Expansion at Birr company to yield 50 jobs
An expansion of the Grant Engineering facility in Birr is due to result in the creation of 50 new jobs over the next two years.
It was announced on Wednesday that the jobs would be created as part of a €7 million expansion by the boiler manufacturing firm at its plant in Crinkle. The 50 posts will be a mixture of part time and full-time positions, ranging from operative roles to highly-skilled engineering roles. The jobs are supported by Enterprise Ireland.
At peak season, Grant Engineering currently employs over 320 people in Ireland, between full-time and part-time roles, along with 70 people in the UK. Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton visited the company on Wednesday for the announcement of its expansion plan.
In a statement, Grant Engineering said its expanded facility would include a state-of-the-art innovation centre, a customer services centre, and a training school. The building work is due to begin the coming months, “with completion of the investment programme over the next two years”.
The Taoiseach said it was companies like Grant Engineering – “innovative companies, making products and services in Ireland for sale in Ireland and export overseas” – that were “driving the jobs recovery in every region of the country.” Stephen Grant, the company’s founder, said on Wednesday at the jobs announcement: “Over the past recent years we have continued to grow our business and this investment will allow us to continue to increase capacity and expand into new markets and to develop new products
“It also reinforces our commitment to innovation, the local community and the local economy,” Mr Grant added. “This is a very exciting time for Grant Engineering as we continue to build on our reputation of supplying reliable, affordable, forward- thinking home heating technologies, which enable our customers to save money and lower their carbon footprints.”.
The company has operated for close to 40 years and is renowned for manufacturing efficient, affordable and innovative appliances. Stephen Grant’s success was recognised in 2008, when he was chosen as Ernst & Young’s Entrepeneur of the Year. The company has also earned OFTEC Awards for Excellence and Plumbing & Heating Awards for Innovative Products and Outstanding Achievements in the industry.
Fine Gael TD Marcella Corcoran Kennedy welcomed the news. “Grant Engineering, located in Birr for almost 40 years, is one of Ireland’s leading manufacturing companies. The news that the company is to invest €7 million, creating 50 new jobs is a huge vote of confidence for those working for the company and the community as a whole.” She added Fine Gael’s plan to achieve full employment by 2020, and to sustain it, is based on growing at least 40% of our new jobs in the exporting sector of our economy and in companies like Grant Engineering.