CORK OUTSOURCING firm Southwestern may exceed the commitment it has given to create 150 jobs over the next three years at its Clonakilty headquarters.
“I’m confident that we can exceed that expectation,” chief executive Jim Costello said yesterday, pointing to the “significant opportunity” that exists.
The firm, which employs 450 people in Ireland and another 150 at its Polish base in Lodz, is to expand its Irish workforce due to new business in the UK and central Europe, in areas such as financial services and the public sector.
It will start its first financial services job in the UK next week, relating to the UK post office network.
“We see great potential for growth in the public services, utilities, local government and financial services sectors here in Ireland and in the UK as well as in central Europe,” Mr Costello said.
Despite the flow of business being outsourced to cheaper locations such as India or the Philippines, Mr Costello said Southwestern could still compete based on productivity.
“A near-shore, native speaking operation is more suitable for customer services. Not everything can go to India, a lot of stuff is not suitable,” he said.
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