Recruitment gets under way to fill 300 posts

RECRUITMENT is already under way to fill the first of 300 new jobs announced yesterday by the country's largest business outsourcing company. Abtran said it will create the high-value positions at its Cork offices over the next three years as part of a €3.5 million investment in research and development (R&D), supported by Enterprise Ireland.

The jobs will be in management, business administration, finance, resource planning, information technology, and human resources.

More jobs will be created in providing finance, administration, sales and customer service support for Abtran's clients.

The expansion will allow the company offer existing clients a better service, target new international market opportunities, and help position Ireland as a centre of excellence in the €300 billion global business processes industry.

Abtran, which employs 1,000 workers, is the largest Irish company providing clients with business process services, from finance and administration to sales and customer service.

The jobs were announced by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O'Keeffe who said he has every confidence that the company will deliver its target of creating the jobs in the coming years.

"This is a significant research and development investment which is well-aligned with the Government's vision for the 'smart' economy," he said.

"Companies such as Abtran are at the forefront of innovation, creating jobs and the products and services of tomorrow by opening new markets and driving our export sales footprint across the globe."

Abtran's managing director, Michael Fitzgerald, said his company's rapid growth and expansion has been driven by research and development which has allowed it deliver more efficient services to customers.

"We have established a network of business, academic, commercial and public sector interests to create banks of expertise around service delivery to customers and citizens," he said.

"Practically, this means better services, reduced costs and overall value for money for our clients.

"By investing further in research and development and innovation, we will continue to increase our competitiveness and this will fuel our further growth."

He said salaries will be competitive, depending on the skill-sets required, but he declined to discuss exact figures.

"We are investing now for our future. It will drive further growth in jobs across all business areas. Our key resource is our people and people can build a career here at Abtran," he said.

Cork Chamber chief executive Conor Healy said: "This announcement is very good news for the local economy at a time when it is most needed."

Enterprise Ireland's chief executive, Frank Ryan, said Abtran is a prime example of an innovative world-class Irish company which has grown through focusing on investment and research and development.

Yesterday's announcement follows a €6m Enterprise Ireland-backed investment in Abtran's Learning and Innovation Centre announced by the Taoiseach last year which created more than 250 jobs.

Meanwhile, Mr O'Keeffe said he and the IDA met with 15 multi-nationals last week during a four-day visit to the US.

He said they expressed confidence in the Irish economy and still see Ireland as an ideal location for their future expansion plans. And he said they were "insistent" the 12.5% corporate tax rate is maintained.