Business

Two Derry firms announce plans to relocate to Ebrington site

The Ebrington site in Derry. Image supplied by RPP Architects. 
The Ebrington site in Derry. Image supplied by RPP Architects.  The Ebrington site in Derry. Image supplied by RPP Architects. 

TWO businesses in Derry have announced plans to relocate up to 45 jobs to the Ebrington site.

The redevelopment of the city’s former military base has struggled to attract companies in recent years.

But now two business figures in the city are now ready to move in and open by May.

Ronan Stewart of Atelier and Paul Doherty of Urban 3D confirmed their plans on Mark Patterson’s BBC Radio Foyle programme on Friday.

The businesses are currently renovating the former schoolhouse buildings.

Mr Stewart’s Atelier hair salon business has been operating from a premises at the Glassworks in Derry.

“The Glassworks was fantastic for us,” he said. “We were in the basement there. But the Glassworks was just a stop-gap for Ebrington.”

He said his plans for a full hair studio and eventually a hair academy could create 30 jobs by the summer.

Paul Doherty said he will move his team of 11 from its premises in Artillery Street in Derry city centre.

“At our core we are a property marketing company, but it’s a collective of CG artists, graphic designers, web designers and marketing people," he said.

“Our main client base is in London, but we’re doing stuff all over the world.

“When we move to Ebrington, we hope to expand that team to 15.”