Two announcements see 350 job losses in NI

There was a double blow for Northern Ireland today with the announcement that over 350 jobs are to go.

There was a double blow for Northern Ireland today with the announcement that over 350 jobs are to go.

Shop Electric confirmed it was making 285 staff redundant at its 35 stores - including Electric World - across the North.

At the same time west Belfast technology company Analog put 75 workers on redundancy notice.

The Shop Electric stores are owned by Gateshead-based Northern Retail which is also closing 25 stores in Britain with the loss of a further 108 staff.

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The company went into administration last week and KPMG Corporate Recovery, appointed last Friday confirmed today they had no choice but to make all the staff redundant.

Despite that, a spokesman said they hoped to open up the stores again next week to offer remaining stock for sale.

At the same time joint administrator Mr Richard Fleming said he was continuing to seek buyers for the stores as "going concerns".

Customers who have paid for goods on their credit cards and who have not yet received them have been advised to contact their credit card provider.

Meanwhile 75 employees at Analog Devices were warned that they are likely to lose their jobs at the end of the month.

The former Queen's University spin-off company was bought by an American technology firm in November 2000. During the summer the parent company decided to sell the west Belfast firm as a going concern but was unable to find a buyer.