Good news on the jobs front

Digitalfone to create 15 new posts There was good news last night on the employment front when award winning Inishowen based telecommunications company Digitalfone 02 confirmed it was to create 15 new jobs. The firm, which has shops in Buncrana and Carndonagh, announced major expansion plans which will see the opening of three new state-of-the-art, high tech 02 stores in Letterkenny, Sligo and Ballina and the complete refitting of its Inishowen outlets. The expansion will result in eight new jobs being provided in the Buncrana, Carndonagh and Letterkenny stores with a further seven jobs split between the new shops in Ballina and Sligo. It will bring to 25 the number of people employed by the company. Francis Callaghan, managing director and dealer principal of Digitalfone 02, said he was looking forward and excited about the new plans ahead He added: “After going through a long 02 selection process we are delighted 02 have chosen Digitalfone to operate their new 02 stores in the North West . Mr Callaghan said while a lot of businesses were consolidating it was “great” to be able to announce 15 new jobs in the North West and confirmed the company’s head office would remain in Buncrana. He added: “The expansion has already begun. The Buncrana 02 store is currently undergoing a complete refit and will reopen on September 10. The remaining new stores are planned to open over the next eight weeks.” The announcement has been “warmly welcomed” by Donegal North East TD, Deputy Joe McHugh who congratulated Digitalfone 02 on its decision to expand and praised the company for its commitment to hiring employees from the local community. Deputy McHugh added: “Digitalfone 02‘s expansion is a very good news story for the North-West. “Digitalfone 02 is an award-winning company with a good record in business since its inception in 1997 and I congratulate managing director Francis Callaghan for his decision to expand the business this autumn.” Deputy McHugh said Digitalfone 02’s commitment to employing locally was “particularly praiseworthy in this difficult economic period.” He added: “The expansion will provide 15 Donegal people with jobs, which will be of great benefit to 15 Donegal families.” Deputy McHugh added: “I have spoken to Francis about Digitalfone 02’s exciting new plans, and I know that the company moves forward with confidence. This expansion is sustainable, and is very welcome.” Mayor of Buncrana, Cllr Lee Tedstone, described the announcement as “excellent news not only for Buncrana but for the whole region” and congratulated Mr. Callaghan and his fellow director Paul Kelly on their “forward-thinking” initiative. He added: “Mr Callaghan has been at the forefront of the mobile business in this region for many years now and his entrepreneurial spirit has shown though again. He has demonstrated that by providing value for money and being in touch with his clients’ needs that even in times of recession business growth is possible. People often talk about the value of multi-nationals but it is the SME’s (small and medium enterprises) that keep this region alive and it is these that we should be continuing to support.”