Triple jobs boost in midlands upturn

The midlands is to get a triple jobs boost amid signs of an upturn in the retail sector.

Shaw’s department store will create up to 15 jobs in an outlet at the Market Square, Longford. The store will be Shaw’s 17th nationwide and the company’s first in the midlands.

Recruitment for the full-time and part-time jobs has begun. The shop is due to open at the unit formerly occupied by Centra by the end of October.

Meanwhile, frozen food chain Iceland will open a new store, also in Longford, by Christmas, creating a further 15 to 20 jobs. The outlet — Iceland’s ninth in Ireland — will be based at the Longford Business Park. The deal had been in negotiation for over a year.

Longford Enterprise Board spokesman Michael Nevin said it was particularly encouraging to see one of the town’s unoccupied units being taken over by a major company like Shaw’s.

“If we can attract a brand name like Shaw’s to Longford, then perhaps we can attract a number of others over the next few months. They’ve obviously done their homework on Longford and can see the potential,” Mr Nevin said.

Also yesterday it was confirmed that a family-owned concrete company would create 20 jobs as a result of an investment of almost €4m at its midlands base.

Tullamore-based Condron Concrete Works, which already employs over 50 people in producing piping and roof tiles, is in the process of setting up a manufacturing facility for plastic piping.

The company said the investment would enable the company to produce twin-wall plastic piping at its Tullamore plant.

It is believed to be the first concrete pipe manufacturer in Ireland or the UK to produce both plastic and concrete pipes.