Seagate job losses: Chamber says Magee expansion is now key for Derry jobs

Derry's Chamber of Commerce has warned that the expansion of Magee is now '˜essential' if the city is to safeguard future employment.
Gavin Killeen, Chamber President.Gavin Killeen, Chamber President.
Gavin Killeen, Chamber President.

The President of the Chamber Gavin Killeen was speaking after it emerged that around 70 jobs are to go at Derry’s largest private sector employer, Seagate in Springtown.

Mr Killeen expressed his sadness at the job losses and extended his sympathy to all those who are affected.

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He said: “We understand the pressures that Seagate are operating under as a global business. But that is no consolation for all those who have lost their jobs as a result of restructuring affected by changes in the global market place.

“We offer our sincere sympathies to all those affected and call on the statutory agencies, Invest NI and the Northern Ireland Executive to do all they can to generate new employment and to ensure that our workforce has the right skills for the ever changing modern economy.”

Laying out the Chamber’s view of what is needed to create a more successful local economy that generates new jobs, Mr Killeen added:

“We must have the right skills base, which means that it is essential that we secure the substantial expansion of the Magee campus. In addition, we need infrastructure improvements – particularly the urgent upgrades of the Derry to Belfast and Derry to Dublin roads.

“We also urge Invest NI to do all it can to stress to potential investors the excellence of Derry’s digital connectivity.”