“I said, shortly after I started, that one day there’s no reason we can’t ring the bell for Cranmore,” says Cranmore’s bid architect Enda O’Brien.
For him, grand plans and ambition are inherent, just in his bones.
Before Cranmore he enjoyed the bright lights of consultancy at some of the world’s biggest companies in the world’s most dynamic cities – New York, London, and Dublin.
His degree in quantity surveying and Master’s in software development appear worlds apart, but for him they share core principles: structure, problem-solving, precision.
While a developer for a fast-growing company, an offer to swap development for consultancy for a project in NYC would test his ambition.
It started on Thursday.
He jumped at it.
“I found myself working out of a penthouse apartment in New York,” he says. “From there, I moved into consulting with banks and global firms, but I wanted to try a bespoke software house.”
Why?
“To play a pivotal role, to see that value I could add. At small companies you find yourself wearing many hats and I enjoy that.”
Over last 12 months we’ve added a number of significant GB contracts, expanded into transport and councils.
Enda O'Brien
A chance encounter and a shared interest in cycling led to Enda joining Cranmore, but that’s a story for another time.
The story for now is that Enda has seen Cranmore change. And change significantly since he joined in 2022.
And he too has changed, moving from project delivery into business development and bid architecture.
“After discussing with Chris and Heather (Cranmore’s managing and operations director, respectively) about expanding the business into GB, I knew I wanted to be involved in that,” he says.
“We’ve secured some major wins,” he adds. “Over last 12 months we’ve added a number of significant GB contracts, expanded into transport and councils. We have a considerable foothold there now.”
Cranmore’s staffing has grown around 50% in that short time too.
“I like that I’ve played a part in that,” he says. “We’ve also won significant NI contracts too, in the public, private, and government sector.”
He tells us about his apprehension leading a team flight to London during an early dice roll across the water.
“I remember thinking, ‘I hope this works out!’” he laughs.
We’re seeing a pattern of risk taking here, we say.
“Yes, I’m very ambitious,” he says. “Am I a risk taker? I would say I am.”
And that would tally with his upcoming marathon attempt and, we might add, his decision to maintain his Manchester United season ticket… ahem.
“I love the buzz of a building business,” he says. “I love playing my part, moving things forward.”
And when we ask about his ambition of one day ringing that bell for Cranmore, his answer is instant. “I believe we have the foundations in place and team to make it happen. Why not?”
