By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG-based Sky Software will create 40 jobs in a new global support centre for sales of its growing student management system, according to chairman Clive Mayhew.
Mr Mayhew said the company recently sold its software to customers in another 45 countries, adding to seven nations already supplied.
A $400,000 Victorian Government grant ensured the project would remain in Geelong, he said.
Mr Mayhew said the global support centre was set up in Geelong to tap its “highly-skilled” workforce.
“We wanted to provide our customers with the highest level of support, so we chose to build the global support centre here in Geelong.
“The funding will underpin our recruitment and training of people in a number of specialist areas in the global support centre including operational support, business analysts, technical support, project managers, trainers and other technical support roles.”
Mr Mayhew said the company provided complex customised software for private education providers.
“We’re supporting over 250,000 students using our software in Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Czech Republic and Kuwait.
“Over the next two years one of our customers will be deploying our software into another 45 countries and our global support centre can scale to support many millions of students using our software around the world.
“These new roles will build on the fantastic team we already have in place and with the support of the Victorian Government will double the number of Geelong-based employees again.”
Mr Mayhew said the growth of the Geelong company started with participation in trade fairs and missions, instrumental in winning significant overseas business.
“We believe ICT represents a tremendous opportunity for jobs growth in Geelong.”
Regional and Rural Development Minister Peter Ryan said the global support centre was another example of new investment and business opportunities in Geelong creating new jobs.
