Abtran, an Irish business process management company, is to create 130 jobs after securing a new contract with Sky to support its customer service operations.

Established in 1997, Abtran already employs 2,000 people in Cork and Dublin. Its client base includes firms from across the public and private sectors. Sky, meanwhile, employs 900 people in its offices in Dublin.

JD Buckley, MD of Sky Ireland, said: “As a growing business, our customer contact centres play an integral role in meeting customer requirements. We’re really pleased to continue our growth and development through this partnership with Abtran.”

Michael Fitzgerald, CEO of Abtran, added: “Abtran places our clients’ brand and customers at the centre of everything we do, making services easier and more accessible. We look forward to supporting Sky’s ongoing business growth with top quality customer service.”

In July last year, Abtran also announced 100 new jobs in an expansion of its consulting and technology services division at the IFSC in Dublin. The firm announced in November 2015 that private equity firm Carlyle Cardinal Ireland was planning to invest in its business.

In Association with

Centra Expanding

Also announced today, Centra is planning to open 16 new stores in 2016, creating 480 jobs as a result of the €16m investment.

Centra said that it recorded sales of over €1.5bn in 2015, while the launch of Live Well last year, the brand’s healthy foods range, brought in €6m in revenue.

Martin Kelleher, MD of Centra, said: “Our sales figures show a 1.6% growth on the previous year. This is testament to our 460 local retailers nationwide, whose hard work ensures that Centra continues to lead the market in terms of value, choice and quality.”

Picture: JD Buckley (left), MD of Sky Ireland, with Minister Simon Coveney and Michael Fitzgerald, CEO of Abtran