Charleville engineering company BCD has announced the creation of 40 new jobs resulting from a new multi-million euro vaccine plant project in the Asian market. The jobs will be a mix of engineering and trades roles in the company’s design and manufacturing divisions. The announcement comes after recent pharmaceutical and biotechnology project wins in the Irish, UK and Belgium markets. The north Cork company celebrated 30 years in business this year and currently employs 190 staff.
Speaking at the announce-ment of the new jobs, CEO of BCD Sean McGowan said the roles would be a mix of high value engin-eering positions working in the company’s process design areas. A number of skilled crafts roles will also be created, including the recruitment of a number of apprentices across a variety of trades. He said: “The announcement is a great boast for the company and the north Cork area, bringing our head count to 230 employees. The current strength of the multi-national marketplace combined with our reputation in the pharma, dairy and biotechnology sectors helped to secure these contracts.
“The outlook looks very positive based on our investment in a number of new processes that has opened up new internat-ional and sector opportu-nities. We also continue to enjoy strong working relationships with some of the largest Irish players in the market that provide the backbone to our business.”
McGowan also revealed that the company is in advanced negotiations on a number of large Irish and European projects in the pharmaceutical and bio technology sectors.
Despite the good news, the CEO highlighted how the scarcity of available engineers in Ireland may force the company to look overseas to fill a number of the roles. He outlined: “These new contract wins will create high value roles for the area; however, the industry as a whole is encountering problems in filling these types of posi-tions. There is a wide-spread problem caused by emigration resulting in indigenous engineering companies like ourselves struggling to fill the roles due to an industry engin-eering skills shortage.”
McGowan added: “This year BCD celebrated 30 years in operation. The long term impact on the local area is evident by the generations of families who have worked in the company. We have a number of employees whose father and grand-father worked with BCD, highlighting how ingrained BCD is within the local community.
This announcement will safeguard local employ-ment with a further direct impact on local businesses and suppliers.”
BCD confirmed that the company will commence recruitment immediately to fill the roles announced.