Certification Europe, an international management standards and inspection services company, has secured €400,000 VC investment through the Bank of Ireland Seed and Early Stage Equity Fund managed by Kernel Capital.
Certification Europe is an accredited certification body that provides ISO management system certification and other management standards to organisations globally.
The company currently certifies over 1,000 organisations across 16 countries and performs over 8,000 assessments annually. Clients include BT, Diageo, KMPG, An Post and Microsoft.
Headquartered in Dublin with offices in the UK, Italy, Turkey and Japan, Certification Europe is rapidly growing its international business. The Enterprise Ireland supported company currently employs over 50 people and expects to create an additional 15 jobs in 2015.
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CEO Michael Brophy said: “The investment from Kernel Capital's Bank of Ireland fund is not only an endorsement of the growth and success the company has experienced over the last number of years, but is testimony to the huge opportunities Certification Europe is poised to exploit in the future.
“Kernel's investment means that we not only have the means of growing our existing service offering, but can now expand our services into additional countries beyond the 16 in which we currently operate.”
Orla Rimmington, Partner, Kernel Capital added: “Our Bank of Ireland Seed and Early Stage Fund supports SME's with a strong export focus which is fundamental to building the next generation of world-class Irish companies. This investment will enable Certification Europe to expand their team and build market share in key international markets.”
Giles O'Neill, Head of Education and Business and Consumer Services, Enterprise Ireland said: “This is a great success story of an Irish company that has grown and wins business across the world. Certification Europe is a truly global leader in the provision of international certification services.”
Certification Europe Ltd booked a net profit of €200,000 in 2013, reducing accumulated losses to €475,000. Equity invested at end December 2013 was €1,060,000.
