Energy and recruitment firms announce plans for 200 jobs

Plans for more than 200 new jobs were announced yesterday with a new entrant in the domestic gas and electricity market creating 100 jobs, while a global recruitment website is to double its Dublin office with 100 new jobs over the next 12 months.

However, there were concerns over jobs at retailer Barratts Shoes, which has gone into administration for the third time in four years.

Energia says it will create 100 new jobs over the next 12 months as part of its planned entry into the residential electricity and gas market. Part of the major energy company Viridian Group, it currently provides power and gas to more than 65,000 business customers nationwide.

Based in Dublin and Cork, the new jobs will be in the management, sales, marketing and operational areas of the business. Energia has already recruited 20 of the new positions as part of its preparations to enter the residential market.

It has committed investments of €1.2 billion to its Irish energy infrastructure since 1999 and operates two major power stations in Dublin and is capable of supplying up to 20 per cent of Ireland’s electricity needs.

Doubling workforce
Meanwhile, global job site Indeed is to expand its Dublin-based Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters and double its workforce with the creation of 100 new jobs over the next 12 months.

The company has already started recruiting for sales, client services, business development, marketing, finance and operations professionals for its premises in the Bloodstone building on Dublin’s Sir John Rogerson Quay.

David Rudick, Indeed's vice president of international markets, said that since its arrival here in March 2012, Dublin has proven itself as the "ideal location for a high-growth technology company like Indeed".

“Our Dublin HQ has given us an opportunity to tap into an incredible source of tech-savvy talent, both locally, from the rest of Europe and further afield,” he said.

Barry O'Leary, chief executive at IDA Ireland, described Indeed is one of the "jewels in the crown of the Irish-based 'born on the internet' companies".

Amid the good news, there were concerns about potential losses at retailer Barratts Shoes, which has gone into administration for the third time in four years, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk.

Investment plan
Directors at the Bradford-based chain said they were left with no choice after an investor pulled out of a plan to inject £5 million at the end of last week, according to a statement.

Barratts Shoes operates from 75 stores and 23 concessions across the UK and Ireland, employing 1,035 people, of whom 521 are part time.