Call centre company Eishtec will create 250 jobs in Waterford, which will be a major gain for the area after TalkTalk closed its call centre in the region last September.
The company currently employs 30 people in Waterford and it recently secured a contract to offer customer service support for British mobile operator Orange. The new jobs are being created as part of this contract, with its Cleaboy Business Park facility’s expansion partially funded through Enterprise Ireland.
It was founded six months ago by three local people – Heather Reynolds, previously of TalkTalk, Brian Barry and Colm Tracey.
“This is a significant win for Eishtec, for Waterford and Ireland,” said Reynolds.
“We have the skills and experience in our team to provide the highest quality services to Orange and help support the achievement of its business objectives.
“We’re delighted we can maintain a proud tradition in Waterford of providing market-leading customer services to blue chip organisations. We expect to grow this business to create further employment and opportunities in our local community, with the welcome support of Enterprise Ireland,” she said.
The announcement comes as good news for Waterford, after TalkTalk said it would cut 575 jobs in the region last September.
“The southeast region has persistently had higher than average levels of unemployment, and has suffered disproportionately from the economic collapse,” said Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton.
“That is why last month I published the South East Employment Action Plan, a key part of which was that a clear priority would be assigned to the region by the State enterprise agencies under the remit of my department.
“In the context of the recent job losses at TalkTalk, today’s announcement that 250 contact centre jobs are to be created by an Irish company in Waterford with State support is a major boost for the city and shows what is possible with the right Government priority and determination.
“However, we are not going to address the region’s problems overnight. At the centre of my plan to bring employment to the southeast is a recognition that the structural challenges in the region can only be addressed through a concerted process over several years involving Government, political, community and other stakeholders in the region. We have started that process and with the right approach today’s announcement can be replicated over the coming years.
“I congratulate Enterprise Ireland, as well as the Eishtec management team and their staff for their ambitious plans and their commitment to cementing the future of this company as a leading player in the sector,” he said.
Recruitment for the new roles is beginning now and all of the jobs will be created by mid-2012.
