Sandyford Business District (SBD), located in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown (DLR), provides an unrivalled environment for business. It combines a unique blend of strategic location, exceptional talent, and an unequalled quality of life.
Many organisations from sole traders and SMEs to multinationals have chosen SBD as their home, benefiting from unparalleled access to top-tier talent, robust infrastructure, amenities, a pro-business environment, all in a sustainably focused ecosystem. Since the opening of Stillorgan Business Park in 1977, SBD has added Sandyford Business Park, South County Business Park and Central Park. The area now hosts over 1,000 national and multinational companies who employ over 26,000 employees. SBD is a leading hub for economic development and will continue to be a key location for start-ups and foreign direct investment (FDI) for the foreseeable future. This influx of daily commerce supports a diverse range of sectors, including retail, motor, construction, hospitality, and professional services.
SBD also significantly contributes to State revenues through income and corporation taxes. The district’s diverse workforce generates an estimated €200 million in income tax annually. Furthermore, the businesses contribute approximately €150 million in corporation tax each year.
SBD also benefits from the clustering effect, where the close proximity of businesses and employees leads to increased collaboration, innovation, and efficiency. This agglomeration of talent and resources further strengthens the area’s economic resilience, ensuring long-term sustainability and prosperity for both the workforce and the local community.
- a World Class Destination for establishing businesses, working and residing,
- a Smart Place to Work,
- a Vibrant Community of Businesses and residents with a unique identity, and
- a Smart District where working, living and spending leisure time is appealing.
SBD supports a varied and talented business ecosystem, attracting a wide array of industries including tech, finance, biopharmaceuticals and professional services. One Microsoft Place, the flagship premises for Microsoft’s Irish operations, constitutes a €134 million investment. This impressive tech campus exemplifies the trust global leaders place in SBD. Microsoft’s commitment to SBD was further compounded last year with the announcement of 550 new engineering and R&D roles to pioneer the development of AI technologies.
Bank of America and Mastercard are two key US financial institutions that have established a strong presence in the area, leveraging Sandyford’s strategic location and business-friendly environment to serve their European and global operations.
Communications is key to the success of every sector, and SBD is home to Vodafone, a leader in bridging digital divides through connectivity. This diversity of industries in DLR contributes to its economic resilience and attractiveness for international investment. SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s leading energy supply and services company, is also based in SBD and continually empowers residents and businesses to source cost effective electricity and gas solutions on the national roadmap to net zero.
Sandyford benefits from a well-developed infrastructure which is continuously being advanced, including a reliable power supply, high-speed broadband, and efficient transport links. Multiple bus routes and the Green Luas light rail service provide convenient commutes and easy access to Dublin City Centre and other areas. Its proximity to the N11 and M50 motorways ensures efficient connections to national road networks and Dublin Airport.
SBD and the surrounding area also boast a highly educated and skilled workforce, with access to graduates from top-tier institutions like University College Dublin (UCD), the largest university in Ireland, and the Institute of Art, Design, and Technology (IADT). The strong collaboration between SBD and these institutions has led to the establishment of Memorandums of Understanding aimed at fostering innovation, research, and talent development.
SBD is a leading hub for economic development and will continue to be a key location for startups and foreign direct investment (FDI) for the foreseeable future.
The district is much more than a business district as it boasts over 6,000 residents and growing. With a central location in the heart of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, between the Dublin and Wicklow mountains and the picturesque coastline, it offers an incomparable life balance that enhances its appeal for businesses, employees and residents. SBD offers leisure, hospitality and tourism activities, including Naomh Olaf GAA, a golf course and the internationally recognised Leopardstown racecourse.
SBD continues to advance initiatives in infrastructure, development and sustainability through a number of multidisciplinary projects. It is the leading proponent of Irelands first Digital Twin – a digital platform converting technical data to accessible, user-friendly formats for planning, designing and communicating potential infrastructure and environmental changes.
Project CircularPSP has united 8 procurer cities, representing 45 million citizens, to invest €5.64 million in R&D. Funded by the EU, the end goal is to support business processes and workflows to plan, procure, and implement innovative circular economy solutions across Europe. SBD was selected as one of the procurers in this European project with the objective of designing, developing and testing a digital public service platform that enables municipalities to transition to circularity, utilising taxonomies, AI and NLP.
The Sandyford Green Infrastructure Project is a collaborative effort between SBD and DLR County Council, which aims to transform 0.8 hectares of land into an SBD Civic Park. This undertaking will enhance the quality of public spaces and is an integral part of the Interreg North-West Europe Programme (NWE) known as IB-Green.
CEO of the Sandyford Business District.
