Cork safety firm creates 100 jobs

A CORK health and safety firm is planning to create 100 jobs over the coming year, while 20 further posts will be created at a manufacturing company in Dublin.

Sports personalities will join Cork Lord Mayor Dara Murphy at the opening of Olive Safety in Mahon, Cork, on Wednesday.

The company will initially employ 20 staff, growing to 100 over the next 12 months.

One of the stakeholders in the company, Mary Harney said her partner and herself are not afraid to “bite the bullet” and set up this business despite the economic downturn.

She said Olive Safety is the “fastest-growing Irish health and safety solutions provider”.

It already has a base in Dublin and specialises in safety consultancy, safety training and safety software solutions.

It offers consultancy services such as safety advisor placement, integrated safety management systems, safety statements and health and safety audits.

At the opening of the Cork office the lord mayor will deliver a speech on the importance of battling against the economic downturn, plus the attractiveness of Cork for business investment.

Munster’s Alan Quinlan, who recently served a 12-week ban that ruled him out of the Lions tour, will give his views on health and safety on and off the field.

President of the Cork Chamber Ger O’Mahoney will outline the necessity not to cut corners in health and safety in a recession and why it is important for those out of work to up-skill.

Meanwhile, in a separate jobs announcement Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan revealed the establishment by AMPAC (American Pacific Corporation), of their Dublin operation as the AMPAC-ISP Groups’ European Headquarters with the expectation of 20 new highly skilled jobs over five years.

AMPAC-ISP Dublin is one of Europe’s leading companies in the design and manufacture of mission critical structural components for the European Space Industry.

AMPAC-ISP Europe has been awarded a €7.5 million, five-year production contract with French company Snecma for the provision of structural components for the Ariane 5 Space launcher.

The contract results from R&D funding from the European Space Agency, with the support of Enterprise Ireland.