BELFAST-based start-up SureCert has secured funding of £400,000 to develop and launch an online platform that will revolutionise and accelerate the recruitment process in industries like nursing, where a high level of verification is required.
SureCert, which will create six jobs over the next 12 months, is a recruitment platform that sources, stores, shares and analyses high quality verified candidate data, which enables recruiters to source, process and verify candidates quicker.
The funding for the Catalyst Inc-based company is coming from Clarendon/Co-Fund NI, TechStart NI, and various private investors.
Its founder Ian Savage said: “Supply and demand issues across the nursing profession have been widely documented and with workforce concern now the biggest risk facing the National Health Service, this is the sector chosen as a launchpad for the product.
“We will not only reduce administration time by sharing the data in a digital format in real-time, but also provide recruiters with a platform to fill positions quicker than ever before whilst carrying out a highly targeted recruitment campaign.
“Nurses and any other healthcare professional can register, verify their qualifications and references easily and then choose whether to be contactable by the recruiters using the platform.
"It will significantly reduce the time taken for nurses to connect with recruiters while automating the administration involved in verifying backgrounds, where currently the verification of academic qualifications is an unwieldy and inefficient process.
“The secure SureCert platform therefore provides a trusted, innovative and recruitment platform for employers, recruiters and employment agencies and a great way for universities and other educational and member bodies to provide a way to connect their students and members directly with job opportunities.”
SureCert (surecert.pro) is now seeking to partner with data providers, such as universities, colleges and other awarding bodies, to provide the data in relation to candidates, who will then opt-in to use the platform and instantly verify their details such as qualifications and references from tutors or employers.
As chief executive of the company, Mr Savage has the support of a board of directors which boasts extensive experience across technology, recruitment and healthcare, including Brian Gannon (chairman), Tom Gray and Ronnie Geddis.
Co-FundNI invests with private investors such as business angels or their syndicates into eligible SMEs based in the north, and provides up to 50 per cent of equity investment alongside 50 per cent from private investors on, a deal-by-deal basis.
Brian Cummings from Clarendon/Co-FundNI said: “We believe the SureCert platform has the potential to drive huge change in the recruitment process, for both candidates and recruiters alike. We're delighted to co-invest alongside the private investors and support such an innovative solution to a problem that is plaguing the medical professions.”
Hal Wilson of Techstart, which was established by Invest NI as part of its Access to Finance strategy, added: “SureCert has identified a unique approach to candidate verification and this holds the potential for the creation of an exciting scalable business.”
