‘All 30 staff at Rigney Dolphin staff to lose jobs’

Fears had been expressed for the future of jobs at the Rigney Dolphin call centre, based at Patrick Street in the city centre, back in February. Now, after Foyle MLA Maeve McLaughlin tabled an official, written Assembly Question, the Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has confirmed that all 30 of the current workforce are to lose their jobs.

Responding to Ms McLaughlin’s query, Arlene Foster replied: “Rigney Dolphin has confirmed that it intends to close its operations in Londonderry with all 30 of the current workforce to be made redundant over the next couple of months.

“The job losses are deeply regrettable and are as a result of a commercial decision taken by the company in light of difficult trading conditions and increasing competition in the Business Process Outsourcing market.

“The promoters do not believe, from a commercial perspective, that they can sustain the site in Londonderry any longer.

“Invest NI will continue to work proactively with other stakeholders in the area, including the Department of Employment and Learning, Council, Chamber of Commerce and the local Enterprise Agency, to assist those staff affected by the closure and also to promote the wide breadth of support available to businesses in the area to stimulate and encourage employment opportunities in the locality.”

In December 2010, Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster announced that Rigney Dolphin was to establish a new customer service centre in Londonderry, creating 297 jobs.

Invest NI offered £1.2million of support towards the investment which it said would generate over £4million annually through the creation of 297 jobs over the next three years.

Rigney Dolphin, headquartered in Waterford, is a leading outsource service provider, currently employing more than 1,200 people who deliver customer relationship management services and back office support, including payroll and HR functions.

Commenting on the announcement in 2010, Invest NI said Rigney Dolphin’s clients included many blue chip companies, such as Meteor, BMW, Carphone Warehouse and Airtricity.”

Now, all 30 staff based at the Patrick Street call centre are to lose their jobs, the Enterprise Minister has confirmed after a long period of speculation.