s mission, support the cause, and contribute directly to helping these animals.
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Thanks to our team’s active participation, CluneTech made a monetary donation to support animal welfare initiatives, making a meaningful difference for organizations like Lucky Hunt and other beneficiaries. Thank you to everyone who took part and showed their support!
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September’s CSR Spotlight: World Suicide Awareness

In September, CluneTech Cares honored World Suicide Awareness Month by dedicating our CSR Spotlight to Waterford Marine Search and Rescue, an organization committed to preventing suicide and saving lives in the community.

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This year, we organized a 5K CSR Walk at our Kilkenny HQ to bring employees together and raise funds and awareness for the cause. The walk provided a great opportunity for our team to connect, support each other, and contribute to a meaningful initiative. Throughout the month, we also took the opportunity to highlight CluneTech’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), ensuring that employees across the globe are aware of the mental health resources available to them.

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At the end of September, CluneTech made a monetary donation to Waterford Marine Search and Rescue, supporting their essential efforts in mental health and suicide prevention. A big thank you to all of our colleagues for their participation and dedication during this important month!

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‘Let's Clean Bulgaria Together’ Initiative 

In just under an hour, our Bulgarian colleagues proudly collected a total of fifteen bags of trash as part of the ‘Let’s Clean Bulgaria Together’ initiative, which they have now participated in for the second consecutive year.

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We extend our heartfelt thanks to our young volunteers—Maya, Tervel, Boris, Gabi, and Miroslav—who, along with their parents and our dedicated colleagues Emiliya Dimitrova, Vesselin Markov, Miglena Kostova, Elka Krashevska, Aleksandrina Konstantinova, Ina Eneva, and Daniela Roussev, and their friends, spent their Saturday morning cleaning the area around our Bacho Kiro office in Varna, Bulgaria.

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The 12th edition of ‘Let’s Clean Bulgaria Together’ took place on September 14th throughout Bulgaria, in support of World Cleanup Day 2024, which will be observed on September 20th. As Bulgaria’s largest volunteer initiative, it aims to shift attitudes toward pollution, foster a sense of personal responsibility, and contribute to environmental conservation while making a visible difference.

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On September 14th, thousands of volunteers, including students from hundreds of schools and kindergartens as well as NGOs, equipped with bags, gloves, and rubber boots, came together to clean polluted areas and water bodies across the country.

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Since the launch of ‘Let’s Clean Bulgaria Together’, nearly 3,102,000 volunteers have collected approximately 100,000 tons of waste, clearing 28,800 illegal dumpsites and polluted areas. According to the global organization Let’s Do It World, every 10 tons of waste cleaned by volunteers saves €22 million and three years of institutional labour. World Cleanup Day is recognized by the European Parliament and is included in the UN calendar.

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Laptop Donation to St. Aidan’s National School, Kilkenny

As part of CluneTech Cares, we were delighted to donate laptops to St. Aidan's National School in Kilkenny! These laptops will help students and staff integrate ICT into the curriculum, enhancing digital learning while also reducing e-waste by giving older electronics a second life.

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Principal Robbie Byrne shared:

"St. Aidan's NS is delighted to accept the very kind donation of laptops from CluneTech / TransferMate. The laptops will be very useful in our classrooms and support rooms as we integrate ICT across the curriculum. It's also great to see laptops recycled in this way which will benefit many of our students."

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At CluneTech Cares, we’re proud to support our local community while fostering a more sustainable future! Many thanks to James Murphy for driving this initiative forward.

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CluneTech continues its support for the I Want a Baby Foundation

We are honored that for a second year in a row, CluneTech is donating to the I Want a Baby Foundation in Bulgaria, supporting the facilitation of psychological support groups for women and couples with infertility. Over the past year, our initial donation helped nine women experiencing infertility receive much-needed support, and three of them have since become mothers.

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CluneTech Cares: Celebrating the Kilkenny Stars BIDL Women’s Team

CluneTech Cares is proud to sponsor the Kilkenny Stars BIDL Women’s Team, who had an impressive season debut on Saturday evening. The team kicked off their journey in senior basketball with enthusiasm and determination, backed by a lively crowd that brought vibrant energy to the game.

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Despite facing challenges in the first half, the team demonstrated resilience and teamwork, pushing through to secure a decisive victory against their neighbours, the Tipperary Knights. This promising start has set the stage for an exciting season ahead, and we look forward to supporting the Kilkenny Stars as they continue to shine on and off the court!

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Gavroche Association: Empowering Youth Through Legal Education

As part of a CluneTech Cares initiative, young residents from the Gavroche Association’s supervised residence and the Caritas sheltered housing recently visited the Varna District Court. The visit was organized with support from our dedicated colleagues Daniela Tsoneva and Emiliya Dimitrova, who aim to help social service users and employees in the region gain valuable experience and learn best practices in human rights and support for vulnerable individuals.

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During the visit, the group had the opportunity to engage with Deputy Chairperson and Judge Ralitsa Raykova, Veselina Todorova, Coordinator of the Mediation Center, and Stella Yankova, Head of the Court’s Press Center. The court representatives shared insights on civil and criminal cases and offered real-life examples from their experiences working with citizens.

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The youths also explored topics like judicial mediation as an alternative way to resolve disputes, the role of the National Legal Aid Bureau, and the responsibilities of the duty judge—a key figure in granting permissions related to finances and real estate for individuals under guardianship.

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This initiative is part of CluneTech’s ongoing commitment to fostering community engagement and supporting educational opportunities that empower young people in the region.

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CluneTech Cares: Supporting Young Racer Adam Butler

CluneTech is absolutely delighted to sponsor local young racer Adam Butler. We recently welcomed Adam to our Kilkenny HQ following his participation in the #T4NationsCup2024. Thanks to Adam and his team, we had the opportunity to see one of his racing karts in person, further highlighting our commitment to supporting young talent in the community. We look forward to following Adam's journey on the racetrack!

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Volunteering at CluneTech

Introduced in 2021, our CSR Volunteer Day empowers each employee to give back to the charities and causes closest to them. Since the inception of Volunteer Day, 160+ CluneTech employees have contributed to causes which they find meaningful, and this number keeps growing. See what they had to share with us about their experience this quarter:

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Our amazing colleagues Antonia Petrova and Silviya Krasteva volunteered at the latest edition of the ‘I believe and help’ campaign.

Antonia and Silvia brought 18 kg of plastic caps that the employees in our Varna office collected and spent the day supporting the cause at the Cathedral in the heart of the city.

‘I believe and help’ is a well-known Bulgarian initiative which is run biannually - once in the spring, and once in the autumn. It promotes plastic caps collection and recycling as a way to gather funds for buying vital medical equipment for children’s hospitals while also supporting the planet and recycling tons of plastic each year. Well done to Antonia and Silviya for their amazing work!

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Team Victory for CluneTech at the Mount Juliet Corporate Invitational

Last Thursday, CluneTech was proud to be represented at the annual Mount Juliet Corporate Invitational, where our team not only enjoyed spectacular weather but also played an exceptional round of golf.

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Competing with determination and skill, the team of Padraig Lahart, Jack O'Keeffe, Patrick Dalton, and David Dooley showcased their talent on the course, ultimately taking home the first-place prize!

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Thank you to Padraig, Jack, Patrick and David for supporting this event through CluneTech Cares.

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June 11th 2024, Varna, Bulgaria. CluneTech’s annual donation to Karin Dom will support their social enterprise, providing jobs for two mothers of children on the autism spectrum who use Karin Dom’s services in Varna, Bulgaria. Our donation ensures that the salaries and social contributions of these mothers are covered for six months, allowing them to continue working at Karin Dom while being close to their children and addressing the challenges of raising children with special needs.

Petya and Zhivka work in Karin Dom’s social enterprise while their sons attend Montessori groups and therapeutic swimming lessons. Initially, both mothers started as volunteers, seeking distraction from the challenges they faced while raising their children. As Karin Dom’s social enterprise formalized, they were invited to become employed.

Petya shares her experience:

"Eight years ago, I first stepped into Karin Dom for my son's initial assessment. I was anxious, scared, and didn't know what to expect. My son began attending therapies, and I joined the Parent Group. I was in denial about his Autism, but the group helped me recover and smile again. Volunteering kept me from constantly thinking about the difficulties, giving me satisfaction. I love helping, feeling good, and being useful. When the social enterprise was established, we started working there, and now I feel even more fulfilled. Karin Dom is where I found support, understanding, empathy, and guidance on how to cope with Mitaka's condition. Having a vocation is very valuable, and I am glad to be part of the Karin Dom team!"

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"Today, Petya and Zhivka craft toys for Karin Dom’s Christmas and Martenitsi campaigns, which are sold to support therapeutic programs for children with special needs.  “Handmade products require a lot of attention, skill, and time to prepare but Petya and Zhivka are continuously developing and are no longer afraid to tackle the sewing machine.”, our partners from Karin Dom shared.

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About CluneTech Cares. CluneTech’s CSR programme was established in September 2007 in response to a tragic flooding disaster in Tsar Kaloyan, Bulgaria. Deeply saddened by the news, our Bulgarian employees decided to help and within 48 hours, they had rallied together and organised 3.5 tonnes of food and 12,000 liters of water for the village. After this event, we formalised our CSR activity to give it a global reach, ensuring to support each of the communities in which we operate. Today we’re proud to have a CSR Programme that is created by our people, for our people.

Karin Dom is a Bulgarian non-profit organization founded in 1996 by hereditary diplomat and philanthropist Ivan Stancioff. 28 years on, Karin Dom is an organization with a leading role in providing professional services for children with special needs and their families. Set in the beautiful city of Varna, Bulgaria, Karin Dom's new building which opened in September 2022, gives children with special needs from the Northeast of Bulgaria access to vital therapy that helps them to grow in strength and confidence.

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Our CSR Programme - CluneTech Cares, is a fantastic representation of what we are - a team of truly caring individuals giving our best to support and add value, not only to our customers, but also to the communities in which we operate. CluneTech Cares is employee-led and has three key pillars: Wellness, Culture & Community, and Sustainability. It has been a busy quarter so make sure to check out some of our latest activities below.

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April's CSR Spotlight: CluneTech Goes Green

With one of the key pillars of our CSR Programme CluneTech Cares being sustainability, we couldn’t forget all of our recent CSR events under the #CluneTechGoesGreen umbrella which we organized for our staff during the month of April.

Every year, in celebration of World Earth Day, CluneTech Goes Green for the month of April to raise awareness about the environment and learn more about what we can do for our planet across our day to day lives.  

During the month of April #CluneTechGoesGreen:

• Shared daily tips and tricks with our colleagues on how we can change aspects of our lifestyles for the better of our planet.

• Donated €5 per employee that participated in a 5k run / walk for the month of April to Leave No Trace, Ireland’s only Outdoor Ethics Education Programme designed to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation.

• Debuted fresh ways to promote sustainability to our people like our virtual cooking demo with The Happy Pear discussing Sustainability, Food Waste and Cooking on a Budget, as well as a webinar teaching us how we can limit our digital use environmental footprint.  

Thanks to our team's support and participation throughout the month, CluneTech donated over €100 to our dedicated sustainability charity, Leave No Trace Ireland which will go towards their work sustaining a healthy and vibrant outdoor environment for everyone. Well done to all of our amazing colleagues for their participation this month.

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May’s CSR Spotlight: World MS Day

In honour of World MS Day, CluneTech Cares dedicated May's CSR spotlight to a number of incredibly deserving multiple sclerosis support charities. The charities supported included Moga Sam, MS Ireland and MS Society UK.

The MS – Moga sam organization in Bulgaria was founded by Bilyana Savova. At the age of 40, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Bilyana started the organization in 2013 to support people with multiple sclerosis by helping them deal with their diagnosis both mentally and physically, as well as guiding them towards healthy lifestyle changes that can improve a range of MS symptoms.

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland (MS Ireland) is the only national organisation providing information, support, and advocacy services to the MS community. Their services include Regional Community Worker programmes for one-to-one support, physiotherapy, symptom management courses, newly diagnosed sessions, and the MS Information Line, one of the first services used in the time leading up to or following a diagnosis.

The Multiple Sclerosis Society is the UK's largest charity for people affected by multiple sclerosis. The organisation funds research, campaigns for social and political change and provides services that help people with multiple sclerosis and their families. It also compiles the only report of its kind on prevalence and living situations for people with MS across the UK

On the 30th of May, a walk / run was organised both remotely and in person for those who wanted to take part with their teammates in aid of this amazing cause. Following our team’s participation throughout the month of May, CluneTech donated €100 to each of our dedicated MS support charities. This donation will go towards the hugely important services made available to people affected by MS and their families. Thank you to everyone who got involved and for the support you’ve shown to our incredible charities during the month of May.

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June's CSR Spotlight: Pride Month

This June, we dedicated our CSR Spotlight to Pride Month in support and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. All donations go towards several incredibly deserving LGBT+ support organisations and charities.

June is Pride Month, when the world’s LGBT communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves. Pride gatherings are rooted in the arduous history of minority groups who have struggled for decades to overcome prejudice and be accepted for who they are.

The original organizers chose this month to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, which helped spark the modern gay rights movement.

During the month of June, not only did our teams get involved in our monthly walk / run in support of the LGBTQ+ community, but they also took part in a number of fundraising Pride Month activities including CluneTech’s ‘Wear Your Rainbow Day’ and our annual Pride themed photography competition where we asked our teams what pride means to them.

Thanks to our team's participation throughout the month, CluneTech has made a monetary donation in support of our LGBTQ+ organisations and charities. Well done to all of our amazing colleagues for their participation this month.

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Business Run 2023

For the third year in a row, we participated in Bulgaria’s biggest corporate run which took place in the Bulyard shipping factory in Varna, Bulgaria. On June 12th two CluneTech teams took part in Business Run Varna ranking #5 out of 76 teams on the day and #2 in the women's ranking. Not only was the Business Run a really great team building event, but it’s also a great way to give back to charity as 30% of the registration fees from the event was also donated to Karin Dom's new therapeutical center in Varna.

Set in the beautiful city of Varna, Karin Dom's new building opened its doors in September 2022, giving children with special needs from the Northeast of Bulgaria access to vital therapy that will help them to grow in strength and confidence. Well done to both teams on a fantastic result and for your time supporting this great cause.

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Garden Swing for the Veliko Tarnovo’s Daycare Center for Children with Disabilities

Following our 2021 gardening therapy project, CluneTech and our Veliko Tarnovo team made another meaningful contribution to the local Daycare Center for children with disabilities. We donated a garden swing, allowing the young people in the center to spend more quality time outdoors which can help them reduce anxiety, increase their attention span, and improve their overall physical and mental wellbeing.  

Veliko Tarnovo’s Center 'Rainbow' provides a set of services to promote children’s development, ensure comprehensive care for them during the day, meet their learning needs, provide motor and speech therapy, and provide quality time outdoors with their friends and family.

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'I Believe and Help' Plastic Caps Recycling Campaign

Following the ongoing support of our team in Bulgaria, CluneTech donated 21kgs of plastic caps for the latest edition of the 'I believe and help' initiative in Varna, which took place on 29th April.  

'I believe and help' is a well-known Bulgarian initiative that is run biannually – once in the spring, and once in the autumn. It promotes plastic caps collection and recycling as a way to gather funds for buying vital medical equipment for children’s hospitals while also supporting the planet and recycling tons of plastic each year.

In addition to the plastic caps collection, this year the organizers promoted their first penny fundraiser campaign and a local fundraising bazaar, ending with an amazing record of 31 tons of plastic caps collected, equal to 24 800 BGN.

The latest goal of the 'I believe and help' organization is the collection of 500 000 BGN which will be used for buying:

• The first in Bulgaria mobile blood donation vehicle

• The second in the Southeast of Bulgaria Neonatal ambulance

• Lifesaving medical equipment for the pediatric surgical ward in St. Anna’s Hospital in Varna

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Career Counseling Program  

Our career counselling program is our way to show how CluneTech cares about the youth and their future career development. For a fifth year in a row, CluneTech’s career counselling program took place in Varna High School of Commerce during the academic year 2022-2023.  

In this year’s edition of our career counseling program, managers from various businesses from across our group met the young students training them for real life job interviews and developing specific skills which can help them get the best out of the career exploration, job search and job application processes.  

At the end of the academic year, all participants had their professional LinkedIn headshot done by our in-house photographer and the best ones received a job recommendation letter from their mentor.  Congratulations to all of our participants from Varna High School of Commerce and our Career Counseling Program mentors on this incredible initiative.

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The First Ever Open CSR Employee Vote in Bulgaria

CluneTech Cares is led by our employees, for our employees. At the beginning of 2023, we opened our global CSR request form. We received exactly 50 requests from our teams with fundraising requests for charities and causes they hold dearest, in addition to the many amazing initiatives we already support.

This year in Bulgaria, we decided to follow our employee feedback and let our people decide the next initiative supported by CluneTech Cares.

Following our team’s feedback, the 'I Want a Baby' organization was chosen as our next beneficiary. The 'I Want a Baby' organization coordinates reproduction, fertility treatment and psychological support programs for childless couples.  

Following her nomination, Iglika Raeva from our Veliko Tarnovo office shared:

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“The reason I want to support 'I Want a Baby' is because it is a cause very close to my heart. The volunteers there give their time and endless effort to support the families that are listed in the program. They support them not only financially, but also mentally, and emotionally and become their second family. All the parents of the babies born with the help of the foundation are also volunteers and they give back time and effort invested by others previously for them. I see great value in their cause, to have more babies, increased population, happiness for people that have wanted this for years.”

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Volunteering at CluneTech

Introduced in 2021, our CSR Volunteer Day empowers each employee to give back to the charities and causes closest to them. Since the inception of our Volunteer Day, over 70 CluneTech employees have contributed to causes which they find meaningful, and this number keeps growing. 

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Marie Collins volunteering at Griffeen Parkrun

“A huge thank you from Griffeen parkrun for the very generous donation from CluneTech and the GPTW team. The core team used the donation to purchase a microphone and speaker, which makes the important run and safety briefings audible!”

– Marie Collins, Immedis.

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The Social Teahouse Renovation

Just a week before Easter, over ten CluneTech volunteers helped with the renovation of the Social Teahouse in Varna. Their immense support came in addition to a small financial donation that CluneTech made to give a push to the organization’s renovation project.  

The Social Teahouse is a tea and coffee shop, a venue for many events and a favorite place for the residents and the guests of the city of Varna. Most importantly, it is a social enterprise set up to support young people from difficult backgrounds and help them gain employment by giving them a chance to start their first job in the organization.

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Chris Henry participating in the restoration of one of Bulgaria’s most ancient churches

In May 2023, Chris Henry from our Veliko Tarnovo office spent his Volunteer Day working on the restoration of one of Bulgaria’s most ancient churches in the Kereka village near Dryanovo, Bulgaria called “Mary’s Holy Annunciation”. A volunteering group led by Hristo Totsev worked on restoring the retaining wall of the nearly 200-year-old building, which was also used as a school for the children of the residents of the village.

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What is your favorite thing about working at CluneTech?

It may sound cliché, but undoubtedly, the most valuable asset of the company are the people.

Over the years, I have encountered many interesting, capable people, who contribute to the development and values of CluneTech. The company’s culture is something unique for each organization and I reckon that the spirit, cooperation, and respect that exists within ours is one of the things that makes CluneTech a preferred and successful employer.

When I reached 20 years with the company, besides the gifts and surprises from my wonderful colleagues in the HR department, I received a beautiful bouquet of roses from a group of colleagues with whom I have worked with throughout the years.

Another thing that impresses me is the entrepreneurial spirit and continuous pursuit of innovation that I have observed throughout the years in the company, starting from CluneTech’s owner, Terry Clune.

What has been your biggest achievement or highlight since joining CluneTech?

I am not able to define only one thing, but one of my most important achievements has been all the training courses that were organized during the years. Successful inductions and all the activities surrounding training platforms such as Udemy, LinkedIn Learning and others, which our employees have been using over the years is something we can be proud of. Our educational program for specialists in various businesses – Taxback Pro – introduced in2012 is also a project that we are very proud of.

What is the biggest change that you have witnessed in your time here?

When I started working with the company, it consisted of one business and had 150 employees in Bulgaria. Within one year of joining CluneTech, the number of employees doubled.

Now after 20 years, CluneTech is expanding businesses in many fields, and the number of employees in Bulgaria is over 1000. That is a significant change.

What is the greatest challenge that you have faced in your time here and how did you overcome it?

One of the major challenges that comes to my mind is one of the large-scale events in 2016 when I successfully organized training sessions for over 120 employees on different topics from an international training company. All the activities related to this event had to be coordinated and organized precisely, while also being carried out in parallel with other projects I was working on. A challenge can only be overcome by mobilizing yourself and giving your best effort.

What has been your favourite task or project to work on?

I have learned a lot from cases related to labor legislation, but there are two projects that I am working on with great enthusiasm.

One is the Taxback Pro program for specialists, and the other is the #One Team Awards, where we recognize employees who have been nominated by their colleagues for excellence.

Do you have advice for someone who is just starting their career in CluneTech?

Be prepared to learn every day, be patient, work with enthusiasm, don’t be afraid to accept challenges and pursue your goals. I wish them success, to have fun, and to feel good at CluneTech.

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Tuesday, 6th June, 2023, Kilkenny, Ireland.

‍U.S. multinational UKG Inc., a leading provider of HR, payroll and workforce management solutions for all people, has reached an agreement with Kilkenny-based CluneTech to acquire global payroll provider Immedis.

Founded in 2016, Immedis is a subsidiary of CluneTech - a suite of technology companies focused on simplifying global business. Through its cloud-based payroll platform, Immedis delivers multi-country payroll solutions to customers spanning multiple industries across more than 150 countries and 120 currencies. Demand for the Immedis payroll platform has grown strongly and this acquisition reflects an increase in valuation above its last investment round.

With 374 people worldwide, including an Irish workforce of over 100, Immedis provides organizations with a real-time view of data and analytics across their entire global payroll ecosystem, regardless of how payroll is processed at the country level.

The acquisition of Immedis, subject to closing conditions, is expected to be completed within 60 days and propels UKG into a global HCM leadership position with the creation of the industry’s most adaptable, intelligent “schedule to fund in one” experience for multinational businesses. UKG has 15,000 employees and 75,000 customers around the globe. In 2021 UKG acquired Great Place to Work, which has ranked CluneTech as one of Ireland’s best workplaces for the past eight consecutive years, as well as a Best Workplace in Tech™ and a Best Workplace for Women™.

The acquisition of Immedis will help UKG support their customers to transform multi-country payroll, while also providing exciting career opportunities for Immedis employees as part of the UKG business.

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“Having worked closely with Immedis for several years, utilizing their technology to help support our customers through a strategic partnership, we are delighted to welcome the team to UKG,” said Chris Todd, chief executive officer at UKG. “The combination of UKG and Immedis will create the HCM industry’s most flexible and intelligent multi-country payroll experience for multinational businesses.”

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“We established Immedis to help large companies solve their global payroll problems. I am incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication of the Immedis team over the past seven years to achieve our goal of becoming a global leader in international payroll service and technology,” said Terry Clune, founder of Immedis and CluneTech.

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‍“Joining UKG expands the reach and impact of our ground-breaking technology. It also presents tremendous new opportunities for the exceptional people who make Immedis special. I really appreciate the hard work of our incredible team, and I’m delighted that each of our Immedis staff will gain from this acquisition. I’d also like to thank Lead Edge Capital and Scottish Equity Partners (SEP) who have been strong and supportive partners in Immedis’ growth.”

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The Irish State will also benefit as an investor in SEP via the Ireland Strategic investment Fund (ISIF).

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“Tackling the persistent challenges of global payroll and compliance across multiple countries through completely new and innovative approaches that are technology-led has been the driving force behind our work at Immedis,” said Richard Limpkin, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Immedis. “Now, coupled with the powerful UKG HCM suite and its industry-leading global workforce management, we’re excited to help further redefine the entire multi-country payroll market.”

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Hugo Sarrazin, chief product and technology officer at UKG, added:

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“The formidable combination of UKG and Immedis will be transformative and help us reshape and modernize how North American-based global businesses manage their people — and compliance —worldwide.”

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Qatalyst Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor, A&L Goodbody LLP acted as legal advisors and PWC acted as tax advisors to Immedis in relation to the transaction. In addition, DLA Piper LLP and Clerkin Lynch LLP each acted as legal advisors to certain shareholders.

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For more, visit UKG.com.

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About Immedis

Immedis delivers multi-country payroll solutions designed for today’s global enterprise. Focused on continuous innovation in line with the needs of global business, our global payroll solutions support the complete end-to-end payroll cycle while providing advanced reporting and analytics. Using the Immedis platform, organisations improve efficiency, operate profitably and scale continuously, all while having peace of mind when it comes to data security and compliance. Built on over two decades of expertise as a subsidiary of CluneTech and trusted by international brands, our team of experts provide our customers with the support they need to achieve the greatest success. To learn more, visit Immedis.com.

About CluneTech
CluneTech is a suite of software technology companies providing cutting-edge solutions that simplify global business. Our technology streamlines business processes such as digital sales, global payroll, tax compliance, global VAT and cross-border payments, making business better for our customers worldwide.

Established in 1996 by Irish entrepreneur Terry Clune, CluneTech is headquartered in Ireland with a footprint across four continents. The group has offices in 21 countries, with over 1,600 employees globally. Companies within the group include TransferMate, Taxback International, Taxback.com, Sprintax, Visa First and Benamic. 

About UKG

At UKG, our purpose is people. As strong believers in the power of culture and belonging as the secret to success, we champion great workplaces and build lifelong partnerships with our customers to show what’s possible when businesses invest in their people. Born from a historic merger that created one of the world’s leading HCM cloud companies, our Life-work Technology approach to HR, payroll, and workforce management solutions for all people helps more than 75,000 organizations around the globe and across every industry anticipate and adapt to their employees’ needs beyond just work. To learn more, visit ukg.com.

Further Information:

Fiona MacCarthy, Head of Communications, CluneTech

fiona.maccarthy@clunetech.com

Tel: +353879314131

Tiffany Appleby

tiffany.appleby@immedis.com

SVP, Marketing & Global Alliances, Immedis

+1 214 842 3490

Dan Gouthro

daniel.gouthro@ukg.com

Director, Global Public Relations, UKG

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At CluneTech, we have an extensive Milestone Recognition Program that rewards employees that choose to build a long and successful career with us.

As part of this programme, we love celebrating and sharing the stories of those reaching major milestones with the company. This month we caught up with TransferMate's Brid Barron, TM Education's Relationship Manager who has been on our team for the last 5 years.

What is your favorite thing about working in CluneTech / TransferMate?

 I like that we can work from home and the flexibility. My team are friendly and helpful. The benefits within the company are great too.

What has been your biggest achievement or highlight since joining CluneTech / TransferMate?

My biggest achievement has been winning first Operations Recognition Award for 2023.

What is the biggest change that you have witnessed in your time here?

The biggest change has been remote working, the addition of summer flex hours and the quarterly lifework day.

What is the greatest challenge that you have faced in your time here and how did you overcome it?

When I changed position from Business Development Manager to Relationship Manager within Education, it was a new department. We needed to build up from scratch and the team is working very well.

What has been your favorite task or project to work on?

I like that I work with clients from all different sections in the education sector from student accommodation, universities and language schools.

Do you have advice for someone who is just starting their career in CluneTech / TransferMate?

If you have any questions or queries always reach out as someone will always be able to help.

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Kilkenny, 24^th April, 2023. Kilkenny-based CluneTech has been awarded Champion Well-being Strategy at the annual Irish HR Champion Awards. CluneTech was recognised at the awards ceremony on Friday 21^st April 2023.

The Irish HR Champion Awards celebrate the hard work and dedication of HR Teams – operating at the front line, delivering ambitious programmes, impacting business performance and transforming the employee experience. CluneTech was recognised for its true dedication to the well-being of their people and its strategy was quoted as being “truly inspiring”.

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Speaking about the recognition, Terry Clune, CEO and Founder of CluneTech, said:

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"We are honoured to have won the award for Champion Well-being Strategy at this year’s Irish HR Champion Awards. This recognition is testament to the work that our teams put in to ensure that our people, regardless of their role in the organisation, or where in the world they are based, know that their wellbeing is a priority. As the world around us continues to evolve, so too has our wellbeing strategy. However, one thing that remains constant is our dedication to placing our people’s feedback at the heart of CluneTech.  We are incredibly proud of this achievement, and we are committed to continuously improving our offering in order to be the best possible employer for our people."

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Rachael O’Shea, Head of Employee Experience at CluneTech also commented:  

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“We place the voice of our people at the core of everything we do and while this award recognises our dedication to wellbeing, it also acknowledges the tremendous role they play in sharing their feedback so that we can deliver a strategy that is truly tailored to their needs. Over the last few years this strategy, and our overall employee experience, has truly transformed and our people are trusted, supported and empowered to work in a way that works for them. This has had a hugely positive impact on their work-life balance and overall wellbeing.”

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In the last 12 months, CluneTech introduced an enhanced benefits package which included “Lifework Days ” ̶ an additional half day’s leave per quarter where employees can get their life jobs done without having to use their hard-earned annual leave, summer flex hours where employees can work their standard five-day week across four and a half days and an enhanced Milestone Recognition Programme which offers better rewards for employees who wish to develop their careers with CluneTech.

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These benefits were introduced in addition to an already comprehensive benefits package that prioritises employee well-being. Benefits include a range of fully paid leaves including maternity and paternity, IVF and pregnancy support, miscarriage and pregnancy loss and marriage, divorce or separation leave, and a flexible work environment where employees can work in a way that works for them, be that remote, hybrid or on-site.

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In addition to enhanced benefits and work-life balance, CluneTech’s well-being strategy focused on further driving engagement and awareness of the company’s CSR programme. Through this programme CluneTech supported over 73 charities, causes and fundraisers in 2022 alone. Our people also dedicate their time to support charity and community initiatives, and after the introduction of a paid CSR Volunteer Day in 2021, uptake increased 105% last year.

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Other features of CluneTech’s well-being strategy include a monthly wellbeing series in partnership with Laya Healthcare, a very successful annual Health and Wellbeing week, and a dedicated Wellbeing Space, which was created this year on CluneTech’s internal employee engagement platform.

CluneTech is currently hiring across Operations, Finance, Commercial, Technology and Project Management. Learn more about CluneTech career opportunities here.

For more information, contact:

Fiona MacCarthy            

Group Head of Communications, CluneTech

Tel: +353879314131

Email: fiona.maccarthy@clunetech.com

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What is your favorite thing about working at CluneTech?

Without a doubt, it's the people. I'm sure if you ask my colleagues and managers, regardless of how long they've been here, they'll give you the same answer. The team spirit at CluneTech is incredible, with a can-do attitude and a supportive environment for everyone. These are my top three favorite things about working at CluneTech, among many others 😊.

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What has been your biggest achievement or highlight since joining CluneTech?

I've found that my accomplishments are often tied to the challenges I face at work and in life. I've learned that when you can achieve your personal goals, you can also achieve your professional ones.

What is the biggest change that you have witnessed in your time here?

Being part of the Veliko Tarnovo's office expansion years ago was an amazing adventure. I've seen it grow from 15 to nearly 150 people across all businesses within the Group. The office was opened 11 years ago with its first employees from the Taxback Sales team. Since then, many operational departments have transformed, and now we're proud to have 19 teams from Taxback International, Taxback.com, Transfermate, and Immedis.

What is the greatest challenge that you have faced in your time here and how did you overcome it?

When I come out of a difficult situation, I analyse the mistakes along the way and I find it as a great self-improving mechanism. I try to give my best at every aspect of the work I do.

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What has been your favourite task or project to work on?

As part of the HR team, we work on multiple projects, and I enjoy all of them, from recruitment campaigns to Great Place to Work events, CluneTech Cares initiatives, and employees' experience projects. It's inspiring to work with so many professionals who provide constant support, making every project my favorite one.

Do you have advice for someone who is just starting their career in CluneTech?

For all the new starters at CluneTech, I would say that exceptional performance brings results sooner than expected, but it can only be achieved by working as #OneTeam. Collaboration and teamwork are key to success at CluneTech.