Fire safety firm brings jobs boost with new Carrickfergus premises

A specialist fire science and safety company is to create 10 new jobs over the next three years after moving to Carrickfergus.
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Efectis has expanded its UK and Ireland operations by establishing an additional presence in Kilroot Business Park.

The move to the site at Kilroot will enable Efectis to expand its bespoke building and construction fire testing service.

Efectis specialises in fire safety testing and modelling, certification, education, research and inspection.

The Mayor, Cllr Peter Johnston, Maurice McKee, lab manager Efectis UK and Ireland   and Timothy Brundle , director of Research and Impact at Ulster University.The Mayor, Cllr Peter Johnston, Maurice McKee, lab manager Efectis UK and Ireland   and Timothy Brundle , director of Research and Impact at Ulster University.
The Mayor, Cllr Peter Johnston, Maurice McKee, lab manager Efectis UK and Ireland and Timothy Brundle , director of Research and Impact at Ulster University.

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Peter Johnston said: “The Economic Development team within the council were instrumental, assisting Efectis with their move into the borough. We wanted Efectis to get off to the best possible start and the team will continue to support them as they develop links across a range of industries for new fire safety testing initiatives.

“Support was also provided through council’s Business Escalator Programme. With the assistance of a business mentor, the company submitted an application for funding to Invest Northern Ireland, and secured financial assistance for the recruitment of 10 new full time jobs over the next three years adding to 15 existing staff.”

The company already has existing premises in the FireSERT Centreat Ulster University’s Jordanstown campus and is part of a larger network with sites all over the world including France, the Netherlands and Turkey.

Talal Fateh, Efectis UK and Ireland general manager, said: “The move to Kilroot Business Park represents a major investment for Efectis and is a sign of our commitment to a long-term future in Mid and East Antrim and Northern Ireland.

“With client demand for our service continuing to grow significantly in recent years, this move will enable us to increase resource and capacity to meet that demand, with the Kilroot unit providing a dedicated fire test site, this will facilitate more regular and larger scale testing. In particular, our new fire testing services will reduce current waiting times for testing within the construction industry – bringing increased efficiencies to construction planning.”

Tim Brundle, director of Research and Impact at Ulster University, said: “Ulster University’s Fire Safety Engineering Research and Technology Centre is internationally recognised for its research into fire safety.

“We’re delighted to be involved in this joint venture with Efectis, and thanks to our world-class facilities and researchers, we are making a significant contribution to the study of fire safety, expertise in testing, modelling, certification, inspection and education.”

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Click here to read: Carrickfergus Enterprise-led project delivers over 100 jobs.

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