by Alan Jacques
LESS than a week after Northern Trust announced that it is to expand its Limerick financial services operation with the creation of 300 new jobs over the next three years, two other local companies confirmed that they are planning to take on a further 70 workers.
Limerick City and County Council announced that DesignPro Ltd, a leading provider of automation and machine build services to the medical devices, pharmaceuticals, electronics and automotive market, are to move into a 25,000 square feet site at the Andersen plant in Rathkeale. Currently located at Ballinvullin Business Park in Newcastle West, the robotic engineering company, which employs 40 people, plan to double its staff in the next two years.
Meanwhile, Modular Automation, based at the Smithstown Industrial Estate in Shannon, announced plans to double the size of its facility and take on an extra 30 people over the next 24 months. Recently named as one of Ireland’s ‘best managed’ companies, Modular Automation have now started hiring and have a number of positions open for apprentices and junior to senior level engineers.
Welcoming the Northern Trust expansion, Limerick City and County Council’s director of Economic Development and Planning, Pat Daly said they already had a very significant operation in Limerick, employing more than 700 staff at it fund administration centre at City East Plaza and the National Technological Park in Castletroy.
“Northern Trust is an extremely important employer in the Mid-West and its planned expansion is a major vote of confidence in Limerick which is fast becoming the location of choice for the highly skilled financial services sector”.
“The roles are also reflective of the level of skills and business infrastructure that are available here, particularly the strength of our graduates from third level institutions like the University of Limerick and Limerick Institute of Technology,” said Mr Daly.
Limerick Fine Gael TD, Kieran O’Donnell, also welcomed the announcement of the Northern Trust jobs.
“Northern Trust’s expansion here is a great news story for Limerick, a great vote of confidence in Limerick as a strategic location, and a reflection of the quality of the workforce available in Limerick,” said Deputy O’Donnell.
“Furthermore, this announcement means that the workforce of Northern Trust in Limerick will reach 1,000 within the next three years. The firm’s growth since it began its Limerick operation in 2007 with 80 employees has been nothing less than remarkable. This is a serious presence by a very successful and innovative financial services company,” he said.
