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Empey opens new £2 million laundry in Antrim

29 October 2009

Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, has officially opened a new state of the art laundry in Antrim.

The new £2 million facility is owned by Robinson Services, one of the leading employers in the area. The new laundry provides accommodation for over 50 employees and has many innovative technological, environmental and sustainability features.

The company, a past winner of a National Training Award, has long recognised the importance of investing in the skills of its staff, and has enrolled eight staff within the laundry division team for an NVQ Laundry Operations training course – the first of its kind to be held in Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the opening, Sir Reg said: “In an economic downturn, there is always the temptation for businesses to cut spending on staff training as a simple way to reduce costs.  It is good news to hear you already have some NVQs up and running and are continuing to invest in the skills of those adults already in the workforce. I wish you every success with your progress on this training.

“I would like to welcome the significant investment that has been made by Robinson Services, especially in these difficult trading conditions. Businesses such as this must be encouraged to create jobs so that we can effectively tackle the problem of rising unemployment head on. It is only through such efforts that we can all help the economy revive.”

The Minister concluded by formally recognising the significant contribution that Robinson Services has made to the local labour market and congratulated them on the benefits that the new premises and investment will bring to both their staff and their customers.

Notes to editors:

  1. Founded in 1968, Robinson Services comprises of four main divisions; cleaning, hygiene, laundry and security. The Laundry Division (formerly Waveney Laundry, Ballymena) provides a tailor-made rental and laundry service to businesses across Ireland.
  2. Robinson Services employs approximately 1000 staff in Northern Ireland, of which 50 are located at the laundry facility in the James Robinson Building. A further 20 staff are located in the company’s headquarters at the Sarah Jane Robinson House to manage the cleaning, hygiene and security aspects of the business. The company also employs 200 staff throughout England and Wales.
  3. The project to relocate the laundry division of Robinson services from the Waveney in Ballymena to the new facility in the James Robinson Building in Antrim cost £2 million.
  4. The plant has one of the biggest water tanks in Northern Ireland and now runs on natural gas supplied by Firmus. There is also a special unit to recycle water and a heat recovery system.The plant is now one of the most efficient in Ireland and provides the company with the equipment and capacity to continue to grow the business.
  5. Eight key members of the Laundry division team based in the new James Robinson Building in Antrim have commenced work for an NVQ Laundry Operations training course - the first of its kind to be held in Northern Ireland. The course will complete in February 2010.
  6. Robinson Services won a National Training Award in 2005.
  7. All media enquiries should be directed to the Department for Employment and Learning Communications Branch on 028 9025 7872. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.