235 new jobs for Antrim

More than 200 jobs are being created in Antrim by a US medical device manufacturer, it was announced today.

A £16m (€20m) investment by CaradianBCT in Larne, Co Antrim, is set to deliver 235 extra skilled jobs and more than double the workforce to 425.

The investment – which is getting £1.7m (€2.1m) support part funded by the European Regional Development Fund – will establish the plant as one of the company’s strategic manufacturing sites.

The announcement – a bright ray amid the economic gloom – was made during an early morning visit to the plant by the North's Economy Minister Arlene Foster.

She said: “This major investment is a boost for Larne and for the Northern Ireland economy as a whole.

“CardianBCT has set ambitious targets including increasing production at its Larne operation and more than doubling employment over the next three years.”