After a very successful 2012 Core Systems announces further expansion plans to meet the growing demand for Core’s innovative solutions for the custodial sector both internationally and in the UK.

Ken Armstrong joins the team as the Managing Director of Core (NI) Ltd

Ken is heading up the security business within Core, he has a broad range of management experience across several sectors with the theme of engineering and customer service running throughout. In previous roles he was Managing Director of a successful security business, and previously a Director of B/E Aerospace. In his spare time he is a business angel for Halo, the award winning private investors network.

Ken is an Engineering graduate from the University of Ulster and also has an MA in Business Strategy. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology where he serves on the interview panel for Chartered Engineering accreditation.

Jonathan McGale is appointed as Head of Business Development to lead Direct2inmate activities

Jonathan is delighted to join Core to lead the Direct2inmate Business Development Team building on their international successes in 2012.

Jonathan has extensive international commercial experience of licensing both audio and video Intellectual Property across multiple sectors. This is in addition to his experience with the high tech ICT sector. Jonathan is looking forward to applying his knowledge and experience to inmate services.

Jonathan is a Chartered Engineer and MIET. He was awarded a BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering by Queen’s University Belfast and a MBA from Smurfit Business School, UCD.

Victoria Mitton joins as Business Development Manager to lead UK Direct2inmate activities 

Victoria joins the Direct2inmate team at Core with extensive experience of working within the criminal justice sector. Victoria has worked in various criminal justice settings at both local and national government levels, managing alternatives to custody programmes and electronic monitoring for the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. More recently Victoria worked within a prison bidding environment for one of the largest custodial providers in the US. Victoria also has experience of creating software solutions to make prison, probation and policing environments more efficient and effective. Victoria has a degree in Criminology from Southampton Solent University.

Victoria is delighted with her appointment and is looking forward to leading Core’s UK activities building on international successes in 2012.

Patricia O’Hagan CEO of Core Systems comments:

“We are delighted to welcome the new team members as part of our business expansion plans and we are looking forward to continued growth and success”

Core Systems are pleased to announce that we’ve been successful in winning the GCloud iii* tender to supply the Government. Core were successful in Lot 4 ‘software as a service’ for Direct2inmate.  …read more

Core Systems CEO, Patricia O’Hagan, has become a provincial finalist in the 2013 Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards.

Patricia has been shortlisted for the Women Led Business Award. This Award is a new category which highlights the exceptional role women have in starting, growing and running successful businesses.

Now in its 20th year the Business Achievers Awards recognise the success of businesses across Ireland. Key areas evaluated by the judges include Core’s business strategy, current financial performance, innovative products and Patricia’s leadership and vision.

The winners will be announced in Riddel Hall Belfast on the 18th of April. If successful Patricia will compete against other provincial winners for the national award.

Core Systems has chosen “Northern Ireland Adult Hospice” as their charity of the year for 2013. Northern Ireland Adult Hospice provides specialist care to adults with life-limiting illness. Their aim is to provide the best quality of life for patients and their families both in the Hospice and in the community.

Each year Northern Ireland Hospice care for over 3,000 adults with life-limiting conditions who need the specialist care that the Hospice can provide. The Hospice also supports their families and carers providing them with information and advice and companionship and support.

It costs over £6 million to run Northern Ireland Hospice services per year. They rely heavily on the public to raise £3 million of this amount through donations, legacies and fundraising events.

Throughout the year staff at Core Systems will set aside time to raise money for the NI Hospice by participating in a number of events including the Belfast Marathon, Coffee Mornings and many more. Core will be hoping to build on the success of last year’s charity total and already has two eager teams to participate in the Belfast Marathon relay.

For more information please visit: http://www.nihospicecare.com/

Members of Core Systems including Managing Director, Patricia O’Hagan and Software Developer, Dearbhail Rafferty were invited to attend the campaign launch. Dearbhail graduated from the Foundation Degree in Computing and Network Systems with a Distinction and also received one of the College’s Higher Education Student of the Year Awards. Her achievements secured a full-time position as a Software Developer with Core Systems.

Dearbhail comments: “The fact that the Foundation degree in Computing and Network Systems included a substantial four month work placement as part of the course was what convinced me to enrol. I knew that if I could have an extended period working for an employer I would a chance to work hard, prove my worth and impress them.”

Every year since 2008 Core has taken on two work placement students from the Foundation Degree in Computing and Network Systems and has subsequently employed six of these students in permanent full-time positions following their graduation.

Foundation degrees are higher education qualifications that combine academic study with on-the-job experience. The degree is designed to provide students with the skills and expertise to boost their career prospects and find a job in their area of study.

Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry has launched a new advertising campaign to promote the benefits of Foundation degrees to employers and learners.

The campaign will run across a variety of media platforms, including outdoor locations, online and press. The employer aspect of the campaign will focus on informing employers about the various ways they can get involved with Foundation Degrees and the potential benefits to their organisations. The campaign will also inform employees about the up skilling and re skilling benefits of Foundation degrees.

Dearbhail Rafferty case study link

Core Systems Managing Director Patricia O’Hagan (Left), Software Developer Dearbhail Rafferty (Centre) and Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Ferry (Right)

Core Systems Managing Director, Patricia O’Hagan has been awarded an MBE in the Royal New Year Honours list for services to the Northern Ireland Economy.

Since taking up the role in March 2005, Patricia has led the company through a period of unprecedented growth both at home and in international markets. The company is now recognised internationally as a leader in the application of biometric technology in high security environments. Patricia has been instrumental in helping Core crack the lucrative US market. In November she was named as Best Exporter in the Northern Ireland Women in Business Awards.

Since 2011 Patricia has served on the Economic Advisory Group and is a member of the ADS (Aerospace, Defence and Security) NI Council. She has recently been appointed Chair of ADS NI Defence and Security Special Interest Group (NIDSSIG). Patricia is active in the local community encouraging greater entrepreneurship with young people in the field of Science and Technology.

Patricia comments “I am personally honoured and thrilled to have received this award. It also recognises the continued success that Core has achieved in recent years.”

Core Systems are proud to announce they have raised over £2,000 for their Charity of the year, “The Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children”. Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children offer practical, emotional and financial support to children, teenagers and young adults aged 0-24 living with cancer and their families. They also offer support to children and young people whose parent or guardian has cancer.

Every week in Northern Ireland three children, teenagers or young adults are diagnosed with cancer, leaving three more families to cope with a level of devastation that is almost impossible to comprehend.

Over the past year Core Systems has participated in the Belfast Marathon, hosted coffee mornings and held charity competitions to help Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children raise essential funds to continue delivering support services in Northern Ireland.

Core would like to thank everyone who has contributed over the last year towards our final total.

Managing Director, Patricia O’Hagan presents Joanna Black from the Northern Ireland Cancer fund with a cheque for £2,015.

Core Systems Managing Director, Patricia O’Hagan was awarded the 2012 Best Exporter at the Women in Business (WIB) awards last week.

The Gala Dinner and Awards held in the Ramada Plaza, Belfast, was hosted by WIB in association with Invest NI and The Irish News to recognise the valuable contribution women make to local business.

Patricia took up the post as Managing Director in March 2005, since then she has lead Core to be listed in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards 4 years in a row, marking the company as one of the fastest growing technology companies in Ireland. Over the last 7 years Patricia has led the company through a programme of development and growth. The company is now recognised internationally as a leader in the application of biometric technology in high security environments.

The company was awarded Best Exporter for displaying high levels of export turnover and a future plan for continued export growth. Patricia has been involved in overseeing the development and implementation of export strategies and has been instrumental in the company’s achievements to date. Core has been successfully exporting to the UK and ROI for the past 9 years, selling to construction, financial and security sectors.

Patricia has worked determinedly on the vision for the company to enter the U.S. market. Just recently Core Systems secured a partnership deal with a leading U.S. inmate service provider to give Core the stepping stone it needs to secure further export sales in the U.S.

“We are delighted to receive this award as recognition for our export success; developing innovative products has been crucial to our continued success. Our work ethic and determination within the market has helped build our brand recognition in the US and has opened the door to some excellent opportunities” said Patricia O’Hagan, Managing Director.

Core System’s Managing Director Patricia O’Hagan (center) receiving the WIB award for Best Exporter

Core Systems were delighted to take part in the annual ‘Generation Innovation’ event which aims to create future leaders for tommorrow’s economy.

Core Managing Director Patricia O’Hagan was one of twenty two of Northern Ireland’s top science and technology entrepreneurs gathered at last night’s annual event, to inspire 150 ambitious students nominated as ‘most likely to succeed in the new economy’.

Core demonstrated our range of solutions covering the fields of Biometrics, Access Control, Custody Management and Direct2Inmate information services.

Core System's Managing Director Patricia O'Hagan (center) demonstrates Core's product range to Local Entrepreneur and Director of Burke Business Solutions, Moira Burke and Victoria College student Louise Burke

The prestigious event was hosted at Titanic Belfast and delivered by NISP CONNECT in partnership with representatives from the local business community.

Key speakers included David Perry, who recently sold his company to Sony for $380m and Danny Moore, who sold Wombat Financial Software to the New York Stock Exchange for $200m.

The event aims to support young people who have the ambition to forge their own high achieving career by allowing them to meet local technology company founders and like-minded young people, and to identify work experience positions and future career paths.

The 150 young people from across Northern Ireland became this year’s exclusive members of Generation Innovation after teachers, parents and businesspeople were urged to nominate young people with the drive to become future leaders of the new economy.

For further information on Generation Innovation please visit: www.generationinnovation.co.uk

Generation Innovation: Seeking Young Game-Changers for Northern Ireland:

Core Systems Managing Director, Patricia O’Hagan, has become a finalist in the 2012 Women in Business NI Awards.

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Core Systems are proud to announce that the Core Relay team completed the Belfast Marathon in 4 hours and 15 minutes, the team members have been training hard all year for the 26 mile marathon and their hard work was rewarded with a great final time. The event also helped Core to raise money for our charity of the year, The Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children. …read more

On 8th May 2012 representatives from Core attended Westminster for a Parliamentary Reception highlighting the special capabilities of Northern Ireland Defence and Security Companies hosted by Jeffrey Donaldson in collaboration with ADS. …read more

On Friday 27 April, members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Business Trust visited Core Systems. Organised as part of the NIABTs education programme, this seminar provided both MLAs and business members with an opportunity to learn more about the work and services provided by Core.

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Core Systems is pleased to announce it has been shortlisted in two categories for the Belfast Telegraph Awards 2012. The categories include Excellence in Technology and Outstanding Business Team of the Year.

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Core have announced that they will be exhibiting for the 8th consecutive year at Security and Policing 2012 (formerly HOSDB). …read more

Core Systems are proud to announce that Managing Director Patricia O’Hagan has joined the Economic Advisory Group. …read more

Core Systems is pleased to announce that our Managing Director Patricia O’Hagan has become a finalist in the 2011 Women in Business NI Awards. …read more

Core Systems are delighted to announce that they have been shortlisted for the Deloitte 2011 Fast 50 Programme. …read more

Core Systems is delighted to have made it onto Business in the Community’s shortlist for its 2011 Regional Recognition Awards for corporate responsibility.

Sponsored by ESBIE Electric Ireland, Core Systems has been shortlisted in the Most Responsible Small Business category

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As a result of our continued growth and expansion we have moved to new premises. From Monday 28^th February Core Systems will be headquartered at our new location in Belfast.

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As a member of the Federation of Small Businesses, Core’s MD Patricia O’Hagan recently attended the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in the House of Commons, Westminster.

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Core Systems the leading experts in Identity Management for high security facilities has received the award for Innovation, Imagination and Excellence as demonstrated by Organisations at the inaugural MBA Association of Ireland Gala Dinner.

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Kathleen F. Hagan, Founder and President of Hagan & Company, has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director and Board Member of Core Systems.

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Core were delighted to take part in the Northern Ireland Assembly Business Trust celebrations for Commonwealth Day 2010. …read more

Core Systems the leading experts in Identity Management for high security facilities has received the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce award for Excellence in People Development.

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Patricia O’Hagan, Managing Director of Core has been recognised in the Institute of Directors inaugural Northern Ireland Director of the Year Awards. …read more

Core’s Managing Director, Patricia O’Hagan, will present as a keynote speaker at the 17th IEEE International Conference and Workshops on Engineering of Computer-Based Systems. …read more

Core have announced that they will be exhibiting for the 6th consecutive year at HOSDB 2010, the UK’s premier showcase for the latest security equipment. …read more

Core, leading-edge experts in Identity Management solution for high security facilities, have announced that Patricia O’Hagan, the company’s Managing Director will present as one of the keynote speakers at the WXN Seminar. …read more

Core, a Belfast based company makes a key contribution to the development of the first ever occupational standards for the UK’s human identity and biometrics industry. …read more

Core has unveiled an exciting, new and improved website which forms part of a refreshed corporate identity. Increasing demand across the globe for information about the company has forced Core to produce a more comprehensive and informative website. …read more

Core’s American subsidiary, Tusa Inc, will be exhibiting next month at the National Sheriff’s Association Annual Conference and Exhibition. This will be the first time Tusa have exhibited at this event. …read more

Core have been recognised as a highly commended finalist in the Business Team of the Year category of the Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Business Awards 2009, at a recent gala evening in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast. …read more

Not many Managing Directors have to endure altitude sickness, sub-zero temperatures, US Special Forces training (and a diet of beans and sausages). But that is exactly what Core’s MD, Patricia O’Hagan did to win the BBC programme ‘Chasing The Dollar’. …read more

Core are declared Northern Ireland’s Small Business Champions for 2008. Core, based in Belfast, beat off stiff competition from a selection of local firms at a Gala Dinner organised by the Federation of Small Business. …read more

Patricia O’Hagan has won through to become a finalist in Ireland’s prestigious Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition. Patricia is co-owner and Managing Director of Core, Northern Ireland’s most experienced biometric identity management experts. …read more