PORTADOWN manufacturer The Deluxe Group has added 30 staff following a £1.7 million expansion of its bespoke operation.
The joinery, interiors and visitor attraction contractor, said the expansion followed the growth of the ‘experience economy’, with the Co Armagh firm increasingly targeting luxury property, cruise line and visitor attractions.
Recent contracts include Universal Studios, involving the delivering of new attractions in Florida and Japan.
The Portadown group’s portfolio also includes the multi-million pound fit-out of the former Metropolitan Police headquarters, Great Scotland Yard, which is now a luxury five-star London hotel.
The group’s business development manager, Richard Hill said: “Spend is increasing on memorable experiences and our interiors have a common theme in that they tell a compelling story, whether it’s a luxury five-star hotel in a building with a rich heritage or a visitor attraction created from a successful film or TV show.”
The Portadown firm’s growth has been boosted by an offer of £240,000 in support from Invest NI.
Mr Hill added: “Over the last ten years, we have been developing our export business in the USA, Japan and the Middle East and we have greatly benefited from the on the ground in-market support from the Invest Northern Ireland teams.
“As soon as we got the green light from Invest NI, we recruited 30 new staff quickly in project management, quantity surveying, design and skilled craftsmanship.
“Our new staff are already helping us to take our art and theme business to the next level and will enable us to offer the most extensive range of experience led design across Europe.”
Brian Dolaghan from Invest NI said the additional 30 jobs are worth £1.1million in additional annual salaries for the local economy.
“It’s great to see a Northern Ireland company achieving such global recognition and it’s not surprising that in executing prestigious projects like these, the company needed to hire new staff to keep up with the demand for its services,” he said.
